There is one person in the world that you usually end up allowing to disturb you while you are eating. This same person is the one that can come in to ask, interrupt, take or bring anything, while you eat and talk to others at your food table. This someone is your waiter. Your waiter, in addition to bringing you a lot of food and drooling, can also bring in a lot of weird habits that fall into the category of being rude to you.
The real job of a waiter is to bring you food, and is to make your food experience a good one so that you can enjoy your food. The existence of tips is one of the reasons many waiters simply focus on a set standard of things aimed to satisfy the typical standards of many restaurants like making sure your water glass is always full, that you have clean plates, and that you are not angry at or with your food at any moment. Such focus has resulted in many waiters not knowing that throwing a plate full of food at you, for you to catch, is not the same as putting the food plate in front of you.
Here are 10 rude things that many waiters do on a regular basis. I notice these trends at so many locations that sometimes I feel I should ask such waiters if they could be featured on my site for bad or rude service.
Ten rude things waiters do to you
- Pour water into your glass by tilting the jug on its side, resulting in water splashes all over you or your table.
- Not help you with your food questions or order if they are not your assigned waiter, but pick up your credit card or cash for payment when you put down your payment on your table. Next time, tell such waiters “Oh no, it’s ok. You did not help me with my crisis of dying in spices without water. I will let my real waiter take care of this and not trouble you at all.”
- Take away your plate if your friend or someone else in your party is still eating, or vice versa.
- Bring you the check very quickly, and repeatedly asking about the payment in different forms just to get you to leave so that a new customer can sit in your place. Like Ponzu in San Francisco telling me and my friends “Anything else before you guys head out?” We were not all guys, and no, we did not want to head out. We wanted to sit there for a while and talk.
- Touch a lot to try to get more tips. More people know about your psychological tactic, now that Bes has told them about it. Touching strangers for pleasure or for money, by trying to make the stranger feel good unconsciously, is perversion, you pervert.
- Touch your plate, glass or spoons and forks all over with bare hands.
- Not pay attention to you when you need help, like when you need a refill of your water glass after you eat something spicy. In my view, unless otherwise noted or told to the customer, a waiter should always keep an eye on the customer in case the customer looks up and around for their waiter. Other waiters should heed to such body language by either helping or by letting the original waiter know about the desperate gazes of the needy, and probably hungry or thirsty, customer. This goes along with point # 2 above.
- Complain or bring up the topic of not getting enough tip from you. Giving a tip is not the law around the planet, and telling a customer that they did something wrong by not tipping enough, in my view, is plain wrong unless there is an actual situation where the customer directly or indirectly promised a tip and then did not tip enough.
- Ask questions while food is in our mouth. This is another tactic used by waiters. When your mouth is full, you may say anything to tell the waiter to get lost so you can chomp down your food, including “Yes, it’s good.” That is why you are always asked a bit-pointed questions. You are asked “Is everything ok?” instead of “I see that your mouth is burning. Is the food too hot?” or “I see that my questions are resulting in your mouth opening so strangely that the teriyaki chicken is falling onto the ground. Should I stop asking you questions till your plate is empty or till you tell me to reappear after disappearing?“
- Giving you too much attention, including asking you about the food or service or your needs and talking to you a lot while you try to focus on eating or while you try to talk to the people you came with.
How does your waiter treat you?
Does your waiter ignore you? Has your waiter given you a shower when refilling your glass of water? Have you been rushed out of a restaurant by an overzealous waiter? Do they give you too much attention? Have you ever said “YES! IT’S GOOD! I’LL TIP YOU REAL GOOD IF YOU GOOOOOO AWAY PLEASE!! 
” while being interrupted from munching on some very juicy treat that you would be paying $15 for?
Are you a waiter yourself? Have you seen any of the above trends in other waiters or experienced them yourself? Have you engaged in any of the above trends for different reasons?
Please let me know what you think in the comments below. Thanks! 
Wow! Great points and all are so true!
kimbala! all r true,they could be so heartless sometime :O
when i found that kind of waiters around my fav restaurant >>>> expect no return of me there!!
Thank you very much for your information. It was a great help.
Nice informative blog and have great tips… Thanks for submitting
I’ve definitely experienced all 10 things before. Is it just me or are the “touchers” usually better waiters in general? Maybe their ploy just works on me.
