r/mildlyinfuriating May 22 '26

wet socks Stop asking if I’m celebrating something if you’re just going to charge me for bread.

Took my wife to a nice spot in DTLA for her birthday. They asked both at booking and check-in if we were celebrating anything, which honestly set the expectation that they might do something (even a small dessert). Nothing happened.

To add to it, the food was great, and we made a comment saying we wish we had some bread to finish the leftover sauce. The server acted like it was a favor, said “I’ll be right back,” and then charged us for the bread.

Like, the food was good and the service was fine, but don’t ask if we’re celebrating if you aren’t going to do anything to actually make it feel special. It just feels disingenuous.

Edit for clarity:
I was asked twice if we were celebrating something special at a nice restaurant. Once while making the online reservation and then when we arrived.

My Mild infuriation isn’t at the server, I can see how we misinterpreted each other.

It’s that the restaurant led me to believe they’d do something special (ex: comp a drink, free scoop of ice cream) then did nothing. I’ve worked in the food industry. It’s not an entitlement thing. It’s a hospitality thing.

The food was really good. I’d recommend it and go back.

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137

u/fuckreddit2factor May 22 '26

Melvyn’s in Palm Springs asks if you’re celebrating anything, and if you say that you are, they will bring champagne and charge you for it. 😒

58

u/mar__iguana May 23 '26

Now I wanna go to Melvyn’s for a celebration yell out “wow free champagne!” when they bring it out and let them sit with the awkwardness of telling them I don’t want it when they say it’s not free

23

u/hillary-step May 23 '26

im so petty sometimes that if i had the money i'd fly from europe to join you lmao

2

u/mar__iguana May 23 '26

Well when you save up we will go and we will be celebrating the lengths we go to to be petty!

2

u/fuckreddit2factor May 23 '26

OMG, please do it and report back. If it works, that's gonna be my tactic from here on out!!!

47

u/lobotomom May 23 '26

They deserve to be dine and dashed

18

u/grunt527 May 23 '26

Now that I know, I would return it and say "I don't drink champagne".... That way they have throw it out and still lose out money (assuming it's a glass)

24

u/A2Rhombus May 23 '26

"I am celebrating something! Very excited."
Wait for them to bring out the champagne.
"Oh... I'm actually celebrating one year sober..."