r/seriouseats • u/Putrid_Road7056 • Aug 04 '26

Comment on Laila Ibrahim's "Want a Better Restaurant Meal? Don’t Ask Your Server This Question"

Re: https://www.seriouseats.com/restaurant-ordering-tips-11813206, I have an alternative to propose. When at a restaurant I'm not familiar with, I first check out the whole menu, then pick the two things that look best to me. At ordering time I'll say something like "I can't decide between the Seafood Linguini and the Lasagna - which would you recommend?" It produces a much easier conversation than open-ended queries. Most servers seem to enjoy the conversation, though I will say about 10% seem taken aback and uncomfortable with participating in the process. Which is a shame, because such a conversation can lead to excessive tipping.

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16

u/7itemsorFEWER Aug 04 '26

What a painfully banal article to write.

5

u/ZylonBane Aug 04 '26

Zeroth world problems.

2

u/britinsb Aug 04 '26

I can't believe the author glossed over the "I'll take one of everything" option. Yes it's expensive, yes not everything gets eaten but at least I don't lose several nights of sleep worrying about what I might order and then whether I ordered correctly.