Observations on Philippine Dining

[JJReyes]

Bayanihan - In a Philippine restaurant, you can ask any staff whatever you may need.  A cashier once refilled our water glasses because they were empty.  Any tip or service charge not kept by management is shared equally.  In the West, a waiter or waitress is assigned to your table.  Ask someone else and they will either ignore or reprimand you.  I believe the main reason is tips are for the individual rather than the group. 

A seating hostess once tried to give us a really bad high table with high stools meant for bar patrons.  The place was empty, and her reasoning was a need to distribute customers based on wait staff table assignments.  She was pretty stubborn about it.  I wrote a letter to corporate, and their apology letter response included a copy of a memo to all their restaurant managers not to do it.  They offered a complimentary dinner which I declined.  The appropriate punishment was we never revisited this chain.

[Tommy T.]

The cell phone issue at restaurants is an irritant to me. I, too, have banned cell phones when our small family enjoys a meal whether at home or in a restaurant. I remember, several years ago (I can still remember some things in my dotage!), sitting at a small restaurant in Palau.... Across the room from us was a family of four sitting at a table... None of them was talking to another because they all had cell phones out and were busy texting. We joked that they were possibly texting each other while at the table rather than talking?

And to confirm... L and I are not chefs by any means... However, we both can and do prepare some magnificent meals at a fraction of the cost of restaurant fare. Last weekend I bbq'ed salmon smoked with alder wood chips while L and her daughter bbq'ed chicken. L also had a worker split some fresh coconuts so we had a refreshing coconut meat salad. I had also prepared pork ribs that (not trying to brag here) I would compare to some of the best available at resto's here and in a lot of places.... And we had two kids to wash all the dishes and clean up! No crying kids, no cell phones, and the peace, quiet  and privacy of our own home. I even turned on the air/con. Then we watched movies and did not drive anywhere. To me, it doesn't get much better than that!

Edited February 22, 2023 by Tommy T.

[Tommy T.]

25 minutes ago, JJReyes said:

A seating hostess once tried to give us a really bad high table with high stools meant for bar patrons.  The place was empty, and her reasoning was a need to distribute customers based on wait staff table assignments.  She was pretty stubborn about it.  I wrote a letter to corporate, and their apology letter response included a copy of a memo to all their restaurant managers not to do it.  They offered a complimentary dinner which I declined.  The appropriate punishment was we never revisited this chain.

Where was this and can you tell us which chain? Was this in Philippines or USA? Just curious...

[JJReyes]

1 hour ago, Tommy T. said:

Where was this and can you tell us which chain? Was this in Philippines or USA? Just curious...

Applebee's Palm Spring branch.

[Tommy T.]

2 hours ago, JJReyes said:

Applebee's Palm Spring branch.

Interesting. I haven't been to an Applebees in over twenty years... But all changes over time, right? It was a family type place I went to in the Chicago area. It was reasonably priced, the food was good, but not gourmet, and the service was reasonable too... I would recommend that restaurant to anyone for those reasons above. I hope they learned from your experience to improve their customer service...

 

[hk blues]

I am that bad guy!  At home we don't let our son use his phone when we eat dinner although we all watch TV at that time - a tad hypocritical maybe!  When we eat out we let him use his phone while waiting for the food and after it's finished but not while eating - the phone is muted as are most others as far as I am aware.  Honesty speaking, I don't really get the problem as long as the phones are muted or headphones are being used - this is mostly the case around me and surely with you guys as well? If you're coming at this from the socialising angle then I agree to some extent but as long as the communication between me and my son is fine I can concede on this matter.

It beats crying kids and barking dogs which has become a new issue in our local SM City post-pandemic.    

 

 

[BrettGC]

9 minutes ago, hk blues said:

I am that bad guy!  At home we don't let our son use his phone when we eat dinner although we all watch TV at that time - a tad hypocritical maybe!  When we eat out we let him use his phone while waiting for the food and after it's finished but not while eating - the phone is muted as are most others as far as I am aware.  Honesty speaking, I don't really get the problem as long as the phones are muted or headphones are being used - this is mostly the case around me and surely with you guys as well? If you're coming at this from the socialising angle then I agree to some extent but as long as the communication between me and my son is fine I can concede on this matter.

It beats crying kids and barking dogs which has become a new issue in our local SM City post-pandemic.    

 

 

No tears or crying in our house, the kids know the rules or they don't eat.  Yes, it's a socialisation issue; it's the one time of day we all catch up when they eat at our place and they can make a quick escape after the meal is done if they want to, after helping clean up of course.   Same as you, when we're out, phones until the meal arrives then they put them down and pick them up again once the meal is done if the adults are hanging around talking boring adult stuff and they can't escape.

Being out to dinner with a group of adults that has their faces in their phones... You may as well go out by yourself.  

[hk blues]

26 minutes ago, BrettGC said:

No tears or crying in our house, the kids know the rules or they don't eat.  Yes, it's a socialisation issue; it's the one time of day we all catch up when they eat at our place and they can make a quick escape after the meal is done if they want to, after helping clean up of course.   Same as you, when we're out, phones until the meal arrives then they put them down and pick them up again once the meal is done if the adults are hanging around talking boring adult stuff and they can't escape.

Being out to dinner with a group of adults that has their faces in their phones... You may as well go out by yourself.  

Maybe I wasn't clear on the tears comment - not so much kids crying because they aren't getting to use their phones as the younger kids i.e. 3 or 4 or younger who need to be entertained when in a restaurant - letting them watch a cartoon etc is a good way to entertain them whilst the adults can enjoy their meals in relative peace. 

[Onemore52]

36 minutes ago, hk blues said:

Maybe I wasn't clear on the tears comment - not so much kids crying because they aren't getting to use their phones as the younger kids i.e. 3 or 4 or younger who need to be entertained when in a restaurant - letting them watch a cartoon etc is a good way to entertain them whilst the adults can enjoy their meals in relative peace. 

That is what I was talking about, the kids on the iPads with the volume turned up while the parents sit there oblivious to the disruption to other people in the vicinity of their table. So back home we go. Stuff the parents and their attitude.

[hk blues]

33 minutes ago, Onemore52 said:

That is what I was talking about, the kids on the iPads with the volume turned up while the parents sit there oblivious to the disruption to other people in the vicinity of their table. So back home we go. Stuff the parents and their attitude.

Unfortunately, we are living in a country where people generally don't give much consideration to those around them. In any situation. I must admit I don't really see much of an issue as we tend to eat in the food court in the mall or family-style restaurants where the noise all around will drown out most stuff.