A Mouse - Do You Tell?
I drove 50+ miles to have lunch with friends. As I was waiting for them to arrive, I saw a mouse skitter across the waiting area and disappear into a fountain/plant display. What to do? Tell the friends when they got there and go somewhere else? I've eaten in this restaurant several times, never had a problem. There were lots of people already eating. No management people in sight. The restaurant does have extensive gardens around the outside, so it could have been an little mousey who got lost.... What would you do?
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
Start Talking!
Need a question answered? Have advice to share? Start a Talk topic now!
Sign up to get your questions answered and share advice.
14 Comments:
That's a good one. Have to think about whether to tell the friends, probably wouldn't. But I'd contact the health dept so they could do a check. The health dept here checks about 20 restaurants a month and publishes their detailed findings in the local paper. If it were an ongoing problem they'd find droppings.
lemonfair at 5:27AM on 09/18/09
Having eaten at street stalls with rats crawling over my feet while I ate...so I'd say no. There are more mouses, buts, etc present in restaurants than anyone wants to think about. They're not that big a problem really and outside of the overly safe west most people would be shocked what they see in kitchens...but you know what? People don't get any more sick than in "safer" more developed countries.
accidentalepicurean at 5:53AM on 09/18/09
There could be several reasons why a mouse showed up at that restaurant. If any construction was done nearby, it disturbs rodents for miles around.
Here's a biggie - if you DIDN'T feel creeped out by the surroundings, if things around the restaurant looked otherwise clean, I might not tell my friends about my rodent sighting but I'd likely call the health department (like lemonfair) and ask for a check. They know where to look - spots that customers might not know - to determine whether this was one rogue mouse or if he's got friends and family nearby.
therealchiffonade at 6:21AM on 09/18/09
I have mice in my house and we all still eat here.
Agree with chiff - keep your perspective and remember you live in the world with all kinds of litttle creatures.
moibec at 6:54AM on 09/18/09
While having mice in no way makes a house 'dirty' given that mice like to go 'inside' for warmth and protection as well as food, having mice and rats is a serious problem, not simply because of the animals themselves, but because of the parasites they carry in their fur. I hate to say it, but mice are very, very wily, and it's easy to get them--a mouse can squeeze up through the pipes running to your kitchen sink. If you see a mouse, it's not alone, since they're pretty good about hiding from people.
While I understand it's hard for restaurants to completely contain mice and rats, if they're not following basic guidelines it can be worrying--they should at least be trying to contain the problem, and I do think at least a call to the health department to check is warranted.
How do I know all this (tosses hair): only my exterminator knows for sure....
HeartofGlass at 8:34AM on 09/18/09
I'd take a seat and ask if field mouse was on special tonight.... I'd ask this because I would know it was fresh, local, and apparently.... seasonal!
Wouldn't hesistate for a moment, certainly wouldn't tell my friends. The world is full of creepy crawlies... many living on or in our bodies as we speak. I have also eaten in outdoor markets with rats and roaches in close proximity... ask yourself this question. Would you want to eat someything a rat or a roach wouldn't?
Pavlov at 8:39AM on 09/18/09
Unfortunately I think mice and insects are part and parcel with the restaurant business. The one time I saw a mouse in a restaurant and told the staff the reaction was basically "yeah, and?". This time of year, especially if there is a patio or a large garden that doors open onto there might just be mice.
lexophile at 9:40AM on 09/18/09
I agree with lemonfair.
It may not be a big deal: but you probably shoulld assume some responsibility to make a health inspection inquiry.
hungrychristel at 10:21AM on 09/18/09
i have to wonder what you ordered for lunch..... i once got a stack of pancakes with a roach griddled right in the center of the top pancake. it looked like a garnish. i couldn't believe the cook or the server didn't catch that one. thank god i did.
they need a few "dumpster" cats around the place..... a perfect, natural solution to any rodent problem.
pooch at 10:23AM on 09/18/09
ewwwwww @pooch!!
hmw0029 at 10:29AM on 09/18/09
sick! @ pooch. I think I'd be tainted after that experience, ESPECIALLY if it looked like a "garnish" LOL. *barf*
hungrychristel at 11:00AM on 09/18/09
@pooch - My first night in New Orleans we went out to get a "signature" Hurricane drink and it came complete with a 3inch cockroach amongst the ice cubes. Haha.
lexophile at 11:49AM on 09/18/09
Thanks, everyone. I didn't say anything and we had a wonderful lunch - no roaches or other ewwwwws. Calling the health department is a good idea.
Bunnee at 1:31PM on 09/18/09
The key to it is not to SEE mice and or their droppings. Where there are mice they is dookie and I would have not eaten there because I am a real pain in the ass and don't want dookie on or near my food. If you see one mouse there are usually more. I would have told my friends and we would have went someplace else.
JerzeeTomato at 6:17PM on 09/19/09