You’ve got to give it to food and service industry professionals—many of them have the patience of saints! An unavoidable part of your job when you’re cooking and serving strangers food is having to deal with rude and entitled customers from time to time. It’s practically a rite of passage.
However, some people go beyond mere rudeness and go full delulu. In a thread on ‘Kitchen Confidential,’ the cooks and servers of Reddit spilled the tea about the dumbest things that customers have ever said or done. Whatever you think they did, we guarantee you, it’s much worse. Scroll down for some painfully relatable stories.
Bored Panda reached out to the author of the thread, u/BohemianJack, and they were kind enough to share their thoughts about interacting with nightmare customers. You’ll find our interview with them below.
#1
August, 1973. A woman comes into our restaurant, is seated at a booth and presented a menu. She waves away the menu and orders tomato beef chow yuk. The waitress explained that she needed to get that next door, as we served Italian American cuisine. She insists we’re wrong and she wants her order right now.
The boss heard it, and sent me out the back to next door with a five to get her what she wants. I get the order to go and the boss hands it to her in the bag from the place next door, with the tag still attached and charges her double. She howls about the price and the boss told her the upcharge was because he had to send one of his staff to the Chinese take out next door that she was too stupid to note and too arrogant to acknowledge, then 86’d her.
Image source: CoppertopTX, bilahata / freepik
#2
“Farmed fish don’t have any bones”- guest…. with a straight face.
Image source: ExactIndication3805, freepik
#3
“…How dare you serve me cold gazpacho?!”.
Image source: Zealousideal-Ad2815, atlascompany / freepik
#4
Whats a quickie?
me turning around trying to hold back laughing, looking at the menu…. ohh you mean the quiche!
Image source: marlinbrando721, pressfoto / freepik
#5
After introducing myself at the table and asking if anyone had any questions about the menu, a customer asked, “These baby back ribs… Are they fish ribs?”.
Image source: Low-Strawberry9603, pressfoto / freepik
#6
I was working at BJ’s for a bit and they have this cherry-chipotle salmon dish. A woman asked me if we could make the cherry sauce without chipotle. I informed her we could not because it’s a premade sauce. Then she asked if we have any sauces that “don’t come from a f*****g bag.” All I could say was, mam you’re at BJ’s. We use uncle Ben’s rice. You think we’re making the sauce? Her granddaughter got a good chuckle out of that .
Image source: TheStonedApe__, Willis Lam / flickr
#7
Her: Hi, can I take a look at the menu?
Me: I’m sorry, but unfortunately the kitchen is closed right now.
Her: Oh, okay. I’ll just go sit in the bar and order then.
Me: The menu isn’t available in the bar either, because the kitchen is closed.
Her: What?!? Well can I just look at the Grill menu then?
Me: No, as I mentioned, the KITCHEN is CLOSED, there is no menu service available right now.
Her: Fine. I’ll just order for takeout then.
Me: Ma’am, as I’ve mentioned, THE KITCHEN IS CLOSED. THERE IS NO FOOD AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW. BECAUSE. THE. KITCHEN. IS. CLOSED.
Her: So I can’t even order something to go?!??
Me: No. You cannot. The kitchen is closed.
Her: Whatever *storms out*.
Image source: PNW-among-the-fence, bilahata / freepik
#8
“Do the fish & Chips come with fries?”.
Image source: Samsterinoo, EyeEm / freepik
#9
Well, I used to work for an All you can eat Buffet, one night a server tells me there is a guest complaining the soup is cold; I go to the soup container and lift the lid and the steam almost burn my hand and half of my face. I tell the server there is no way that the soup is cold and ask him to show me the table where the guest is at. Once i reach the table I greet everyone and ask if there was a problem with the food, one of them tells me the Soup was extremely cold; at the same time i’m scaning the table for the soup but i can’t find it, I ask the guest if he throw it away; and this guy replies !! Is right there !!, pointing at the “ITALIAN DRESSING”…
Image source: Existing-Ad9532, azerbaijan_stockers / freepik
#10
Don’t know if this counts, but we were redoing the floor. Signs an all doors that we are closed, online hours all correctly showing closed. The floor was ripped up, glue down and only half tiled. Lady comes to the front door, it’s locked. She walks to the back door in the alley way, which was open for the tile workers. She walks into the empty dining room, walking 20 feet on wet glue, into an empty dining room with all chairs and tables gone. She walks back out, and calls, and I answer. “Hey are you guys open?”….
