20 Rude Things Restaurants Do That Customers Hate

Restaurants should aim to please their customers. But as many Americans unfortunately know, that’s not the case in every locale.

From blasting music so loud that diners can’t hear one another to setting strict table times, Americans feel that some restaurants fail in customer etiquette.

YouGov set out to determine which restaurant behaviors American customers believe are and aren’t acceptable. While Americans mostly understand certain behaviors that restaurants choose, the majority view others as downright cringe-worthy.

Analyzing Restaurant Etiquette

To determine the restaurant behaviors Americans think are acceptable and unacceptable, YouGov polled 1,000 participants in April 2024. They presented 40 restaurant behaviors to those surveyed and asked them to rate the acceptability of each one.

YouGov used a random sample stratified by gender, age, race, education, geographic region, and voter registration. They estimated the margin of error for their survey sample was 4%.

The following are 20 restaurant behaviors that survey participants ranked as somewhat acceptable to almost unanimously unacceptable. We ordered this list starting with the relatively most acceptable restaurant behaviors. Flip through the slideshow to see where each behavior falls.

America’s Dining Habits

Americans are no strangers to restaurants. According to a 2023 US Foods survey, the average American dines out at a restaurant three times per month. That said, delivery is a more popular option, with the same group of survey participants reporting that they order delivery an average of 4.5 times per month.

So, why do 57% of Americans prefer ordering takeout or delivery over dining in at a restaurant?

It appears poor restaurant behaviors have little to do with it. After all, many Americans have access to choose from an abundance of restaurants where they live. Instead, 76% of Americans say they prefer takeout or delivery because they enjoy eating at home. Seventy-five percent report the overall convenience of takeout and delivery attracts them to not eat at a restaurant.

Worth the Wait

Time is money. But when it comes to choosing between dining out or eating at home, it appears the majority of Americans are willing to lose both time and money.

In US Foods’ survey, 54% of customers reported being willing to wait 30 minutes or longer for their takeout or delivery order.

Income Differences

American households with $200,000+ to their name spend an average of eight times as much money on eating out than households that make under $15,000.

Of the different restaurant options available, convenience was the clear winner. Casual dining, fast food, and fast casual are Americans’ top picks for dine-in restaurant types.

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Rudest States in America

Stephanie Tanner’s iconic “How rude!” line from the 1987 sitcom Full House is a phrase some Americans use more than they’d like. Do you live in one of the rudest states in America?

America’s Rudest States Ranked From 1 to 50