Restaurant customer sees maintenance man standing on food prep area, is told workers "usually" clean the area: 'Is this standard procedure?'

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
May 3, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

If you went out to eat and spotted this, you'd probably turn around and walk right back out the door. 

Do you ever see a restaurant with a "C" grade and think twice before stepping inside? It's quite reassuring to see a restaurant that has an "A" or "B" level of cleanliness from the Department of Health, because it means they follow the proper protocols to cook your food and ensure you won't get sick from it. Some restaurants are just nasty inside (ever watched "Kitchen Nightmares"? You'll never think about those walk-in fridges the same way again). Whether it's due to absent owners who'd rather be jet-setting than inspecting kitchens, or chefs who are so underpaid and stressed that they'll serve up anything, there are some places you simply should not eat at.

This person discovered a shocking and disgusting situation as they were trying to order some fast-food tacos. They asked the internet if that was normal and… well, you should just keep scrolling and check out the whole situation for yourself. 

Next, read about the "entitled, selfish and bratty" woman who planned her wedding on the same day as her stepbrother, who didn't mince words when he said, "She knows I don't want to be her brother." 

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  • 01
    Is this standard procedure and/or foodsafe?
    via u/Kal-Elm
  • 02
    Cantina Chicken Menu Cantina Chicken Crispy Taco Cantina Chicken Soft Taco 3.18230 Cal 2.11 200 Cal Cantina Chicken Burrito 3.48590 Cal Cantina Chicken Quesadilla Redund-Fat Sour Cream 19.48740 Cal Cantina Chicken 3.18530 Cal Specialties Groups Taco&Burrito Cravings Pack 11 Taco Party Pack Ounty Ta 170 Cal each Cowity Tone or 2.11 170/100 Cal each Sun Sam 23.11 10/200 Cal each NEW CRISPY CHICKEN NUGGETS COMBO TORTILLA CHIP BESACENG 39 Bowl 32 Cal Cal 33 Del Crunchwrap Supreme. Black & 1520 Cal S
    via u/Kal-Elm
  • 03
    Cheezburger Image 10500856320
    via u/Kal-Elm
  • 04
    Kal-Elm OP Was waiting for my order when I saw the maintenance man standing on the prep board(?) with his regular shoes on.
    via u/Kal-Elm
  • 05
    At first I shrugged it off and didn't trust my instincts. But I called about 5 minutes after I left to let them know (since no one else seemed to notice). The guy who answered said, "Yeah, we usually clean it off afterward."
    via u/Kal-Elm
  • 06
    So my question is, is this something that is okay? I'm positive the ingredients are supposed to be covered up even if it is okay. I guess I'm asking whether I should contact corporate so they can re-train.
    via u/Kal-Elm
  • 07
    F kRedditWhyAmlHere No don't worry, those are his food safe shoes.
    via u/F***RedditWhyAmlHere
  • 08
    LinkleLinkle There appears to be a ladder that he used... To climb on the table . And he didn't even bother taking the cutting board off the table at least. I mean, he shouldn't be standing on there in the first place, but shows on the cutting board is next level insanity. If they think this is normal then I can't imagine what else they do. I wouldn't eat there anymore, ever.
    via u/LinkleLinkle
  • 09
    femaletrouble I'm sorry, "usually"?
    via u/femaletrouble
  • 10
    lotero89 Send it to the health department. For real.
    via u/lotero89
  • 11
    thatperson_idk Hey so I won't speak much on the safety aspect, but I can say this also does happen in "nicer" places as well (I worked at Cooper's Hawk). This was never done during food service and they had these cutting boards that ran the entire front of the line and they were removable when chefs had to clean the restaurant top down/stand on the line.
    via u/thatperson_idk
  • 12
    KeyHighway6426 u should know this isn't standard procedure man lol
    via u/KeyHighway6426
  • 13
    Ok-Dust76 It's sh like this which makes me wanna just pack my own lunch from now on
    via u/Ok-Dust76

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Tags

maintenance workplace-stories jobs job tacos work workplace workers food fast food
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