You're Not Imagining It: Restaurants Hate It When You Eat Your To-Go Order At A Table

Dining etiquette has evolved significantly over time as rules change. You can still find jokes about which fork you should use for which course, or how to properly fold a napkin. However, not everything is so formal, and many rules still apply today even if they aren't widely discussed. One rule that diners may not be familiar with involves eating a to-go order at a table in a restaurant. Even though no one may talk to you about it, the staff probably hates it.

Tasting Table spoke to Nikesha Tannehill Tyson, etiquette expert from the Swann School of Protocol in Shreveport, Louisiana, and co-author of the book "Gracious Living." She confirmed for us that eating a to-go meal in the restaurant is not only considered rude but can also be harmful to the staff. "Restaurant service has a flow to include staffing for sections, timing, and table turnover; that flow can be interrupted when a table for a full-service diner is occupied by someone with a takeout order," she says. "Servers may lose income as tips are tied to table service."

There are several reasons why eating a to-go meal at a table is problematic. "It can be considered rude by signaling to the waitstaff that their service is not needed and can seem dismissive. It sends the message of not wanting service but using space. It can be a misuse of resources; a table used for takeout still requires cleaning and resetting for the next guest," Tyson says. "To the waitstaff it may seem like work without the possibility of compensation."

Tipping remains a controversial issue, but to-go food generally is not subject to tips. If you eat that food in the restaurant, it can seem like you want all the benefits of a typical restaurant experience without being obligated to tip. The space you're taking up could be used for another diner who would tip, so it's potentially costing staff twice. It's not much different from bringing your own food to a restaurant and sitting down to eat, which most people would never consider doing. The issue goes beyond money, too.

Even though most takeout containers can be recycled or reused the Martha Stewart way, it's still excess waste. Most dine-in restaurants serve you on plates that can be washed and reused. By taking something to go and eating it there anyway, you're creating excess waste and costs for the restaurant.

A Reddit discussion on the topic brought up another point related to costs and taxation. Depending on where you live, takeout food may be taxed differently than dine-in food. If you order to-go and stay to eat, it's a potential violation of those rules. That may not matter to a diner or affect their experience, but it could have an effect on the business. As unlikely as it may be, if this becomes a systemic issue, it could cause problems during an audit if dine-in meals are routinely taxed as takeout. If you enjoy a restaurant enough to eat there and want to continue enjoying the food and service, it's better to take your to-go order with you. Add dining in to the list of mistakes you could make when ordering takeout.