Restaurants and Happy Birthday

This is somewhat of a rant but I'm curious to see what other people think about this....


Yesterday was my son's 4th birthday and my grandparents took the family to Olive Garden. When it came time for dessert, the waitress brought out DS's ice cream sundae with a candle in it, lit it, and encouraged us to sing - but the staff did not. When we asked the waitress about it afterwards (we were curious, because we've always known them to sing), she explained that a few years back someone wrote the Darden corporation stating that they were eating dinner there and were offended when the staff came out singing Happy Birthday to another restaurant patron. I guess their particular religious beliefs didn't allow Birthday celebrations, so they felt that the staff shouldn't be able to sing to any guests.

I was stunned that such a large corporation would cater to (what I think) is such a small minority, and a little outraged. First everybody has to make a big deal out of Christmas (although you still hear Christmas music playing every time you go to Wal-Mart), and now Birthdays? I think people need to get a life...if you're that offended by the Birthday song, eat somewhere else! Thoughts?

That's just extreme. If they don't want them to sing to them it's one thing but if anothe table chooses to sing why not. Gah.

Quoting Lizplustwo:" This is somewhat of a rant but I'm curious to see what other people think about this.... Yesterday ... [snip!] ... now Birthdays? I think people need to get a life...if you're that offended by the Birthday song, eat somewhere else! Thoughts?"

i feel the same... i hate when people ruin it for someone else

Restaurants actually dont sing happy birthday because it has been copyrighted. Thats why all the large chains have their own birthday song.

Wow that is surprising cause I know at the Cheesecake Factory we have to help sing as employees.

Quoting Amberchik78:" Restaurants actually dont sing happy birthday because it has been copyrighted. Thats why all the large chains have their own birthday song."

Yeah, that I understand but Olive Garden can't even sing their version anymore. They don't sing at all.

you shoulda went to texas road house. they make you set on a saddle while they sing to you..

<blockquote><b>Quoting Lizplustwo:</b>" Yeah, that I understand but Olive Garden can't even sing their version anymore. They don't sing at all."</blockquote>



The one by my house does.

Quoting Elaina Gilbert:" you shoulda went to texas road house. they make you set on a saddle while they sing to you.."

Haha I wish! We don't have one locally though  

That's smurfing retarded

Quoting Amberchik78:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Lizplustwo:</b>" Yeah, that I understand but Olive Garden can't ... [snip!] ... Olive Garden can't even sing their version anymore. They don't sing at all."</blockquote> The one by my house does."

Same here! That's odd. I'd be pissed it's a child's b'day like wow.

Quoting Lizplustwo:" Haha I wish! We don't have one locally though  "

lol lucky! my in laws tricked me this year... never again...

Ugh people should be slapped in the face and told to grow thicker skin or stay the smurf home. What if I'm offended that they don't sing happy birthday? Do they have to start doing it then? What if I'm offended by someone's rosary or someone who is praying before they eat? Grow the smurf up, people (offended people in the story, obviously   )!

<blockquote><b>Quoting s00nt0b04:</b>" Same here! That's odd. I'd be pissed it's a child's b'day like wow. "</blockquote>


Why get pissed? Their job is to take your order and bring food and drink, not provide entertainment.

Not pissed at the waitress obviously, but pissed at the corporation for catering to people like that.

The one by my house used to always sing - it's part of the reason we decided to go there!- but the waitress said that as of recently they don't anymore. She did tell us it was a corporation-wide thing, with all the Darden restaurants, but I have not yet been able to find the information to back this up.