It is not rude if you smile and say it with respect.

> No, no, ... that’s not a good combination for this sandwich ... You should go with ...

Repeatedly telling a customer 'no'? Telling them their choice is not good? Telling them what they 'should' do instead? It's not even a suggestion, it's a demand!

Smiling while dictating your opinions at the customer and telling them how wrong they are doesn't make it not rude.

Super rude, for anyone, let alone to a customer.

One of my favorite parts of traveling in Italy was that the waiters who weren’t at all shy about telling you not to order what you were asking for, and instead go with something they thought was better. And it was invariably excellent. It’s much easier for them to shrug and let you make bad choices, so I’m very grateful when someone does that for me.

This customer was so positively affected by this customer service that it had a lasting impact on their life and they are even telling the story years later.

You vastly underestimate social skills and the value of authenticity.

What would be the point of reading into someone's quick retelling of an encounter on HN? You're acting like it's a transcript and lambasting a strawman.

It would be rude if they refused to make it if you still insisted. It’s polite of them to tell you before they make it that it’s a bad choice.

Every time a waiter tells me I'm making a mistake ordering "rare", it is rude and it does annoy me. I don't let it show, because bodily fluids, but the tip definitely suffers. It's really amazing how many waiters can't imagine eating steak that tastes good...