# "Veteran Moves" at Restaurants **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 31, 2013, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882 "2013-01-31T04:49:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/61 "2013-02-01T17:51:55Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > You guys have to go out for your food? Pfft, I get my food to come to me. What a country! ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/62 "2013-02-01T17:52:55Z")
True story: I used to hang out at a pub after work decades ago. I knew all the staff by name, and they knew me too. I didn’t even have to order. I’d walk in and Chris or Jack would have my beer poured before I could even sit down. One night I walked in and it was a brand new girl behind the bar. She looked at me and said “Hi Leaffan!” I was like, whoa, how does she know me? And then I realized I still had my ID badge from work hanging around my neck. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/63 "2013-02-01T18:10:24Z")
Hey, I know this one place where I’m so popular, they’ll let me have ALL I CAN EAT! Plus, they let me take as many Sweet and Lows as I want. Top that! ---
**Author:** ![neofishboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/neofishboy/32/444_2.png) [@neofishboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neofishboy)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/64 "2013-02-01T18:18:59Z")
A local pizza place started offering pesto as an alternative sauce a few years back. We go to the counter to order and the clerk asks “Would you like the regular tomato sauce or pesto?” I consider for a moment, then lock my eyes to hers and say, “Combine them.” She opens her mouth to reply but makes no sound. A single tear runs down her cheek and I can tell that her mind is racing and exploding with possibilities she never knew existed. After that we never saw her again. ---
**Author:** ![ikerosoft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a587f6/32.png) [@ikerosoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ikerosoft)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/65 "2013-02-01T19:00:26Z")
One time, i went into a restaurant and ordered some parsley. They graciously gave me a plate of parsley and garnished it with a big steak and a baked potato! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/66 "2013-02-01T19:26:06Z")
At about half of the restaurants I visit, they let me make my own salad. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/67 "2013-02-01T19:31:04Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > No, you see, the veteran move for Subway is to know the proper sequence to order. Amateurs will pick the sandwich type, and then have to be asked the bread size and type. The veteran knows that the first thing to ask for is your bread size and type, because that’s the first thing they pick up. You then specify the main ingredient, followed by cheese type. An expert knows to specify “toasted” or “not toasted” before they ask. The other day I ordered a six-inch turkey on Monterey cheddar. What kind of cheese, he asks. Cheddar, I say. Toasted? Says he. No, says I. As he’s arranging the grey folds of birdmeat and isosceles cheese-triangles I reconsider and say “actually, I would like that toasted, please.” Guy shoots eye-daggers at me like I was Albert A. Gore unconceding the election. Gosh, bro, if I’d known it was gonna _ruin your day_, I’d just eat the damn thing cold… ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/68 "2013-02-01T19:42:01Z")
and they probably didn’t spit in your soup either. Probably. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/69 "2013-02-01T19:52:31Z")
At red lobster we ask for an extra side of the Caesar dressing That stuff is really good with the biscuits. Similarly, at Olive Garden we get extra sides of the Italian to go with the breadsticks. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/70 "2013-02-01T20:10:08Z")
> [@Emphant](#): > > A few days ago I was at subway with a friend. He ordered first and then when my turn came, I ordered a sub combo but replaced my chips with a bowl of soup. He looked at me with respect and almost a little bit of awe and said “Whoa, nice man. Veteran move! Not just anyone can make that play” > > I admit, I do tend to know my way around a fast food restaurant. What are some other good moves at restaurants that you’ve pulled off that not a lot of people know are options? Doesn’t have to just be fast food. I think my second best play is ordering a McDouble off the dollar menu and getting mac sauce put on it. You should submit both of these to Dos Equis for inclusion in their next “Most Interesting Man in the World” ad. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Fat\_Harry\_Deal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f475e1/32.png) [@Big\_Fat\_Harry\_Deal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Fat_Harry_Deal)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/71 "2013-02-01T20:27:26Z")
I’ve always known Dopers were extraordinary people, but this thread has offered so much further proof! Makes me want to reach for the STARS!😃 ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/72 "2013-02-01T20:29:33Z")
My local MacDonalds has learned to give me a Happy Meal even when I am technically only surly as fuck. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/73 "2013-02-01T20:48:00Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > The other day I ordered a six-inch turkey on Monterey cheddar. What kind of cheese, he asks. Cheddar, I say. I guess I read this wrong at first, which reminded me of a story. Years ago we used to get food delivered from a service. One place that we liked had a sort of confusing menu. They had various types of chicken sandwiches with various toppings. One was plain, others has stuff on them. I ordered the one with BBQ sauce, Monterey jack, and jalapenos. The operator asked me if I wanted anything on it. I said no, nothing. I got a plain chicken sandwich. I guess I should have ordered the one with BBQ sauce, Monterey jack, and jalapenos, with BBQ sauce, Monterey jack, and jalapenos. So much for my “Veteran Moves.” ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/74 "2013-02-01T20:56:00Z")
Today, I went to Arby’s and asked for a Turkey & Cheddar…but on a regular bun instead of an onion roll. (I then asked for it again, after being given one on an onion roll. Does that count as a second Veteran Move?) ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/75 "2013-02-01T21:06:19Z")
> [@Beastly\_Rotter](#): > > My local MacDonalds has learned to give me a Happy Meal even when I am technically only surly as fuck. But they want to make you happy, not surly as fuck. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/76 "2013-02-01T21:46:36Z")
I once wanted an order of plain toast, so I asked for a chicken salad sandwich on wheat toast, no mayonnaise, no butter, and no lettuce. Then I told the waitress to hold the chicken, bring me the toast, and give me a check for the chicken salad sandwich. She asked me if I wanted her to hold the chicken. I want you to hold it between your knees, I says. Veteran move, that. mmm ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/77 "2013-02-01T22:07:55Z")
This thread is so cool, I had to put on a parka and down booties while reading it. ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/78 "2013-02-01T22:08:18Z")
Shoulda asked for four fried chickens and a Coke. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/79 "2013-02-01T22:09:06Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I once wanted an order of plain toast, so I asked for a chicken salad sandwich on wheat toast, no mayonnaise, no butter, and no lettuce. Then I told the waitress to hold the chicken, bring me the toast, and give me a check for the chicken salad sandwich. She asked me if I wanted her to hold the chicken. I want you to hold it between your knees, I says. > > Veteran move, that. > mmm I’m guessing plenty here are too young to know about that. Yesterday in (college) music class, none of the students had heard of Linda Ronstadt. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/80 "2013-02-01T22:10:00Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Veteran move, that. Too late, post 56. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882.md?page=5)