You want to leave a restaurant with a satisfied belly — not an upset one.
One woman revealed on TikTok, thanks to her restaurant owner friend, the specific things no diner should ever order or consume while out to eat if they want to spare themselves from getting a stomachache.
In the caption of Julia Besz’s video — which garnered over 375,000 views — she went into detail explaining her restaurateur pal’s takes.
Whether you’re dining at a chain restaurant or a posh place, “The first on his list? ‘Specials’ that aren’t tied to a clear seasonal ingredient,” her caption read.
“Sounds harmless, but in the trade, that often means ‘stuff we need to shift before it goes off.’ The sauce masks the age, the garnish distracts you — and by the time you’ve finished, you’ve basically paid top dollar for yesterday’s leftovers.”
And that’s a rumbling stomach waiting to happen.
Ordering fish at a seafood restaurant that’s nowhere near the coast is already risky – but the expert advised diners to steer clear specifically of shellfish.
“Unless you know they’ve got daily deliveries and spotless storage, you’re gambling with your gut…but the wrong handling turns a fancy seafood platter into a food poisoпing time bomb,” the video’s caption read as explained by Besz’s pal.
And you might want to think twice the next time you visit a buffet.
Chicken dishes in buffets or all-you-can-eat style buffets are supposedly “the perfect breeding ground for bacteria if temps aren’t bang-on, and trust me — in high-volume places, they’re not checking every tray like they should,” the video’s caption read. ‘You won’t see it,’ he said, ‘but you’ll feel it 12 hours later.’”
If your jaw isn’t already on the floor — this might get you there.
Now, when it comes to drinks — this news might break some diners’ hearts.
“If the ice machine isn’t cleaned properly — and in busy spots, it often isn’t — you’re basically sipping on a chilled petri dish,” her insider friend revealed.
Sadly, taking shortcuts isn’t the only way restaurants try to scam customers.
“Most people decide what to order in under 90 seconds,” Fred Harrington, CEO of Proxy Coupons, said, according to Yahoo! Life.
“Restaurants know this — and they’ve designed their menus to capitalize on that snap decision-making.”
If you’re checking out a menu and prices are hidden or in an unexpected spot — there’s a reason for that.
“The goal of restaurants is to put the food first and the price second in the customer’s mind,” USC lecturer Dr. Jason Buhle told Delish. “One way they can do this is by literally listing the food first and the price second.”
