restaurant etiquette

A few weeks ago, I found myself with a large party at a Manhattan restaurant. As soon as we sat down, our hostess pointed us to the mandatory coat check. The restaurant and bar was by no means formal, and we weren't out at a club with a dance floor, so in this case, I really didn't see the point of it being requirement. Add to that the dilemma of tipping at a coat check. But the worst part of it all? It was the dead of Winter, and the restaurant was bone-chillingly cold, so all of us were shivering at the table.

As I sat there covered in goose bumps, I worried whether I would catch a cold, and wondered how this could be legal. After all, it's no different from built-in tips!

Have you ever been forced to give up your coat and tip on a mandatory coat check? Do share your thoughts and stories below.

We've all been in crazy situations, and I want to know how you handle entertaining fiascoes and bad restaurant behavior. I'll present a situation and you tell me what you would do. Here's today's scenario:

You and a friend have sidled up to the bar at a small French bistro famous for burgers. You share the burger and a bowl of mussels, which are so good, you want to enjoy them to the last bite. But before you're finished eating, the waiter starts accosting you with polite, yet passive-aggressive questions like, "May I take your plate? Are you done with that?" You're still working on the mussels, but the shell plate — and all your silverware — get cleared without asking! After a few attempts to finish your meal sans utensils, you finally throw in the napkin.

Following the aggressively rushed service, you receive your bill, and want to tip accordingly. That's when you realize that the bistro's lone server is standing over you, watching you fill in the gratuity on the bill. What would you do?

To find out what I did — yes, it happened to me at a San Francisco hot spot! — read more

We've all been in crazy situations, and I want to know how you handle entertaining fiascoes and bad restaurant behavior. I'll present a situation and you tell me what you would do. Here's today's scenario:

You've heard positive things about a neighborhood pizzeria; upon arrival, the small place is crowded with no empty seats. You approach the waitress/hostess and inquire about a table. She replies in a slow, stoned voice, "Maybe I can find you a table soon. Actually, I don't really know how long the wait is." She doesn't take your name and you feel invisible. Fifteen minutes pass and she randomly offers you and your friend a table to share with another couple. You oblige, even though it's sitting with strangers — you're hungry!

You order salad and pizza. When the salad arrives, it's overflowing and hard to eat. It's clearly being served in a plate that is too small for it. As you eat, more and more lettuce falls off the plate onto the dirty-looking table. You try and motion the waitress — multiple times — but she ignores you. What do you do?

To find out what I did — it happened to me! — read more

• Try your hand at making a New Orleans King Cake. — Chow
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• It's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it: adventures in oven cleaning. — The Kitchn
• Think outside the appetizer box with savory blue cheesecake. — Al Dente
• Should you be forced to tip on a restaurant's coat check?— Serious Eats
• Learn how to make the perfect soufflé. — The Epi-Log

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