Image source: Fatturtle18, volodymyr_vorona / freepik
#11
“What flavor is the vanilla cupcake?”.
Image source: daniweis, New Africa / freepik
#12
“What’s cheddar” was the question I was asked as a server that drove me out of the industry.
Image source: reno140, RDNE Stock project / pexels
#13
A woman entered our Mexican restaurant and proclaimed that she was deathly allergic to traces of legumes in the air, but wanted some quesadillas. She was deathly allergic to airborne bean particles, in a Mexican restaurant.
Image source: bsdetectionservice, Los Muertos Crew / pexels
#14
“Could I order an Eggless Omelett?”.
Image source: Nervous_Ad_6963, Mizuno K / pexels
#15
‘My rare steak is cold in the middle’
‘This salmon tastes like it came out of the ocean
‘Crab should taste like crabs, not shellfish’
‘Whats the difference between duck and lamb?’
Just a few of the winners.
Image source: ringstuff13, Ron Lach / pexels
#16
I’ve had ice cream sent back.
For being….too cold. .
Image source: FunAd6875, Viridiana Rivera / pexels
#17
Soup of the day was chicken noodle. Lots of dark meat in there. Customer was pissed because there was beef in the soup. Tried to explain dark and white meat to no avail.
Image source: IncrediblyShinyShart, zinkevych / freepik
#18
Worked at a restaurant that cooked everything on charcoal grills. Part of the intro spiel was to tell them and brag on that fact. It was literally the entire point and theme of the restaurant.
“Do you have any pasta dishes?” Was entirely too common. I always answered by saying “No, we find that it always seems to fall through the grates on the grills”.
Image source: Boozy_Cat_, KamranAydinov / freepik
#19
Customer: My seared tuna is cold!
Me: yes, you ordered it rare.
Him: I wanted it hot.
Me: I can’t do hot & rare.
Him: you obviously don’t know how to cook fish.
Me: you obviously don’t understand physics. 🤷♂️.
Image source: Babyproofer, jcstudio / freepik
#20
Worked at a brewery that was well known for chicken + waffles. Guy comes up to me and points at the brewery tanks that can be seen through the windows
‘What are those tanks for?’
I told him we used the tanks to hold all the syrup, he nodded and went back to his table .
Image source: mmussen, fxquadro / freepik
#21
Customer: What’s a care-rot?
Me: Excuse me?
Customer: This right here..what’s this care-rot stuff?
Me: It’s pronounced carrot sir. It’s just carrots.
Image source: davidcavid77, Michael T / unsplash
#22
Worked at a popular burrito chain. Had a customer call extremely mad that there was “a leaf. From outside” in their burrito bowl. They had never seen a bay leaf.
Image source: wormz2go, Samuel Sylf / unsplash
#23
Served a Tofu Bahn Mi at my last place with a vegan peanut sauce. One of the customers sent a server back to ask if there was any dairy in the peanut sauce because they were vegan. Proceeded to order the sandwich subbed with pulled pork….
Image source: OpTic_Cyanide, Drazen Zigic / freepik
#24
Someone ordered a cold brew coffee and didn’t think it would be served cold. I guess she thought it was only brewed cold but we heated it up after or something.
Image source: SparkaloniusNeedsYou, Lala Azizli / unsplash
#25
Working a burger bar/buffet (action station cafe) where we had beef and turkey burgers, explained that. “Which one is the beef” fair. It’s this one. “Which one is the turkey” the f*****g other one.
These were doctors, at a hospital!
Image source: customcar2028, freepik
#26
Had a guest order a Mojito but we were out of mint so we told them we couldn’t do it. They insisted we make it sans mint. So we did. After delivering the drink and checking back they tell the server they don’t like it and would like something else. When asked what the issue was they say “idk, I just feel like something’s missing” 😑😑😑.
Image source: OxKing831
#27
God so many.
I actually get asked this all the time where I work, but on our menu one appetizer option say “Toast or Biscuit, served with jam and ricotta” and people ALWAYS ASK TOTALLY DUMBFOUNDED “so…..do we choose between toast or biscuit?”
