Whose (silly) idea was it for restaurants to?

Question

have all the waiters sing "Happy Birthday" & embarrass you like a fool. It's cute for a 12 y/o girl or an 80 y/o grandma. My B day is Friday & I just want to tell them "s***w your song" & give my free cake lol. Any1 else annoyed by this? & WHO did it first. Bennigan's or TGIF?

This "tradition" needs to die!

Answer 1

it goes way back , but rem it in 70s in a local mall restruant so wasnt eitehr benn or tgif's dont know orig of it though but guessing back to areas of local italian or places like that

Answer 2

Haha, yes I agree it's time to address this foolish institution of society. Can  you imagine being one of the waiters singing? I'd be like "d**n, 6 bux and hour for this??!!"

Answer 3

I have no idea, but it is certainly lame.

Answer 4

It only becomes an issue of someone lets them know it is you birthday.  Just ask your friends who are arranging he dinner not to make a big deal of it if you don't want it done.  Incidently, you seem to be ok with part of the tradition because you still want everyone to know so you get free cake.  Just don't tell them, pay for your cake, and you have nothing to worry about

Answer 5

Just tell the host/hostess that it is your birthday, but you would prefer that you do not have a song sung to you.  I worked at Friendly's when I was younger, and trust me--the workers will gladly comply with your request!!!

Answer 6

If you don't like it, just don't go there on your birthday. The cake isn't very good, so why bother?

Bennigans has done this since at least 1981, which was my first visit. Fortunately, my birthday ALWAYS falls on a holiday when they're closed so I never have to experience it.

Answer 7

I agree. I'm one of those waiter's who has to sing, and it just gets annoying. If it is a little kid, or someone in a large group of friends obviously celebrating a birthday (presents and the like0 then I'll gladly sing to you and give you your free chocolate shake, but the problem starts when someone like that comes in, and everybody else in the restaurant remembers it's their birthday that day too! If it is someone my age or a little older (mid 20's-30's) and they tell me it's their birthday, I'll bring them the shake and make a little joke out of it. "I was going to come and embarrass you by singing, but it would probably embarrass me more!" Most people are alright with that.