When DoorDash Delivers Drama: The Mystery of the Vanishing Lunch at the Hotel Front Desk
If you’ve ever worked a night shift, you know the unique blend of exhaustion, hunger, and sheer unpredictability that comes with it. Now add a missing Chipotle bowl and a rogue hotdog to the mix, and you’ve got a recipe for workplace drama that’s all too relatable. Recently, a Redditor from r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk shared the saga of their ill-fated DoorDash order and the surprising office etiquette lessons that came with it. Let’s just say—sometimes, your lunch isn’t just food. It’s fodder for a full-blown office whodunit.
But who really owns a lunch left at the front desk? And what’s the protocol when hangry coworkers, Nyquil naps, and etiquette collide? Grab a snack (and keep it close), because this is one story you won’t want to miss.
A Front Desk Fiasco: “Who Ate My Chipotle?”
Picture this: It’s 3 PM, and you’re winding down from a long day, just before another grueling night shift. You treat yourself to some much-needed comfort food via DoorDash—nothing fancy, just the essentials to survive the next round of hotel chaos. Then you doze off (thanks to a healthy slug of Nyquil), only to wake and realize your order never made it home. Instead, your burrito bowl is chilling—not in your fridge, but at the front desk of your hotel workplace.
Cue confusion and growing hunger pangs. You drag yourself to work, only to be greeted not with your food, but with this cryptic message from your supervisor: “Al- said he owes you lunch.” Wait, what?
Turns out, your hitherto unknown housekeeper supervisor (Al-) got a little too cozy with your DoorDash delivery. And your supervisor? She watched it all go down, texting you updates as your lunch’s fate hung in the balance. Only, you were deep in Nyquil dreamland, phone on Do Not Disturb, utterly oblivious.
When “Finders Keepers” Meets Workplace Etiquette
Let’s be real: office fridges are already battlegrounds. But the front desk? That’s sacred ground. Most workplaces have unwritten rules—or, like in this case, actual training—on how to handle wayward food deliveries. You label it, stash it, and leave it alone until claimed. It’s the unspoken code of basic decency (and karma insurance).
But Al- didn’t get the memo. In a move that would make Joey Tribbiani’s “JOEY DOESN’T SHARE FOOD!” ring in your ears, he swooped in, presumably thinking, “Well, if they don’t claim it, it’s up for grabs.” The problem? The OP (original poster) was scheduled for that very night. The schedule was literally on the wall. And, crucially, no permission had been granted.
The result? One night auditor, zero dinner, and a simmering pot of workplace resentment.
The Aftermath: Lessons in Empathy (and Address-Checking)
In the grand scheme, it’s “just lunch.” But for many shift workers, that meal is the only bright spot in a long, thankless night. Add illness, tight finances, and the exhaustion of working while sick, and suddenly that Chipotle bowl is a lifeline—not a luxury.
The OP later reflected with impressive maturity, admitting some blame for the delivery mix-up and the perils of Nyquil-induced ordering. But they also pointed out a crucial distinction: It’s not just about food. It’s about respect, communication, and the expectation that, at the very least, your stuff won’t be pilfered without consent.
And let’s not forget the management’s role. If your team’s first response is “lol, can Al- eat it?” instead of “Let’s put this in the fridge for our night auditor,” maybe it’s time for a quick refresher on basic workplace courtesy.
The Unwritten Rules of the Communal Fridge (and Desk)
This tale could’ve gone down differently. At previous jobs, OP’s coworkers would stash the food and send a heads-up. That’s the gold standard. Not everyone’s going to be your best friend at work, but a little empathy goes a long way—especially when someone’s working overnight, sick, and scraping together their last dollars for dinner.
So, what can we learn here?
- Check your delivery address. Especially when Nyquil is involved.
- Label and stash, don’t snatch. If it’s not yours, hands off until you get the all-clear.
- Communicate, even if it’s just a quick text. And if you’re the supervisor, set the standard.
- And if you do mess up? Apologize, offer to make it right, and maybe bring an extra burrito next time.
Final Thoughts: Have You Survived a Lunch Heist?
In the end, this story is as much about human nature as it is about food. Mistakes happen. Orders go awry. But what matters is how we treat each other when things go sideways.
Have you ever lost your lunch to a mysterious office thief? Or are you the office hero who always labels, guards, and delivers? Share your wildest workplace food tales in the comments—and remember, the next time you order Chipotle to your job, double-check that address. Your burrito depends on it.
What’s your take: Is eating an unclaimed work delivery ever fair game? Hit the comments with your office lunch horror stories!
Original Reddit Post: My Lunch Was Taken by my Day Time Colleague