Enchiladas Without Cheese? Why My Waiter Nearly Called SWAT

Because sometimes your dinner order is scarier than the bill.

Ordering enchiladas shouldn’t feel like a standoff—but when your meal modifications have your waiter raising eyebrows, it’s time to laugh and reflect.

I’ve developed a deep empathy for waitstaff people. They have to deal with customers like me. if there were a place where restaurant waitstaff put photos of people they don’t want to wait on I think I might make their infamous wall. Today I walked into the restaurant with a friend and we are taken to a table.. Before we get to the table, I say.I” prefer to sit over in that area.”

I get the raised eyebrows and pulling the menus closer to they chest. I’m wondering if the waitstaff thinks they’re like a Kevlar vest in case I’, dangerous. The waitstaff takes us to a table in the general area I indicated. Then I said, “Not this one but that one over by the window.”

I was afraid this waitstaff was thinking of using pepper spray on me. My friend and I sat down. The waitstaff person took our drink orders and came back asking if we were ready to order. I’m not one to eat and run. We were engaging in a good conversation and nodded no.

Two minutes later the waitstaff person is hovering nearby. I turned and asked for a few more minutes. When we were finally ready to order, my friend ordered first and the waitstaff person was giving me a look. When it was my turn, I ordered the enchiladas ranchero.

He quickly grabbed the menus but not quick enough. I said, “Hold on I need to make a few modifications.”

I thought he was going to have a seizure. I asked him to substitute grilled vegetables for the rice and refried beans. I got a snarky look and a comment, “Iis that all.”

I said , “No, I don’t want any cheese on my enchiladas. “

From the look on his face you would think he wanted to call a SWAT team. He must’ve thought I was deranged. How could I have an enchiladas ranchero without rice, refried beans or cheese. I hope I didn’t send the kitchen staff into a tizzy. I did leave a generous tip. After all, he had to put up with me.

Have you ever ordered something at a restaurant that made your waiter look ready to surrender—or disappear? How did it turn out?