Yes, it does need fixing. I removed Carl's Dine Out Reload mod, since it's not updated. I went back to what another player suggested a long time ago. I click on a member of the wait staff, and a chef as in Shift-Click and select debug. I have had some reasonable success most recently doing this. The first time, my Sims got their drinks, but the piazza never arrived. I had to cheat up their needs, since going back to the dorm for pre-term prep was on the agenda.
Yesterday, they got both their drinks and their meal. But I also did a second game repair in between things. Best of luck. I really love sending my Sims out to dine, for various reasons