“I’m sort of new here so I appreciate your patience,” she told us with a cheerful smile.

My wife and I sat at a table on the sidewalk outside Pikk’s Tavern in downtown Valparaiso. We weren’t in a hurry but we also didn’t want to be mistakenly overlooked.

A cardinal sin for any restaurant is when diners are forced to approach a worker in their vicinity and ask, “Can someone take our order?”

As a former restaurant server, and food business owner for 20 years, I know how it feels to be asked this awkward or angry question. It’s embarrassing and it starts off a customer’s dining experience in the worst way. They already feel neglected before even eating a bite of food or a sip to drink.

At Pikk’s on Friday evening, our young female server circled back to our table and took our order. She was pleasant, patient and apologetic despite likely feeling overwhelmed during a dinner rush on a beautiful evening in our Region.

Our meals arrived in a timely fashion from another worker. This was fine with me. I don’t care who delivers my meal as long as it gets to my table as hot or fresh as possible. Our female server again circled back and kindly apologized that another worker, not her, brought our food.

“That’s fine,” I replied. “Thanks for checking on us.”

If you’re hoping for a scathing review about our meals or this restaurant, today’s column may not be appetizing to you. My rigatoni with meatballs entree was fantastic. My wife’s BLT wedge salad was delicious. It really hit the spot.

Yes, I’ve dined at restaurants with mediocre food, pathetic service or unreasonable prices. Sometimes all at the same place. However, I never write harsh reviews on social media or Google or anywhere else. Instead, I simply never go back.

Contrary to my philosophy, many other people feel compelled to publicly share online reviews of their experience, from the poor service to the lousy food to the long wait for a table. Snarky restaurant reviews are as trendy as new restaurants in our Region. They pop up everywhere on the internet.

Some diners are hoping that a negative review will help correct a restaurant’s chronic problems. Other customers are simply stirring the pot of snark while spicing their online commentary with outrage, frustration or flat-out meanness. I don’t usually bite on the bait of a bad review. I prefer to fish around on my own for the best eateries and restaurants.

Here is a sampling of restaurant reviews on my recent social media feed.

“This place should be condemned. Never again will I return here. I have no idea how they remain in business for so long,” one diner wrote.

“Get your act together,” another diner posted. “Hour and a half wait for a to-go order on a Monday night. I didn’t want to believe the rumors about the slow service, but my gosh, you guys don’t seem to care. People walked out. Food was handed over without one word of apology.”

Another person wrote, “Very disappointing. It was almost $7 for a small chicken fried rice and the chicken pieces, if you call them pieces, we’re so small you need a microscope to see it. No flavor at all. No carrots or egg in it either. I won’t be going there anytime soon!”

“I try to remain on the positive on the local culinary scene but come on … I expect better,” another diner posted.

You could scroll social media for several hours every day reading such reviews.

I’m intentionally not naming these restaurants. But discerning diners may be able to identify them anyway.

Last week, I tried taking a different perspective on my Facebook page, asking for “hidden gem” restaurants in Northwest Indiana and beyond. I received more than 100 suggestions, which I hope to eventually visit.

Dining out for me is a joy and privilege. It’s also my costliest vice, according to my Discover card. I enjoy sharing photos and videos of my experiences. It’s just fun, as well as a needed distraction from the difficult realities in our lives. (View more photos at the online version of this column.)

A few months ago, I took a photo of a restaurant’s bathroom urinal and posted it on social media. The plumbing fixture looked like it hadn’t been upgraded or cleaned for decades. I didn’t think it was gross or unappetizing. I thought it was amusing. Nothing more.

I wrongly named the restaurant, a longtime landmark in LaPorte County. I wrote a pithy comment and sent it to my social media friends and followers. I didn’t circle back to the post for hours. Too late.

Readers began attacking the restaurant, assuming that its kitchen may resemble that bathroom fixture. I felt badly about my silly post, removed the restaurant’s name and apologized to the owner. It was unfair and immature on my part, despite my initial reaction of amusement.

All it takes is one bad review for any restaurant to lose potential customers. Patrons should keep this in mind when they share scathing reviews, some written hastily for petty reasons or prompted by unrealistic expectations.

After my dinner at Pikk’s Tavern, I asked to speak with a manager. I saw the flash of concern streak across the worker’s face. My question was likely a rare one.

“May I take a photo of our server?” I asked. “Stephanie was wonderful tonight.”