When did this become okay? Several times now I’ve been to restaurants where the server/cashier had AirPod-style earbuds in while taking orders. I know the nicer ones allow for audio pass through so you can still hear things but this seems unprofessional to me. Not that I really expect much from the service industry these days but still…

I'm assuming those earbuds are for communications among the employees.

I just learned that it's possible to use Apple AirPods Pro to enhance hearing, acting like a hearing aid. I tried it, it works, not great, but that's a possibility.

As long as service and food is good I could care less.

Seems like a reasonable way to tell the server that food pickup for table X is ready.

My local Habit Burger has all the restaurant help wearing an Ear Bud as they're all connected with radios.

Fine with me. Great service and good food.

I haven't noticed this at all, but we don't eat out that often anymore. I don't think it would bother me unless it affected the service.

Between staff playing on phones, poor service, overpriced food I could make at home for a fraction of the bill I just going altogether. Happy to go back when a menu features 30g of protein and a solid 500 calorie meal and has assorted fruits for dessert. That will never happen so goodbye.

Not surprised you caught people wearing Air Pod Pros. Highly doubtful the restaurant is using $200 Apple ear buds for work purposes. That would require constant phone calls or they’d have a Bluetooth system setup but they wouldn’t be using Apple products for this. It would be some cheap $10 or $20 ear buds for this purpose and it’d be 1 of them not two with one in each ear.

Yup, I see her earbud. Just awful.

Wouldn't matter to me as long as I was getting what I ordered in a timely manner and the wait staff was attentive to my dining needs.

Many years ago, the first cellphone I ever had- the first time it rang while I was in public I was in a shopping mall (remember those?) right near an exit, and when my phone rang, I actually walked outside of the mall to take the call, because that seemed the polite and proper thing to do.

So, ask me how I feel about a server coming up to my table with those things in their ears.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Many years ago, the first cellphone I ever had- the first time it rang while I was in public I was in a shopping mall (remember those?) right near an exit, and when my phone rang, I actually walked outside of the mall to take the call, because that seemed the polite and proper thing to do.

So, ask me how I feel about a server coming up to my table with those things in their ears.

How would you feel about a server coming up to your table wearing those things in their ears?

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
I'm assuming those earbuds are for communications among the employees.

I can’t imagine there is a way to use them in that manner. Especially since it isn’t ever the whole staff. I’ve only seen it twice- once at a Cracker Barrel where my server had one in and once at an airport restaurant of some kind. One person at each location.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeNH:

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
I'm assuming those earbuds are for communications among the employees.

I can’t imagine there is a way to use them in that manner. Especially since it isn’t ever the whole staff. I’ve only seen it twice- once at a Cracker Barrel where my server had one in and once at an airport restaurant of some kind. One person at each location.

There must be because as I posted earlier, Habit Burger employees have them and I've seen them in use. Seems they use them for summoning the drive thru employee at least, there are undoubtedly other things they're using them for.

Soon...

Our rural restaurants are bad off for help.
Half as many places to eat as four years ago.

And the places that have managed to stay open are offering reduced hours with reduced staff

We're down to fore places in a 9 mile radius.
That we consider ok

They can wear they can wear Haz Mat suits and welding masks as long is as they are prompt, courteous , polite and the food is better than average.

And the place is clean and neat

My initial reaction would be annoyance. But, if they are using them to communicate with other staff, and if they don't interfere with communicating with me, I'd be okay with it.

But I waited tables when I was in high school and college and did not need to be in constant communication with anyone else at the joint, so I don't think it is really needed.