Logo_White

lede_post_card_default

lede_post_card_stacked

lede_post_card_featured_post

lede_post_card_featured_post_3:2

lede_post_card_featured_post_1:1

lede_post_card_featured_posts_hero

lede_post_card_featured_posts_hero_3:2

lede_post_card_featured_posts_hero_1:1

lede_post_card_featured_posts_sidebar

lede_post_card_highlighted_post

lede_post_card_horizontal_a

lede_post_card_horizontal_c

lede_post_card_related_post

lede_post_card_square

lede_article_featured_16x9

lede_article_featured_16x9_full_width

lede_article_featured_3x2

lede_article_featured_3x2_full_width

lede_article_featured_1x1

lede_article_featured_1x1_full_width

lede_article_featured_flexible

lede_article_featured_flexible_full_width

lede_article_content

lede_article_content_wide_width

lede_article_content_full_width

lede_byline_avatar_post_card

lede_byline_avatar_highlight

lede_profile_coral_avatar

lede_logo

lede_logo_banner

lede_logo_footer_banner

lede_logo_simple_header

lede_sponsorship_logo

lede_sponsorship_logo_river_card

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card_logo

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card

lede_leaderboard

Main Header Menu

Logo_2a8517

The Daily Dot

Mustafa Gatollari has been an internet culture writer for over a decade. He has a passion for connecting what’s trending on social media to solid research—helping to separate clout-chasing claims from facts.

Mustafa Gatollari

2 image split. Woman in car with overlayed text that reads: "E.D. culture is pissing me off" on left. Olive Garden sign on right.

olive_garden_ed_culture_pissing_off.png

‘What are we doing?’: Olive Garden waitress serves food to table of young girls. Then she overhears them say this

Stacy Fernández is a freelance writer, project manager and communications specialist. She’s worked at The Texas Tribune, The Dallas Morning News and run social for The Education Trust New York. Her favorite hobby is finding hidden gems at the thrift store, she loves a good audio book and is a chocolate enthusiast.

Stacy Fernandez

Sliced grilled medium rare beef steak(l) Server shares experience taking an order from customer(r)

steak color

‘I know it’s gonna be sent back’: Customer orders steak medium rare ‘plus.’ Then the server asks him a question

Ljeonida is a reporter and writer with a degree in journalism and communications from the University of Tirana in her native Albania. She has a particular interest in all things digital marketing; she considers herself a copywriter, content producer, SEO specialist, and passionate marketer. Ljeonida is based in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Ljeonida Mulabazi

2 panel image: A salad in a container and the Panera restaurant exterior.

panera_salad_hospital_food.jpg

‘Expensive hospital food’: Woman calls out Panera Bread for $10 Caesar salad. Then she opens the dressing

Beau Paul is a freelance writer from Austin, Texas. Beau also wrote narrative and dialog for the gaming industry for several years before becoming an entertainment journalist.

Beau Paul

2 panel image: the Texas Roadhouse sign and a person explaining.

texas_roadhouse_disposable.jpg

‘Not meant to be eaten’: Texas Roadhouse server puts new Cactus Blossom and shrimp cocktail on top of display case. Then she walks by again

Amara Thomas is a freelance writer and cultural worker. She has written for the FADER, the Village Voice, Gothamist, and Highsnobiety.

Amara Thomas

panda_express_plate_shrinkflation.jpg

‘El l pollo loco too’: Customer orders Panda Express. Then they notice something strange about the container

Tiffanie Drayton is a geek culture and lifestyle reporter whose work covers everything from gender and race to anime and Xbox. Her work has appeared in Complex, Salon, Marie Claire, and elsewhere.

Tiffanie Drayton

2 panel image: on the left is teh BJ's restaurant sign and on the right is a person.

bjs_arm_serving_dish.jpg

‘My arm is hurting making these’: BJ’s server reveals the one dish she wishes customers would stop ordering

Charlotte is a regular Daily Dot contributor with bylines in Insider, VICE, Glamour, The Independent, and more. She holds a Masters&#8217;s degree in Magazine Journalism from City, University of London.

Charlotte Colombo Author Photo

Charlotte Colombo

2 panel image: on the left is a Chili's restaurant and on the right a person pays a server at a restaurant.

chilis_customers_reddit_scam.jpg

‘Most customers didn’t even notice’: Former Chili’s worker shares how she used to trick customers who ordered the 2 for $20 deal

Phil West is a veteran professional writer and editor, and his works include two nonfiction books and articles in myriad print and online publications.

Phil West

Left: Photo of restaurant patrons eating italian food; Right: Screenshot of Tiktok user @uncleaairo.

server_pronunciation_tiktok.jpg

‘It sounds like they were also embarrassed’: Server pronounces menu item the correct way. It backfires

Natasha Dubash is a freelance writer and editor based in Los Angeles. She loves reporting on entertainment, television, and pop culture.

Natasha Dubash

Woman holds up note(l) Texas Roadhouse Building(c) Worker from Texas Roadhouse shares note she was given by customers(r)

texas road house note

‘Why did they give me this?’: Texas Roadhouse worker greets table. Then they hand her sheet of paper

Nina Hernandez is a writer, journalist, music critic, and culture commentator based in Austin, Texas.

Nina Hernandez

Screenshot of Tiktok user @tilapiia; Photo of a Cracker Barrel Old Country Store sign.

server_lying_cracker_barrel_tiktok.jpg

‘Basically had to lie to the customer’: Ex-Cracker Barrel server exposes 2 tricks she plays on customers. Then she reveals when they come out

3 panel image: on the sides a person explains, and in the middle is the exterior of a Red Lobster restaurant.

red_lobster_pick_up_nightmare.jpg

‘Was that intentional?’: Red Lobster customer complains after waiting over 45 minutes for Cheddar Bay Biscuits. Then she sees what they put in her to-go bag

Brooke Sjoberg is a freelance writer who graduated with her Bachelors in Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin in 2020.

Brooke Sjoberg

is_this_ageism_olive_garden.png

‘Is this ageism?’: Woman goes to Olive Garden. Then she reaches for the kiosk to pay and her waiter intervenes

2 image split. Text overlaying image of food that reads: "This restaurant changed our party size from 5 to 6 because of babe's registered service animal and then charged us an additional service charge for having a party of 6 or more. This feels illegal..." on left. Big group of people having dinner on right.

restaurant_group_size_change_service_fee.png

‘Changed our party size from 5 to 6’: Group takes service dog to restaurant. They get hit with an additional ‘service charge’ (Updated)

2 panel image, on the left is a close up of delicious macaroni and cheese. On the right a person looks to camera sternly.

macaroni_cheese_container.jpg

‘It’s just not right’: Restaurant customer orders macaroni and cheese as a side. Then she demands answers when she sees what it comes in

2 panel image: on the left is the exterior of an Applebee's restaurant and on the right is a restaurant table, text over: Brought her to Applebees for our first date to see if she was going to be embarrassed

Applebees_buzz_balls_first_date.jpg

‘I started our relationship with manipulation as a way to test her’: Man takes date to Applebee’s to see if she’ll be ‘embarrassed.’ Then she pulls out a Buzzballz

Restaurants