to ask if there's a law to ask if everything's ok with your meal?

[poaspcos]

Just wondering if the mid mouthful "everything ok for you?" Doesn't happen anywhere - even McDonald's asked me yesterday perhaps I give off odd food vibes

I would imagine it is due to the number of people who will scoff most of a meal, then complain and refuse to pay.
By asking they are giving you a chance to complain then and there.
It is annoying though, and it is always mid-mouthful!

I don't think there's any laws as such, but I expect that staff ask it so you can't scoff the lot then complain it was awful and ask for your money back when you pay the bill.

Wait staff do it to check that everything's ok

It's part of the job, to give the customer the opportunity to raise any issues (justified or otherwise).

It always happens mid mouthful doesn't it, There is a law somewhere

Do people really do that? (of course I know they must) but I'd be too embarrassed unless it was something really really grim like uncooked chicken or false nails in my food

I'm a mystery shopper and I have to mark the staff down if they don't come to the table and ask.

I used to work in a restaurant and a few cheeky buggers would try the, 'that was revolting I'm not paying', umm you've eaten it?
So asking halfway through would give me the opportunity to say, well I did check, you haven't allowed me to rectify any mistakes.

I get annoyed if nobody comes over, as I'm generally ready for another bottle glass of wine.

It is always mid mouthful. Somebody says "is everything ok?" Then you either end up nodding like a dog or chewing very fast to reply to the question.

Yes I know They do it to check everything is ok

This made me laugh, always when you are mid-mouthful!

I understand their doing their job but it can be quite annoying when ur starving and just want to shovel that food down your throat. Haha

I mystery dine at lots of restaurants and a "check back" is expected at every one of them. I usually have to note the timing of it (the ideal is to give you enough time to taste the food but quick enough to resolve a problem). It is seen as a major part of customer service and an opportunity to correct any errors - I agree that it can be a pain when you have a mouthful though! I also tend to find that the "check back" is often missed or late when there is a problem with the food!!! How a restaurant deals with a complaint at "check back" varies a lot........

My mum and I were out for lunch last week and someone came over to us 3 times to ask if the meal was ok then kept coming back to clear one plate or glass at a time

I seem to get asked this most often when I'm eating my last mouthful and always feel a bit judged for bolting my food.

Used to be a waitress. We had to ask!

I'm sure they're trained to do it mid mouthful so all you can say is 'mmmfff mghlj flmn'

They don't do it in Germany. Eating out here is far more relaxed and less patronising. If there was a problem with the food or you want more wine they would just expect you to let them know. If you waited to the end to complain they would give you short shrift. It is all very simple and much more relaxed.

its not just in England but SOP in the US too.

As others have said, waiting staff have to do it as part of their job, but often they have no idea what to do if you are anything other than totally happy with the food. It seems to be one of those questions where any answer except ‘lovely thanks’ is unexpected and inappropriate.

I also strongly suspect they are hoping to sell you more drinks and other stuff– those who have said they want to be asked so they have the chance to get more drinks, that’s different to my experience – I often find myself saying ‘no thank you’ a lot when I am eating out – do I want more drinks – no thank you – do I want any extra sides – no thank you – do I want dessert – no thank you, etc etc. All this offering extra stuff is not good service, it's upselling.

Yes we all know they have to ask but it is annoying mid mouthful of food

Barbara so why do ask in cafes where you have to order at the counter? I get that they need the condiments for another table, but they can just ask if you've finished with them, they don't have to ask if everything's OK. What would they do if I said, "No, it's shit." ?

Not just mid-mouthful but interrupting conversations as well. Very annoying and jarring. If staff are trained to ask, can't they be trained to find an appropriate time to ask as well? If I were a mystery shopper, I would mark them down for that, if it were a posh restaurant.

What irritates me, is when staff are all over you asking "is everything fine", but when you actually want someone (drink, bill) they're nowhere to be seen.

I used to waitress and yes, people will eat an entire meal and then say it was terrible and expect it for free.

We were expected to do a check within a few moments of food being despatched, and I would always ask if there was anything else I could do for them if refilling drinks mid-meal.

*dispatched.

Is it law that they have to ask straight after you've just stuffed a huge amount of said food into your mouth?