Almost every time I go out to eat, I don’t want anything to drink. “A glass of water then?” No. Nothing. “Not even a glass of water with lemon?” No. No water. No lemon. No thing. Nothing. Thank you.
This just fries their minds. In 40 years of doing this I have had two waiters not get confused or argumentative or indignant. How is it that it gets into the minds of people that one just has to drink with their meal? Are they afraid I’m going to choke to death? I chew thoroughly. It’ll be okay. Are they afraid that if I don’t drink three glasses of cola that I will have room for dessert.You’d think they’d want that to happen. Then again, I don’t order desserts either. An extra helping of vegetables would be nice for dessert.
I should try that sometime. “Would you care for some dessert?” Yes. Bring me a bowl of lima beans. Please. Now I’d really get the look.
But back to drinks with meals. Every now and then I will tell the waiter that I’d like to have a cup of coffee toward the end of the meal. They always forget. And that’s okay. I didn’t want anything to drink with my meal anyway.