How a Horrible Fine Dining Experience Taught Me Key Lessons in UI/UX Design

I was in a charming restaurant in Finland with an ambience promising a delightful evening. The food was decent, and the service was passable. But then, a seemingly small detail turned my entire dining experience sour.

Our starter, main dish, and dessert.

As we wrapped up our meal, I encountered a payment machine that defaulted to a 5% tip.

“Oh, I don’t think there is such a habit of paying tips in Finland. But is it rude if I click away from this?”

In Finland, tipping isn’t customary. However, in this restaurant, I was prompted to leave a tip without the option to skip. I had to manually enter ‘0’ to avoid tipping, which felt awkward and pressuring. Reluctantly, I paid the tip.

After paying, my dissatisfaction grew. I remembered the missed water service and the lack of explanation about the dishes. My irritation stemmed from the forced tip, a negative end to an otherwise average experience.