Restaurant Server Says: Don't Be "Straw Psychos" or "Gluten Goobers"

Celiac.com 09/28/2023 - Restaurant server and TikToker, Andrew Lopez, recently shared a video highlighting some of his customer pet peeves, labeling them as "Straw Psychos" and "Gluten Goobers." His latest video dropped Friday, and quickly went viral. In it, Lopez goes off on a profanity-laden rant about customers he feels go over the line with their demands.

Lopez's first target is customers who request straws before he even has a chance to place their drinks on the table. He expresses frustration, explaining that serving drinks from a tray requires both hands and asks customers to be patient.

Irritated About Constant Gluten-Free Requests

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The second part of his video is devoted to customers who inquire about gluten-free menu options and protocols. He expresses irritation about the constant requests for gluten-free options, particularly from individuals who don't have celiac disease, a legitimate gluten allergy. He criticizes those who suddenly claim to have a gluten allergy because they are following low-carb diets like keto. He argues that going on a diet shouldn't necessitate the extensive preparation processes associated with gluten-free dishes.

While Lopez uses humor to vent his frustrations, his video has generated mixed reactions. Some viewers criticized him for complaining about his customers, while others expressed solidarity with his perspective, especially fellow servers who understand the challenges he faces. Some individuals with actual gluten allergies also supported his comments, acknowledging the annoyance of those who adopt gluten-free diets without necessity.

In response to the polarized feedback, Lopez hints at the possibility of creating another video to discuss more customer pet peeves in the future.

This video highlights the challenges that restaurant servers face when trying to accommodate various customer requests and preferences, and it has sparked a discussion about customer-server dynamics in the hospitality industry. 

But even though Lopez goes out of his way to exempt people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, his video also highlights some of the stereotypical beliefs about people who order gluten-free food, like the idea that they're more sensitive or demanding than other patrons. 

Are they really more demanding than the average demanding customer? Yes, people can be demanding, but people ordering gluten-free food likely aren't demanding just because they're eating gluten-free. They're likely just demanding to begin with, but so are a lot of folks.

At the end of the day, videos like this are good for grabbing attention for the people ranting, but not much else. They don't usually have much positive to contribute to either civility in restaurants, or among this ordering gluten-free food. So, even though they grab our attention, and make the ranters feel better, it's often best to take these overtly public complaints with a grain of salt.

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