Dinners From Hell offers true stories about restaurant dining disasters written by diners, servers and chefs.

We've all had those dining experiences when things went dreadfully wrong. Perhaps it was a social blunder, an obnoxious customer, a waiter or waitress with an attitude, a temperamental chef, an embarrassing faux pas, or a food or beverage incident. Find out what others have had to endure by reading stories about dinners gone bad.

Foreign Object Found in Burger

February 28, 2017 Food & Drink Stories

Recently, I had a girls’ night out with my mother, my sister, and my two grandmothers. We went shopping, saw a movie, and then went out to dinner at a local chain restaurant (full-service, mid-priced, not just some fast food joint). This restaurant is one of my family’s favorite places to go.

4 comments Continue reading →

We Shouldn’t Have to Pay for That

February 24, 2017 Diner Stories

What do you mean we have to pay for the food that we ordered? What do you mean that you’re not going to comp us for our own ignorance in thinking we had to pay for the food we ordered?   You’re supposed to give us free food out of fear of being Yelped about, […]

4 comments Continue reading →

Free Meal Leaves Customer Feeling Awkward

February 18, 2017 Accident & Mishap Stories

This isn’t a “hell” story, but I thought it would be interesting to share nevertheless. A couple of years ago, my parents and I (all adults) spent a three week vacation travelling across the USA, so naturally we visited many restaurants and diners along the way, and this is one that stood out.

6 comments Continue reading →

FOH People Intrude Into BOH People’s Turf

February 12, 2017 Kitchen & Chef & Boss Stories

At my last job, my boss would yell at you as if someone had just spat on his mother’s face or something if one of the front of house (FOH) people crossed the fine line of the holy back of house (BOH) territory. Just try and dare to reach over and grab that plate of […]

8 comments Continue reading →

Stingy Boss Mistreats Server

January 20, 2017 Kitchen & Chef & Boss Stories

Alright kids, get ready for this joy ride. Back in 2015 I was laid off from the best serving job ever. Unfortunately there were some investor issues and parties not getting along, so we had to close (another story for another day). Anyways, I had talked to a co-worker to see if her family was […]

0 comments Continue reading →

Customer Commands Sanitary Clean-Up

December 28, 2016 Diner Stories

Everyone knows and dreads those persnickety customers who come in looking for something to complain about. They’re on high alert their entire meal, waiting for the chance to ruin someone’s day. Well, they got me today.

2 comments Continue reading →

Pizza Delivery Guy Exacts Revenge

December 26, 2016 Fast Food Stories

I worked as a pizza delivery guy for a big corporate pizza company. This man had ordered a pizza to be delivered to his home. The advertised price was $12.99. The final price was $18:35 (tax and delivery charge). I took the worst cussing ever from a customer.

5 comments Continue reading →

Miserable Manager

December 21, 2016 Kitchen & Chef & Boss Stories

While there are tons of stories on here about customers or workers, I haven’t read one about a manager yet, so let me tell you about mine…

1 comment Continue reading →

Customer Leaves Hurtful Message on Credit Slip

December 16, 2016 Diner Stories

Several years ago my now husband and I moved from our relatively large home city to a small town in the Upper Midwest when he was offered an excellent job opportunity after college graduation. I had just finished an undergrad degree as well, but the town was based entirely around agriculture and petroleum and there […]

5 comments Continue reading →

Backstabbed by “Nice” Customers

December 9, 2016 Diner Stories

It was late night right before close when a couple came in to play some pool. I was about to do closing duties, but it was a busy night and I had a lot to do, so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to let the customers stay a little past close so they could get […]

0 comments Continue reading →

Server Besieged by Surly Customers

November 18, 2016 Diner Stories

The night was tonight, six hours ago to be precise. It was almost ten at night and I was scheduled to be off of the floor once the overnight server showed up. Right at ten with the other server nowhere in sight, a large man walked in; I greeted him. “There will be sixteen of us,” […]

7 comments Continue reading →

Server Shares Her Stories of Abuse

October 12, 2016 Diner Stories

Being a waitress means dealing with the public and in case you were unaware, that means dealing with a lot of assholes. I work at a 24 hour breakfast style restaurant which means I see my fair share of cheap, rude, arrogant and inconsiderate people. Here are a few of my best stories:

4 comments Continue reading →