25 Things We Absolutely Hate in an Eating Place

Let’s be honest, while dining out is often a treat, it can sometimes turn into a trial. Whether it’s a high-end restaurant or a humble local café, there are certain things that simply ruin the experience. 

Here are 25 things people really hate in an eating place – and once you notice them, you can’t unsee them…

1. Sticky Menus

If your menu feels like it’s been dipped in syrup, that’s not just gross, it’s a hygiene red flag.

2. Overly Bright Lighting

Unless it's a canteen or a dentist’s waiting room, there’s no need to feel like you’re under interrogation lights while trying to enjoy your lasagne.

3. Loud Music

You shouldn’t have to lip-read your dinner companion because the restaurant thinks it’s Ibiza 2007.

4. Dirty Tables

Wipe them down properly. Crumbs and sticky patches are not part of the décor.

5. Obnoxious Smells

Whether it’s burnt oil, bleach or something more mysterious, unpleasant odours can kill an appetite fast.

6. Miserable Staff

No one’s expecting jazz hands, but basic courtesy goes a long way.

7. Menus with No Prices

If you have to ask, you probably can’t afford it – and that’s never a good look.

8. Ridiculous Portion Sizes

Either insultingly tiny or cartoonishly massive – just serve normal food, please.

9. Complicated Menus

If it takes longer to read the menu than eat the meal, it’s too long.

10. Wobbly Tables

Ever tried to cut a steak while your drink threatens to slosh over the edge? Exactly.

11. Tacky Décor

Fake vines, flashing fairy lights, and dusty plastic fruit should’ve stayed in the 90s.

12. Hidden Service Charges

If you’re adding 15% without warning, at least print it somewhere people can see.

13. Toilets That Smell Like Hell

Clean facilities aren’t a luxury – they’re the bare minimum.

14. Too Many Specials

Six pages of daily specials? Just admit it’s your backup menu.

15. Weirdly Themed Everything

A subtle theme is fun. A pirate-themed sushi bar? Slightly terrifying.

16. Overattentive Staff

Don’t hover, don’t ask if everything’s alright every 3 minutes – we’ll raise a hand if we need help.

17. Undercooked or Cold Food

If it’s meant to be hot, make sure it actually is. Lukewarm chips are just sad.

18. Overuse of Truffle Oil

You’re not fooling anyone. A drizzle does not make it fancy.

19. Pretentious Menu Language

Just say “chicken with mash”, not “free-range poultry atop a heritage potato puree”.

20. Overpriced Tap Water

£3.50 for a carafe of ‘filtered house water’? Behave!

21. Slow Service When It’s Quiet

If there are four diners and ten staff, why are we waiting 30 minutes for toast?

22. Kids' Menus with Just Nuggets

Children deserve variety too. Give them a pasta option at least.

23. Uncomfortable Chairs

Design is nice, but not when your bum goes numb after five minutes.

24. WiFi That Doesn’t Work

If you’ve given out the password, make sure the signal works beyond the entrance.

25. Noisy Hand Dryers Right by the Tables

Nothing ruins your pudding quite like a thunderous blast of warm air two feet away.

Final Thoughts

Eating out should be a joy, not an endurance test. If any of these gripes sound familiar, maybe it's time we all start expecting – and demanding – better. Clean tables, honest menus, decent service and edible food. It’s not too much to ask… is it?

Have any more pet hates in a restaurant, café or bistro? Drop them in the comments – let’s make the world of dining less irritating, one meal at a time!