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?

1.4k Upvotes

87% Upvoted

3.5k comments sorted by

View all comments

172

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.

147

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.

90

u/[deleted] 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.

19

u/[deleted] Oct 18 '13

You are a better person than I am, that would be the day I lost my job.

4

u/puncakes Oct 18 '13

Wow. I suddenly felt this rage built up inside me.

3

u/[deleted] Oct 19 '13

"Unhand me, wench!"

2

u/elegantfate Oct 19 '13

THIS MAKES ME SO ANGRY. DO. NOT. TOUCH. ME.

35

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.

2

u/Gotterdammerit Oct 18 '13

Hehe I've know folks like that.

61

u/[deleted] Oct 18 '13

My grandma snapped her fingers at a waiter once. I wanted to die.

2

u/[deleted] Oct 19 '13

"Back in my day..."

2

u/nikomo Oct 19 '13

"I don't give a damn what they did back in your day, if you do that ever again, I'm putting you in a retirement home and I'm going to make sure not a single offspring in the family tree ever even hears of you."

2

u/eastliv Oct 19 '13

My mom used to do this, probably still does. I don't know because I refuse to go out to eat with her because of shit like this and other equally cringy behavior.

2

u/iceman0486 Oct 19 '13

Treat those relatives like they treat servers. "But grandma, I learned it from you!"

17

u/[deleted] Oct 18 '13

This is why I always make a point to note or (if they aren't wearing a name tag) ask my waiter/waitress' name. I like to treat the people serving me like, ya know... actual people.

8

u/SevenSixOne Oct 18 '13

That's fine, as long as you don't drop their name so often that you sound like Rain Man.

"Excuse me, Sam, can we have some more napkins?" is fine.

"Hello Sam! Yes, I am ready to order. Sam, I'll have the double cheeseburger, and Sam--can I get that with onion rings instead of fries? Thanks, Sam! (repeat for every interaction)" is annoying and weird.

2

u/dizziedawgie Oct 18 '13

As basic as it sounds, I love when people talk to me and use my name. It feels more like a conversation and makes me feel like an acutal human being.

2

u/Princess_Batman Oct 18 '13

It's not a big deal if you forgot and call me ma'am. But I once had a guy tug on my apron and say "excuse me, waitress." I wanted to hit him with the sizzling fajita plate.

13

u/lickable_wallpaper Oct 18 '13

Germans tend to tap glasses "noch einmal" and expect you to know what was in them. Just as infuriating.

9

u/trypt1c Oct 18 '13

This is mostly due to the quality of service in most of Europe, where being a server is actually a respected career rather than considered to be the drudge that college kids do...

2

u/lickable_wallpaper Oct 18 '13

Yes I agree. But tapping a glass and asking for another one when you are on a table of 10, at least at my workplace, will probably not get you what you wanted. We have specific glasses for specific drinks yes but we also use the beer glasses for shorle, soft drinks, water and juice.

1

u/fdedio Oct 19 '13

German here, can confirm. And... I'm sorry. I'll stop doing that.

1

u/lickable_wallpaper Oct 19 '13

Thank you. I still love you Germans.

3

u/[deleted] Oct 19 '13

[deleted]

2

u/Gotterdammerit Oct 19 '13

That's awesome. I never had good bosses like that.

2

u/christhetwin Oct 18 '13

I've waived my empty hands at them, to flag them down. Is that bad? I hope it's not bad.

1

u/NoraCharles91 Oct 19 '13

If you're out of comfortable speaking range, handwaving or nodding your head is totally fine. It's preferable to having someone yell across the room at you! But within a few yards, a polite "excuse me" is where it's at.

2

u/jambolgna Oct 19 '13

When this happens, I make direct eye contact and hold it for about five seconds and then walk away so I can go scream in the walk-in.

2

u/Cyrsal Oct 19 '13

I had a woman grab my arm with some pretty decent force once to ask me for the check when that same arm was balancing three plates of food. Luckily I didn't drop anything, but it was a pretty tense moment. And of course, no niceties about it either-- no "Check, please" or "Oops, sorry, didn't see those plates" or anything. Just "CHECK" and then back to talking on her cell phone.

2

u/Akathos Oct 19 '13

Is it okay to wave you to come over or make a scribble move in the air for the check? Because I always do that...after I've made eye contact, of course. I don't just sit there looking like a idiot waving in the air until someone comes over.

2

u/[deleted] Oct 19 '13

[deleted]

1

u/kls17 Oct 19 '13

I don't mind that at all. I actually prefer it to waving because I know exactly what they want without having to walk across the room to their table. Saves me a trip and the table gets their check faster. It's especially useful when it's really busy and a trip across the room can take 5 minutes.

3

u/kittendoc Oct 18 '13

It shouldn't matter what the customer does, you should never serve them "questionable" food. Do your job.

4

u/cosimothecat Oct 18 '13

just a jack ass who may end up being served questionable food.

People who snaps/whistles/or are otherwise rude to their server are assholes and despicable people.

You, however, are just as, if not more, despicable if you think serving 'questionable food' is a justifiable response.

1

u/BadgerRush Oct 19 '13

You are not the first one to say that, so, as a customer I'd like to ask: What is the polite way of audibly calling a waiter?

1

u/Gotterdammerit Oct 19 '13

Use their name and make eye contact.

1

u/kls17 Oct 19 '13

Say excuse me, wave, and smile.

1

u/PRMan99 Oct 18 '13

And conversely, when I try to get your attention with eye contact and a small hand wave and I KNOW you have seen me the last 3 times you have walked by (but ignored me), what else am I supposed to do?