Going out to a restaurant can feel like a real treat these days amid the continued pressures of inflation. It's become such a luxury that some people have apparently forgotten how to properly behave while dining out.
A recent YouGov survey asked 1,000 American adults about the acceptability of 20 restaurant behaviors, and the results indicate many people think the customer is not always right.
"Eating out is governed by an unwritten rule book. Some behaviors are widely accepted, such as sending back an incorrect order. But others, such as refusing to pay for a disliked meal, are viewed by many Americans as faux pas," Taylor Orth wrote for YouGov.
These are the top 10 bad diner behaviors, according to the survey:
• Say they won't pay for a dish they didn't like but ate (90%)
• Allow their children to roam freely (90%)
• Debate menu prices with the staff (84%)
• Stay past the restaurant’s closing time (83%)
• Snap their fingers to get the waiter’s attention (81%)
• Bring outside food or drinks into the restaurant (71%)
• Show up 15 minutes late to a reservation (66%)
• Leave a mess at the table, such as spilled drinks or food crumbs (60%)
• Occupy a table for an extended period during busy hours (58%)
• Flirt with the staff (57%)
The survey also identified some of the most divisive customer behaviors — meaning a significant portion of people say they are acceptable and unacceptable. Those include:
• Take an extended period of time to decide what to order (48% acceptable vs. 34% unacceptable)
• Ask to taste a bottle of wine before purchasing it (43% acceptable vs. 33% unacceptable)
• Ask for multiple modifications to a menu item (44% acceptable vs. 33% unacceptable)
• Leave no tip after receiving bad service (51% acceptable vs. 31% unacceptable)
• Ask for a table near a power outlet to charge their devices (51% acceptable vs. 29% unacceptable)
At the other end of the spectrum, the survey shows most Americans say it's acceptable to do each of the following:
• Ask for a to-go container to take home leftovers (93%)
• Send back a dish that wasn't made as specified (84%)
• Take photos of their food (75%)
• Ask to split the bill between a large number of people (71%)
• Ask to be seated before their entire party arrives (69%)