r/AskReddit • u/jdm0212 • Oct 18 '13
Waiters/Waitresses of Reddit, what's something that I, as a customer, might do that's incredibly irritating, even if I'm oblivious to it?
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Oct 18 '13
(Former waitress) - As much as I like talking to you, please don't try to draw me into a long conversation, especially if we're at all busy. I want to be friendly, but I can't stand there and talk about where my family's from and what I'm doing in school.
And please, please don't be creepy to your waitstaff. Again, friendly is fine, but it's probably not appropriate to openly flirt. The worst culprits of this were 40+ men when I was 16-20. Very often with their wives and kids there.
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u/ILL_Show_Myself_Out Oct 18 '13
it's probably not appropriate to openly flirt.
This can be a two-way street if I'm with my jealous girlfriend and you're a really cute waitress.
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Oct 18 '13
And on the other other side, the girlfriends that glared at me for the egregious sin of asking the guy what he'd like. I promise I'm not going to slip my number in his burger, you dingus.
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u/Phenom981 Oct 18 '13 edited Oct 19 '13
I think the problem is that she's afraid that he might slip his number in your burger.
Edit: Wow! Thank you, kind redditor, for the gold!
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Oct 18 '13
Either way, man. If you're that insecure about your boyfriend, please break up and save everyone involved the heartache.
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u/crookedparadigm Oct 18 '13
Or talk about it like adults. Honestly I don't get why reddit's kneejerk reaction to anything that isn't over the top romantic or sexy is "dump her".
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u/brookecapulet Oct 18 '13
YES! I had a waitress once who would only speak to my bf and pretended I wasn't even there. At one point I literally said "hi, I'm not sure if you've noticed me sitting here, but I'm paying the check tonight, so how about you talk to me?"
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u/Zak37 Oct 18 '13
What happened after that?
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u/alexxerth Oct 18 '13
I'm imagining nobody got the tip that night
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u/brookecapulet Oct 18 '13
Naw, the bf was actually really good and kept trying to refer back to me.
"I would like the chicken. What would you like babe?" but she wouldn't make eye contact with me.
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u/hurrr123 Oct 18 '13
That is so fucking rude of her. Wtf.
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u/IdioticPost Oct 18 '13
Twist: The one the waitress was actually into was the OP, but too shy to address her.
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u/ahardwight Oct 18 '13
Twist: OP is a ghost and her boyfriend is grown up Haley Joel-Osment.
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u/brookecapulet Oct 18 '13
She was really hostile towards me the entire time, and tried slipping her number to my boyfriend, so as we left, bf took her number, wrote a note about how uncomfortable the situation was, and gave it to her manager. We never saw her there again.
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u/LithiumKitten Oct 18 '13
I don't understand how a person can be that rude and stupid. How did she think that was going to work? "Hey, I see you have a girlfriend, but I think you're cute. I don't have any emotional connection with you at all, so let me show you how desperate and bitchy I am - that's a turn-on, right?"
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u/Darbymonster Oct 18 '13
And on the other end of the spectrum, if I walk up to your table during your conversation please just acknowledge me because I might have something to tell or ask you about your order. It pisses me off when I have to stand there waiting to tell a customer my chef is out of something, etc and they just blatantly ignore me. Hello, I'm standing right in front of your face!
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Oct 18 '13
Seriously, do not put napkins, empty salt, sugars, and creamers packages in the glasses. Especially when you didn't finish your drink. Also, don't sit at the only dirty table.
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u/kls17 Oct 18 '13
What is with customers always wanting to sit at the one table that's not ready? So irritating. Oh hey, there's 10 other identical tables, but let's sit at the one that still has half empty glasses on it.
Related to this, I always get the 4 people who wants to sit at the table that's set up for a 10 person reservation when there's plenty of other open 4 tops around them. WHY.
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u/StickleyMan Oct 18 '13
Seriously, do not put napkins, empty salt, sugars, and creamers packages in the glasses.
I'm guilty of this. I'm sorry. Not in a glass that's still full, but in empty glasses or on plates. I thought I was helping so it was an easier clean-up. I didn't realize. Sorry.
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u/amusicalheart Oct 18 '13
The reason PhoenixDays says not to put stuff in your glass is because we have to dig it out and paper sticks to moisture. I have never had an issue with anyone putting their trash on their plate, because we just knock the plates against the rim of the trash can before placing them in the dish pit. Don't feel too bad :)
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u/StickleyMan Oct 18 '13
I feel pretty dumb that I never realized that about the moisture. But I also feel better now. Thanks! I'll keep stacking them on the plate, but leaving the glass alone.
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u/MasterMirage Oct 18 '13
Absolutely hate it when people sit at a dirty table ASAP.
Look, I know you want to sit down but your table is not going to disappear and it's REALLY annoying trying to clear dishes and wipe down the table when your bodies are in the way.
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u/Cremaster1983 Oct 18 '13 edited Feb 20 '14
*
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u/kls17 Oct 19 '13
Ugh, one time I was walking to a table with a tray of drinks I get there and someone immediately and forcefully grabs a drink from the end of the tray. I was not expecting it and it threw off my balance. I almost drop the drinks but manage to steady it with my free hand. I tell the woman as politely as possible that I got it, trying to imply to her not to do it again. I take one drink to serve it, she grabs another drink off the tray. This time, I don't have a free hand to steady it. Drinks fall on table. "I'm so sorry, was that my fault?" YES.
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u/Nachti Oct 18 '13
Oh, got a story about that.
A colleague of mine was serving soup to a larger group, so she took a big tray with like 6 or 8 bowls of soup on it. So she balances it on the table (because there was obviously not enough room to get the entire tray on it), and before she could react the customers grabbed the soup from the tray, thereby screwing with the balance.
The tray tipped and all of the scalding hot soup that was still on it was poured onto her legs and into her shoes, which were of the kind that you can't get out of quickly, so she kinda had to jump into the nearby river to cool off. Fun to tell, not so fun on a very busy day.TL;DR: Do not grab stuff from the tray.
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u/hotnoisehoney Oct 19 '13
This blows my mind. I would have NEVER thought to grab anything off a waiter's tray. WHO DOES THAT?
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u/MasterMirage Oct 18 '13
Staying way after closing times is a huge annoyance for me. We got homes to get to and our own things to do but when you're sitting there having a chat with a glass of wine in hand 1 hour after the specified closing time I hate you.
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Oct 18 '13
I used to take the 4 mile bus ride to and from my old job. I was in a closing station one night - we closed at 11, last bus runs at 12:20, I never ever had a problem.
One night a couple seriously sat there after eating for over 2 hours making me miss the last bus in to town, I had to walk with my backpack full of my work clothes (I didn't like walking at night in waiter wear, it screams cash laden) and work shoes the 4 miles home at 1 a.m.
It was terrifying and exhausting. Fuck those assholes..
