Dining Etiquette Tips
New Orleans has a plethora of restaurants, and dining out is integral to the city's culture. From Brennan's to Turkey and the Wolf, there is sure to be somewhere to satisfy everyone's appetites. That being said, some key points of etiquette are essential to making sure your server doesn't spit in your food.
Here's some advice from a former server:
1. No Snapping
This is not a poetry slam. Snapping at your server is possibly one of the rudest things you can do to your server. Not only does your server have to help other tables, but it snaps them out of their flow and can make them forget their neverending list of things that they have to do. If you really need them at that exact moment, a simple wave will suffice.
2. Do Not Order a Steak Well Done and Expect It to Come Out Quickly
We're not going to comment on ordering a steak well done, but do not expect it to come out as quickly as a medium rare. You've ordered possibly the one item on the menu with the longest cook time, and it's going to take a while to get that cow to get grey. If you want it faster, ask for it butterflied.
3. Do Not Make Lemonade with Lemons and Sugar
A lemonade at a restaurant costs, at most, $5 or $6. If you want it that badly and can afford to eat out, you should be able to spare the change to get an actual lemonade and not leave a mountain of emptied sugar packets for your server to clean up. Not to mention, it doesn't actually taste that good. A real lemonade blows the fake one out of the water.
4. Control Your Children
This is not a playground. Not only does letting your children run around the restaurant disturb the dining experience of others, servers are carrying hot plates and are not necessarily looking at the ground. Little ones getting in the way of this is a recipe for disaster. While parents may have learned selective hearing to protect their sanity, others have not, and screeching is sure to cause a headache.
5. Be Careful with Your First Date Menu Choices
Spaghetti and a white shirt is an obvious, "No," but eating other messy foods such as a hamburger, gumbo, a po-boy, or even crawfish étouffée can land you in hot water and scrambling for a glass of soda water. Opt for something easier to eat like a salad or something with a limited amount of sauce.
6. Know Your Limit
The last thing your server wants to do is have to awkwardly cut you off. Not only does over drinking lead to bad decisions but one becomes more clumsy, leading to knocked over glasses and yelling. This is also not an excuse to puke and rally in the bathroom, as your wretching will surely echo throughout the restaurant and alert everyone to what you're doing.
7. Do Not Leave Your Table a Mess
Consensus is still out on whether you should stack your plates after your meal, but common courtesy is to not leave your table a mess. Please restrict your food to your plate and do not empty your purse's contents on the table for your server to clean up. Also, leaving outside soda bottles is sure to build resentment from your server as they'll see it as a missed tip.
8. Only Send Back Food One Time
We servers do want you to enjoy your meal, and we all have different tastebuds, but there is only so much we can do if you order something you don't usually eat and don't like it. Asking for a remake one time is fine, but if you're still not satisfied, please take up your server's offer of getting you something different.
9. Limit Modifications
If you don't like tomato on your burger, that's fine, but a lot of soups and sauces are made in batches and simply cannot be changed. Plus, too many modifications in your order increases the risk that your stoned line cook will mess something up. Please go easy on your kitchen staff, and don't make them create a whole new menu item for you.
10. Don't be Entitled
Unless you've made a sketchy restaurant choice, chances are that your server has multiple tables to handle and cannot wait on you hand and foot. Asking for copious refills or demanding an explanation of every menu item will increase the chance of your server getting in the weeds and resenting you.
11. Tip Your Server
This shouldn't have to be said, but tip your server. While you may think that you're saving $10, if everyone didn't tip, that $2.13 service minimum wage will hit your server hard and they possibly won't be able to pay their light bill. Karma is real, and what goes around, comes around.
With these tips in mind, go out and eat, drink, and be merry. We New Orleanians want you to enjoy your experience here. Just remember to not make an ass of yourself or else you might end up consuming someone's spit.
