Asking staff to rinse toddler plate

[leggingsandasweatshirt]

I am extremely hormonal so potentially being unreasonable, but interested to see if others think this is a reasonable request or if I am over stepping:

We were out for lunch today and I brought a suction plate for DS (almost 2) because he is likely to launch a regular plate. When we'd finished I realised I'd run out of nappy bags so didn't have anything to put the dirty plate in inside my bag.

I explained this to the waitress and apologised for being a pain and asked if it was possible for someone to give it a quick rinse so I could put it in my bag without covering everything in gravy.

She looked at me like I'd just shit on the table and responded she was trying to clear the plates. I was mortified that I had clearly offended her and said it didn't matter. My step mum then suggested I rinse the plate in the sink in the toilet which I hadn't thought of, so I then went and did that.

I have asked restaurants to do this on occasion before - am I being an entitled wanker or is this a reasonable request?!

I dont think it was an unreasonable request.

I wouldnt give it a second thought.

Yanbu.

Totally fine request, would take 2 secs. She's being ridiculous. I always tip, but in this situation I would not have tipped.

Yes it's unreasonable, couldn't you just wipe it with a tissue or wipe?

I think that's a reasonable request - as waiting staff I'd have been happy to oblige.

I just wipe with a napkin tbh and do a proper wash at home

I'd go and rinse it myself it bothered me that much otherwise would have taken a spare carrier bag to put it in. Sunday lunch is probably a busy time.

Totally reasonable . She was being arsey.

You weren’t unreasonable to ask but from her point of view (I work in hospitality) sometimes little things like that can push you over the edge on a hectic (but often looks quiet to customers) shift. But she shouldn’t have made you feel uncomfortable

I wouldn't have asked. Not something I'd have expected someone else to do tbh. Easy enough to do myself

I'd have just used a wet wipe or tissue, or if really bad go to the toilets & do it there. Wouldn't occur to me to ask the wait staff.

Not being unreasonable. Sure there were other options but you hadn't thought of them in the minute and either way it wasn't hard for her to just be polite. Doubt running that under water for a few seconds would cause her a lot of pain tbh she was being horrible.

As an ex waitress I would have done this without hesitation. You got an odd response!

It would depend.

a) Did you order food from the menu for your toddler, but just use your own plate for convenience.

Or

b) Did you bring your own food for the toddler, use your own plate etc. And only order from the menu for the adults?

If its b, then I think yabu.

I would like to hear the story from the waitress point of view.

I normally baby wipe it and wash up at home. I've never really thought to ask that tbh

It’s probably unlikely she brought her own gravy meal for the toddler.

@minou123 oh no no I ordered from the menu (a full child's roast for £9) for him, I just put some of it onto the suction plate for him to eat to save him being over faced and throwing the food/plate all over the place and making a mess

Depends on the system for pot wash and she'd have to wash her hands, at the hand washing sink in between. If you follow proper hygiene rules, there's no 'quick rinse' option.

Because most toddlers go through a throwing phase, plates and food. Which is why suction plates were invented.

My reading of your post is that you normally come prepared with a bag to put it In but forgot to bring one. It's not unreasonable for you to ask but not unreasonable for them not to. I also understand totally the brain freeze when you can't do what you planned and can't think of a sensible alternative like rinsing it in the bathroom.

I'm surprised you didn't think of the toilet sink! I think it was a bit u.

It's not unreasonable to ask but it's also not unreasonable of her not to want to do it. I would have just given it a wipe.

I don’t think you should have asked this, and I’m surprised that most people think it’s ok. In a restaurant you’re supposed to use their plates obviously and it’s set up for that. It’s fine for you to use that plate and I can understand why, but I don’t think you should then be asking them to wash it for you.

The waiter doesn’t wash things up, that is someone else’s job. The waiter will have to get on with bringing the next person’s food.

The waiter would have to take your special plate to the washing up person, and ask them to wash it. Then the waiter has to remember to go back and get your plate in between whatever else they are actually supposed to be doing and bring it back to you before it gets lost in with other stuff or thrown away by mistake.

I suggest in future if you’re bringing your own plate you bring it in a plastic bag so you have automatically got a bag to take it home in.