Why do some restaurants ration napkins?

[brainhulk]

I'm eating at this hipster grass fed burger spot and there were no napkins at the table or dispensers anywhere. Is it to be eco-friendly or are they being ultra cheap?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Did you ask?

 

[Elixer]

Everything boils down to cost.

 

[midnight growler]

People always end up taking more napkins (and most paper products in general) than they actually use.

 

[Ichinisan]

Because of hoarders like my mother abusing the unlimited napkins.

 

[eldorado99]

One of the better cheap chinese places where I live doesnt give you anything unless you ask for it aside from a fork. (well, ok, they do give you a plate when you order food, but otherwise nothing.)

 

[Mai72]

Ha, I remember taking my uncle to dinner. He was the most annoying old guy you've ever seen. We'd be sitting at the table ad he'd say to the waiter "I need napkins! More, more, more!" That and bread. Lots of bread. He also had Parkinson's disease and used it to get free stuff. More napkins, bread, desert, etc. We were told not to go back to Panera bread because he'd always want to taste every soup! Even if there was a line. "I gotta taste that soup, gumba." He was Italian.

He was in the supermarket with my mom and he had a habit of opening chips, eating a few and putting the bag back opened! My mom grabbed the bag and told him to buy it. They were brother and sister, but my mom didn't care for him too much.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I look at it this way ... if I do not have to ask for more napkins then I will more likely frequent said business again. If you starve me for napkin then ... well fuck you and your nearly out of business biz. If you can't seem to operate a business with sufficient requirements then you can't run a successful business and need to close down and go away. I feel the same thing when I walk into some place that looks like they bought utensils from the cheapest manufacture on the planet. If I can go to the local watering hole of Mex food and get better silverware than a national, chain restaurant then fuck the national chain.

 

[Thebobo]

Homeless people would go into fast food restaurants for TP.

 

[Exterous]

I feel the same thing when I walk into some place that looks like they bought utensils from the cheapest manufacture on the planet. If I can go to the local watering hole of Mex food and get better silverware than a national, chain restaurant then fuck the national chain.

I suspect the local watering hole has repeat customers less likely to steal silverware. Large chains get the customers that think "Why should I care about this megacorp" and then take all their shit not realizing its a locally owned franchise with thin margins. Its the same reason hotels don't stock good quality TP. Hell I was in an airport lounge the other day and this couple was filling up their carry-on with free cans of soda. An employee lounge said something about it but there has been a marked decrease in places offering cans and I can't help but see this as the reason why. As for your preferences I'm betting there aren't enough customers like you to really factor into their revenue calculations.

 

[RLGL]

No napkins = no business from me

 

[zinfamous]

It's because you're a filthy animal, OP.

 

[Thebobo]

The english call napkins diapers no?

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

I fucking hate the napkin holders that literally only let you pull one napkin at a time. Most of them you can circumvent and just stick your hand in a little and grab a stack.

If you're too much of a cheap ass for a few extra napkins going to a few people then you're just stingy.

 

[ElFenix]

people like my boss, who actually uses a lot of napkins because he's a horribly messy eater, but usually takes twice as many as he uses. there'll be a bunch of napkins on the table (think, 10 for 3 people, all of whom are already using napkins), and he'll go get another stack. so then there's 10 or 12 napkins left over when we're done eating.

 

[rh71]

I know in HK most restaurants don't provide napkins at all. Maybe it's many asian countries? And bring your own TP for public restrooms?

Around here I've seen those dispensers that allow only 1 napkin at a time, which I think is the ideal compromise for everyone involved. Having to ask for it is a PITA. And allowing unlimited means I always take more than I need because I don't want to go back for more just in case. Many times I've taken the unused extra with me for use in my car.

I fucking hate the napkin holders that literally only let you pull one napkin at a time. Most of them you can circumvent and just stick your hand in a little and grab a stack.

If you're too much of a cheap ass for a few extra napkins going to a few people then you're just stingy.

