eating out

Is It Ever OK To Walk Out Of A Terrible Restaurant Without
Paying?

Is It Ever OK To Walk Out Of A Terrible Restaurant Without Paying?

Reader C wants to know if it is possible for a restaurant’s service to be so bad that you are justified in walking out. We’re thinking he means “morally” justified because we’re pretty sure you need to pay if you eat the food. [More]

Jack In The Box's Free Wi-Fi Experiment Ended. Did Anyone Notice?

Jack In The Box's Free Wi-Fi Experiment Ended. Did Anyone Notice?

Knowzy.com, the website that’s been tracking which Jack in the Box stores were offering free Wi-Fi, reports that the restaurant chain has pulled the plug. The Wi-Fi offer came with the installation of HDTVs that displayed ads in the dining area, but those are gone too: “In mid-2009, the TVs and the Wi-Fi began disappearing. By the time McDonald’s made their free Wi-Fi announcement in December, Jack had completely dismantled his Wi-Fi network.” [More]

Secrets Of Waiters

Secrets Of Waiters

Michelle Crouch at Reader’s Digest has compiled another list of secrets that your waiter won’t tell you. Some are just going to make you annoyed, like the waitress who lies for sympathy tips. But there are plenty of useful secrets on the list that might improve your experience the next time you go out to eat. [More]

Let This Flowchart Tell You Which Chain Restaurant To Visit Next

Let This Flowchart Tell You Which Chain Restaurant To Visit Next

Sometimes it’s hard to decide on a chain restaurant when you’re going out to eat. Luckily, the blog Eating The Road has produced a handy flowchart. What I like best about it is it asks the important questions, things like “Are you Drunk? Do you want to be? Are you high?” And most important, “Do you mind flair?” [More]

50 More Things Restaurant Staffers Should Never Do

50 More Things Restaurant Staffers Should Never Do

As promised, here is part II of the NYT “Stuff Restaurant Staffers Should Never Do” series. The list was written by a fellow who is opening a seafood restaurant in Bridgehampton, NY. We’ve grabbed the most debate-worthy of them for your enjoyment.

50 Things Restaurant Staffers Should Never Do

50 Things Restaurant Staffers Should Never Do

Over at the NYT there is a raging debate going on about restaurant server etiquette. We won’t reproduce all 50 “do nots” here, but we did pick a few particularly debate worthy edicts.

How To Make The Most Of Your Fancy Restaurant Experience

How To Make The Most Of Your Fancy Restaurant Experience

Frank Bruni, the outgoing restaurant critic at the New York Times, has used his last column to provide tips on how to get the best value out of your next fine dining experience.

Eat Out And Save

Eat Out And Save

Eating out is one of the fastest ways to burn a hole through your wallet, but with a few tips from Five Cent Nickel, you can still enjoy a good meal without breaking the bank.

Sharing Restaurant Dishes Is Becoming Slightly More Acceptable

Sharing Restaurant Dishes Is Becoming Slightly More Acceptable

Good news thrifty diners, you’re not the only ones asking to share dishes at restaurants these days. Thanks to the recession, it’s becoming acceptable for everyone to split their dishes, and restaurants aren’t complaining. “Now all bets are off,” said David Pogrebin, manager of the snazzy French restaurant Brasserie. “People are not ashamed of being frugal.”

Is It Ever Acceptable Not To Tip At A Restaurant?

Is It Ever Acceptable Not To Tip At A Restaurant?

Society has determined that service at a restaurant is worth between 15%-20% of the final bill, but is it ever acceptable not to tip?

Mrs. Fields Files For Bittersweet Bankruptcy Protection

Mrs. Fields Files For Bittersweet Bankruptcy Protection

Mrs. Fields, the sweet old woman with the cookies, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection today because flour and milk have become too expensive. Besides, you people aren’t splurging on luxuries likes sweets or meals out anyway thanks to the ongoing non-recession inflation thing that also killed off Bennigan’s.