Ever wondered what secrets are hiding behind the closed kitchen doors of your favorite restaurants, and would you dare to find out?
Restaurant dining is pretty much a part of our daily lives. According to Finances Online, in 2018, there were 13,251 new restaurants in the United States.
Additionally, surveys reveal that average Americans go to a restaurant at least once a week.
Restaurant dining also plays a role in the food industry and the economy. However, here are some dirty secrets that people may not know about restaurants.
Being Rude Can Cost You Decent Food
We all know that good manners and the proper attitude can lead a long way. Consequently, a not so right attitude or rudeness can cost you a decent meal at a restaurant.
Once you step inside a restaurant, the cook, waiter, and other restaurant employees hold the fate of your meal. That is one reason to keep the proper attitude at all times, even when raising a concern.
There may have been reports of food staff doing nasty things to a customer's food for being rude, but it is always best to keep in mind that the nicest way of doing things will always yield better results.
Dirty Restrooms
According to Reader's Digest, the best way to gauge if a restaurant has good sanitation standards is by stepping into the restroom. The restroom is an area inside a restaurant frequently visited and often seen by many.
If a restaurant can't maintain their restroom clean, think how dirty their kitchen is, which is not exposed to the public.
Using Plastic Gloves
The use of plastic gloves by the kitchen staff gives a false assurance that everything in the restaurant is clean and safe.
According to the CEO of Restaurant Expert Witness, Howard Cannon, plastic gloves are more dangerous than bare hands.
The kitchen staff can touch raw pork and then touch another item in the kitchen. Plastic gloves are an ideal vehicle for contamination when not changed often enough.
Sick Staff
We all know that a sick employee is never good to have around the work area. It is doubly true for the food service industry.
Unfortunately, restaurant employees rarely take a day off when they get sick. A study by The Food Chain Workers Alliance reveals that 53 percent of food service staff are reported to still go to work even if they are sick.
These workers won't easily trade earning $100 on a full shift to stay at home in bed. It is best to observe and keep an eye on kitchen staff who are often sneezing and coughing if you are in a restaurant.
Avoid Drink Garnishes
Cocktails are often served with garnishes that we often don't know the exact condition they are in.
Extra olives, a slice of lime, or orange may be tempting to devour, but you may have to think twice. These garnishes are often left in an unrefrigerated container somewhere on the bar counter.
A good piece of advice from seasoned restaurant staff is to avoid asking for olives for your martinis and ask for a lime or lemon and squeeze the juice into your drink yourself.