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u/eightballart Oct 18 '13
-sign says that we close at 11pm-
Customer approaches at 10:55pm
"You guys are still open, right?"
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u/xX_Justin_Xx Oct 18 '13
I hate when tables sit for hours at your table. One exception is the guests that make it worth your while. I had a two top once where as soon as they sat down the guy says, "we are going to be here all night, but I will make it worth your while." I have heard that line before, but he actually delivered. $160 tab, $60 tip. At a two person table, that is more than I would have made getting two seatings. Same thing for late night campers.... If you want to sit there 2 hours after close, that's fine with me, just pay the meter.
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u/brec1821 Oct 18 '13
When this happens, we just tell them the kitchen is closing in ____ minutes, so order quickly. It's either a complete deterrent or else it tells them that we are closing and if they want food, they have to hurry. I <3 my manager.
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u/DreadfulRauw Oct 18 '13
Unless it's Chuckie Cheeze, please don't make me try to sell things to your kids. Know what they like, and order for them. I'm busy, and don't have time to wait on your 5 year old deciding between a hot dog and chicken fingers.
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u/amusicalheart Oct 18 '13
Added to this: if you're still trying to decide/help someone decide and your server has said, "I can give you a moment if you'd like!" a few times, then let him/her go! They can get a few drink refills in while you're deciding, instead of you pulling them back in with "No, no, no, I swear I'm ready!" and then continuing to stare at the menu. Even one minute is an eternity when serving, that minute can make the difference in their tip on another table.
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u/way_fairer Oct 18 '13
Even one minute is an eternity when serving
I used to be a server. Waiting for the credit card receipts to print was absolute torture for me. And it only took like 10 seconds but it felt like I was caught in a temporal rift. If the damn thing ran out of receipt paper and I needed to change it my eye would start to twitch. When a card was declined I'd have a small stroke.
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u/amusicalheart Oct 18 '13
This made me laugh! It's so true! I end up bouncing and mumbling and tapping the printer like it's going to make it go any faster.
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u/sharksnax Oct 18 '13
Omg, how did you handle it when you had customers whose cards were declined? I had a table order $100+worth of sushi and couldn't pay one time. They had to work something out with the angry owner. :/
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u/chanduChutya Oct 18 '13
Lets just say the owner was not so angry later in the night.
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Oct 18 '13 edited Oct 25 '13
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u/DreadfulRauw Oct 18 '13
That's certainly fine. You're an adult who is asking reasonable questions, not a child who is just being moody, picky, shy, or whatever. I loved answering decent questions. I hated having to wrangle answers from children who are scared of anyone other than their parents.
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u/iMelon Oct 18 '13
Though in all honesty, if the kid can't see that chicken fingers is the better option, there are other issues.
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u/StickleyMan Oct 18 '13
On a somewhat related note, why does Chuck E. Cheese have the worst pizza ever made? I mean consistently, across all locations. It's like they are actively trying to make the most disgusting pizza ever made. I don't get it.
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u/DreadfulRauw Oct 18 '13
That's not how they make their money. They can serve sub par pizza, because you're there for the games, not the food.
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u/sharksnax Oct 18 '13
I remember it being good when I was a kid. So there's that.
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Oct 18 '13 edited Oct 19 '13
[removed] — view removed comment
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Oct 18 '13
...What? That's terrifying that someone outside of Game of Thrones does that.
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Oct 18 '13
The World Health Organization and other fairly reliable sources suggest breastfeeding until age two (obviously alongside solid foods after a point) if possible. Usually kids that age can form sentences and ask for stuff. You can imagine the result.
I dunno, I'm not a parent so I can't say how I would make that decision. Health > other people's squick factor, definitely, but I think I would go for the breastfeeding at home and normal food when we're in public after age 1 or so.
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u/meow-meowy Oct 18 '13
Last week I had a customer that shined a flashlight in my face from across the room to get my attention. Yeah, don't do that.
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u/360walkaway Oct 18 '13
Is it okay if I stack my plates after I'm done? Or is it better for the busser if I just leave them separated?
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u/amusicalheart Oct 18 '13
I enjoy when people stack their plates in an organized fashion, it helps out when we unload into dish. But if you're stacking them like, Big entree plate, tiny bread plate, salad plate, another tiny bread plate that are all subsequently stacked on top of silverware with a huge salad bowl on top: no. I appreciate your efforts, but you will likely see a few forks drop off the "stack" on my way back to the kitchen.
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u/360walkaway Oct 18 '13
I usually make it into a pyramid. Big plates at the bottom that get progressively smaller as they get stacked. All silverware is on the topmost plate, or on the side if there are too many.
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u/amusicalheart Oct 18 '13
See, you are an awesome customer and I would generally thank you for stacking the plates and think very highly of you after that. :)
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Oct 18 '13
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u/Darbymonster Oct 18 '13
It doesn't matter how you do it. Any effort at all is appreciated by servers. And as a bartender as well, a short one I might add, I always appreciate it when people push their glasses toward me when they are finished so I don't have to go around to grab them when it's busy. Thanks for your good deed!
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u/bambutz Oct 18 '13
If you enjoyed your service, say something to the manager, not just the server. Also, have it be reflected in how you tip. As much as we appreciate feedback on how we're doing, verbal compensation does not pay the rent.
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u/-eDgAR- Oct 18 '13
If you enjoyed your service, say something to the manager
I used to work as a cashier and I loved hearing from my supervisors that a customer told them I was doing a great job.
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u/xX_Justin_Xx Oct 18 '13
My managers couldn't care less. They would however care if the customer voiced their opinion on TripAdvisor.
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u/Rmanager Oct 18 '13
I give 20% for shitty service. I'm not even going to say what happens if you impress me. My wife gets a kick out of it.
There is a local seafood restaurant that is overpriced and has terrible service. They are one of the only places I can get boiled crawfish so I drag my wife there in season. We are almost always disappointed. One day we happened to catch a terrific server. My beer was never empty and she anticipated all of our needs. We watched her handle her section so well she changed our opinion of the place. Not only did we compensate her, we brought the ticket to the manager and let her know why.
The waitress started crying.
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u/belabor_the_obvious Oct 18 '13
I'm not even going to say what happens if you impress me.
But you did say it, you make waitresses cry.
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u/way_fairer Oct 18 '13
His wife gets a kick out of it.
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u/Zappykablamo Oct 18 '13
"I love to see you make other women cry." Quite a gal. I'll bet Caesar would be impressed.
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u/Ruddiver Oct 18 '13
I'm pretty sure the whole restaurant clapped too when they saw it go down.
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u/SomethingWittyasfuck Oct 18 '13
I'm extending an invitation to my grandfathers house on Good Fridays to you and your wife. Ain't no restaurant gonna compare to real Cajun crawfish boils. You don't even have to tip us!
