How Many of the ‘ Texas 12 Commandments of Dining’ Do You Know?

What makes a good meal in Texas? If it's in the Hill Country or the Big Country you better have some barbeque. In Far West Texas the tastes might turn a little more spicy as Texas tastebuds out that way love a good chili. And in the big cities of Dallas and Houston, you can bet a great Texas meal features a thick cut of Texas-raised beef.

I think the only thing Texans like better than making a great meal is going out for a better meal. And that means choosing where you want to spend your time and money to satisfy your appetite.

Now when it comes to choosing what to eat, Texas has almost as many options as there are stars in the sky. But no matter what kind of cuisine your favorite restaurant serves it better be "up to snuff" in three important categories. In Texas we have a a name for a restaurant that either has bad food, bad service, or high prices, they call that restaurant, closed.

The food service industry is not for the faint of heart. It's people-pleasing on steroids. You have to please them with your food. You have to please them with your service. You have to please them with your ambiance. You have to at least make them tolerate you for the prices you charge. And finally, you have to please them in such a way that they help pay the salary of your waitstaff.

Which is why your waiters and waitresses work so hard for you. They know what they make per hour won't pay their bills. So, they are working to earn your TIPS and I hope you're generous when the service is good. And when the service is not, I hope you look for the real reason. Maybe it was a bad server or maybe it was a kitchen issue or a supply issue. As someone who has waited on the general public, I implore you, don't shoot the messenger.

That being said, while you've developed your list of pet peeves that you have about dining out, your waitstaff have developed their list of what makes them mad about you. I think most of us will find ourselves in a few slots on this list. Maybe the next time we are blessed to dine out in an establishment that cares about our business we will remember some of these "pet peeves" and do a better job of being a better guest.