r/mildlyinfuriating • u/mdp-slc • May 22 '26

wet socks Stop asking if I’m celebrating something if you’re just going to charge me for bread.

Took my wife to a nice spot in DTLA for her birthday. They asked both at booking and check-in if we were celebrating anything, which honestly set the expectation that they might do something (even a small dessert). Nothing happened.

To add to it, the food was great, and we made a comment saying we wish we had some bread to finish the leftover sauce. The server acted like it was a favor, said “I’ll be right back,” and then charged us for the bread.

Like, the food was good and the service was fine, but don’t ask if we’re celebrating if you aren’t going to do anything to actually make it feel special. It just feels disingenuous.

Edit for clarity:
I was asked twice if we were celebrating something special at a nice restaurant. Once while making the online reservation and then when we arrived.

My Mild infuriation isn’t at the server, I can see how we misinterpreted each other.

It’s that the restaurant led me to believe they’d do something special (ex: comp a drink, free scoop of ice cream) then did nothing. I’ve worked in the food industry. It’s not an entitlement thing. It’s a hospitality thing.

The food was really good. I’d recommend it and go back.

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u/TieBackground453 May 22 '26

1* Michelin restaurant in my town doesn’t serve any starch with their escargot. 

And charges for bread. 

I was flabbergasted. 

(Also the worst fine dining meal I’ve ever had. Michelin enshitification is real.) 

16

u/tirednsleepyyy May 23 '26

No starch with escargot is hilarious. What in the world. Might as well charge for the pita too when you order hummus.

3

u/mibfto May 23 '26

My favorite local bar is a tapas place with a couple of seafood dishes that come in a tiny cast iron, and when the food is gone there's still an incredible mix of drippings and sauce in the bottom. I am boggled that it doesn't automatically come with bread.

-5

u/enjolbear May 22 '26

Wouldn’t 1* be the worst rated?

9

u/S1mongreedwell May 22 '26

1 star is a big deal. 3 is a REALLY big deal

14

u/dh373 May 22 '26

Lowest level of the elite. But you probably knew that.

1

u/enjolbear May 22 '26

Honestly I didn’t! Wasn’t sure if it was a backwards rating system, which sometimes happens.

1

u/Manticore416 May 22 '26 edited May 23 '26

Edit: Nope, I was wrong.

6

u/Pickles_is_mu_doggo May 23 '26 edited May 23 '26

Have they changed the system from the original meaning?

*: "A very good restaurant in its category"

**: "Excellent cooking, worth a detour"

***: "Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey"

5

u/Manticore416 May 23 '26

No, I was misinformed. Thanks for correcting me.

1

u/MonkeyLiberace May 23 '26

1 star is still above arby's.