OT: Getting "thumbed" by the waiter

[JackB1]

Was wondering if any of you guys notice when you go out to eat, how many waiters or food servers will
bring you your plate with their thumbs hooked over the top of your plate or even touching your food?
I go out for lunch almost every weekday and I see this over and over and over. The other day a female
server brought me my plate and her thumb was resting against my chicken. I didn't say anything and
prayed that her hands were clean! To make matters worse, sompe places have the same people clearing
tables and picking up all the dirty napkins, etc. and then seconds later they bring you your plate with their
thumbs submerged in your mashed potatoes.

I only first noticed this a few weeks ago and ever since I have been paying attention and realized it's a
common practice...especially at "casual" resturants like Ruby Tuesdays or TGIF's or Chilis. So the next
time you eat out and spend the next day in bed with the chills, sweats, fever and puking your guts out,
you can probably trace it back to that waiter's dirty thumb!

So does this practice bother anyone else or do you just accept the "risk" as part of eating out?

[tjung0831]

[Rodster]

I have worked in the food and beverage business and know better than to eat at restaurants. Where I live it's not uncommon to see cashiers stick their finger inside the drinking cup they hand you. Unless you are a mgr those working in F&B make squat and they don't care what happens to your food. They're not eating it.

[JackB1]

Tim...that's why I never complain. I just won't go back.

BTW, what movie was that from? That was gross and hilarious at the same time.

[JackB1]

I have worked in the food and beverage business and know better than to eat at restaurants. Where I live it's not uncommon to see cashiers stick their finger inside the drinking cup they hand you. Unless you are a mgr those working in F&B make squat and they don't care what happens to your food. They're not eating it.

So you just never eat out? Unfortunately that's not a realistic option for me. I realize getting a dirty thumb on your plate is probably tame compared to what goes on back in the kitchen out of customer's view.

[TCrouch]

That's the reply I had typed up and canceled.

It's an accepted risk. It's probably nothing compared to dishwashers not effectively cleaning silverware and dishes, and who knows what happens behind the doors to the kitchen.

It's certainly not cool to see it, but to be honest, that probably one of the least concerning things you've ingested while at a restaurant.

[tjung0831]

Tim...that's why I never complain. I just won't go back.

BTW, what movie was that from? That was gross and hilarious at the same time.

The name of that movie is called "Waiting"

[Rodster]

I have worked in the food and beverage business and know better than to eat at restaurants. Where I live it's not uncommon to see cashiers stick their finger inside the drinking cup they hand you. Unless you are a mgr those working in F&B make squat and they don't care what happens to your food. They're not eating it.

So you just never eat out? Unfortunately that's not a realistic option for me. I realize getting a dirty thumb on your plate is probably tame compared to what goes on back in the kitchen out of customer's view.

Nope !

If i'm desperate i'll get something already made at Publix where at least they take food safety seriously.

[JackB1]

That's the reply I had typed up and canceled.

It's an accepted risk. It's probably nothing compared to dishwashers not effectively cleaning silverware and dishes, and who knows what happens behind the doors to the kitchen.

It's certainly not cool to see it, but to be honest, that probably one of the least concerning things you've ingested while at a restaurant.

You are probably right.

I wouldn't mind "the thumb" so much if I knew it was clean, but when I see waiter's clearing tables, including dirty napkins and "used" plates and glasses and then moments later
handing you a plate like that, it's a little disconcerting

[JackB1]

Tim...that's why I never complain. I just won't go back.

BTW, what movie was that from? That was gross and hilarious at the same time.

The name of that movie is called "Waiting"

worth seeing?

[JackB1]

I have worked in the food and beverage business and know better than to eat at restaurants. Where I live it's not uncommon to see cashiers stick their finger inside the drinking cup they hand you. Unless you are a mgr those working in F&B make squat and they don't care what happens to your food. They're not eating it.

