A while ago, we wrote a post based on this Reddit thread about the worst dates servers have ever witnessed. In the comments, fellow restaurant workers from the BuzzFeed Community shared even more horrible dates they've seen.
Note: Some submissions were pulled from this Reddit thread by user u/Jacobr196 and this thread by user u/StickyRice4.
Here are some of the wildest — and most awkward — ones:
1. This dine and dash:
2. This late date who had the audacity:
"Once I saw a girl eat a meal by herself before her date showed up. The reason being: 'He doesn’t think she looks pretty when she eats.'"
3. These extremely sketchy spouses:
"I worked as a server at a really upscale restaurant in NYC for years. A mid-40s couple came in and were clearly elated to be there on their date. They ordered a really expensive bottle of wine right off, and I asked if they were celebrating something. They gushed that they had finally decided to cheat on their spouses tonight after all this time flirting and were going to a hotel right after dinner. I was totally speechless and just said, 'Congrats?' They were just beaming the whole night."
4. This not-so-romantic kiss:
5. This five-year anniversary surprise:
"Served a couple at a BBQ joint for their five-year dating anniversary. The guy was so sweet and brought in a mini cake for the occasion. He loved holding his girlfriend’s hands from across the table and was beaming at her. Barely after I took their entrée orders, I looked over to see if they might need more biscuits, and his face was totally different. Pale, sad, and in shock. The girl? Looking guilty. ... The rest of the dinner was silent and awkward, and the guy asked that we not serve the cake; the staff can enjoy it instead. I asked if I could do anything else, and the girl barely choked out, 'No. Just boxes and the check. I just admitted I cheated on him, and we need to leave.' I could only nod in astonishment."
6. This emergency exit:
"I manage at a restaurant. A server came up to me and explained that a female guest...asked if we had a side door or back door, so she could sneak out. The only door we have where her date couldn’t see her leave was through the kitchen and out the back door. She told the server her date was just making her super uncomfortable and needed to leave. ... I quickly took her through the server line, through the kitchen, and out the back door. Guy sat there for 45 minutes before realizing she dipped, so he left. Come to find out, a table nearby heard what guy was saying and was teaching her son on how inappropriate his raunchy jokes were and how to never treat a girl like that."
7. And this one:
8. This awkward breakup:
"I was serving a regular couple. When it came time for the check, the woman was not there, so I made the joke, 'She left you with bill, huh?' And he says, 'We actually just split up...' It was supposed to be a joke, so of course I was speechless. A couple weeks later they came in together, so they must have made up!"
9. This cheating husband drama:
"A coworker had a table where the husband asked for her number while his wife was in the bathroom. Apparently, he also used some gross and derogatory words. She politely turned him down, and he asked to see the manager out of anger. Manager was on break, but I was the most senior team member on the floor, so I went over to check in. The coworker already told me what was up, so I immediately just asked him to leave, because we don’t allow harassment to our staff.
His wife comes out, so I fill her in. She’s pissed at her husband (as she should be) and calls him a cab. She screams that he’s staying at his sister’s tonight, because she wasn’t putting up with his cheating ass anymore. He huffed outside, and the wife asked if we had closed their bar tab yet. We hadn’t, because it would be transferred to their table bill, but the card was still assigned. She asked that we pay for everyone’s drinks on that card, because it’s her husband’s company card, and she doesn’t [care] if he gets fired. She also left a hefty tip for my coworker to apologize for her soon-to-be ex’s gross behavior. When my manager came back in, I told him everything and he was just so bummed that he missed all the drama."
10. This wine connoisseur:
11. This tipsy blind date:
"I had a table once where this guy came in for a blind date. When the girl got there, it was obvious she was already a little tipsy. Well, a little ways into the meal and after having one drink, she threw up all over herself at the table. She went to the bathroom, and the guy had to ask another server to go check on her. In the bathroom, she also proceeded to vomit all over the toilet seat. I felt so bad for the guy, but he was so nice about it. He waited for her to get cleaned up and took her home. That must have been the most awkward car ride ever."
12. This helicopter mom:
"Work at a bubble tea restaurant right near a college. ...Probably the worst date I've ever seen was this guy that looked somewhere between 17 and 19 years old who met up with this girl around the same age. They got teas and took a seat at a table and played a board game and talked.
His mother sat at the table next to him the entire time and just stared them down. It made me feel so bad for him, but the icing on the cake is when she goes up to them at 8:30 and tells them that it's time for the two of them (her and her son, that is) to head home. The guy is visibly pissed but says goodbye to her and follows his mom out.
Girl comes up to order another tea, and I asked her about it. She was more than happy to fill me and the other girls in. This lady had essentially injected herself into the date, interrupting their conversation and critiquing her son's behavior."
—[deleted user]
14. This engaging conversation:
15. This cringeworthy guitarist:
"The dude was waiting in the parking lot, singing and playing guitar when she arrived. He was dressed VERY formally, except for his SANDALS. They ate and drank. He got up and squeezed in next to her on her side of the booth. She was trapped. She looked mortified the whole time. The whole thing was completely cringeworthy."
16. And this surprise intervention:
"Two girls show up, sit down, and are discussing something while they wait for a third. A guy turns up after about 20 minutes and has this horrified look on his face. He was sleeping with both the women and they had found out. They wanted to take him to a public place to avoid any violent or outrageous reactions. They spent the next three hours with the guy, using texts, printed out emails, and other various evidence to nail the poor bastard..."
Fellow servers, what's the worst date you've ever witnessed? Let us know in the comments below!
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.