I've seen them in Dunkin Donuts and other national chains including McDonald's. I honestly don't think it's just them being cheap. They give away much more that's costly than packs of recycled napkins they get wholesale. It's part of it but it's also tremendously wasteful. I'm sure you waste a lot of it too. If you don't, the guy following you will - it's not just "a few people". Unless I'm eating chicken or ribs by hand, I never really need more than 4 napkins now that I think about it.

 

[dullard]

Why do you need napkins when eating? Haven't decades of life, eating tens of thousands of meals given you enough practice not to dump your food all over yourself or your table? When people pass me a napkin, I just pass it to the next person.

About the only time I'll use a napkin is when the meal is not designed for non-napkin eating (such as wings or ribs coated in sauce and no silverware or juicy burgers).

 

[rh71]

Why do you need napkins when eating? Haven't decades of life, eating tens of thousands of meals given you enough practice not to dump your food all over yourself or your table? When people pass me a napkin, I just pass it to the next person.

About the only time I'll use a napkin is when the meal is not designed for non-napkin eating (such as wings or ribs coated in sauce and no silverware).

When I eat a burger, I may get cheese/sauce or oil on my hands. Or french fry grease or a dab of ketchup on my fingertips. Or simply to wipe my mouth at the end. You need a napkin. Don't tell me you get back into your car with greasy hands or go to the restroom to wash them every time?

I'm still trying to get over the statement from a previous thread that people NEVER wash hands before eating, even if they know they're dirty from whatever work.

 

[Red Squirrel]

It's all about the race to the bottom. Corporations feel that they are failing if their profits are not higher this year than they were the year before. So cut cut cut. They look for places they can cut whether it's laying off people or removing certain services. Even simple thinks like napkins. I noticed a lot of places don't even give you ketchup if you have fries in your order, you need to ask.

 

[Drako]

Bums and old people.

 

[torpid]

Why do you need napkins when eating? Haven't decades of life, eating tens of thousands of meals given you enough practice not to dump your food all over yourself or your table? When people pass me a napkin, I just pass it to the next person.

About the only time I'll use a napkin is when the meal is not designed for non-napkin eating (such as wings or ribs coated in sauce and no silverware).

OP mentioned a burger joint. If you are eating burgers that don't belong on this list, then you aren't eating the right kind of burgers. They should be messy, juicy, and just generally a ridiculous experience that no one can reasonably undertake without looking like a pig. If you say that you eat such burgers with a fork and knife then you are a communist who is destroying this country with your improper values. There are also many other kinds of food where if it's not messy, it's sub-par.

 

[dullard]

When I eat a burger, I may get cheese/sauce or oil on my hands. Or french fry grease or a dab of ketchup on my fingertips. Or simply to wipe my mouth at the end. You need a napkin. Don't tell me you get back into your car with greasy hands or go to the restroom to wash them every time?

I mentioned that food items that can only be eaten as a mess are an exception. But most meals are not like that. So most meals do not need napkins.

Are you going to say that you smear grease over your hands with a piece of fabric and get into your car without washing them?

 

[manly]

I mentioned that food items that can only be eaten as a mess are an exception. But most meals are not like that. So most meals do not need napkins.

Are you going to say that you smear grease over your hands with a piece of fabric and get into your car without washing them?

I'm a very neat eater, but I usually like to wipe my mouth more than once during a meal depending on the food (and company). One decent paper napkin usually suffices, except some places use the cheap, thin and small napkins that are almost useless.

 

[rh71]

Are you going to say that you smear grease over your hands with a piece of fabric and get into your car without washing them?

French fry grease can be taken care of with a napkin vs. nothing when it comes to touching your steering wheel afterward. I didn't believe you were talking about food such as french fries, when mentioning messy food like ribs. There are plenty in the same category. I had burgers and tacos for food today. Tomorrow will be pizza.

 

[shortylickens]

Cost, obviously.
Some customers can be REALLY fuckin wasteful. They're like children who never grew up.