Anyone else notice a change in condiment policy at your favorite restaurant?

[KansDem]

During the last 20 years, there's been a restaurant I go to occasionally, usually for breakfast once a month. It's one of those kinds of "family-type" restaurants, frequented by many "regulars."

Anyway, recently I went there for my "breakfast burrito" (green chili, egg substitute, no sour cream) and as I sat down in one of the booths, I noticed something looked strange. I couldn't figure it out until I realized: no condiments on the tables!

Now this restaurant has always had a nice compliment of condiments: ketchup, mustard, steak sauce and two kinds of hot sauce--tabasco and Cholula. But now there weren't any!

I asked the waitress about this when she took my order and she said they were keeping the condiments off the tables during the week but would put them all back on the tables for the weekends (?) She said it was because they were not always making sure the bottles were full (?) She led me to believe they were better able to monitor the contents of the bottles by keeping them in back and bringing them out only when requested by the customer (?)

Okay, I thought, but then later I doubted her reason. Not that she'd lied to me (this one particular waitress has worked at this restaurant since 1978), but I wondered if this is the story the owner/manager told them to say. I strongly suspect their condiments are "walking off," and believe this is just another sign of hard times.

I mean, if you could slip out with a (nearly) full bottle of ketchup or mustard, or any of the other condiments, you could save a few bucks each week.

Anybody else experience a similar situation?

[Raspberry]

1. Really?

Someone would spend $8, $10, $12 to eat in a restaurant, and then steal a $2 bottle of ketchup? Doubtful.

[elocs]

2. I don't really have a favorite restaurant, but I haven't noticed any difference where I've eaten. nt

[rucky]

3. Quizno's used to have a pepper bar.

back when they first opened. I'd probably frequent the place more if they still had it.

[TacoD]

12. The Quizno's-es around here still do -eom-

[damntexdem]

4. My condiments to the chef.

But some may just be trying to catsup.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

5. Did McDonald's change their policy?

It was either McDonalds or Del Taco that started charging extra for extra condiments. They give you a certain amount of packets of ketchup and charge you more if you want to exceed their policy per customer. It was one of the two or both.

[louis-t]

7. Taco Bell still gives 15 packets of hot sauce

for every item you buy. When they ask if I want sauce, I usually say "just three, please." I still get 6.

[timo]

6. standard op down here

I know I will get flamed for this but I have a friend who owns a bbq place here in my town, they dont leave the lil packects of sugar and sweetner on the tables during the winter and spring months.......we have snow birds here and they run off with all of the stuff even the little packets of lemon juice, I have watched them do it time and again. I also see them at the cheap pizza buffet place loading pizza into the grannys purse in a giant plastic bag.

[icymist]

8. I used to order a bowl of hot water.

Then pour the ketchup and mustard in it and make soup. I then would use the crackers. YUM!

Now, as you say, I can't do this any more?
Damb!

[blogslut]

9. It's probably more about operating costs

Refilling all that stuff at the end of the shift/day takes at least an hour, if not more. That's an hour of payout for employee wages plus utilities. It's probably more cost-efficient to refill/clean the condiments back in the kitchen, during business hours.

I could be wrong.

[SoCalDem]

10. That's the logical explanation to me, at least

Most of the bottles that sat out, were greasy, sticky, grungy anyway..

[hlthe2b]

11. well, I so frequently find the cinnamon missing at Starbucks...

I've taken to carrying my own... Or at least I did, when I was still feeling flush enough to buy a latte....

[rucky]

13. I carry my own Tapatio

not to Starbucks, though.