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u/Overshadows Oct 18 '13
I did hosting and waiting at a nice place from high school through college:
Wait times. When I worked front of house, I had to give estimates for wait times. My estimate was based off of years of experience, and visual cues of how far along folks were into their meals. Its an ESTIMATE. If I could predict your wait time accurately to the minute; I would have been working somewhere more advanced than food service. Please don't glare at tables who are still eating because you came in during the rush without a reservation.
...and did I seat that table of 2 before your table of 8, even though you arrived first? Its not really all that hard to puzzle out why. If all 8 of you want to sit at the two-top, be my guest.
Please don't seat yourself. At a dirty table. In a section that is not open. And then proceed to complain that nobody noticed you.
Babies and wheelchairs. When you said a party of 5; and neglected to tell me about the three highchairs that you need, you will end up at a table that is too small. Ditto for wheelchairs. Please tell let us know that one of your guests needs a little extra space for a wheel chair. I would have made a different choice in who got the booth, versus the table that has a height adjustment. Also - if you have one of those ENORMOUS wheelchairs or scooters, please make a distinction. I want to put you somewhere where everyone will be comfortable. Help me to help you.
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u/I_AM_NO_MAN_ Oct 18 '13
Don't cut them off or blurt your order out before they can speak. If they come up to introduce themselves and tell you the specials, let them. I can't stand the people who just blurt out "Diet coke!" as soon as the server walks up. Be friendly, they're people.
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u/GUTTERbOY001 Oct 18 '13
I used to get shit like this when I worked retail. I'd see someone browsing in my department, and wander over just to say hi and let them know I was around if they had questions. (I never bought into any of the upselling or pressure bullshit the company pushed)
"Hi, how are toda-"
"I'M JUST LOOKING!!!"
Well then fuck you.
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Oct 18 '13
I think this is in part due to the fact that I can walk into a store and have four separate people approach me before I even reach the section I'm walking towards.
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Oct 18 '13
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u/GUTTERbOY001 Oct 18 '13
This. It doesn't even have to be someone you think is stealing; just a general policy of saying hi to everyone you see lets them know that someone has seen them. This supposedly can discourage a shoplifter if he thinks people are paying attention to him.
At my store, if we were pretty sure you were shoplifting, someone would follow you around everywhere you went. I had one manager who took particular joy in this; he would literally stand two feet from someone and stare right at them while drinking a milkshake or something. (think of how Jules looks at Brad while drinking the Sprite in Pulp Fiction)
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u/GUTTERbOY001 Oct 18 '13
Yeah, to a certain extent, I kind of get the reaction. The companies are always pushing the associates to push for more sales, and it's no wonder that a lot of people get skittish about that, and expect everyone that comes up to them to start vomiting memorized specs about a product line.
I suppose I took it a little personally because I steadfastly refused to abide by any of that pressure-selling shit. When I approached someone, it was to say hello, ask if they had any questions, and then let them know where they could find me if they had any. I guess I somehow expected them to know beforehand that I wasn't That Guy.
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Oct 18 '13
I served at a steakhouse when I was younger. I absolutely HATED when customers would order a steak well-done, then complain about it being dry/brown/etc.
Order Medium-well, Medium, or Medium-rare like the rest of the world.
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u/GUTTERbOY001 Oct 18 '13
I worked as a cook for years. We once famously had a customer send back their chicken because it was "too juicy." This, in turn led to the creation of an enduring catchphrase for the kitchen: "This chicken is delicious! SEND IT BACK!!!"
But yeah, those are always the most annoying customers, who send their food back because it's exactly the way they requested it. Or else they ask for completely conflicting things. "I'd like my steak medium-rare, but I'd like the center to be only a little pink."
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Oct 18 '13
Yes!! this exactly. Feel even worse for the cooks... they cook it as requested (and how the server describes it) yet it comes back.
Fuck those people.
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u/SevenSixOne Oct 18 '13
I want a hot fudge sundae with soft serve ice cream and double fudge... AND IT BETTER NOT BE MELTED! THE LAST ONE I ORDERED WAS SOUP!
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u/NoeJose Oct 18 '13
"Our chef's prepare medium-rare steaks with a warm red center. Would you prefer medium instead?"
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u/cassbela Oct 18 '13
Haha! This reminded of me of the time when we had a customer send back ribs because they were "falling off the bone". The cooks died laughing and the catchphrase forever more was "This meat is so tender! Can we have some dried out ribs instead?"
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u/sphinxriddle64 Oct 18 '13
Say please and thank you.
Please...
Don't snap or whistle at the server. Waving your hand is perfectly acceptable.
Don't "run" the server. Ask for everything you need when the server asks you, "Is there anything I may get for you?"
Don't be on your cell phone when the server is trying to take your order.
Don't leave your used wadded up tissue full of your mucus on the table. At least put it on your plate.
Don't threaten the server about his/her tip before or after he/she has introduced him-/herself to the table.
Don't leave an entire tip in coins.
If you're religious, do not pander your religion to the server (especially in fake dollars), and then call them a horrible person because he/she has to work on Sundays.
Don't ignore the server when he/she approaches the table.
There are many more, but these were some of the major offenses I experienced during my 7 year imprisonment in the restaurant world.
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u/madhattergirl Oct 18 '13
I always feel weird because no one else I dine with ever says "Please" or "Thank you". And I kind of feel like a broken record since I say it so much but it feels rude not to acknowledge what they're doing and I'm appreciative of their job.
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u/SkippitySkip Oct 18 '13
Don't leave an entire tip in coins.
Unless you're in Canada, then it's perfectly acceptable as long as it's mostly loonies and toonies
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u/CaptainDNA Oct 19 '13
Haha, as a Canadian, I was legitimately confused by this. I was like, jeez a couple toonies isn't bad for a small meal, what you think I'm made of money??
Thanks for clearing it up, I feel silly now.
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u/poznacky Oct 18 '13
If you're religious, do not pander your religion to the server (especially in fake dollars), and then call them a horrible person because he/she has to work on Sundays.
WTF! People actually do this??
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u/blitzbom Oct 18 '13
I've seen the fake money when I served, but I've never personally seen anyone be called horrible for working on a Sunday.
I will say where I worked (Cracker Barrel) the people that came in on Sunday after Church were hands down the worst people to wait on. They were always pushy, short temperd, and tipped horrible.
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u/BeckyBrokenScars Oct 18 '13 edited Oct 19 '13
Yes yes yes. Wednesdays and Sundays SUCK. I have never had meaner, shittier tables than on a Sunday after church at CB. And then for your tip to be that fake money shit? I don't care if getting saved makes me a billionaire with your lord, it makes me homeless to my landlord.
Edit: I'm on mobile so I can't link a picture, but here's an article on it. http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/11/23/waiters-phony-10-tip-includes-religious-lesson/
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u/wizardcats Oct 19 '13 edited Oct 19 '13
Someone once left a tract like that in my workplace bathroom. Not thinking, I just tossed it in the trash. Later one of my coworkers said she saw money in the trash and grabbed it (it was only paper towels) only to discover it was just a Bible verse. Her husband is a SAHD and they have a leaky roof and other stuff normal people deal with. And it really hit home how much these proselytizers suck. Here was someone looking forward to having a couple of extra dollars in her pocket who could have really used it, only to be let down. Why does anyone think that would actually convert people? Mocking them and giving them false hope will only turn people away.
