These are the 10 most offensive things you can do in a restaurant: Poll

Be honest: Have you ever carried your own alcohol into a restaurant? What about arguing with the wait staff about prices? If so, you’ve broken some of the “unwritten rules” of eating out.

But these two offenses are not even top crimes, according to a recent UK study Market research company YouGov.

The company surveyed more than 1,000 Americans last April to find out which restaurant customer behaviors were considered completely unacceptable.

While many survey respondents were divided on specific actions, such as making adjustments to a menu item, the vast majority agreed on one thing. About 90% said the most annoying thing you can do in a restaurant is refuse to pay for a meal you had but didn’t like.

Brian Hall, a professor of contracts at Loyola Law School in California, previously said: Kiplinger’s financial news website That in most cases you will be bound to pay the bill for a distasteful dish that you keep ignoring. However, Hull explained that many restaurants simply return the meal to the kitchen and don’t charge the customer if they don’t eat it all.

90% of respondents said that allowing your children to roam freely around the restaurant is another no-no when it comes to eating out. Some restaurants have gone so far as to ban young children altogether, such as Nettie’s House of Spaghetti in Tinton Falls, New Jersey.

In February 2023, the Italian restaurant made headlines after announcing on social media that it would no longer allow children under the age of 10 to dine there.

“We love kids. We really, really do,” Nettie’s post read, Depending on the day. “Between the noise levels, no space for high chairs, cleaning up crazy messes, and the responsibility of kids running around the restaurant, we decided it was time to take control of the situation.”

Although the ban sparked mixed reactions online, it remains in effect. Per site Nettie.

Discussing menu prices with staff, staying past the restaurant’s closing time and snapping your fingers to get the waiter’s attention are among the top five.

See the top 10 bad eating behaviors below, along with the percentage of survey respondents who found them unacceptable.

1. Let’s say they wouldn’t pay for a dish they didn’t like but ate it (90%)
2. Allow their children to roam freely (90%)
3. Discussing menu prices with employees (84%)
4. Restaurant closing time exceeded (83%)
5. Cracking their fingers to get the waiter’s attention (81%)
6. Bringing outside food or drinks into the restaurant (71%)
7. Showing up 15 minutes late for your reservation (66%)
8. Leaving messes on the table, such as spilled drinks or food crumbs (60%)
9. Occupying a table for a long time during peak hours (58%)
10. Flirting with employees (57%)

click here To see the full results of the survey.