# "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:** 7
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/121 "2013-02-19T05:04:07Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I really, really have to wonder what kind of places you guys go to where a simple request is ignored half the time or more. Seriously, I’ve had fuck ups like this from time-to-time, but on the order of 5% of the time, not 50%, like folks in this thread. It’s a curse that places around here, the default is to stick friggin’ lemon in water or tea. Apparently enough people ask for it that they have started doing it out of habit. But I don’t want lemon. And no, putting the slice of lemon on the glass rim and letting the patron squeeze the lemon in does not count as not giving me lemon. A bit of lemon juice gets in from sliding the slice onto the rim. So I clearly request my beverage the way I prefer, because I know if I fail to say “no lemon” it will almost certainly come with lemon, yet even then the waitstaff frequently, out of habit, still bring me a glass with lemon. Sometimes it’s because the person taking the request passes it off to someone else to deliver the drinks. Sometimes it’s just force of habit. But it is a much more common occurrence that 5% of the time. I want to get into a raging fit to make it sink in that I don’t want friggin’ lemon, but I realize that won’t do any good, just get me weird looks or worse. So I’ve decided to just be ultra patient with them, and tell them to fix it. Because, goddamnit, lemon tastes like ass and I don’t want any. Hmm, maybe that’s how I should phrase it… ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/122 "2013-02-20T22:29:20Z")
> [@Apocalypso](#): > > On one now legendary trip to Arbys, I found myself craving a Beef N Cheddar but they don’t put enough meat on it. The Medium Roast Beef, on the other hand, has enough beef but they use that shitty cheese and a bun that’s not an Onion Bun. I appeared to be Calm, Cool, and Collected as I stepped up to the counter, but my heart was pounding. Would I be able to pull this off? "Medium Roast Beef _on an onion bun. With the good cheddar."_ I stepped back, basking in the gasps of the people in line behind me. But the cashier didn’t bat an eye. A drink inquiry, some tapping on the register, then “Your total will be $4.53”. Women fainted and strong men stared with open mouths. I stepped to my right, and the next in line stepped up, knowing before he even opened his mouth that he couldn’t match my glory. He mumbled his order, unseen and unheard by any except the cashier. Wait, is there more than one kind of liquid cheese at Arby’s? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/123 "2013-02-21T00:14:22Z")
Just looks like **Apocalypso** is far more of a veteran moves Arby’s playa than you, JS. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/124 "2013-02-22T00:53:44Z")
> [@JSexton](#): > > Wait, is there more than one kind of liquid cheese at Arby’s? I don’t know if this is true at every Arby’s, but at this one they used a different cheese for the beef n cheddar than they did on the roast beef with cheese. The beef n cheddar cheese was much better, almost a nacho cheese without the bits of jalapenos. [QUOTE=JohnT] Just looks like Apocalypso is far more of a veteran moves Arby’s playa than you, JS. [/QUOTE] When I roll into an arbys i order stuff that even most of the employees don’t know about. boo-yah! 😛 ---
**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 22, 2013, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/125 "2013-02-22T01:08:56Z")
> [@nachtmusick](#): > > This smooth move allows me to avoid having to leave a tip for the wait-staff, saving me 5 to 10% of the price of the meal. Cheapskate. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/126 "2013-02-22T02:31:13Z")
It was a joke, Leaffan. Do you tip the waitstaff when you order food to-go? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/127 "2013-02-22T03:05:51Z")
Never mind food to go. We’ll order a pizza, send it to a vacant house, then ambush the delivery guy. Free pizza and no tip! ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/128 "2013-02-22T04:35:47Z")
> [@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 May I recommend the episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee featuring Alec Baldwin. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/129 "2013-02-22T11:32:41Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Never mind food to go. We’ll order a pizza, send it to a vacant house, then ambush the delivery guy. Free pizza and no tip! And if the delivery guy was a snazzy dresser and your size, new duds! ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/130 "2013-02-22T14:23:29Z")
> [@Apocalypso](#): > > I appeared to be Calm, Cool, and Collected as I stepped up to the counter, but my heart was pounding. Would I be able to pull this off? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/131 "2013-02-22T14:57:54Z")
Not exactly a restaurant move, but whenever I fly on my birthday I ask for a free soda, and I get it! Sometimes the whole can! ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/132 "2013-02-22T16:11:40Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Never mind food to go. We’ll order a pizza, send it to a vacant house, then ambush the delivery guy. Free pizza and no tip! This happened when I was at Ft. Bragg. There was a pizza guy who would come on base with a bunch of pizzas and sell them in the barracks. One time he got jumped by a handful of people in my company (from the other platoon but we were all on the same floor). When the sergeant who was Charge of Quarters that night called one of the soldiers out, she came out dressed in all black eating one of his pizzas. ooops. Back to veteran moves. Sometimes at my work, the vendors give out free lunch to the account managers. Because I’m not an account manager, I usually skip past their spiel about their products and get right into line for the free food. I am totally mercenary about the free food around here. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/133 "2013-02-22T16:53:42Z")
NPR just had a segment about secret menus. [Link](http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/02/21/172518724/secret-menus-give-restaurants-a-not-so-secret-boost?utm_source=npr&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=20130221). ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/134 "2013-02-22T17:57:46Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Never mind food to go. We’ll order a pizza, send it to a vacant house, then ambush the delivery guy. Free pizza and no tip! > [@kayaker](#): > > And if the delivery guy was a snazzy dresser and your size, new duds! Stop thinking small - new RIDE! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/135 "2013-02-22T18:09:07Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Stop thinking small - new RIDE! Haven’t seen the typical pizza delivery car, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/136 "2013-02-22T23:13:22Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Stop thinking small - new RIDE! Hey! Waddya think I am, a crook? ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2013, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/137 "2013-02-23T00:38:24Z")
Now, when I went to a restaurant–one with a bar, mind you–and ordered coffee with Irish cream, it took no less than three consultations between my waiter and the manager and the bar manager to finally come back and let me know that they don’t have coffee with Irish cream. I said, “You have a bar. No Irish cream?” He said (actually he sort of whispered), “Well, yes, but it has _alcohol_ in it.” Yes, I said. Yes, I want the one with booze in it. In coffee. In a cup. I must be doing something wrong. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2013, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/138 "2013-02-23T04:28:25Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > It was a joke, Leaffan. Do you tip the waitstaff when you order food to-go? I do but not as much. I figure they are doing some serving for a fraction of minimum wage ( if it is a server and not a dedicated carry-out staffer). They are bagging all kinds of stuff, preparing some sides themselves, getting cutlery, running around etc. they just aren’t doing refills/checking back- which I don’t need anyway. So I usually tip something. The convenience of carry out for me is not avoiding the tip but eating at home. ---
**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 23, 2013, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/139 "2013-02-23T04:59:27Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Never mind food to go. We’ll order a pizza, send it to a vacant house, then ambush the delivery guy. Free pizza and no tip! For extra yucks, dress as Dick Turpin and shout “Stand and deliver!”. ---
**Author:** ![Glazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e57/32.png) [@Glazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glazer)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2013, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veteran-moves-at-restaurants/648882/140 "2013-02-23T05:19:35Z")
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