Cafe's/'Greasy Spoons'.

[Tasha'93]

I was just wondering, how clean are cafe's? I guess they're like mini restaurants really but I've been in a few that give off a sort of 'grotty' vibe, if you get my drift. I felt obligied to eat in one today as I was out with a family member and just thought 'what harm can it do'? But straight after I had eaten (I only had a plate of chips) I just felt really dirty and as though the plate, the forl I used and just the chips themselves weren't clean I don't know if I'm just making something out of nothing here but it just seems that most cafe's I've ever been in seem quite informal (which isn't a bad thing really) and as though maybe they aren't that big on hygiene. What do you all think? Am I just over reacting?

[cinque]

I think they should be clean - they're governed by the same rules as everywhere else. I know some do seem a bit grotty but I think it varies on a case by case basis. Chips because they're deep fried are very unlikely to harbour any germs. I definitely don't think you should worry about having eaten in one today. I don't like it when cafés have the same person handling food and money, but I would think that it doesn't happen often nowadays (and they won't have touched your chips obviously). You can check this website: http://www.scoresonthedoors.org.uk/ for food hygiene ratings for cafés etc. You're really not going to get ill from today though so don't give that a second thought xxx

[canadianreject]

They're probably pretty clean. I used to work in a restaurant and it didn't have the best hygiene practices, and I still did/do eat off their silverware. I mean, the dishwashers they use get SO hot, I'm sure it's perfectly safe. xx

[fibigrey]

I live in the US, and the department of health does routine inspections on all places that serve food. Granted, they find flaws alot, but they have to be fixed. I think the only thing you might find from eating the fries (chips) is maybe old grease, where one place might change the grease often, they may not, but its cooked so hot you won't have a problem.

I have eaten at little diners my whole life and have never gotten sick from them. Its like any other place, I guess....and most of them like canadianreject said, uses hot hot hot dishwashers, etc.

[Tasha'93]

Thankyou for your replies. I knew most of what you were saying already about basic food hygiene policies and all that but I still worry. The woman dealing with the customers so 'front of house' so to speak, was sort of cupping my food with her hand when dishing them onto my plate (the chips and a few other things were at the front) so that did worry me a little & I've felt a little queasy all day but that could be due to it being on my mind, I hope it is anyway :/ thanks again everyone.