Your thoughts on restaurants that sing Happy Birthday?

[Dan Murphy]

We enjoy the little restaurant celebrations, for us or others.

 

[MrsPete]

Please. Shut. Up.
I'm trying to enjoy time with my family and don't care if it's a stranger's birthday.

 

[Nolcrest]

Went to a restaurant that offered a free cake it was your birthday. We were celebrating my husband's birthday. I told the wait staff that we would accept the cake but we did NOT want any singing or fanfare by the staff. We told them their "tip" was dependent on them discreetly delivering the cake. They delivered the cake quietly, we enjoyed our dessert without embarrassing my husband and the server received a nice tip.

 

[ford family]

They are not such a regular occurrence in UK restaurants so we mainly experience them on cruises.
If the celebrants are nearby we always join in and everybody seems to be having a great time.
Our own birthdays tend to not be mentioned although we once celebrated a wedding anniversary in a speciality restaurant on a cruise ship and were congratulated by John Barrowman and his party who were at the next table.

ford family

 

[Orion Nebula]

I really don't like it. I never tell them it's my birthday and urge my wife to not tell them either. It does annoy me at some places when it's other peoples also, but I am fairly anti-social. So loud clapping, singing and dancing is just obnoxious when I am trying to eat. It sounds horrible when I say it, but it is what it is. lol

 

[BrianL]

I hate it myself and don't like to have it done to me as I don't really like being the center of attention. I don't really mind if they do it for others, but please let the person choose. One time when I was younger, my cousin, who was about 10 or 11 at the time, said in no uncertain terms that he will get up and leave if the waiters came to sing. Well, they did and he stood right up and walked out. Nice move! I went after him since I was older but still closest in age to him (I was probably 20 or so). I thought it was all hillarious - much respect to him for sticking to it. The thing about surprises like that is that not evryone likes them.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I don't mind when they do it well. But Happy Birthday is just a horrible song that is nearly always out of tune.

My sister-in-law teaches voice, and I've often told her she should go around to restaurants and offer lessons to make side money and to serve the greater good.

 

[TheRAEmanPTTfan]

Chuck E Cheese, Show Biz or Pizza Time Theater?

Both. Showbiz Pizza And Pizza Time Theater. I went to both back in the day as a kid. They both have special places in my heart still.

I owe the band at Showbiz Pizza, "The Rock-afire Explosion", a lot for my sanity.

 

[BrianL]

Both. Showbiz Pizza And Pizza Time Theater. I went to both back in the day as a kid. They both have special places in my heart still.

I owe the band at Showbiz Pizza, "The Rock-afire Explosion", a lot for my sanity.

Rocakfire Explosion is a great name!

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I hate the happy bday thing in restaurants. BUT that being said, I love doing it to people in my family who are unsuspecting! I guess I am just mean that way! LOL

 

[Lumpy1106]

Did you know...
Up until 2015, the "Happy Birthday" song was actually copyrighted? That's why restaurants made up their own versions. They are allowed to sing the original now but I would guess most are still using their own versions.

I worked my way through college in restaurants. Hated singing it, hate being sung to more. That's a hard pass from me.

 

[Carol_]

Love it all.
I’ll join in the singing and clapping from the other side of the fancy restaurant.
Life is short. You never know.
It might be that person’s last birthday. Help them celebrate.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Love it! Birthdays have always been a grand celebration in our family.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Nothing really new. If you don't want to hear it go to a more expensive upscale place. They don't do it in those.

I don't mind when it happens at other tables, but I don't join in nor clap at the end.

DDs once embarrassed me by pulling that stunt at a Chili's-type chain restaurant. I wanted to kill them at the time.

Yeah, I can tell that some servers probably hate it but it's part of their job.

That's nothing. My ex Gf many many moons ago had a little sister that would say it was someone's birthday even though it was months away. If you think it's embarrassing when they sing on your birthday, imagine the embarrassment when you get that, and have to tell the waitress to put the desert on our bill because it wasn't my birthday......

 

[luvnwdwgal]

Hate it!

 

[soccerdad72]

That's nothing. My ex Gf many many moons ago had a little sister that would say it was someone's birthday even though it was months away. If you think it's embarrassing when they sing on your birthday, imagine the embarrassment when you get that, and have to tell the waitress to put the desert on our bill because it wasn't my birthday......

When I was in college, we would do that to our swim coach every time we would be on a road trip and go out for dinner. Big so much for the free dessert - just to embarrass him

 

[MIGrandma]

I worked at a diner and when someone had a birthday we gave a free piece of homemade pie of their choice, we stuck a candle in it, lit it and took it to the person. Set it down in front of them with a smile and said “happy birthday.” Thankfully we did not have to sing

Not a fan of the singing in a restaurant for my birthday, but my Mom sure loved having it done for her

 

[PollyannaMom]

I was at a restaurant last night, and this happened twice. It seemed well-received by one, but the other seemed a little embarrassed. I was glad it wasn't me!