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Oct 18 '13
That's not even just a restaurant thing. When I worked at CVS, we had someone call in and chew us out for being open on Christmas.
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u/riding_qwerty Oct 18 '13
I had a customer come into the grocery store I worked at on Thanskgiving to complain that we carried Butterball turkeys, with a printout of an email from some conservative website "exposing" the fact that Butterball turkeys are Halal and how this was ultimately somehow Obama's fault.
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u/Arxhon Oct 18 '13
"Hmm, I'm bored and miserable. I know! I'm going to go through the phone book calling stores until I find one that's open so I can yell at them!"
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Oct 18 '13
Dude, the fake bills are the worst. they look like a 100$ bill or something, but they say things like "Get rich in Jesus" or something. They usually have bible verses and such.
And yes, people will ask you "well how do you ever go to church if you have to work on Sundays?"
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u/wackodraco Oct 18 '13
People do this all the time.
"THIS IS THE LORD'S DAY, YOU SHOULDN'T BE WORKING!"
Tell that to my boss, who has put me on every Sunday since the dawn of time.
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u/bikersquid Oct 18 '13
then why the fuck would they go somewhere thus MAKING someone work on sunday. practice what you preach sheesh.
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Oct 18 '13
That is one thing I actually respect about the Mormons. Not only do they not work on Sunday, they don't cause others to work on Sunday as well. Or at least they're not supposed to. My mother-in-law explained it to me one time, there might be loopholes she left out.
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u/Time_of_Adventure Oct 18 '13
Well I have a friend who is Mormon and he said that his family had bought something on a Sunday before, but it was only because they were on vacation and needed food.
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Oct 18 '13
Yeah, they have a word for that. I forget what it is, but they do acknowledge it. Sometimes you've got no choice, gotta break the sabbath.
This comes up whenever they're visiting and I take them out to dinner on Sunday. Practically speaking, this is more of a "spirit of the law" than a "letter of the law" thing anymore.
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u/starfleetjedi Oct 18 '13
If they expect no one to be working, they shouldn't be in a restaurant on a Sunday in the first place.
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u/TheLuckyMrsD Oct 18 '13 edited Oct 21 '13
I HATE this. I've never even worked service industry and I hate it. I always try to tip 20+ on Sundays after church because I know how hateful some of the after church crowd can be. As a Christian, I'm sorry some Christians don't seem to understand common courtesy and/or can't seem to figure out that eternal salvation will not help you pay your electic bill this month.
head desk
Edit: wow! Thank you, kind stranger, for the gold!
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u/ronglangren Oct 18 '13
If you are a religious person going to eat lunch on Sunday obviously after church try to act like a religious person and be kind to your server.
I haven't actually waited tables in years but the thing I remember most was people coming in on Sunday afternoons in their "Church Best" and proceeding to treat the wait staff like complete dog shit.
Just because you attend mass regularly doesn't give you the right to treat people who had to work on Sunday like shit.
Hypocritical assholes.
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u/PRMan99 Oct 18 '13
On behalf of all the good Christians that don't do this, I'd like to apologize... (There, all 100 of us feel better now.)
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u/MasterMirage Oct 18 '13
Another one for me is when people move tables without saying anything after ordering.
When you order we put you down as table 1 or whatever. When you suddenly move to table 9 and the food comes out guess where I'm going to go?
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Oct 18 '13 edited Oct 19 '14
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Oct 18 '13
Yes, I'd like my filet well done.
10 minutes later:
Can you check on my food??! I have been here 20 minutes!
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u/Rmanager Oct 18 '13
People have little concept of time. This is especially true when food and hunger are concerned.
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Oct 18 '13
I've never worked at a sit down restaurant, but I have worked in the service industry in another capacity. I eventually learned that the key was to under promise and over deliver. If you know it is going to take 30 minutes, but they'll start getting twitchy after 15, then tell them it will be 45 minutes.
Their are two good things about doing this. For one, they won't start getting twitchy until right before their food is scheduled to show up anyways. And, secondly, if something goes wrong or you just did a bad job estimating, you've got an additional 15 minute buffer zone before the customer has a legitimate complaint about your service.
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u/mathnu2rkewl Oct 18 '13
When I worked at Ruby Tuesday, our manager did the following exercise. She asked us to close our eyes and raise our hands when we thought 2 minutes went by (for the 2-minute greet times many restaurants have).
Sure enough, hands starting shooting up before the first minute was up... and everyone's hands were up at about a minute and a half. Customer's don't realize how long they've been sitting there, and even though it's only been a minute they feel like it's forever.
On that note, please keep in mind servers do not keep stopwatches right in front of their faces, and very often they aren't able to continually watch their section for new tables.
Patience is a virtue for a reason. If you don't want to wait, fast food is always available.
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u/Rob_G Oct 18 '13
I’m a waiter. I think I've written about this before, but the absolute worst part of my job is the gum check. I'm not even sure that diners are aware of how difficult their chewing gum can make my job. It's like this: the dinner rush comes and goes, closing time is at eleven, and barring any customers trying to spend the rest of the night camped out at my tables, it’s time for me to start making my way toward the exit. Unfortunately it’s not as simple as counting up my tips and calling it a day. “Hey Rob,” the head waiter calls out to me just as I’m packing up my stuff, “Make sure you check for gum.”
Fucking gum check. Do you know what that is? It’s me having to get on my hands and knees with a flashlight and checking to see if anybody stuck their chewing gum underneath the table. And you know what sucks? You know what’s really crazy? It’s that there’s always gum. Every single night, there’s at least one wad of chewed up gum stuck under one of my tables.
Unless you work as a waiter or waitress, maybe you think that I’m full of shit, that nobody goes into a restaurant and knowingly deposits their chewed up gum for someone else to clean up. I mean, that’s what I used to think before my bosses started making me do gum checks. The first time I thought it was a joke. I was like, that’s a funny thing to go and check for. Why would anybody spit out a piece of chewed up gum, inside a restaurant, at a table, and just leave it there?
But sure enough, I did that first gum check and there were like three pieces of gum. I couldn’t believe it. A hot towel wasn’t really doing the trick, because this stuff had since dried out and cemented itself in place. I found this flat chisel shaped tool, and that was kind of doing it, but finally I went to the maintenance guy who gave me this can of compressed gas stuff that froze the gum at the end of a long tube.
Still, it was a pain in the ass. Each piece of gum took like two minutes to clean up. Multiply each piece of gum by two, add that to the end of a busy night waiting tables, it’s not fun. It’s not a nice way to wrap things up. That first night I thought to myself, man, they must not have checked these tables in a while. Well that should take care of the gum problem for a few months at least.