YES. TOAST ORRRRRR OR OR BISCUIT. Toast. OR. Biscuit.
I can’t 😭😭😭😭😭.
Image source: Southern-Two8691
#28
Pizza joint, customer walks in and remarks “it smells like Italian food in here.” Ya no s**t.
Image source: duftluft
#29
Served a man a steak and he went ballistic saying it was covered in shards of glass and how did we not notice when serving it. It was coarse sea salt.
Image source: freemakerlucy, grvstudio / freepik
#30
When I worked at waffle house, people would be furious that we didn’t have pancakes. My response was always “there is a restaurant called the international house of pancakes across the street, this is waffle house”.
Image source: GrandmaForPresident
#31
I’ve lost track of dumb s**t people have said but one that always sticks out and is kinda common is “can I get my steak well done but still juicy/not burnt?”. Like dude, do you understand what it means to have a well done steak?
At my cooking job (pizza with dough made in house) we get a decent amount of people who want gluten free crust. It’s just a bad idea to expect anything to be gluten free at a place where we make dough and bread, like there’s flour and semolina in the air, brah. Use your brain and think about s**t.
Image source: CURS3_TH3_FL3SH
#32
I used to work at Boston market and would get “is a quarter or a half chicken more?” ALL the time.
Image source: Icy-Net2978
#33
I own a bakery
-“So what’s the difference between the apple pie slice and the flourless chocolate cake?”
-watched a kid pump simple syrup into his hand thinking it was hand sanitizer.
– “Ah I see you are sold out of the chicken salad and the BLT. Can I please just get the chicken salad on a croissant instead?” Ma’am we are sold out of those sandwiches regardless of the bread.
I wish I could remember more. I’m starting to block these from my memory.
Image source: CristinaM900, Dmitry Zvolskiy / pexels
#34
Customer claimed she was allergic to bell pepper and even a tiny bit could k**l her.
Made everything from scratch, cutting on clean boards with cleaned knives etc.
Then she ordered a dish which had some bell pepper, which we could’t quickly remake. She wanted it anyway, “a little bit is fine”.
I wanted to give her a high five. In the face, with a chair.
Image source: aevitas1
#35
Best olives eva
You import them?
I know my olives, I’m from Italy
(Sysco budget olives).
Image source: cosmiccarrie, KamranAydinov / freepik
#36
In the US. A wimpy looking American white guy & his Thai wife came in at dinner time. Ordered cocktails, appetizers, salad, sandwiches with fries. They ordered extras of a lot of things, including 2 sides of avocado. When the bill came, Wimpy was “shocked” he’d been charged for all the extras, & demanded to speak to the manager (me).
Cue apx 30 minutes of him trying different arguments to get out of paying the bill. He said they’d been living in Thailand, where this would never happen, and didn’t we want our customers to be happy? He didn’t raise his voice but tried to wear me down. His wife was embarrassed & kept her eyes down the whole time.
I reasoned right back. Said we produced a quality product & felt our prices were a good value, etc etc. Other tables around us listened in, & one actually wrote to corporate praising my professionalism. Wimpy eventually paid, wincing as he did so. But, um, yeah. We are a business that sells food, sir.
Image source: katmcflame, frantic / freepik
#37
This has absolutely nothing to do with this subreddit, but I have to share. I used to work in furniture sales. This elderly gentleman comes in and is a little upset that most recliners are power operated now instead of manual. After a brief conversation of why and the times that we live in, he looks at me and, as serious as can be, asks, “Do you have any gas-powered recliners?”.
Image source: I1221Me
#38
I was FOH manager at an Italian owned restaurant and the guy ordered a chicken parm with meat sauce and no cheese. Idk. The owner was in the kitchen and he said wtf but just made made a fried chicken cutlet with meat sauce on side. I personally brought it out to customer cause he was already being difficult with the waiter.
Apparently not what he wanted and he asked me if the chef was “new to cooking”. Another back and forth try. Finally the Owner came out and put on his polite face and talked to him cause he was like the f**k does this idiot want.
When I walked back out to the table the guy goes “who was that Mexican dude that talked to me? He could barely speak English.”
The owner was from Florence Italy btw and spoke English very well albeit with an Italian accent. Also the food was always good. Lmao. People are wild.
