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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DH asking restaurant staff when food will be ready

210 replies

olympicsrock · 02/01/2022 19:55

AIBU to ask DHnot to ‘harangue’ staff in restaurants to speed up food?
We have been to two restaurants over the Christmas period. In both places they have been very busy. On arrival we were warned how busy they were/ short staff due to covid etc and to get order in.
All staff polite and doing their best.

BOTH times DH has got hangry and stressy and asked staff pointedly where our food was ie complaining. In the first place his dad was there doing the same.

In the second place he chased 36 mins after arrival when we had already had drinks , bread and starter. Not bad really. 1:36 on New Years Day. He was ‘polite’ but for gods sake everyone wants their food asap.

He either needs to have a snack mid morning or button it as far as I am concerned . He is not a toddler. Aaaagh

OP posts:
Drivingish · 02/01/2022 23:38

@Sometimeswinning

Did the op mention where they were eating? There are many chains which also fall under fast food! Sorry but do posters on this thread literally sit and wait for nearly 40 minutes??!
Absolutely, why would you want whatever they could throw at you in 5 mins - I want my food done properly! How would you NOT be there nearly 40 mins?

Arrive and get seated and order, 5 mins. Get drinks by 5 mins later, then starters 5 mins after that. Eat your starters/bread, 15 mins, plates cleared away within 5 mins. That's most of the 40 mins just for that! Let alone a wait due to staff shortage. Do you walk in, bark your order out as you sit and eat the starter in one mouthful like a pie eating contest?! Grin

Sometimeswinning · 02/01/2022 23:38

You’ve missed a joke. It wasn’t pizza express.

Oh it was a joke. That's a shame then I missed it. Why is it a joke?

Drivingish · 02/01/2022 23:41

@Sometimeswinning

You’ve missed a joke. It wasn’t pizza express.

Oh it was a joke. That's a shame then I missed it. Why is it a joke?

See: Prince Andrew not sweating in Woking
TheHamburgler · 02/01/2022 23:42

Oh it was a joke. That's a shame then I missed it. Why is it a joke?
It was an apparent reference to the Prince Andrew’s interview, concerning the allegations against him.

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 02/01/2022 23:45

@godmum56

Have you tried keeping a colouring book and pencils and a little packet of raisins in your handbag?
😂😂😂 This. I would pointedly prepare and hand him something like this next time
TheHamburgler · 02/01/2022 23:49

If I’d popped into Pizza Express or alike for lunch on a normal day, and my main hadn’t arrived in 35 minutes, I’d probably start to think they were being a little slow.

If I’d booked a table at an upscale restaurant and within 35 minutes of arrival, we’d had bread, drinks, a starter and our main had already been served, I’d be feeling a bit pissed off that they were rushing us through it.

Sometimeswinning · 02/01/2022 23:54

It was an apparent reference to the Prince Andrew’s interview, concerning the allegations against him

Ah about the trafficking and abuse of women? I see. Thankyou.

Ellowyn · 02/01/2022 23:56

I'd tell him that if he nags them too much he might get some spit in his dinner.

musicviking1 · 02/01/2022 23:58

I get really worried when my food arrives quickly, makes me think it's been heated up in a microwave!

thepeopleversuswork · 02/01/2022 23:59

It depends on the wait. If it's been ages and no bread or drinks have been brought I think a polite enquiry is reasonable. But I do hate people who harass waiting staff in a self-important way because they've had to wait. I think they're the lowest of the low.

TheHamburgler · 02/01/2022 23:59

@Sometimeswinning

Yes. To be clear though, it wasn’t my comment (nor did I find it funny).

Shallwegoforawalk · 03/01/2022 00:06

@ThePlumVan

I waited nearly 2 hours once and kept shushing DP as I can be killingly polite - yep they’d forgotten the order Sad
That's not polite, that's pathetic. Confused how could you possibly wait 2 hours for food and not say anything ConfusedConfusedConfused
PyongyangKipperbang · 03/01/2022 00:11

HAving run restaurants I would advise you to tell him that complaining doesnt speed things up!

The chef cooks orders as they come in, they wont put one table ahead just because of moaning. The simple fact is that if you book a table in a popular place on a busy day then you will have a longer wait simple maths, there is only room for so many people in a kitchen and if staff have called in sick then of course its going to impact.

I would guarantee that the staff will have gone back to the kitchen and said "The stroppy wanker on 12 wants to know where his dinner is" answer..... "Tell him to fuck off". :o

Original poster
olympicsrock · 03/01/2022 00:25

Thanks all for making me feel better. This was a nice restaurant. We had great friends with us. I was happily drinking picpoul , enjoying the view , company, delicious breads and waiting for my lobster…. We only waited 36 minutes on NYD before he tried to hurry them up…. The staff were doing a great job and the food was amazing. Should have been so special and still was apart from this incident.

I have now confronted DH about his behaviour and said that it spoilt the experience for me. Told me to have a snack earlier or be patient. So wish I had mentioned colouring book and raisins Grin. He said that he was just going to order more bread if the answer had been that the food would be a while and that the smell of good food was driving him mad. Basically he has grovelled and apologised for being a dick and I have accepted his apology.

OP posts:
Original poster
olympicsrock · 03/01/2022 00:27

Told him not me…

OP posts:
Hadjab · 03/01/2022 00:30

@ily0x

He sounds like an abusive narcissist. There’s nothing worse than someone who is nasty to waiters/retail staff. What a pathetic little bully. I’m sure he’s a lot less nasty to people who can answer back to him.
Ay caramba! Where the hell did you get abusive narcissist from?? OP said he asked politely, who exactly did he bully?
TheHamburgler · 03/01/2022 00:36

Glad he apologized, OP. Perhaps he’ll be better behaved in future.

RightOnTheEdge · 03/01/2022 01:08

Asking how long it would be so he could decide whether to order more bread or not sounds reasonable.

The moaning and whinging and spoiling it for you and the other guests wasn't though.
It's good you talked to him about it and sorted it out OP.

Sometimeswinning · 03/01/2022 01:25

Yes. To be clear though, it wasn’t my comment (nor did I find it funny).

I knew that Smile

LizzieSiddal · 03/01/2022 07:31

Glad he’s apologised OP.

PrincessNutella · 03/01/2022 07:37

An hour and a half??? It is reasonable to ask.

violetbunny · 03/01/2022 07:38

Tell him next time you'll be taking him to the drive through at McDonalds, as that's clearly all he can cope with.

phoenixrosehere · 03/01/2022 07:47

An hour and a half??? It is reasonable to ask.

OP clarified early in the thread it was 36 minutes and that they had bread, drinks, and a starter by that point.

TrishM80 · 03/01/2022 07:50

Can people stop saying an hour and a half please! OP meant 1.36pm not 1hr 36 mins!

clpsmum · 03/01/2022 07:50

@ily0x

He sounds like an abusive narcissist. There’s nothing worse than someone who is nasty to waiters/retail staff. What a pathetic little bully. I’m sure he’s a lot less nasty to people who can answer back to him.
Omfg this has given me a laugh. He wasn't rude , he asked politely how long his food would be that hardly makes him an abusive narcissist 🤣🤣🤣