Nice tips. Thanks for information
Entertaining read. I think you may be rather unfortunate with your waiters. Anyone who has control over you isn't someone I would provoke. I like my food not poisoned.
Although in the greater scheme, I think there are a lot of other more important things to worry about.
To me, They are always nice because I am a body builder and wrestler….:D.
Anyway, I am going to turn this topic to a bit woofy topic, I meet many customers daily which come to see me for coach hire, minibus hire and limo hire consulting, sometime the way they behave is beyond control, but that is where emotional inteligence help.
And thanks once again for being a body builder, it even helps when i am driving my car too fast
@Camella,
I am always nice to my waiter albeit I'll be poisoned, haha, but thanks for the tip. I would definitely focus on the gym in the next days to tone my body. I guess for now I just have to keep cool with the waiters and give them extra tips.
This article is so true. I wonder why waiters are coming entertainers nowadays.
These things are all true, my husband like to tip according to one waitress we had before. He always says no matter where we go this person is not as good as “Brittany” and just shake my head and say well they cant all please you can they?
This is a nice post, i like it,
wow you nailed a lot of my pet peeves… they are always smoking when you need a drink and always in your face after you just took a good big bite of food.. oh and ill flip if they touch my silverware… no way…
i like your post, its very interesting and informative to me, thanks for sharing it.
i thank google to bring me here and very thanks to you for the great article
its very helpful to me
happy new year
I’m guessing the original poster has never served before and has no idea what it is like to wait on stupid ignorant guest, such as the poster him self. None of these points are true in the way that they were posted
@Freida, you are totally right… this poster doesn’t seem to be happy with anything waiters do… they don’t ask enough they talk too much… one of the most oblivious statements has to be number 4. of course they’re asking if you need anything else. a waiters income is based on tips. 99% of people do not tip any extra if they sit at the table for an extra two hours. but we could have had two other customers who tipped us if you hadn’t sat there and chitchatted about your son who got his first job over the summer. i understand you want to catch up but if i get a 3 dollar tip after you sit there for 3 hours i’m going to be upset.
Hello Bes,
We went for our 11th wedding anniversary meal at a local restaurant, after going to the movies. We were the first diners of the evening in the restaurant and, when we arrived, there was only the one waiter to serve my wife and I – the only customers in a restaurant with a seating capacity for 200 people.
The waiter brought no water, but he did bring bread rolls and a starter. Almost one hour later, he brought the main course. My wife had already reminded him that we were still here. How could we be missed? We were the only people in the restaurant.
More people arrived in the restaurant. They received water and their main course within 20 minutes of arrival. We waited another half-hour for our dessert and a waiter shift change occurred. A different waiter delivered our dessert and yet the original waiter, before he went home, came to our table for the bill payment and a tip.
I gave him a tip. “Read The Complete Idiot’s Guide To Great Customer Service by alpha books”, was my tip to him!
Some Psychology study showed that waiters who ‘accidentally-on-purpose’ touched a customers hand while serving them received greater tips. If I was a waiter that would be useful knowledge
I hate it when waiter’s take your plate away too quickly.
That’s why he spit in your drink
it *constantly* happens to me where waiters ask me a question, right as I put a huge mouthful of food in my mouth. Maybe it's their way of telling me I'm a huge fat pig, but I can already know that, without their passive-aggressive, unwarranted opinion!
@Dara, usually we don’t mean to ask as soon as you put food into your mouth, but really, what other time can we ask? What you came there to do was eat. Most people don’t take breaths between bites let alone enough time for us to see you and come over to ask a question. We can’t creep you and wait until we see you swallow your food, we have other tables to wait on. And we get into trouble if we don’t ask about your meal.
This is true but I would like to say if we really want to be serve accordingly we treat waiters with respect to gain respect. I am not a waiter but I consider them best in their field as we consider ourselves best in what we do.
I very much impressive to read this post. Great informative, I will go to bookmarking this.
Not funny if that happens to you, but so much fun reading! Hilarious!