Image source: TheDragonReborn726
#39
When I’m flipping omelets on the buffet line, I ask which toppings the customer would like, and 1 out of 20 people will say “eggs” dead serious response, no smile. I always respond, “yup, kinda hard to make an omelet without those, any toppings for you?”.
Image source: Pauls_Not_Paul
#40
Had an elderly vegan customer at a restaurant that was uniquely ill-equipped to cater to vegans. After painstaking back-and-forth between customer and kitchen, we somehow make him super happy.
At the end of the meal he asks for a Bailey’s. I pause and, as politely as I could, tell him that Bailey’s has dairy and is unfortunately not vegan.
He absolutely loses. his. s**t. on me and screams “I’m dRINkiNg iT nOt EAtiNg iT!!!!!” Among other less amusing lines. I bring him his Bailey’s, he pays and stiffs me.
Image source: LokiStrike
#41
Someone once, sent back a salad because she was “deathly allergic” to cucumbers, “could not have food contact with” cucumbers (was the story)
…then, asked for multiple sides of pickles to eat with her burger.
Image source: jbird8550
#42
This was when I was a guest at a place. Daddy daughter day and going through the menu. Boomer lady goes they have shrimp. I thank the lady for the suggestion but tell her my daughter is deathly allergic to shrimp and would like to avoid using the epipen I had on me and the hospital visit. She goes well I’m sure they can make the shrimp allergy free.
Image source: Ivotedforthehookers
#43
Not as a chef but when I was a butcher. Had a customer buying shrimp.
Customer: How should I cook this?
Me: I suggest a frogmore stew or low country boil.
Customer: Sounds great. How?
Me: Get some water with seasonings, throw in some potatoes, sausage(preferably hot), and corn. Let it boil for a bit until taters start to get soft. Drop the shrimp in and bring back to a boil. Strain out the water and serve.
Customer: Sounds good. How do I do that?
Me: Uh, what?
Customer: How do I boil it?
Me: … With heat?
Customer: Huh?
I walked away after that and asked my boss to handle the rest.
Image source: WhoTheFuckIsNamedZan
#44
Guest at a Mexican bar complaining that the Salsa is too “saucy.” This was after she managed to complain about everything that was being brought to her. I informed her that salsa is a literal translation of sauce. She got quiet for a while before acting up again and got the boot for being a c**t.
Image source: Rangamate
#45
Had a customer look at the apple pie that was labeled “vegetarian friendly” then looked at me and said, “that must mean it doesn’t taste good”.
Had another customer when I worked for a sushi counter in a grocery store tell me that “real men don’t eat sushi”.
Just before they placed their sushi order then sat down to eat it.
Image source: OkAssignment6163
#46
I’m a bowling alleys mechanic
Radio, headphones, safety glasses, anti dust mask, carrying a wrench. Shirt that reads MECHANIC.
Customer flags me down. I assume it’s to report an issue they noticed
“Hello; today for lunch: I would like a cheese pizza :)”
Dude thought he could order off anyone.
I have no idea where he has been that this is the case.
Image source: RookSalvis
#47
Customer asked if they could use my staff discount to pay for their bill. they got real pissy when i (obviously) said no.
Image source: headasspotter
#48
Customer asked if our milk came from female cows.
Image source: breadlyplateau
#49
*I know meat and THAT ain’t cooked* … points to pink smoke ring on sliced brisket…
Image source: New-Dimension-6556, lgolubovystock / freepik
#50
This one guy wanted “Vegan Halibut”. Chef sent the server back out to ask again, figuring the server messed up a request by a pescatarian vegetarian , ( and to be fair he was the stoner f**k up server), with some gentle worded questions about how the customer felt about the butter, used with both the veges and the beurre blanc.
Shortly after the server headed back out into the dining room we hear yelling…” I know what F*****G VEGAN means.” We sent out a non-adjusted Halibut. Apparently the guy did say to the server, “see wasn’t so hard was it?” on getting his “vegan” dish, which he then complimented as the best “vegan” dish he’d had in years…
Close second was being asked if the Tomato Basil soup contained WHOLE tomatoes, because customer was “very allergic” to WHOLE tomatoes, but not whole tomatoes were fine…I tried to ask if the customer knew what part of the whole tomato was a problem…got met with a blank stare…then the customer asked if the shrimp in the gumbo was cold or hot, because they were “extremely allergic” to cold shrimp…
Image source: CanWeALLChillaLittle
#51
Not a question, but sometimes people will tell me they have a gluten allergy so they can’t have noodles (we specifically sell noodles at my restaurant) but proceed to order a protein absolutely smothered in gluten, and their answer is always the same:
“Yeah I eat it all the time, it’s never made me sick but other gluten does.”
