Waitress commenting on how much I eat

[Fugghetaboutit]

So, I was out with friend the other day and ordered breakfast, a huge plate came and it was delicious (spinach on sourdough, avocado and poached egg with sausages and hellim for anyone interested )
I ate quite a lot of it but couldn't finish it all (left a sausage and half the toast) and when the waitress came to collect it she said 'you haven't eaten anything!' In a way my mother would. I felt suitably embarrassed as I had to mumble something about having a small stomach.

When I left I got thinking that this has happened to me before but only by women servers. Has it happened to anyone else? Is it their place to comment on how much you eat?

If you've only had it from women, do you think it's supposed to be a compliment in a weird way? Like "ooh look at you, with your dainty ladylike appetite and restraint, you won't get fat, oh no, well done".

It took me by surprise as I didn't think I did leave much!

I'm quite skinny and she was curvy but don't think that was it.

They are always heaving in there and aren't known for their politeness you better know what you're ordering or you'll get an eyeroll

This thread has cheered me up, had a rough week and you vipers always make me smile

Oh and also I mainly posted because it's happened before recently too, not just the once. It's good to hear others get comments though, not just me :)

They are always heaving in there and aren't known for their politeness you better know what you're ordering or you'll get an eyeroll

Well there you have it. They're not known for their tact and I guess that's not confined to the female staff.

I doubt she had any evil intention but it sounds like you go there regularly so you would know better than me.

Will you return?

Yes because the grub is fab and the atmosphere is buzzing so it's a trade off I guess. Some of the staff are lovely but a couple always aren't as polite. Most london cafés are probably the same.

DontDrink so so true!

I’ve found that abruptness bordering on rudeness is a feature of some small businesses run by some ethnicities and is not personal.

You’ve mentioned Greek and Turkish Cypriots I’d add Jewish delis to that and there are some Jewish-owned fabric and accessories shops in Soho I go to a lot where you had better know what you’re talking about or they’ll cut you off at the knees.

I have winced at their treatment of English brides and their mothers who were just trying to buy fabric - and they do lovely fabric - but needed some guidance.

Strangely, DH, who knows a lot more about fabric than me, can be the oiliest person in the world in pursuit of a sale. Yet get him in one of those shops in Soho and he transforms into a barracuda. They respect that

There was also a South African-owned deli in the Barnes area of SW London that was shocking in terms of customer disservice. DH was addicted to their biltong. I didn’t like their attitude so I stayed in the car after the first visit.

Israelis, Dutch, Chinese people and people from Hong Kong can be quite direct too. I’m sure there are many others. But it’s rarely personal.

It's just the way they are. I'm glad the food makes up for the lack of tableside manner

The only thing I wouldn't have eaten was the avocado. Disgusting green slimy stuff.

Eating alone, one evening......
Me: May I have another glass of wine please?'
Waitress: 'ANOTHER???'
Me: ' Yep. Another'
It was my third 175ml glass

YANBU Serving staff are not there to judge!

I'm English and so is DH btw. When I need to get fabrics I have a list from him which I learn off by heart and then eat. If challenged, the best form of defence is attack. So far it's worked

Avos are the food of gods!!

Yeah, they're Turkish in there, I am too but second gen so don't have the bluntness as some do :) good point

helpme

you better know what you're ordering or you'll get an eyeroll

Just tell her you'd prefer a bacon roll

Better than my experience.
My friend and I went for a pub lunch. We both had a delicious steak sandwich and triple cooked chips, generous enormous helpings. We seemed to have no trouble polishing the whole lot off.
The waiter commented "No one's every finished all their chips before".

Last year I was at a b&b. I asked if she could make the cooked breakfast small and when it came out it was smaller than dhs. Still couldn't manage it all. So the owner commented that the next day I was to have just one rasher of bacon and no beans.
I did kind of appreciate that because I hate food waste but I did feel a bit judged.

What a cheek. I wonder if men get comments like this.

I am wondering why you ordered such a huge meal if you cannot eat much in one go

Food is no less wasted if you eat it when you are already full than it is if it is thrown away.

Most restaurants serve far too much food for a normal meal, which just encourages either over-eating or waste, neither of which is desirable.
Even if you order off the 'light bite' menu you often get far too much food, eg a very large sandwich with chips and salad garnish.

I take doggy bags when I can because I refuse to eat until I feel sick to please those who think I should eat all I am given. Most of the time I am full after eating about half the meal.

It's not always easy to order 'less food' as you don't know how much you are going to get, or how much you will want to eat until you start eating it.

I've ordered it before and finished it and thought I was really hungry but as I ate I got full up quick. Is that ok windchime?

Blimey windchime, she only left a sausage and some toast

Sounds like someone's hangry!

I actually swapped bacon for sausage so was surprised to get two sausages which was generous but could only manage one. I find sourdough and hellim v filling.

It sounds a lot written down but wasn't huge like a full English.

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186338-d1014681-Reviews-Cafe_Z_Bar-London_England.html that's the place if anyone's nearby and fancies something new. First review says it all really

what is hellim? At first I thought it was an autocorrect for halloumi but now I'm thinking hellim is an actual thing.

I worked in Durban SA for a while and would occasionally go out for a meal on my own.

I was about to make my order at one steak house when the waiter said ''I hope you are not one of those customers that orders the Lady's steak".

I am a bloke and was indeed about to order a 'Lady Steak'. He had a mischievous smile on his face.

I said that was indeed what I was about to order, but would it be more acceptable to him if I ordered a full bottle of wine to go with it.

He agreed and I had excellent service thereafter.

(Reading that back it sounds like I had a gay flirty moment with the waiter, I hadn't thought of that before)

It's the Turkish Cypriot word for Halloumi.