Some Things To Be Aware Of When Eating Out

​With so many people on the road for the holidays, some think you should know what not to order and what happens behind the kitchen’s swinging doors.

Some Things To Be Aware Of When Eating Out
By Pierre Mouchette | Bits-n-Pieces

Avoid the lemons
Never ask for lemon in a drink.  Everybody touches them, and nobody washes them.  The stickers on the lemons are peeled off, cut, and then thrown in your water, iced tea, or other beverage.
Watch out for the specials.
At many restaurants, the specials are whatever they need to sell before it goes bad.  Especially watch out for the soup of the day.  If it contains fish or if it is gumbo, it is probably the stuff they are trying to get rid of.
Homemade does not always mean homemade.
Some places buy salad dressings in one-gallon jars, add a few ingredients, like a blue cheese crumble or fresh herbs, and call it homemade on the menu. 
Eggs are typically made from powder.
Even at the best breakfast buffet in the world, 99 times out of 100, the big pan of scrambled eggs is made from a powder.
Do not order fish early in the week.
Do not order fish on Sunday or Monday.  The fish deliveries are usually twice a week, so Tuesday through Friday are great days.  Or ask the restaurant when they get theirs.
It is usually the kitchen’s fault.
People believe that because the food took a long time, it is the server’s fault.  Nine times out of ten, it is the kitchen.
Tips are pooled
In many restaurants, the tips are pooled, so if you have a terrible experience with the server, you are stiffing the bartender who made your drinks, the water boy who poured your water, sometimes the hostess, the food runners, and maybe the other waiters. 
 
The bathroom is a good judge of cleanliness.
If you are worried about cleanliness, check out the bathroom.  If the bathroom is gross, you can be sure the kitchen is much worse.  The state of the bathroom is just one of the signs that you are eating at a bad restaurant.