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The specials might not be the freshest -

In order to prevent food waste, most specials are made of ingredients that are days old and need to be used up. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't order the specials, as restaurants aren't allowed to serve you food that has gone bad.

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Restaurants might not have your preferred milk alternative -

With so many different kinds of milk alternative these days, it's hard for restaurants to keep up. Don't expect them to have things like cashew or even skim milk. 

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The food isn't usually made from scratch -

While many restaurants make food from scratch, chain restaurants don't have as many freshly made meals. For example, sauces or stews are often frozen, vacuum-sealed, and heated up before being served. 

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Kids' meals can be loaded with sugar -

Unfortunately, restaurant chains will often put sugar in kids' meals so they'll like them more. Make sure you get informed about the nutrition before you order your kids' dinner.

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Loud music is there for a reason -

Some restaurants play loud music to make you order more food, eat faster, and leave sooner. If you manage to tune out the music and concentrate, you'll only order what you want. 

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Menus are designed to make you spend more -

There's more to a menu than the design and layout. Restaurants usually list their most expensive dishes on the right side of the menu, because that's where our eyes naturally look. Some places will put their most expensive items at the top of the menu so that other items will look more reasonably priced.

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The waiter is a salesperson -

Waiters are trained to make suggestions that increase the bill. That's why they'll recommend that you add a cocktail, fries, or any other side dish.

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Your waiter might not like being asked for their opinion -

Because they haven't tried every single thing and everyone has different tastes, don't put the pressure on them to recommend you their favorite thing on the menu. Instead, ask them what are the most popular items, and order based on the customer consensus.

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You might not want to eat out on holidays -

Most places raise the prices on the menu on big holidays like Mother's Day and Valentine's Day. It's a busy day for the restaurant, so don't expect the food quality to be any better either. 

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The ice is usually dirty -

At most restaurants, ice machines are rarely cleaned. And when it does get cleaned, there could be mold coming out of the filter and the ice-holding bin. 

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The staff can hear you -

While the restaurant may be loud, you'd be surprised at how much the servers can actually hear from your private conversations.

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The lemonade may not really be homemade -

In smaller places, you'll probably see lemons and oranges being juiced. But at bigger chains, you're most likely drinking a concentrated juice mix. 

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Restaurants often mark up the second-least-expensive wine bottle -

Wine sales are a significant part of restaurants' income, so pricing wine bottles is pure strategy. Many customers won't feel comfortable ordering the least expensive bottle, so the second-least-expensive is usually the go-to. That's why that specific bottle will be marked up. 

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Packing your leftovers can be a hassle for servers -

Because restaurant staff are busy and waiting on other tables, they throw the food in a box without much thought. It's better if you pack it yourself, whether you ask for a food container or bring your own from home. 

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Salads can be some of the least healthy menu items -

You might think ordering a salad is the healthiest and "lightest" option on the menu, but that's not always the case. Some restaurants will add plenty of fattening ingredients to their salads, such as high-calorie dressings. 

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Waiters can tell when you're lying -

For the most part, waiters know when you're lying. So if you don't like an item in a dish you're about to order, don't lie and say you're allergic. They'd rather you just say you don't like the ingredient and want it to be left out. 

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The food contains a ton of butter and salt -

If you've ever tried to recreate a restaurant dish at home, it might have been challenging to get the same richness and flavor. This is because restaurants often use a ton of butter and salt, which is pretty unhealthy when consumed regularly.  

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Buffets aren't always the safest -

On top of their questionable cooking conditions, buffets are also handled and hovered over by many people. So think twice before eating at an all-you-can-eat buffet.

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Condiment bottles could have germs -

The condiment bottles on the restaurant tables might have never been washed, which means they'll have plenty of germs. You might want to give that ketchup a second thought. 

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The plastic trays are dirtier than you think -

You might want to avoid using those plastic trays found at most restaurant chains. They're often filled with bacteria, so it might be a better idea to use the table and some napkins instead. 

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The kitchen is chaotic -

While most dining areas are organized and even sophisticated, the kitchen is actually chaotic. Don't be surprised if there's stress, yelling, and rushing behind those swinging doors. 

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Tips are often communal -

Many restaurants have communal tip, so if you give one waiter a bad tip, it could affect the rest of the staff. Keep that in mind the next time you're out eating. 

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Wait times might be made up -

Usually wait times are just guesses based on average customer dining time and the restaurant environment. In the end, it will typically be shorter than the amount of time they give you.

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If you don't like something, you can send it back -

Restaurants do get annoyed when you leave half of the dish. If you don't like it at first bite, send it back right away. You can then order something new without any issue. 

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You should always double-check the bill -

Errors can happen, which means you might be charged for items you didn't order. Do yourself a favor and double-check the bill before paying.

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Problems with your order aren't always the waiter's fault -

If the food order comes out wrong or takes too long, it may actually be the kitchen's fault. Of course, the waiter won't place blame. 

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Regulars might get special treatment -

Regular customers will get special treatment from the staff, so don't be surprised if you see another table get a round of free drinks or faster attention. It's always a good idea to get friendly with the staff if you plan to visit the restaurant again.  

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The soups might not be made in-house -

In chain restaurants, soups aren't made from scratch. They're actually frozen in plastic bags and then reheated in a hot water bath before serving. 

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You can judge a restaurant's cleanliness by the state of the bathroom -

The bathroom of any restaurant is a good judge of what the kitchen looks like. If it's in a questionable state, then you should probably leave.

Sources: (Eat This, Not That!) (Mashed)

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