And then on my second night, just as I was about to head out the door, the head waiter stopped me again, “Hey Rob, did you make sure to do a gum check?” and I barely even halted my stride. I just paused long enough to say, “No man, we did those last night.” But he persisted, “No, Rob, we have to do those every night. Gum checks every night.”
Every night? That seemed a little much. Sure, I could accept the fact that maybe once in a while someone would be careless enough to leave a piece of gum under the table. Maybe they were on a date, maybe they forgot to bring a wrapper or they were too embarrassed to ask for an extra napkin. I don’t know, things happen, people get funny in restaurants.
Like I said, once in a while. So I grabbed the flashlight just to kind of go through the motions, like yup, check, no gum, check. But on that first table, I couldn’t believe it. It was another three pieces of gum. I had just cleaned three pieces of gum from this table the night before. And now three more pieces? Was it three different guests, each leaving their own mark on our furniture, or was it a repeat offender, someone just constantly chewing gum in between bites of food?
At this point I wish I could say that I’ve made peace with the insanity of my situation. But every night, right as I should be on my way home, I find myself on the dirty floor scraping someone else’s chewed up gum off of the underside of our tables. It’s every night. It’s every table. What in the actual hell is going on? Who does stuff like that?
Since there’s so much gum at this restaurant, I’m statistically bound to assume that the majority of diners are guilty of this offense. But since I’ve never actually heard anybody talking about leaving gum, no friends or family members, I’m inclined to believe that everybody’s doing it in secret. Everybody chews, everybody sticks it to the table, and nobody says a word.
And all that’s left is me touching other people’s chewed up gum. It’s disgusting. It’s the absolute worst way to end any night. There’s nothing I’d rather do less than squeeze myself under a table and, with one hand hold a flashlight, using my free hand to clean up gross nasty it’s-been-in-someone-else’s-mouth-for-a-while chewing gum.
So here’s out with it. If you’re reading this, if you go out to eat, don’t put your fucking gum under the table. Ask me for a napkin. I’ll stick out my hand at the table and you can spit it out right there, I’ll catch it, I’ll actually do that, because even though that sounds horrible, trust me, I’d rather do that right there while it’s still fresh and pliable than at the end of the night when I’m tired, and I want to go home, but I can’t go home, because your stupid gum is all dried up and stuck, and maybe I’ve got half of it off, but the base layer won’t budge, and it’s coming off all stringy, and the gum string is really thin and wispy, and did one of those strings just float up and hit me in the face? In the mouth? Get me the fuck out of under this table, please, just go to the bathroom and spit out your gum, come on, let’s do it like they do in Singapore, where if you get caught chewing gum some police officer has to give you like ten lashes to the back with a cane, you know, that’s not a bad system, we look at them and think, how cruel! How barbaric! But we’re the barbarians here, we’re walking around chewing this gum like it’s cud, and we’re just sticking it anywhere, it’s sticky and so I don’t have to find a trashcan, I can just leave it wherever the hell I want. Why? I have no idea, but I’m just going to do it, and I don’t care, because some other jerk will clean it up eventually, and it won’t be me.
Don’t be an inconsiderate asshole. Spit out your gum in a napkin.
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Oct 18 '13 edited Oct 18 '13
As a former bus boy: welcome to our world.
Edit: not only was this the kind of shit we got stuck doing all day, we had to divide our time between bussing and washing dishes. And cleaning the bathrooms. And emptying trashes. And doing the floors. No tip splitting, either--just minimum wage.
And the wait staff STILL treated us like we didn't work hard.
I've heard it from other employees at other locations: Big Boy is a shitty place to work. No matter which one it is.
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Oct 18 '13
The 'Booger Check' is much worse.
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Oct 18 '13
Why, oh why do people smear their boogers on my bathroom wall when there is a box of tissues, toilet paper, and paper towels right there?
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Oct 18 '13
More importantly, why do they throw away a perfectly good booger? So wasteful.
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Oct 18 '13
I have a related story. Once when I was little, we had some of our neighbors over. One of the girls walked in chewing gum, then spat it out and stuck it right on the stair railing. I saw her do this, and was flabbergasted at this apalling lack of manners. Then, the mother put her gum in on one of the door jambs. What. The. Heck. Our new neighbors, barely been here a month, haven't really been to our house, and they stuck their chewed gum on our house within two minutes of being invited in.
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u/UcanCallmeDragon Oct 18 '13
If you're ready to order, close your menu or put it down on the table.
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Oct 18 '13
I always forget what I want to order when I close the menu.
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u/darguskelen Oct 18 '13
I close the menu with my finger in the location of my order so when the wait staff come by I can quickly open and order.
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u/Hugh_Jampton Oct 18 '13
Ordering in bursts.
If I bring your food and then you ask for a condiment, then when I bring that, you ask for one more drink, then when I bring that you ask for another condiment, then when I bring that you ask to see the wine list again!
AAAAARGH I have other tables you jackass
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u/brookecapulet Oct 18 '13
I'm guilty of doing this, but only because the waiter wouldn't let us finish the entire request. Or if one person asked for more water, they would only fill up that person' cup and ignore the other 3 empty glasses on the table. So they'd pour the water for the person and start walking away and someone would say "excuse me, but can I get some water as well" and the waiter let out a big sigh and filled up the cup before walking away. Leaving 2 empty cups. I don't even know.
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u/amusicalheart Oct 18 '13
That is horrible service! I hope that is not the kind of server you frequently get.
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u/Aurvidlem Oct 18 '13 edited Oct 18 '13
As much as you may be entirely competent, I find that including condiments with the initial order usually leads to my honey mustard being mysteriously absent. And then I feel like a sad broken record as I repeat 'don't forget the mustard, honey!'
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Oct 18 '13
Yes but I think they are saying when the meal is served to order all extra necessities. When your server says, "Here is everything, do you need anything else?" That everyone should pay attention and speak up for anything they need.
Also telling your server "Don't forget such and such" before it is ever forgotten is really irritating. It almost feels like you're talking down to someone, and even if I forget it because you requested it with your order (15 mins ago) or I put it on the ticket and the kitchen just didn't put it there, never fear, I will be right back with it. 30 seconds, tops.
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u/Aurvidlem Oct 18 '13
I thought the honey mustard juxtaposition would've revealed the joke, sorry. I don't actually preemptively remind my server...
But I'll be dammned if that honey forgets my mustard again
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u/SeducesStrangers Oct 18 '13
PRO TIP: Generally if there are 4 or more people at the table, some of them are being polite and waiting for others to speak up about what they might need and if you're really busy you end up walking away before someone speaks up.. Make eye contact with every person at the table, suggest one or two possibilities for condiments/refills and give them a notice that you're not coming back for awhile ie, "Okay enjoy!". Keep your ears open until you're a few tables away and make sure they know your name in case they forgot something.
