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.

Senior Lady Tests Server’s Patience

February 27, 2013 Diner Stories

A bit of a long story, but this woman has stuck in my memory through the years. She truly taught me to be patient as a server. 

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Difficult Diner Scolded by Off-Duty Server

February 22, 2013 Diner Stories

This incident happened about a year ago. I work at a very popular restaurant and tea room. On one of my days off I was passing by and decided to pop in and say hello to my workmates. I was having a chat with my supervisor when I saw one of the waitresses having some trouble […]

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Busboy’s Bungles

February 16, 2013 Accident & Mishap Stories

This is a story of one dinner that I ruined and one that could have been ruined by… me. My first job was a busboy/food runner at a fairly upscale restaurant (linen tablecloths, complimentary sorbet between course).

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Bloody Burger Lover

February 13, 2013 Food & Drink Stories

First you have to understand that I like bloody, rare burgers. When dining out, if I want a burger I will always ask the server if the place does rare and if not I will order something else. I am also not usually shy about sending something back if it is not cooked right.

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Hospital Dining Room Staffer Harassed

February 2, 2013 Diner Stories

While I was cleaning up the dining area of the hospital I worked at, there was a pregnant woman and her husband/baby daddy, whatever, sitting in the very back table in a corner. This part of my job is to pick up napkins, push in chairs, make the place look nice before the lunch crowd. […]

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Uncouth Crowd at Chicken Joint

January 1, 2013 Fast Food Stories

After a long day out of town (our town is very small so most of our shopping has to be done hours away), it’s nice to come home with a meal someone else cooked and in containers you won’t have to wash – and that was the exact reason we had for stopping at a […]

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Server Stiffed by Difficult Diner

November 4, 2012 Diner Stories

When I was 19 I worked at a small chain restaurant/ice cream place. A woman came in with her three small, unruly children 15 minutes before the kitchen was set to close and I was the only server there. I come to the table with a smile, and she glares at me. OOOH this is […]

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Update to “Mr. Cussing Creeper” Story

November 2, 2012 Diner Stories

Dinners From Hell received an update from Michelle, the author of the Mr. Cussing Creeper story. The story, which was posted on September 2, 2011, concerned two hellish experiences which occurred during a meal that she had with her family at a restaurant. The first part of the story dealt with parents who rudely allowed […]

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Plan to Split Table with Separate Servers Fails

October 12, 2012 Server Stories

On Mother’s Day just this year, we went to a chain restaurant that my mother prefers. It has lovely rocking chairs for you to sit in on the big front porch as you wait. We had a party of nine so we knew there would be a bit of a wait. Once we were inside […]

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Creeped Out by Hand Shaking Server

September 29, 2012 Server Stories

My family and I went to a popular restaurant that we go to several times a month, only this time we went to a different location than the one we normally go to. Our waiter, Aaron, approached us and introduced himself and then asked us if we had ever dined at this particular restaurant before. I […]

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Lesson Learned – Don’t Split the Bill with Bill

September 20, 2012 Server Stories

This isn’t really a dinner from hell but a good lesson learned. My wife and I were invited to go to an upscale steak house with a neighborhood couple (Bill and Sarah) and Sarah’s parents. Bill works in sales and does extensive traveling. While traveling, he is on an expense account and typically not too […]

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Diner Disturbed by Charitable Donation Request

September 16, 2012 Diner Stories

At my restaurant where I am a server, we have a month where we try to raise money for St. Jude’s Children Hospital. Diners can raise anything from $1 on, and we are encouraged to ask every table. Most tables respond well and donate at least a dollar.

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