There is nothing we can do, but so far I don’t experience one of them the common is I waited half an hour in a resto, then we left after they send the order in out table without a charge to make things even.
i had a bartender dump the pourer from the bottle into the martini shaker and dump 1/4 of the bottle in, pick the spout out with her fingers and then try and guess the proportions of the martini. after I called her on it, she denied it, i said i saw her, she said….well, do you want a new one? gross gross gross!
I would add another point as 5.b -> They would ask you for tip if you just move from the table. They never welcome and if you were a first timer.. you’ll never get any guidelines.
I think there’s always gonna be bad waiters, and there’s not much you can do to control that type of situation when it happens — so the best u can do is try to make the best of it and not let it ruin your night.
The worst one i've experienced was when a waiter in an italian restaurant tried to mimic my accent and ended up getting no tip for it. He decided to go ahead and spit on me as a result and the rest was not so pretty….
wow great post…
Funny, I just had many of these same thoughts tonight after having a virtually perfect server at dinner. She neatly refilled drinks and waited for our plates to be completely clean before taking them away. She only asked "how things were" when we were just hanging out without our mouths full. All your points are well taken. The other night, the waiter was disturbing and…geez…most of them are so quick to remove plates and glasses when they're not empty!
Entertaining and fun filled post… keep up the good work
Please. Get Real here. You act like they should be treating you like a King or Queen! They get paid 2 bucks an hour! They don't need to go ABOVE AND BEYOND, just provide you with the service you need!! What do you do, go around finding things wrong with everything everywhere you go, just so you can come here and complain about it to feel important!?!
It seems like more often then not my husband and I get a horrible waiter when eating out. It annoys me b/c it is they are at work to make money and they are busy doing everything else then pleasing the customer. I was a server and so I can complain. Great list thanks for sharing!
I completely agree with #2. That has happened to me so many times when I dine out. I hate when there is clearly plenty of food left on my plate and take it away….sad.
Interesting. I know what you mean, and I think mostly true. I waited tables back in the college days and I remembered how hard it was, but I don't think I was ever rude!
Try going out for dinner in Amsterdam, have never seen any waiters which were more rude then over there
Amsterdam is nothing compared to Denmark.
I had a cafe for a year ago, and I couldn't get any probber waitors.
Waitors in Denmark a just bad behaving.
Waiters never really bug me except for being inattentive with the check. I'm not a fan of waiting around for hours after I'm done eating.
Waiters should wait until everyone is finished eating before taking away anything. Sometimes they focus more on cleaning tables rather than satisfying customers.
thx for great points! thumbs up. looking forward to more posts
Nice post
Very Interesting to read..
What horrible experiences. With little kids, we don’t go out much these days, so when we do, we hope to have the least stressful night. Luckily, we’ve not had too many rude/bad waiters (at least not that I can remember).
very informative blog!!very interesting to read and all are true!!thank you!!!
well, good point, 'cause not everyone knows about this.
thanks for sharing!!!
I completely agree with #2. That has happened to me so many times when I dine out. I hate when there is clearly plenty of food left on my plate and take it away….sad.
I believe that Waiters should wait until everyone is finished eating before taking away anything. Sometimes they focus more on cleaning tables rather than satisfying customers. am I rong??
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well…
the point of number six is sometime happen to me
it's really annoying you know
but I would like to make sure their hands clean of bacteria
Obviously you would like to think that but in a remotely reputable place the servers hands are going to be cleaner than yours, as they are constantly washing them. Do you wash your hands before you sit down at a restaurant? Probably not. And the earlier thread about lemons in your water think about it if it’s on the rim then the fruit is touching the part that hands touch which would make that the “dirty” part.
the restaurant experience in whole is made from the parts. ambiance, food, service and if the balance is not there, lousy food, crappy service…ruins the dining experience. Great food, dining room ambiance and especially service makes a meal rock and if you have a bad experience with an establishment then I would highly recommend let them all know!
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Here's an often overlooked thing some waiters do. When you need your glass refilled they take your empty glass and return it filled up. That's bad. How do I know I didn't get someone elses empty glass? They should always bring you a new full glass THEN take your empty.
These are SO true lol
I saw this exact article yesterday on Reddit… or Digg… I forget.
I can’t stand when a waiter doesn’t refill my iced tea. That happens to me a lot.
all the things written is really impressive.
