One difficult customer can turn an already demanding restaurant shift into an exhausting battle. When one table acts up enough to ruin your whole night, you can’t help but count down the minutes until you’re phased.

How would you handle a stressful table interaction as a server? One guy recently shared one of the most bizarre stories to date about this on Reddit. Here’s what went down.

“If I order a glass of wine, do I pay for it?”- a tale of the table that made me question reality

Two people sat themselves in my section at a dirty table.

The people weren’t RUDE exactly, while we resat the table, they asked “Where’s our menus?” While the busser, me, and hosts are trying to move around them clearing glasses and plates.

They acted confused if anything, like, how DARE this table not be ready for us at a reservation based fine dining restaurant.

They’re certainly not off to a strong start.

I got waters, and tried to do my spiel and they interrupted me.

“If I order a glass of wine, do I pay for it?”

I thought I misheard so I asked “What do you mean?”

As any sensible person would.

And they repeated themselves “If I order a glass of wine do I pay for it?”

I said very professionally, “Yes it will be on your bill at the end of the dining experience.”

“Oh…” they said, disappointed and confused.

Is this their first time outdoors?

“Do I want the burger or the salmon?”

“Hmm, are you in the mood for red meat or seafood? The burger is garnished with xyz and sits between a baked in house blah blah bun, rich savory flavors, while the salmon is a top x vegetables and a brightly flavored z glaze.”

Again, a stare of confusion.

Ordering at a restaurant, maybe, is intimidating for them?

“I can give you a moment if you would like to review the menu further.”

“No, we’re ready now.”

“Ok, what would you like?”

There’s no way they were ready.

“I don’t know”.

In my brain right now I’m just wondering, WTF is happening?

There is no language barrier.

What could it possibly be?

There doesn’t seem to be a culture barrier.

They aren’t acting rude or upset, just confused.

They’re well dressed and at least 40, they HAVE to have gone to a restaurant before to know how this works.

It all just keeps getting more mysterious.

The other friend then says “She’s asking you want to order”.

Ok, She want me to decide for her.

That’s actually pretty common, you just need to explicitly say that.

As most people would be able to articulate.

“Alright, I suggest the salmon then. And for you?”

“I’ll have the BlahBlah filet, well done. Absolutely no pink.”

I repeat the order back, they agreed, I think I’m in the clear, and I’m about to walk away.

Oh no…

“Will you bring us appetizers?”

“Of course, what would you like?”

Them, not even opening the menu: “Chicken wings.”

Did they even think to check?

“I apologize, we don’t have chicken wings, might I suggest X or Y appetizer?”

Blank stare.

Other friend-“She just wants something fast”.

And she settled on chicken wings?

I explain our from scratch kitchen, how all of our appetizers take as long or longer than the entrees.

I offered to bring extra bread, and again repeated the order.

Decided on entrees only and extra bread.

Sounds like a decent compromise.

I brought two portions of bread.

“Here you are, our freshly baked bread and whipped butter.”

Our bread looks like bread. There is no mistaking for anything else.

But not with these people…

The table looks at me aghast and confused, like I messed something up.

“This is bread?”

“Yes.”

What else is he supposed to say?

“So, this is bread?”

“Yes, it is our baked in house bread.”

“At (popular restaurant) they have XYZ bread and served with oil. Why is this your bread? It’s not XYZ bread.”

Most restaurants try their best to differentiate themselves…

“You are right, it is different bread. I would be happy to bring you olive oil for dipping. Would you like olive oil?”

“No… are you sure you don’t have (other restaurant’s) bread?”

Ok, if you want their bread maybe go there?

He should have offered to check in the back.

“Yes, I am sure I don’t. I apologize. Is there anything else I can bring for you at the moment?”

“No…” filled with disappointment and confusion.

30-40 minutes later, a food runner finds me with BlahBlah Filet in hand. “Table 77 said they didn’t order this.”

It’s never-ending with these two!

I go up to the table.

“You ordered the BlahBlah Filet, cooked well done, correct.”

“Yes I want the BlahBlah Filet.”

Should be a simple fix, no?

“Ok. Here is your BlahBlah Filet.”

“Nonono, that is not the BlahBlah Filet. It doesn’t have the (she then describes a completely different steak)”

“I see. I apologize that the BlahBlah filet was not you had envisioned, however this restaurant does not have the meal you described”.

They seem to struggle with that concept.

“Yes. I want the BlahBlah Filet.”

I feel like I’m losing my grip on reality. Why are me and this table not living in the same reality?

“This is the BlahBlah Filet.” I say, gesturing to the plate in front of her.

“Oh, no… it’s not.”

Maybe this is some kind of cruel joke?

After a few back and forths, she decided she did not want the BlahBlah Filet, or to order anything else.

She sat and watched her friend eat her dinner in record time.

Chicken wing lady was really hungry.

Understandably so.

I drop off the check, processed the card, easy.

When I see she has finished signing it, I go back to the table and ask “I can take the check presenter if you are all set.”

She then hands me her untouched still folded cloth napkin.

Nothing is even surprising at this point.

To her credit both are black and rectangular.

But there is definitely a texture and weight and material difference you would immediately notice.

“I can clear this napkin for you, but may I have the check presenter?”

Goodness gracious.

“I just gave it to you.”

I double check and nope it was a napkin.

I eventually got the check, tipped 15% which was honestly better than I hoped.

Maybe they were deeply intoxicated?

They left their jacket, and no surprises here, the tags were still on.

OF COURSE they are the type of people who wear things and return them.

The whole thing just left me exasperated and bewildered.

This has to be the first-ever completely one-of-a-kind human experience. Let’s see how the Reddit comments weighed in on this one.

Reddit readers were eager to offer up their own theories.

Some aired on the more practical side.

Pointing out what most agreed upon.

A few folks made some astute references.

But many were just too baffled for words.

They may have been checked out, but at least they paid their bill.