To expect a restaurant to be able to do a pint of milk?

[YourAgileBiscuit]

My autistic DD (13) will normally only drink milk when we are out in restaurants etc.

Some restaurants (including chain restaurants and pubs/carvery places) get a bit funny about it when she orders/asks for milk though. Even though they already have milk for the kitchen and for teas/coffees. We’ve had some restaurants outright refuse as well even though they have milk in the building.

Is it unreasonable to expect restaurants to be able to serve milk for a paying customer? Of course we pay for her milk, we are not asking for it for free!

I would say about 50% of places we go to get funny about it which I don’t understand as they already have milk in the building.

I don't think I've ever claimed otherwise?

Why are you saying “At last you’re getting it!!” like that? I’ve never suggested otherwise! It’s people trying to suggest it’s outlandish to even ask I have an issue with.

Weirdly, if my daughter just out of the blue asked if she could have milk with her meal, I would ask the server if it was possible.
If my daughter would ONLY drink milk, I would take my own milk with me to ensure she could have a drink without having to be anxious that the restaurant may not be able to supply it.

I think the key in the OP is that this is a known dietary requirement for their DD. As such, it should be taken care of by the parent and they shouldn’t rely on the goodwill and/or capacity of the restaurant to fulfill an off-menu request.

How much milk do you put in your tea if a pint only does 5 teas?

I'm going to guess it as 1/5 of a pint.

That's a very very milky tea!

Sorry misread your post completely @arethereanyleftatall!

So servers have to deal with random, querlous customers because they should, that's what they're there for?

Parmesan is put on the table, if you choose to spoon it out and eat the lot then everyone will think you're weird, but nobody will stop you

No, no, it isn't. Precisely for stock control reasons. A restaurant will factor in each pasta dish getting a teaspoon of parmesan (or whatever) and some will want more and some none, but assumptions about usage will be factored into the ordering.

Oh no! Of course I’d never suggest anyone working in a service role should be able to deal with customer complaints. That would NEVER do.

Well alright then - let’s say it’s seven or eight. What restaurant is so careful with ordering a cheap staple that they’d be prepared to run out if a party of eight all wanted coffee?

Most places will get a set amount of milk delivered on certain days if your dd will only drink milk and you know you have this issue why don't you just take some with you in a flask ? That would be the sensible and easiest thing to do

YANBU! I love a glass of milk, and so do my kids. I remember being at a soft play once where I would have thought loads of people must regularly ask for milk and they only had sugary fizzy drinks available and when I asked for milk, they gave me a handful of those tiny portions of UHT milk you get in hotel rooms by the kettle!

I doubt many restaurants would or could calculate their milk requirements down to the last drop so that they couldn’t spare, what…300ml? I think it’s an uncommon request, but one that should rarely, if ever, be refused. It’s a glass of milk!

More likely, servers get thrown by an unusual request, and have no idea how to process it. Even though it’s quite simple.

If the op had any common sense knowing this is a dietary requirement her daughter has EVERY SINGLE TIME she would take her own milk . But God forbid they have any accountability for their own child

If the soft play are regularly being asked for.glasses of milk then it makes sense for them put it on the menu I would assume they were not ,and sold sugary ,and fizzy drinks because they knew that, s what their customers wanted .

Which then throws out inventory if you do it too often.

I'm quite suprise that 50% refuse. Pint of milk is not that much and tea/coffee orders can fluctuate a lot. I wouldn't expect everyone to agree but 50% is a lot. They sell milk in those juice box type things so I'd be taking those with me to restaurants.

Glad you're understanding now! 👍

The vast majority of restaurants won’t let you bring your own food and drink.

I think more would allow the OP to have a quiet conversation along the lines of "do you sell milk as a drink? no? then is it OK if DD drinks her own from this flask and we order just food for her, the rest of us will order food and drink as normal" than would put through milk as orange juice or whatever.

DD could always order free tap water to drink and leave it untouched!

The vast majority of restaurants won’t let you bring your own food and drink.

They will if you explain it's an allergy or dietary requirement.

And it’s neither.

Can you not out milk in a cold
flask/bottle and bring it with you? Rather than get pissed off that places won’t always serve you something that’s not in the menu????

Yes, it is. The child has autism and can only drink milk. That's a dietary requirement.