Can I ask a restaurant for their recipe?

Asking your waiter for the recipe isn’t considered bad etiquette at all — in fact, the article says it’s refreshing for chefs to hear. “I know chefs have a reputation for being a little crazy, but at the end of the day we only want to share our love of food.”

Is it rude to ask a chef for his recipe?

It’s not inappropriate to ask for a recipe, but the questioner must first understand that many of today’s chefs do not follow written recipes; they create dishes (especially daily specials) by relying on instinct and taste.

Can you use other people’s recipes in your restaurant?

The short answer is “probably not.” If the recipes are published, there is no trade secret protection. If you don’t use any names associated with the recipe, there wan’t be a trademark problem (in contrast to calling something “The Whopper” or “Big Mac”).

Is it illegal to use someone elses recipe?

Is it illegal to use other people’s recipes in your restaurant without giving credit? No, it’s perfectly legal. The nice thing about the food industry is recipes can’t be patented (they can only be kept secret as proprietary intellectual property).

Can someone copyright a recipe?

A recipe can also be protected by copyright law if it creatively describes or explains the cooking or baking process connected to the list of ingredients. That means that someone can express the recipe in a different way — with different expression — and not infringe the recipe creator’s copyright.

Who owns a recipe the chef or the restaurant?

If you are an employee of a restaurant and you create a dish in the firm’s time and using its resources then unless you have a clause in your employment contract saying you have ownership of the recipe, then it belongs to the employer.”

Can you be sued for copying a recipe?

While recipes themselves may not have copyright protection, it is clear that you cannot copy photos or drawings accompanying a recipe. Just because something might be legal, however, doesn’t mean you should Xerox the best recipes from top selling cookbooks and sell them at a garage sale.

Is it acceptable to have a party in a restaurant?

No, a restaurant is not a library; of course it’s acceptable to laugh and talk, and plenty of more casual restaurants can even be on the noisy side. But you and your party are not the only ones in the establishment.

Should you “treat yourself” at a restaurant?

Dining out at a restaurant is often a special occasion and a way to “treat yourself,” but that doesn’t mean you can act however you want—far from it.

Does every restaurant have every type of food?

No restaurant has every type of food, and it really comes down to reading the room. If you’re at a restaurant that clearly does not specialize in, or advertise, vegan options, don’t complain to the servers about the ones they do offer.

Does your server really clean up your dishes?

But don’t act like they’ve ruined your day if they don’t burst into hysterics. Yes, having your server clean up your dishes is one of the nicest perks of eating out. But that really shouldn’t mean that all cleanliness bets are off and you devolve into slovenliness.