So you just never eat out? Unfortunately that's not a realistic option for me. I realize getting a dirty thumb on your plate is probably tame compared to what goes on back in the kitchen out of customer's view.

Nope !

If i'm desperate i'll get something already made at Publix where at least they take food safety seriously.

Glad to see I'm not the only one here worried about getting sick

I often go to lunch to these places with fellow workers and it seems like I am the only one who notices this stuff.
I see waiters hand my co-workers drinks with fingers accross the top of the glass and they don't miss a beat.

[tjung0831]

Tim...that's why I never complain. I just won't go back.

BTW, what movie was that from? That was gross and hilarious at the same time.

The name of that movie is called "Waiting"

worth seeing?

I'd say yeah....I thought it was ok.

[Rodster]

I see waiters hand my co-workers drinks with fingers accross the top of the glass and they don't miss a beat.

My favorite one is where the State of Florida says the drinking cup must be face down and only the customer can turn it right side up. So the cashier at places like Taco Bell and others will take a cup and put it face down on a tray that's been wiped down with the same dirty rag that someone used to clean the food off the last 100 trays.

[RobVarak]

Compared to the amount of blood, sweat and other bodily fluids that end up on your dish from the cooks, a bit of waitress thumb hardly moves the contamination needle.

Better off spending your time worrying about the Illuminati or some other legitimate threat to our way of life.

[Rodster]

Compared to the amount of blood, sweat and other bodily fluids that end up on your dish from the cooks, a bit of waitress thumb hardly moves the contamination needle.

[JackB1]

I see waiters hand my co-workers drinks with fingers accross the top of the glass and they don't miss a beat.

My favorite one is where the State of Florida says the drinking cup must be face down and only the customer can turn it right side up. So the cashier at places like Taco Bell and others will take a cup and put it face down on a tray that's been wiped down with the same dirty rag that someone used to clean the food off the last 100 trays.

Oh yeah......the dirty rag thing...don't get me started on that one!

I also love it when you're eating at a table and they come with the big Lysol spritz bottle and spray all over the table 2 feet next to you,
so now your food tastes like a mixture of whatever you are eating and disinfectant. Yummm

[JackB1]

Compared to the amount of blood, sweat and other bodily fluids that end up on your dish from the cooks, a bit of waitress thumb hardly moves the contamination needle.

Better off spending your time worrying about the Illuminati or some other legitimate threat to our way of life.

I'm not worrying about it Rob....I just thought it would make for an interesting discussion.
But you are right. It's about an 7 on the 1-10 contamination scale.

Last week I was standing at the counter at a wings place waiting for my take out order and I saw the cook in the back mixing up
a batch of wings with that large saucer type thing they swirl the wings around on, with the batter. A few went flying off and hit
the ground and without a second thought, he bent down and grabbed them off the dirty floor and put them back in the saucer.
He then looked up and saw me staring at him and had that "caught in the cookie jar" look on his face. I wondered to myself how
many times a night that probably happens? Was a little happy my order wasn't wings

[Diablo25]

Nearly every time I get a coffee at the local grocery store this old lady cashier wraps her hand right over the top of the cup where your mouth goes. It irks me every time but I'm too nice a guy to say anything. I saw the movie Waiting and if it's anything like that in restaurants

[XXXIV]

My father was a cook for a while in his younger days. As a kid I spent a few sunday evenings in restaurant kitchens. Washed some dishes in Evansville.

You dont wanna know and I chose to forget but one example...There was the kitchen of was at the time one of the more expensive restaurants downtown Chicago. If my memory from that long ago serves me right you had waiters grabbing the salad with their bare hands and putting it on your plate.
Hand washing appeared optional to me and besides who washes their hands every time they pick their nose or scratch themselves?

Hot tip: If you are a a bad tipper...Do not go back to the same restaurant.

[JackB1]

interesting thoughts on this very subject

http://chromedomelogic.com/2013/09/25/w ... mb-me-bro/