Idk who told you that you have an allergy but that’s not how that works.
Image source: MorganC137
#52
Had a guy order sunny side down and was very adamant about it.
Image source: skrewball401
#53
Guest ordered a southwest style salad. Whole chicken breast, beans, corn, cheese, the works! Told the manager it was not hearty enough! All ingredients listed on the menu under the salad section. Husband was so frustrated with his wife’s complaining he paid, took their two kids and left her sitting there.
Image source: ForeverUnhinged3
#54
I sold a girl a chicory coffee once. She asked “how do I drink it”
I was having a bad day and it almost broke me
She laughed and said “ sorry I mean do people take cream? I’ve never had one”
I giggled and said do whatever you want to it you bought it
We both got a good chuckle out of it.
Image source: Daemon-Waters
#55
“Got any fresh chicken?”
Asked as I’m pulling fresh chicken out of the customer facing fryers and the scent fills the entire block.
“Nope”.
Image source: EFTucker
#56
Worked at a truck stop when I was a teenager in high school working the overnight shift on the grill. My man came in and ordered well done toast so standard operating procedure I ran it through the conveyor toaster twice sent it out he sent it back. So I ran it through twice more sent it out he sent it back. Third time I sent it through this thing was basically a black puck he sent it back. So I went and found some 151 sprinkled a little bit on top lit the b***h on fire and put it in the window. Server took it to his table he blew it out turned back and looked at me and gave me two thumbs up I do not know how people could eat something like that.
Image source: Slade_Riprock
#57
I want the steak tartare cooked well.
Image source: CrazyLoucrazy
#58
How many scallops are on the veal scallopini?
Image source: HighburyHero
#59
This isn’t food related.
Had an email come through that said someone had a aphylactic allergic reaction due to the wine she was drinking because………
Dun Dun Dun…..
She was allergic to peaches.
A product made entirely from grapes (and some additives that they put into wine).
We had to explain that the peach notes in the wine aren’t from actual peaches, but from the grapes. Similar to how a note of tobacco and leather isn’t because of either of those items being in the wine.
Image source: CanadianTrollToll
#60
Had a customer send back a California roll because it was too spicy. Me and the chef both tried a piece just to make sure there wasn’t a mistake made in the crab mix or something. Literally could not be more unspicy. There wasn’t even wasabi or ginger on the plate.
Image source: Old-Custard-5665
#61
I had a lady try to return a piece of leftover pizza her neighbor had given her that he had ordered from us. It was also very clearly over a week old. Unsure if the neighbor gave her old pizza or she just kept it for a while 🤷♂️.
Image source: RealScience87
#62
Later that same summer…”What kind of fancy restaurant serves cold potato soup? In the summer!? I want to talk to the Chef.”.
Image source: Zealousideal-Ad2815
#63
Worked serving tables at an Irish restaurant, someone ordered the “Dublin Potroast” without the Dublin.
Image source: whatswithnames
#64
“The hot Italian sub (salami, hot capicola, pepperoni, house made hot banana peppers and pickled fresnos, served hot) is it spicy?” Yeah a little. “Is it hot?” It’s in the name. “That sounds good I’ll get it.” Five minutes later “this is way too spicy!”.
Image source: No_Math_1234
#65
Too many to name but a few jewels are:
1. Is it even legal to sell whale eggs? (she thought beluga caviar was beluga whale eggs, even though whales are mammals)
2. A customer asked for organic, wild caught salmon. She didn’t believe me when I explained it wasn’t possible to be organic and wild caught.
3. When I worked at a grocery store, a customer asked me and the meat manager for a 16 lb non-frozen turkey at 2pm on Thanksgiving. When the meat manger told them we were out of turkeys they said “how can you be out of turkeys, it’s Thanksgiving?”.
