Bored at Restaurants
By ladym33
@ladym33 (10979)
United States
May 6, 2012 3:55pm CST
I went out to eat by myself the other day for lunch and I didn't have my phone or a book or a magazine or newspaper or anything with me so I started to get kind of bored after I ordered and was waiting for my food. I stated to think back to when I was a little kid about what I used to do when I was bored at restaurants as a kid. I remember I would stack the creamers in to pyramids, straighten out the sugar packets, and even pour salt on the table then lick my finger and pick it up and then lick it off, which now as an adult I find pretty gross. What did you do as a child when you were bored waiting for food at a restaurant? What do you do now as an adult with the added technology that we have these days?
5 people like this
17 responses
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
6 May 12
I did not get to go to restaurants as a kid. I was very poor. As a teen, we could wreak havoc on a pizza joint easily, and get as silly as we wanted, building towers of the pitchers, glasses, pizza pans and straws etc. Got accused of being drunk, but we never were. It has been a really long time since I have actually gone in a restaurant by myself. I think the last time I did I was mystery shopping. I had to be very observant of everything. I am a people watcher by nature so I would watch people and listen to all the discussions around me. I might doodle on a napkin or make a list.
2 people like this
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
7 May 12
We did some crazy things in restaurants as teens too. I am sure when they see a bunch of teenagers coming they just want to lock the doors. We always went to this one pizza place after school dances, the waitresses were always so crabby, but pretty much every kid in the Junior high was there and I am sure we were extremely annoying and probably didn't tip really well. If my teens go out with their friends I always make sure to remind them to tip appropriately and that the servers depend on that income.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
7 May 12
I became an excellent tipper after I worked as a waitress.
1 person likes this
@jshekhar (1562)
• India
6 May 12
Hello ladym33,
We all have stacked creamers into pyramids as children, haven't we? 
Personally I never like going to the restaurants alone. So, whenever I go, I would have someone to talk to there by the time they serve the order. Hence, never really faced such a situation. Still, even if I am in a hypothetical situation such as that, I would probably fiddle with my cell phone, check my mails, etc, listen to music, etc.
Personally I never like going to the restaurants alone. So, whenever I go, I would have someone to talk to there by the time they serve the order. Hence, never really faced such a situation. Still, even if I am in a hypothetical situation such as that, I would probably fiddle with my cell phone, check my mails, etc, listen to music, etc.2 people like this
@much2say (55604)
• Los Angeles, California
7 May 12
I have two kids with me most times, so I'm never alone at a restaurant - ha ha - and most likely my husband is there with us. My husband has a smartphone, but I don't - I'm always tending to the kids in one way or another. I think when I was a kid, I'd try to find stuff to read - and reread - like menus, sugar packets, those stand up mini menus, signs on the walls, whatever I could get my eyes/hands on. Later on I had a sister to occupy me - we'd try to make things out of napkins or blow that straw wrapping at each other.
1 person likes this
@jricky1 (6800)
• China
7 May 12
LOL,i always chat with my partner who always accompany with me,but if i went by myself and i brougth nothing with me,there would be only one thing i would do.I always like thinking about good things and just leave some time for me to be quiet would be great to kill the time,and i do not feel lonely.
1 person likes this
@doroffee (4222)
• Hungary
6 May 12
I was playing around with the napkin, folding a plane out of it, scratching it, traring a fringe to it... and sometimes I was touching the plate or the glass with the cutlery to see what sound they had (and glass with and without drink :D)... I know, I must have been really bratty and all the adults must have been like, what an impolite kid...
2 people like this
@hanuta (14)
• United States
7 May 12
Whenever I don't bring anything with me I just love to people watch. I just try to be careful so it doesn't come across as staring. Otherwise, I just fidget with my phone or organize my purse. I try not to talk on the phone because I think that is rude in restaurants unless you absolutely have to do it.
1 person likes this
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
7 May 12
I make a habit not to do that because I usually just want to eat and that's it, or if I am with my boyfriend or friends we just talk the whole time. Then again, we can and will talk about anything and everything anywhere we go.
1 person likes this
@jazel_juan (15746)
• Philippines
7 May 12
Lol that is why i find my phone in handy when i am in such places and when i am alone, i get to read some ebooks while waiting...
sometimes i do ask for magazines..
but as i kid i could remember i always have a book in handy with me.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223001)
• Chile
7 May 12
I did not eat at restaurant when I was little. Maybe once in the year my parents would take us to an icecream parlour. I felt like a queen and wasn´t bored at all. I think that boredom comes from doing something too frecuently. When I worked and had to eat a quick luch out, I took a book with me. I also had a book at hand when I used public transportation (most of the time). I still think a book is best.
1 person likes this
@randylovesdar (4932)
• United States
6 May 12
As a child I would color and my mom would bring snacks just in case we had a long wait because kids cannot wait. I have gone to fast food resturants by myself from time to time and I always make sure I bring something with me. I am always making lists of things to do and have paper with me at all times. Also, I am a graduate student and always have homework to do.
1 person likes this
@ryanong (9665)
• Vietnam
7 May 12
When i was a kid, rarely i went to the restaurant for meals so that i have no memories about what did i do while waiting food when i was a kid.
Now, i talk with friends or just try to play with my phone, chat with friend or watching Tv (there are TVs in every restaurants in here). I agree that it is so boring while waiting food if you don't have friends for talking or nothing to play with.
1 person likes this
@thewonderboy (7501)
• India
7 May 12
At my childhood days I used to play with the tissue papers,packets of salt and pepper which was lying in the table. I used to tear all the things in pieces and throw them away and I used to taste the taste of the salt and pepper. I find it as very good days.
Now I matured and now I am not able to do it. Now I used to do somethings with my mobile phone or make use of the news paper. This is what I used to do now.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
7 May 12
hi ladym I would people watch if I had no book or magazine or
friend to chat with. People watching is not boring as I try to figure out what each person does and why they are coming here to eat. I often am right in what I have figured out about them and of course they will never know. 
@celticeagle (166915)
• Boise, Idaho
8 May 12
My grandson always has to take something into the restaurant with him. His mom usually ends up helping him bringing them out too. Ugh! I don't remember ever being bored as a child. I had an imagination and would play just fine. I don't recall being so in a restaurant either.
@rewardsinlife (1132)
• United States
6 May 12
Most adults turn right to their phone, laptop, ipad, or music player to pass the time. Kids also have jumped on the technology band wagon and will have some sort of gameboy or something like it to keep them occupied. Personally if I don't have anything I people watch. It is actually quite entertaining and you can find out quite a lot about people as well!