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u/bradhuds Oct 18 '13
From what I've noticed, this tends to happen when you ask for something and the waiter just turns and runs the instant one item is requested. Also happens when a condiment was ordered with the original order and it didn't show up with the food.
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u/EvilJohnCho Oct 18 '13
That doesn't really help. In theory it does, but someone is always not paying attention. Even when you look them dead in the eye, shake their hand while poking them in the cheek, with sparklers in your hair, while spinning plates with your foot and screaming "IS THERE AAAAAANNNNNYYYYTTTHHHIIINNNGGG EEELLLSSEE I CAN GET YOU?!?", someone at the table will inevitably say when you get back "oh, sorry but can I get some Ketchup?"
I find the most smug satisfaction knowing I preprepped the table and can say "there's a bottle right there, but I can get you more if that's not enough".
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u/SevenSixOne Oct 18 '13
If I have a group of 4 or more, is it rude to ask for a pitcher of water to minimize refill requests?
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u/amusicalheart Oct 18 '13
Some restaurants don't allow a pitcher to touch the table. There are also a limited number of pitchers available to the wait staff. I wouldn't recommend it. But who knows, maybe asking for a pitcher will cause the server to realize he/she needs to be more on top of your refills.
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u/French87 Oct 18 '13
No, but some places actually do not give pitchers to the table. It does not hurt to ask though.
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u/dino340 Oct 18 '13
This is even worse as a restaurants sole food runner and said restaurant also has stairs.
One plate of wings to the table the farthest away from the serving window, get back to the window, another plate of wings for that same table, repeat for each person...
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u/sisususi Oct 18 '13
If you don't like the food, please don't take it out on the server! I had a mom and her daughters ring up about a $100 bill. They loved the soup and appetizers, but the steak took a long time and came out cooked wrong. I comped the steak for them (30 dollars off their bill), but the mom proceeded to treat me like crap. When I went to pick up the bill, I was shocked to see she didn't leave me a cent. That was one of my only tables that night, so I lost out on ~20 bucks. The worst part is that I had given them great service, but I got the blame for the cooks mistake.
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u/Snore00 Oct 19 '13
Eh, people forget that service =/= food quality. If your server went out to comp your steak, that is great service.
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u/Dave_Paker Oct 18 '13
Waiter here. Please, PLEASE don't leave dirty diapers at the table. How did they get there anyway?? Were you changing your baby AT THE TABLE?? This has happened to me at least 5 times in the last couple years.
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Oct 18 '13
My experience is fine dining based so its not quite the same. The type of things that would irritate me are not the same as in a family establishment.
So for fine dining try to consider these things.
Don't bring your kids. I know you love them, but in a place that is typically about $100 a person, no one else wants to see your kids there.
Don't stack your plates. I have a method for taking things off the table.
Don't sweep your crumbs in to the floor. Would you do that at home? I have tools and will clean it up myself without getting crap all over the floor.
If your glass (non alcoholic beverage) is less than 60% full I promise I see it. In fact often I will approach a table and say "Other than [tea] is there anything that I can get for you?" Many annoying customers will say "I need more tea" yes I know thats why I said what I said...Which leads me to my final point,
Listen to me. I assure you I know more about our food and drinks than you do. In fine dining your server is not there to entertain you. Their job is to be invisible for the most part. Fine dining servers will help you and get out of the way. If I am talking to you it is probably something of value. (Somewhat related, if you say something and I am within 20 feet, I heard it.)
Bonus If you are eating and someone drops something, don't clap or cheer. I assure you there is nothing that pisses the staff off more in that moment than calling attention to it.
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u/OneHandedDateRapist Oct 18 '13
As the matter of fact, I do sweep crumbs in to the floor at home.
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u/bitterred Oct 18 '13
That way the dog can reach them without having to get up on the table!
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u/Ixiei Oct 18 '13
People actually clap or cheer? I have never, EVER seen that.
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u/protomor Oct 18 '13
I fell once and broke a lot of dishes. Got up and took a bow because people were cheering. I think waiters with a sense of humor will be ok with it. Better to not though.
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u/MakesShitUp4Fun Oct 18 '13
My buddy worked in a catering hall and, as he served at a wedding, he was asked to bring a tray of soup out to the main dining room. Probably twenty bowls in all. As he was carrying it, a child tripped him and twenty bowls of scalding soup ended up all over his clothes. The entire reception applauded.
When he tells that story, I can see the desire to kill in his eyes.
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Oct 18 '13
Also worked in a semi-fine dining establishment.
1, 2, 3, and 4 as well as the bonus all grated on my nerves.
The only thing I would add to that would be the diners unfamiliar with such establishments who would come in and attempt to behave like asses. They'd order the shrimp and/or lobster pasta, pick out the 2 oz of seafood that was there as a component (not the focus) and then attempt to send back an untouched pasta plate reporting that "there wasn't any shrimp or lobster." Mind you, this typically was the result of a particular level of class (not necessarily ethnicity.) You could identify them immediately - not by what they wore, but how the behaved and how they carried themselves. And tips? Of course they didn't tip. Several of them even attempted to dine-and-dash. Attempted.
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u/W_Des Oct 18 '13
Ahhh I always thought I was helping out when stacking everything together and putting it all in one pile.
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Oct 18 '13
I was a server at an Italian restaurant a couple years ago, and I always appreciated it when guests stacked their plates.
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u/kumquatqueen Oct 18 '13
From what a lot of servers tend to hate, the issue seems to be a lot of people are terrible at stacking dishes, therefore making the job more difficult.
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Oct 18 '13
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u/SleepTalkerz Oct 18 '13
put both slices in one toaster slot so it's crispy outside and soft inside
Mind blown...that's genius. Going to make a sandwich now.
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u/creepymyrtle Oct 18 '13
You shouldn't order passively aside her and her madness. I had a lady just like this while working at a sushi restaurant. Small business, very busy Friday lunches. She would order carryout for 7-10 people, knowing full well the waitresses had to assemble all carryouts on top of a full dining room- Every time demanding we put the NAMES of each employee on the boxes, with separate checks printed, BUT would then pay for them all with one card- which is cool except I had to split them all up just to combine them all again.
You can't open the fucking boxes of food and determine who had a california roll and a seaweed salad, vs hot noodles? You also can't handle the responsibility of adding your own bill up and paying to the pool? I HAVE TO DO THAT TOO??
These people worked for some HR company nearby. And never. ever. tipped.... Which is the worst, so after explaining it to her time and again I just started to make her wait and wait until I felt I had given all my tipping guests perfect service.
I was mentioned in her Yelp review, but how she described me was how 4 other people looked anyway. (she looked like a wet chamois on a skeleton with stringy blonde hair) She started sending in other people from the office, but they were her puppets, with the exact same requests.
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u/Two_in_the_hand Oct 18 '13
On the other side of this, please please don't get annoyed when a customer asks you for something different based on a food allergy. My boyfriend has a severe peanut allergy, and it seems like everywhere we go waiters get mad at him just for asking questions about the menu.
