I went out to Macodo’s (an Applebee’s like chain restaurant found in college towns in Virginia and North Carolina) tonight. I ordered what I usually order, the mac and cheese that comes with chicken, brocolli, and a couple of pieces of garlic bread. The server brings out my food and only leaves me with a fork to eat it with. That’s right, just a fork, no knife or napkins that usually accompany forks in restaurants. I asked for a knife and napkins (I’m one of those weirdos who uses my knife to push food onto my fork) and I got a strange look from the server. Granted, there were two cocktail napkins on the table, but, if I’m going to be sitting at a table and eating a full meal, I like to have a regular sized napkin on my lap. I can usually handle not spilling food on myself, but it seems like a handy thing to have just in case, especially when you’re eating food like garlic bread that requires you to wipe your hands on something after handling it.
The thing is, this happened the last time I went to Macado’s too. I ordered the same dish and had to ask for a knife and napkins. Am I that weird for wanting to eat my food in a polite manner?
Actually, it’s the restaurant that sounds weird. Every restaurant I’ve been in (not counting faast food places) usually has the utensils (knife, fork and spoon) and napkin already on the table when you sit down. The few that don’t (usually because you’ve been seated before they had a chance to put them out) bring them over soon afterwards with an apology. What kind of restaurant brings the utensils with the food?
I side with Kat here. Why even patronize a place like that?
Places that appear to be “bucking trends” just for the sake of being different don’t tend to last in areas where people are used to service and polite waitstaff.
Leave no tip. Tell whoever picks up your check (or the person at the register) that the service sucks and that not only will you personally never darken their door again, but that you will urge everyone you know to do the same. Odds are the place will close within a few months.
I recall a Macado’s in Greensboro in the 90’s. I don’t remember anything special about it, but I do believe I’d remember the sort of treatment you mention, MissMossie. And I’m pretty sure if that had been how I was treated, I wouldn’t even have stayed for the check. I’ve walked out of many a restaurant, for all sorts of reasons. Being ignored or treated in a shoddy manner is one of them.
My problem isn’t with them putting out only forks to start with or with you asking for a knife and napkins, it’s with this part:
What? It’s not like knives and napkins are some exotic tools. As a server, it’s her job to make you feel at home and utterly comfortable. If that means bringing you a side dish of mayonnaise for your sweet tea, she should get her patootie to the kitchen and bring you mayonnaise with no strange looks!
I can make a guess that the owner has done some obscure logarithm to determine that most diners only use a fork and that by presetting only forks, he can save 43 cents a night on hot water for the dishwasher by not sanitizing knives that aren’t used. Fine. But that doesn’t mean anyone should make you feel weird for making a polite request.
I don’t think I’d stiff her tip or report her, but I might ask, “So, are knives a strange request? 'Cause you seemed surprised when I asked for one, and that made me feel weird.” Hopefully, if she has any sort of skill as a waitperson, she’ll get the hint. If not, you’re no worse off.
So, is it fair to assume that people in Aussieland just tolerate whatever is passed off as service with no objections? Maybe the Macado folks can move there when they fail in NC and VA.
In my experience, it’s not uncommon in family restaraurants for the cutlery to be brought with the food, usually all rolled up in a serviette. I think it’s a hygiene issue - if you have the cutlery on the table in a restaurant that has a lot of traffic, how can you be sure that no-one’s been handling the extra cutlery on the table? Plus, if you bring it with the meal, you can bring exactly the right number for the people at the table - you don’t have extras on the table set for four, when only two are sitting there.
I’m with Northern Piper on this part. I didn’t think it was odd that the silverware wasn’t automatically on the table when I got there, I just thought it was odd that I wasn’t brought a knife and some napkins along with the fork and my food and then that I was looked at like I had two heads when I requested a knife and some napkins. Macado’s definitely isn’t fine dining by any means, but those seem like such basic table settings for any place that uses metal cutlery rather than plastic.
The rest of the experience was alright. I really think my server was just genuinely confused by why I would want a knife for a meal that requires absolutely no cutting. The napkins thing though…who doesn’t use napkins when they eat?
It has been my experience that evidently, you can eat anything from any fast food joint (besides Wendy’s) without benefit of a napkin. And if you order enough food for four, at best, you need one napkin, if any at all.
Maybe that is why I did so well when I was a waitress. You could order anything you wanted on our menu, I’d figure out how to charge you for it. I assumed that people needed silverware and full beverages. I’d never drop the check off as soon as I delivered the food, never to be seen again. I’d gladly accommodate children. (I had to ask 3 times for a high chair the other day, it’s not like babybeast is invisible) I kept a pocket full of straws and I would make honest recommendations when asked.
Generally, we’d just ask for a knife and a napkin, and leave it at that. I’m *fairly *sure that the primary response of most Australians (certainly not all; we’ve got our share of drama queens) wouldn’t be to, say, stalk off in a huff, throw a hissy fit, or try to run them out of business.
I have no idea how upmarket Macado is; if it’s moderately-priced then it should come with napkins and a knife. I’d definitely ask for these. However, if I thought the server’s attitude was odd, I’d query it first. I’d at least try to find out what caused that reaction before withholding a tip.
And if I was disappointed with the service on two consecutive occasions, I’d choose a different restaurant next time, rather than turning a trivial event into high drama.