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Rant 😠 Pet Peeves Regarding To-Go Orders

michaelskis

Sawdust Producer
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We don't always have the opportunity to enjoy a meal at a restaurant and sometimes we just need to take the food to go. Sometimes we just do drive through and others we might get a beer while we wait for our bag of food. However, I have discovered a few things that are starting to get under my skin.

Napkins: how hard is it to put napkins in the bag. There have been countless times that we stop at a fast food restaurant, use the rest room, and get the food to go. It is only after we are back on the freeway we discover that while the food is there, the napkins didn't make the trip. And it isn't just fast food either. I am eating a sandwich for McAllister's Deli at my desk and found there are no napkins.

Added Fees: A particular Mexican restaurant that I would regularly eat at had amazing food. New owners took over and I started noticing a to-go fee being charged. It wasn't a credit card fee, because that was on there separately. When I asked about it, they explained that it was to cover the cost of the foam container that my food was in and for someone to put it in there. COME ON, I am sure the cost of washing the plates and silverware, and putting everything on that plate cost more than some mass produced foam container. Needless to say, they lost a customer.

Are there elements of to-go orders that frustrate you?
 
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The basic napkin, plastic fork thing is annoying, but I've just gotten used to walking over to the counter and grabbing my own. Unless it's an actual restaurant.

People who are cheap on the sauce. You want ketchup, hot sauce, whatever? Here's one packet to cover it all. It's 1 hot sauce per taco and maybe 2 for a burrito if it's big. If you have fries i'm going to need a few ketchup packets.

Why is my fast food now costing as much as a sit down restaurant in some cases. I do not want a sub, chips, and a drink for close to $20. I'm not expecting steak for that price, but I do expect better.
 
When i order from a sit down restautant - not having the order ready when promised.
 
Napkins - solved that issue and have several in the glovebox from fast food places.

Sauce - There's a place we like to go for their burgers. I don't really like ketchup, so I ask to substitute BBQ sauce for it (they have ribs and such so its a common item there). They started charging 50 cents for it. I questioned it and the manager said its a corporate decision (server was standing there too). After manager left, she said that was rude of him. Ever since then, she hasn't charged me.
 
You guys have to-go restaurants? The only drive-thrus we have here are Burger King, McDonalds, and one place that does drive up Spaetzle.

Vegan Cheese GIF by Anok & Peas
 
The only 2 Go restaurant I have patronized since 12/8 is a Chicken shack owned by one of our City's Policemen who likes to hire moonlighting muni workers as cooks. .25 cent fee + sales tax for all card transactions to go, cash preferred ;) They give you anything you ask for re: spices, sauces, always generous with napkins.

There are plenty of other take out places in WNY that probably charge but those are for normies and SUNY students, and avoiding fast food and spending local are two of my goals for the year.
 
You guys have to-go restaurants? The only drive-thrus we have here are Burger King, McDonalds, and one place that does drive up Spaetzle.

Vegan Cheese GIF by Anok & Peas
Great, now I'm depressed that there is no Spaetzle place around here.
 
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