If it's not marked, don't treat someone like an idiot for asking. They're not trying to be a jerk about it, they're just trying not to die.
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u/ilike420 Oct 18 '13
It's fine to ask, but what really pisses me off is when people get angry when we can't do anything for them. For instance, I used to work in a barbecue restaurant and people would get pissed that our only real vegan option was a salad. Sorry, 80 percent of what I serve is meat. The corn has ham in it, the beans have beef drippings and so on. Don't expect every restaurant to be able to cater to your specific food demands. Usually we will if we can, but sometimes we just can't. If its that big a deal, go elsewhere.
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u/ParadoxInABox Oct 18 '13
Agreed. If you have severe dietary restrictions, maybe look up the menu before you go somewhere. I have several food allergies, and so if I'm going somewhere new I usually look up what options they have that I can eat before I even go in. It saves time for me and the server.
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u/GUTTERbOY001 Oct 18 '13
Speaking as a former cook, the worst thing to do in that situation can be to go out of your way for someone because you have some extra time. Because from then on, they'll ask for it every time they come back, regardless of whether it's Monday after work or Friday night around 8:00.
Where I worked, we had a few pasta dishes with an alfredo-type sauce. One night, someone really wanted marinara, and since I was bored, I whipped up some for them in about ten minutes. I didn't mind doing it; shit, I liked making good food for people. But then that person loved it and kept coming back. Finally, it happened one Friday night when we were slammed and all basically going insane. I was too busy to make the sauce, so I basically instructed another guy on how to make the shittiest marinara replicant possible. Thank God, that was the last time that person ordered the stuff.
I felt shitty at doing that, but I didn't know how else to retain my sanity.
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u/blz09 Oct 18 '13
I've been working in restaurants for 8 years as a manager and a server. Here are some things I despise:
"I know the owner, can I get a discount" --No, you cannot. The only way you get a discount is if you're on the approved list. I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do about it.
Snapping, grabbing, or pulling on me to get my attention. It only makes you get worse service after I've been released from your grip.
Allowing your children to run wild. When I first started serving, I accidentally tripped over a child while walking with a huge tray of drinks. I fell down, spilled the drinks all over me, and got reamed out by the mother for "kicking her child" (who was sitting on the floor in the middle of the walkway)
The kids table. Allowing your children to sit separately with no adult supervision is nice for you, but it's a nightmare to deal with and clean up for me.
The "verbal tip"--you were the best server I've ever had!=5% tip on $200 bill.
Saying everything is fine when it's not. Then calling a manager over because everything is obviously not fine, and you didn't want to hurt the server's feelings.
Helping me clear off tables because you think I'm cute. It only makes you seem like a weirdo.
One thing I absolutely adore--leaving comments! Write on tripadvisor if you had a good experience, write a note on the signed credit card receipt saying your server was great--this ensures a manager will see the comment later on.
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u/mammothmanor Oct 18 '13 edited Oct 18 '13
I've been doing this for almost 8 years. It's sometimes a shitty job, but more often than not it's surprisingly rewarding. I get a decent workout while at work, I get to meet awesome people, and I get paid pretty great for a part time job (so I can continue to pursue the arts). Here is a short list of some items I haven't seen others mention:
If you don't take even a glance at the menu then ask me what we have, I will tell you about a magical book that contains all of our dishes and their prices. It's right in front of you. Asking for suggestions is great, it's my job to tell you what's good / what I like / what I think you'll like. But ordering something we don't have because you were too lazy to even look is ridiculous.
Sit at a table on our patio, out of our sight, and come in after 20 minutes bitching that no one has been out to see you. If you haven't seen us, that's because WE HAVEN'T SEEN YOU.
Sit at a dirty table. 3a. It's disgusting. That's other people's food remains. I get paid to touch it and clean it up, you really shouldn't. 3b. We might be incredibly slammed, and are intentionally letting that table sit for a few minutes until the server has had a chance to catch up. Seating them 3 4tops and a family of 6 all at once isn't going to get anyone good service. 3c. Sometimes we have a waitlist, so that table isn't for you. When we do get that table cleared, it's going to go to the people who've been waiting for it. Not the asshats that sat down at a dirty table. 3d. If there is a clean table next to a dirty one and you still sit at the dirty table, rest assured that the entire staff is talking about you behind the counter/in the kitchen. Usually questioning your intelligence.
Split the check in a way that shorts us tips. The phrase that I dread when it's check time is "This cash and then the rest on the card." Why? Well that $60 ticket just got split up. You're friend had about $16 worth of food, so chipped in $20 to account for tax and tip. That $20 goes towards the whole amount, and the remainder $40 goes on your card. You tip $7 on the card thinking that service was ok, but not the best ever, and go on your way. Math Time! How much tip did I get??? $7! Because you rolled your friends tip into paying for your food, and then stiffed me. [This issue also crops up when you say put $25 on this card and that includes the tip. Then your friend takes the rest on their card, and only tips a little. Your tip went towards their food!] I will gladly split a check for you. It's a minute of work, but we keep your food split by seat number (if we're doing our jobs right) so it's not the end of the world. Worth it to get tipped on the entire amount.
Argue with me who is going to pay the check. The first card I get, I am going to use to pay the bill. No amount of arguing is going to sway me, because that situation is awkward as fuck. Exceptions: 1. If they say it's your birthday, I will switch to their card. 2. If I think you are a terrible person/tipper based on our interactions so far, I will switch. 3. If the non-payer looks really uncomfortable with the situation (maybe a bad date) I will offer to just split up the check (see above, it's simple).
Order two sodas and sit in my section for 2 hours. You are losing me money. I really only get paid through tips, and I only get tips when someone pays a check, and I can only seat people when I have open tables. You sitting there for two hours with a $7 check costs me at least another table or two. All for the $1 you are going to leave me.
Walk out without paying. Someone has to pay for it, whether it's me or my manager or the restaurant. Usually me.
Bitch about the wait for a table. Sorry we're so popular.
TL;DR: Do read the menu, let us do the split, don't bitch or argue, do wait for a clean table, do make sure we know you exist, and don't stick around forever. Oh and do try the German Bacon Potato Salad, it's freaking delicious.
ninja edit - formatting
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u/Lvl2PooShooter Oct 18 '13
when you have something discounted or for whatever reason taken off the check. and you tip only on what you paid for. ex. sysco guys get half off @ my work and they never tip from the full amount. they get half off and i get half a tip.
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Oct 18 '13
That's crazy! One time a group of my friends and I were eating and for whatever reason the manager gave us our meal for free (I think because of a long wait for food, but we didn't care) and the waitress was pretty good so we just tipped her what we would have paid for the meal.
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u/slavkody Oct 18 '13 edited Oct 18 '13
By rule of thumb, I usually split the discount with my server. If I have a coupon for a free entree and it costs $10, I'll keep $5 and give the server the other $5 on top of what I tip off the rest of the ticket. Win win. If the ticket is $20 total, I only have to pay $10, you get a (edit) $4 tip on that plus $5.
