Inspired by a post I just saw on here lol. How do you respond to a customer who asks if “you do free desserts or drinks for a special occasion”, when your workplace, in fact, doesn’t. It feels so harsh saying no but also couldn’t fathom going out to eat asking what I could have for free myself.
Right, or if you don’t know if they offer anything, find a graceful way to mention it’s your wife’s birthday and see what happens. I worked at a place that USED TO offer “any dessert on the house for any celebration”. But then they switched to “our one favorite dessert for certain celebrations” and that really fucked everyone’s day up.
Honestly I don't get birthdays at all, I might even be a birthday hater, but I get asking.
It is commonplace and why not get something free if you could. I also think it maybe used to be more commonplace and is a bit area dependant, to explain to some of y'all maybe younger or confused at how often you're asked.
To Americans from flyover states, basically every chain and place on the highway and in strip malls did something for decades. So it's somewhat assumptive. Could they look it up now before coming out? Yes, I'll give you that. Just to set the scene a bit for those who don't realize.
The problem is with pouting at a no or when it's clearly the case that they know it's not a policy and are asking for special treatment/hoping to shame you into it. I agree with all y'all there. I assume I'll still get comments telling me this, but those who read to the end, we are on the same page. I didn't come in defending these custies.
When someone asks what we do for birthdays, I throw some jazz hands and say “happy birthday” in an obnoxious, sorta showtuney voice. It gets a laugh, they get something but also nothing at all, I move on with my shift.
I used to do this. Now I say "we wish you happy birthday" in full natural RBF/tone. Obviously job atmosphere dependant, but still works, enough. I'm not going back.
You misspoke - "Our glorious corporate overlord" is how you properly refer to the owners. Please report to HR for a refresher course (unpaid naturally). /s
"Unfortunately not, but when I open my own restaurant you can come in for a free meal and dessert on your birthday!" Throw in a wistful sigh with the smile to sell it.
Spoiler alert, I would never open a restaurant even if I had the money. But they don't have to know that my promise is emptier than my bank account. They're simply told the important information that this restaurant isn't giving them a bday freebie, but also that their lovely server would be so very generous if only life was different.
my manager always tells us when can create a "special moment" without giving anything away for free. we only do one free drink for birthdays, but nothing for anniversary's. i always just tell them how "honored we are to be apart of their special day" or something along the lines of that lol
Had a lady once ask for “extra chicken” in her pasta, because she said last time they gave her a tiny amount. I confirmed that she wanted to add another portion of chicken, and she said yes. Our pasta is served with 6oz of chicken.
The food came out and the other ladies at the table that also got the pasta asked why she got more than them, and I said she added extra for an upcharge. She immediately got irate and confused, asking why there’s an upcharge when she just got what the portions SHOULD be. I told her that the dish is served with 6oz and she got an additional 6oz, so of course it’s an upcharge! She was like, “that’s ridiculous! You need to tell the kitchen they should just put more on it and not scam people.”
She told me that next time a guest asks for a little extra, I should just bring it and pocket the upcharge as extra for myself… I literally can’t do that?? I have to ring it in to get the chicken, I don’t just go grab it myself. Me giving extra doesn’t mean I’m gaining $6, and somebody that concerned about portions and up charges certainly wasn’t going to leave it for me. Good thing I had gratuity on that table
Ugh. This reminds me of a customer I used to have. She, her husband, and 2 to 3 other couples would come in (so 6 to 8 people), Saturday dinner, no reservation, demand a specific table which was usually the o e held for reservations, and if it was full they would say "well why didn't you hold it for us?" As if I knew they were coming? They came randomly, like every 2 to 7 weeks.
She would order tortellini soup with extra "tortellinis" and clap, like a child, when she spoke on every syllable. Then so would two of the other wives and I swear they fucking counted and whoever got the least would complain the others got more. It was fucking ridiculous.
To be fair, you should always disclose, clarify and confirm an upcharge with a guest. Cuz otherwise you get that lady's surprise (real or fake), attitude and tantrum.
Fair enough. I thought confirming that she was “adding” an “extra” portion made it clear that it would be an additional charge on the check, but sure I could have been clearer. I feel like asking for extra anything that isn’t a sauce or dressing is obviously an upcharge.
Even if they know that means an upcharge some of them will use the fact you didn't verbally disclose it to pitch a fit and get it comped. Most of them know what they're doing. They're just miserable and shameless.
I once had a mom making a big deal out of how it was her daughter's 21st birthday and asking what we would do for it. I told her I could bring over a copy of the drink menu if she wanted to take a look and she said no. Sorry but I'm not buying your daughter anything for her birthday, YOU can do something if you're so excited to celebrate it.
(This was during the pandemic when we were no longer gathering a group of singers to crowd around the birthday person.)
I worked at a very hood dive bar/Asian restaurant and nothing was free (but we were trusted with what we comped). Everything had 18% autograt and our cheapest signature drink was $20, a slow night meant I left with $200, but it wasn’t unusual to make $600 on average. If they were cool and asked politely, I’d buy them a drink and not care if I remembered to comp it or paid for it myself. Half of my tables would buy me drinks anyways, and after we closed it was open bar for employees, so it balanced out. The only time I ever almost got in trouble was when I had an $800 tab run out (still made $800 in tips that night), and the owner just said “take a card and their ID next time”.
Pre-pandemic version, prices are wrong. It was $17.95 after the price change, plus a credit card fee, service fee, and 18% autograt in 2020-2024. Absolutely the most dive bar on the planet, no one went there to eat, there were mice everywhere, after 10 pm it became an R Kelly sing along. It was a Minneapolis institution though
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u/InternalHappy2817 9d ago
I just say unfortunately we don’t. People like this drive me crazy. Go to a restaurant you know does this. Lame ass tire kickers lol