Image source: chef_in_va
#66
I was working in a deli at a grocery store, closing shift. We close at 8 (we close the meat slicing station at 7), it’s 9:15 and all the hot cases are empty, lights to all cases are all off and I’ve taken the sliding glass doors off the hot cases and am cleaning them up front. Very obviously we are closed.
A man comes up to the deli and asks me to slice roast beef for him. “Sorry, we’re closed, but we have some pre-sliced.” I point to the pre-sliced deli meats. No, he wants me to slice some for him. I reiterate that we’re closed. “So because I worked late I can’t get what I want?!?.”
I inform him that that is indeed what closed means, tell him that station closes at 7 pm and that I’ve already disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled the slicers, otherwise I’d make an exception for him. “I don’t care.”
I’m done being polite. I’m not going to be overly rude but I’m done with this j*****s so I refrain from asking if this is his first day as an adult and just tell him “That’s very unfortunate for you.” This obviously doesn’t sit well with him so he says “What if I go tell your boss???” “Ok.” Is my only reply. He is enraged by this. “Ok?! OK?!!?” I inform him the manager will only tell him what I’ve already told him.
He stomps off and goes to whine to the PIC. They are talking about 20 feet away. PIC of course just tells him politely that he’s not going to get his way. Guy is fuming but accepts that the pre-sliced is the only option he has at 9:15 pm. PIC tells him to have a good night. Guy yells “DON’T BE A SMARTA*S!!!” then stomps away.
Image source: CapnSensible80
#67
Once had a customer come back to complain about a piece of a towel in her food. It was in fact a bay leaf..
Image source: lonewits
#68
A review for my friend’s restaurant that stated “I ordered the salmon but didn’t like it as I hate fish and feel it wasn’t properly explained to me that salmon is fish” Ma’am, this is a restaurant in the Bay Area every thing on the menu has an animal shape next it or a V for Vegan.
Image source: therealchangomalo
#69
This was way back when I served at a French restaurant. A couple came in on a date, cute folks. Being a hoity toity French spot, we had specials and that always included a foie gras appetizer. After doing the whole spiel about the menu, etc. this guy asks his date if she wanted to try the foie. She answered, a little hushed, “it sounds good… but I just can’t get over how they treat those baby cows.”.
Image source: LetsTalkAboutGuns
#70
Open kitchen cafe. Customer asks barista/cashier “So what do you *think* is in the breakfast burrito?”
We also have Foccacia sandwiches, hearing folk attempt that is fun. Fachacha. Facaccio. Focatta.
Also, about 15 years ago I myself asked a server “What’s kwinn-o-uh?” (Quinoa) I still think about it and shudder.
I blame the Midwest and its lack of interesting ingredients. I ask what the heck things are all the time and I’m 38.
Image source: notjonahbutnoah
#71
I’m a server but the most routine dumb question is, after being told that our dining room tables are fully booked at a certain time, they ask “what if I walk in instead?” I’m sorry we are still fully booked regardless of how you ask the question.
Image source: Historical-Money7290
#72
A customer once asked me if the dog food was organic. I had the presence of mind (for once) to retort with “no, but it’s definitely free range. It was running in the paddock only last week.”.
Image source: VictoriaWoodnt
#73
How toothpastey is the lamb……
Image source: superpoopypants
#74
“Hello I just wanted to ask.. the house made fries with feta. Is that healthy and would it help my heart? No? Why not?”.
Image source: Crunchy_D
#75
Was managing, dropped off the food order at the table. I set this ladies New York Strip down in front of her but could tell by the look on her face that she looked confused. I asked her if there was something wrong. She replied “I ordered the New York Shrimp”….
Image source: flockofturtles420
#76
I asked them if they wanted half & half for their coffee. They looked at me like I had 4 heads and said; “no one has ever asked me that before!” This was a typical breakfast place in America, and she was the whitest American woman you can think of. I think it was her first day on earth.
Image source: Kpoorman410
#77
I try to block that s**t out. Booze and weed help. But I tell you, I’d have some *REAL* doozies if I could remember them lol.
Image source: consumeshroomz
#78
I was working at an American Italian joint for a spell, and we had a customer order the “rackatooni” pasta.
Rigatoni? Right. Wtf, lol.
Image source: TeamAdmirable7525
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