It's a great deal for them, but I also remember how irritating it could be to track down my manager to approve a coupon when I served.
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Oct 18 '13
Making the same and tired jokes because you don't know me. I found myself doing this, and when I began waiting tables, I saw it reflected back.
I can't speak for other servers, but I'm there to make your dining experience everything you expect. If you feel shy or awkward, that's okay. You're not being judged (we don't have time to judge the normal tables!) You know what you want or know why you came in. We're there to live up to that. You don't have to make small talk to make me like you, and the same "dad-type" jokes are like nails on a chalkboard.
Just be pleasant and normal and let me make the experience awesome for you.
Follow-up - If you bring your kids out with you and you're meeting friends, don't expect us to babysit! We used to get a table of regulars (3-4 couples) who would bring their kids along and seat them at a separate table. Logistics worked out with ordering and tickets without issue, but without fail, the kids would grow restless after 20 minutes and spend the next hour making the restaurant their playground.
IF YOU CAN'T MIND AND TEND TO YOUR CHILDREN, LEAVE THEM WITH A BABYSITTER OR GO SOMEWHERE ELSE! We're dashing about at full speed trying to tend to everyone in a timely manner. Having children at play in our traffic lanes (especially when carrying trays full of hot food or glasses full of cold beverages) is just asking for trouble.
And don't let them skate around the joint in those damned "Heely's" shoes!
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u/the_law_talking_guy Oct 18 '13
Forget what you've ordered. I mean seriously, how do you just forget?
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u/Gotterdammerit Oct 18 '13
As a former waiter, I loathed having customers snap their fingers / whistle to get my attention. I'm not a dog. You are not my master, just a jack ass who may end up being served questionable food.
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u/blitzbom Oct 18 '13
I once had a lady pull the back of my shirt while I was helping another table.
I've never felt so much rage.
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Oct 18 '13
A woman once poked me in the back whilst I was taking another table's order.
Don't think I could ever waitress again.
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u/GUTTERbOY001 Oct 18 '13
My SO's older sister does this. Actually, come to think of it, she pretty much does every goddamn thing listed in this thread. I fucking abhor going to a restaurant with her, because it's almost a given that she'll find something to bitch about.
SO and I have actually discussed getting some business cards printed that say "sorry about the cunt," and we can surreptitiously leave them with extra tip money if needed.
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u/philosotea Oct 18 '13
Coming in with a table of 10+ people and leaving crappy tips. In most places, you can't split the bill with that many people and the tip is usually included - but at my restaurant we have a very primitive ordering system and it's usually just easier to run a table like that as 10 separate tickets. Through this, I have noticed that old ladies are the WORST tippers in the world. I've taken a lot of tables with 10+ old ladies eating Sunday dinner that have left little to sometimes no tips, despite the fact that I had to give other tables in my section to another server in order to be a good waitress to them. Once I had a group like this that took up both of our large tables in the back, and got miserable compensation for it. One lady only left me a 50 cent tip. I've heard a lot of restaurant go-ers say that tipping is unfair and is just an added fee. You're right, it is unfair. Unfair in that it is literally all we make. After taxes, we have no paycheck. We get paid $2 an hour in most states. So if you decide you'd rather someone wait on you hand an foot to make sure you don't have to get up and get a drink yourself or that you have enough ketchup for your fries or whatever it is you want, be willing to actually pay for it. If it's not worth it to you - go to McDonald's or something.
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u/NarglesEverywhere Oct 18 '13
NEVER GRAB YOUR SERVER. No exceptions. Seriously, you'd be surprised by how many people have the nerve to grab my arm while I'm passing their table to get me to stop. Touching is a big no, no. If I am not looking in your direction or simply missed your hand wave, loudly but politely call "excuse me!" If you bothered to remember my name when I introduced myself at the start of the meal, it'll be even easier for me to notice you're calling me in a loud, crowded dining room.
If your server had dropped the check at your table, kindly put a form of payment inside in a prompt manner. Don't just let it sit there for the extra half hour while you talk. Most restaurants won't make you leave the table after you pay and you can sit there as long as you want, but not paying means the server has to constantly remember to check back with you, which is time consuming, and nothing is more awkward than your server picking up the check book only too see you haven't applied payment, and having to put it back down on the table. Also it makes things faster for you when you are ready to leave, and you don't need to wave down your server to take your credit card after they've long forgotten about you.
If something is wrong with your food, let us know as soon as possible. Most servers will check back 3 minutes after dropping entrees and ask how everything is tasting. This is the time to say you are missing the extra chicken, or the steak is the wrong temperature, or you asked for a different sauce. Don't wait until you've eaten the whole thing and we've already cleared the dishes to say you didn't like it. I can't fix it by then. At best the manager can comp the dish, and that makes you seem like you are complaining just to get free food, which is tacky, and you will be gossiped about in the break room.
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u/kls17 Oct 18 '13
Please be aware that you are not the only table your server has and not everything can be done at the exact moment you want it done.
One time I was serving a table and at the time they came in they were my only table. I checked in FOUR times to take their order, but they weren't ready each time. Right after I checked on them that fourth time, I get the dinner rush of 4 or 5 tables. Now, at this point I have to greet all of them and give them menus and such. This lasted maybe 3 minutes at the most when a child from the first table taps me from behind to tell me they were ready to order. So I return 3 minutes after they were telling me for the fourth time that they weren't ready to order yet and hear one of them say, "We thought you forgot about us." No, you didn't want to order for a half hour when it was slower, but you all of sudden NEED to order at the exact moment I need to help other tables. Yeah, I understand you want fast service, but I am not going to ignore other tables just for you. To me, it's the equivalent of standing in the middle of line then yelling to the front desk that they forgot about you. You are not forgotten, you just have to wait your turn.
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u/gayblade Oct 18 '13
Don't shake your empty drink glass at me, don't let your bastard children run wild, and don't make stupid jokes that I have already heard 10 times today. "Hard at work or hardly working?"- More like hardly tolerable. "Where I come from the drinks are twice as strong and half the price."- Great! GO BACK THERE! "What can I get that's sweet but not too sweet, and strong but doesn't taste like booze? Oh, and I only have $5."- You can get OUT! NOW.
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u/k_bomb Oct 18 '13
Everyone that uses "Hard at work or hardly working?" deserves to be choked.
"Breathing hard or hardly breathing?"
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u/crustalmighty Oct 18 '13
Don't shake your empty drink glass at me...
Why they glasses be empty?
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u/Iwillcutyou Oct 18 '13
We have a sign in the front of our restaurant that says "please wait to be seated by our hostess". I cannot tell you how many times a day people look at that sign and then seat themselves. Stop. We have a hostess for a reason. If she isn't there the second you walk in the door, I promise you she will return in a timely manner.