Is it safe to use eating utensils in NYC restaurants?

Question

One of the reasons why I do not go restaurants in New York City is because I hate to eat with forks, knives and spoons that have been use by someone else before me. I know for a fact that washing dishes is one of the most miserable jobs with a very low salary,and the people that do it are not motivated enough to do their very best. Sometimes I see those utensils dirty with some stain or (the forks) twisted. I hate using the glasses because they make nauseate as well as the plates. Most of the time I bring my own eating utensils and I make sure that the plate I am given the food in is white.

Answer 1

Hi, in Paris it's the same problem, in the big cities, back area restaurant's is small, always I am asking how is possible to cook, to wash salads and vegetables and to wash pans, plates and eating ustensiles, I trust to the controls which inspect frequently and there are many to. I trust also to washingmachines when it's possible, if the plates and eating ustensiles are dried in the machine OK, I repeat, the back area is to much small, there is the problem.

Answer 2

true, dishwashing can be miserable job. But that doesn't mean that the utensils are unclean. I would trust them. If there is a stain on the utensil, you can always ask for a new one, but most likely the stain is from cleaning, not from being dirty. A twisted fork is a sigh of use, not uncleanliness. most places, even if they have  a dishwashing machine, must place their dishes in a sanitizing liquid for a certain amount of time. This liquid is close to a hand sanitizer, it kills 99.9% of germs.

Answer 3

no

Answer 4

You can bring your own utensils, NY has seen everything, they wont think you're weird. But remember that NYC is a huge tourist attraction, and its full of businesses, and every business is held to very high cleanliness codes. Not to mention that a restaurant with a reputation for having dirty dishes wouldn't stay in business for more than a week with so much competition around. The cleanest bathrooms I have ever seen are in NYC.

Answer 5

It's not that difficult to carry a knife and fork.  I know a woman who carries her own linen (sheets, blankets, pillows) when she travels.

Answer 6

All varies per resturant.  I am in NYC a lot cause my uncle lives there and once I ate at Kean's Steakhouse and some of the steak there was $135, so I assumed the silverware was ok, yet at a Chinese resturant where you don't really know what you ordered it might be a little more unsanitary.

Answer 7

It is not safe! Use your fingers next time. But do not wash your hands in the rest room first. Imagine the stuff on people's hands when they push the soap dispenser...

Answer 8

Stop worrying so much. You have a greater chance of getting sick from bad food and not from the silverware. Check it to make sure it is clean.

Sounds like you should eat at home if you can't relax when you eat out.

NYC restaurants are fine!

Answer 9

Usually what I do is ask for a glass of hot water and put the utensils in it, until i get my main course. But I have no suggestions for the glasses and plates, sorry

Answer 10

Generally yes. Otherwise thousands of people would be getting sick every day. NYC has a Dpt. of Health that inforces the rules.

So what difference does a white plate make? You can't see GERMS....:)

Answer 11

I have lived in NYC my whole life and I probably eat out 5 or 6 times a week and have NEVER gotten sick in any way from utensils.

There have been occassions where I get a dirty knife or fork and I just ask for another one and then wipe that off on my napkin.

I know that restaurants are inspected frequently, and have to stay up to code.  If they don't take care of things like that, they can't stay open and make money.

It just doesn't make sense to think that a restaurant that wants to stay in business will jeopardize customers over a simple thing like cleaning silverware.