bad habits restaurants

This is everything that's wrong with Toronto restaurants

There's lots to love about Toronto restaurants these days, but then there's also a whole slew of sins that make diners want to reconsider where they eat. From charging extra for essentials to just generally being inhospitable, here's a roundup of some of the worst habits of Toronto restaurants.

1. Preset tipping is set to 18%
This becomes even more heinous when done by takeout only restaurants.

2. No cheque splitting
Let's stop pretending your POS doesn't do that.

3. Non-existent/limited veg options
If my non-meat-eating guest only has a side of fries or salad to choose from, then we're going to have to go somewhere else. Kapeesh?

4. Squeezing in extra tables
This is practiced most often around occasions like Valentine's Day or Mother's Day. There's nothing worse than being smooshed elbow to elbow between other tables when trying to celebrate a special occasion. And no, I don't want to hear the specials - I overheard just fine when you told the table next to us.

5. Misrepresenting ingredients
Passing off skirt steak for Wagyu like Azure restaurant did is truly appalling and deceptive, but not exactly unheard of. That veal sandwich? Might be steak. The house-made pasta? It might be fresh, but brought in.

6. Under pouring pints
A 16oz pour, unless properly identified and priced accordingly, is a practice that should be stopped pronto.

7. Umami overload
Is it really a feat to make bacon taste good? Can someone please serve me something that tastes good AND won't kill me?

8. Nickel-and-diming
Want a few hot peppers on that burger? That'll be an extra 92 cents. How about some caramelized onions for an extra $1.83? WTF?

9. Small plates that amount to less food than an entree but ultimately cost way more
Every item on the menu is priced under $10? Great! But I need to order how many? Dear god, I could have had a steak by the time we're finished here.

10. No coat racks
That's cool, I'll just line your banquette with my winter coat and handbag.

11. Insane wine mark-ups
We get that restaurants need to make money from their booze sales, but a $13 wine readily available at any LCBO should never be priced at $55 or more on a wine list.

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