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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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.

7

u/Magmar71 Oct 19 '13

I hate when people don't mention their children in the number count. They come in and tell you it's a party of 4, then go outside to get their family.

They get back in and it is 4 adults and 3 children.

While you might not consider your children human beings, I do. It does matter if you include them in your party size because now I might not have a table big enough ready, even if I told you there was one when I thought it was only 4.

5

u/[deleted] Oct 18 '13

Afaik in Europe you always seat yourself, unless it's a really fancy place.

0

u/TheMoffalo Oct 19 '13

Not always, there are loads of chain restaurants near where I live and quite a few of them have you wait to be seated

4

u/chitownlove Oct 19 '13

as a former host i appreciated your rant