A server has revealed the disgusting reason why you should never ask for lemon or lime in your drink while dining out.
Adrianah Lee, a popular YouTube creator and waitress who is based in the US, recently went viral on TikTok after she shared something horrifying that she discovered while working in the restaurant business.
The social media star issued a stark warning about getting garnishes added to a beverage, as she explained that servers place them on glasses themselves – sometimes after ‘touching money’ or ‘other people’s plates.’
‘I don’t know who needs to hear this, but do not get a lemon in your water at a restaurant,’ she warned in the video, which has now been viewed more than 168,000 times.
‘The minute I became a server I realized I’m never gonna ask for a lemon in my water ever again.
A server has revealed the disgusting reason why you should never ask for lemon or lime in your drink while dining out (stock image)
‘Because first, you know the servers put that on themselves, right? They’re touching money, they’re touching other people’s plates… They’re touching all sorts of things.
‘And yes, obviously servers wash their hands frequently, but when you’re running a table and [the customer says], “Let me get four waters with lemon,” they just put them on. I know this because I’m a server.’
Adrianah added that waitresses are also responsible for cutting the lemons and while she wears gloves when she does it, she can’t ‘account for anybody else.’
She also claimed that the produce used for drinks are ‘never washed.’
‘When I’m at home, I wash all my produce, but I’ve never seen a lemon washed in my life at a restaurant,’ she continued.
‘I’ve worked a lot of restaurants, I’ve worked at five-star places, I’ve worked at diners. I’m concerned.’
The waitress said there’s ‘a lot’ of other things she learned from working in eateries that she has ‘turned a blind eye to,’ but that she just had to share the lemon tidbit – that likely applies to limes too.
‘I just [can’t] get over [it]. I don’t know about y’all, but I will never ask for a lemon in my water. And if I see one I’m taking that out right away,’ she concluded. ‘Don’t get a lemon in your water.’
Waitress Adrianah Lee explained that servers put garnishes on beverages themselves – sometimes after ‘touching money’ or ‘other people’s plates’
Viewers seemed split over Adrianah’s take, and many stated that they will continue to get lemons in their drinks
Viewers seemed split over Adrianah’s take, and many stated that they will continue to get lemons in their drinks.
‘It’s literally fine,’ one person wrote. Another added, ‘And… the world kept spinning.’
‘I’m a server but I always get water with lemon, I don’t [give a f**k] it’s so good,’ shared someone else.
‘This is so true but I’m still getting that lemon… Out of sight out of mind,’ read a fourth comment.
A fifth said, ‘Imma still order lemon. I’m sure I’ve been exposed to worse. Gotta build that immune system somehow.’
Some other servers chimed in, and admitted that they had very different experiences.
‘Y’all don’t use tongs? It was mandatory and we had to wear gloves EVERYTIME and wash lemons,’ one wrote.
‘My job has little tongs for the lime and lemon wedges,’ another agreed.
‘The place I work, we wash the lemons, wear gloves when we cut them, skewer them with a pick and put it on top of the drink. Depends on where you work I guess,’ someone else explained.