Nice post, so true. lol
This is somewhat funny. I do understand that waiters can be rude, but customers can also be rude and put the waiter in a bad mood. People should just respect each other and not look down at someone just because of the job that they hold, because you never know who you will be working for next. Thanks!
Nice topic.I really agree with you.I have also observed all these 10 things waiters do.Especially the 7th point about filling glasses.It has happened many times with me.
I think if you go into a place looking for something to go wrong or someone to be rude you'll find it. Be positive. They may hate their job, and the dog just died. think before judging
I've had a waiter start yelling at me giving me a hard attitude because some of the food that was given to me wasn't properly cooked and I asked the waiter to take it back to the kitchen.
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Thing is be kind to your waiter or you end up eating and drinking food laced with sweat and saliva! I'm sure you don't like that to happen, do you?
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What I hate is they all act like your causing them grief when you ask for something. IT'S YOUR JOB you moron. If you don't like helping customers, go work in a different trade. Duh!
We don’t hate getting it for you, it’s just the way you ask sometimes. Not to mention running back and forth to the kitchen for one guest when you have several tables is not an ideal situation. Unfortunately dealing with inconsiderate people is a hazard of the job.
I work for 15. Years as a waiter all 10 things are ok but i think u never worked as a waiter when u have 2ld ladys an one of them ask u for a coffe and the other one say to u a im ok no thing for me and when u bring that coffe and the other one ask u ooooo waiter can i have a coffe to or she never order but say to the waiter u forgat me aaa so tell me how u feel or a drunk person goes to bathroom and add some stuf to his nose and come over and give u hard time if u want the 10 rooles u have to spend 150$ per person and ok there they watch u ok good bless u all
Number 3 annoys me to no end. A friend of mine used to leave a little portion on his plate for this very reason, in order to finish along with everyone else. He still would have to insist to waiters that he was not quite finished eating. Last week a waiter removed my plate moments after I had placed the last bite in my mouth; I was still holding my utensils and chewing.
Randall, I agree with you on the pet peeve #3. I have actually called a restaurant to inquire if they were running low on plates/dishes/utensils/glasses. In a course of 40 minutes, they (servers and busboys), had come by at least 5-7 times to take our dishes. Annoys the h— out of me. I hate to have to stop eating one course, to hand them a plate from another course. Unless the plates are piling up to my eyeballs, they should just leave us alone unless we request otherwise.
eh its easy for you all specially to the poster of such article to criticize us waiter but have you even see the way you people act in a restaurant many costumers think they should be treated like kings and end up ordering cheap things and then complaining to the cashier omg my bill is too high no freaking way seriously wtf if you happen to go out again take enough money to spend and tip because its easy to criticize a waiter but do you even know what we go through with ranchy cheap rude mean angry stupid costumers.
Try going to an authentic Chinese restaurant. I bet you can find 20 rude things that waiters/waitresses do to you.
@Kendra,
I have not found waiters/waitresses to be any more rude at the Chinese restaurants that I go to..
Unless these rude things are done “behind the scenes” in the kitchen area, I can’t tell any difference either.
Number 3 has to be the rudest thing they can do, its like they want to flip your table as soon as possible to grab the money from the next customer. They dont realise that this is a short term win as the chances are you wont be coming back yourself and will also spread the word to your friends that the restaurant have a lack of basic manners and not to use it.
Grab the drink from the the rim of the drink.
What about at the Mexican restaurants. The servers usually put the food on their arm and deliver it. I Always pray to not get the entree that is the closest to his or her face/ears/hair.
We dine out not only for food but also for nice service.waits are a part of the service,i think if restaurants want better business they should train their waiters how to serve customers properly.From customers' point of view I think we should be positive,to look for somwthing good not for bad. Let's enjoy brett favre jersey and enjoy our life.
It would also be nice if the managers would visit the websites that deal with customers’ pet peeves regarding the food industry and servers. Make a list of pet peeves and then train potential and current servers based upon data that has been collected.
You sound like a d*ck
Believe it or not, managers do train their employees (weird, I know…who knew?) They train their employees to do their jobs in the way that the restaurant wants the job done. Letting customers’ “pet peeves” drive business would be like letting the inmates run the asylum…they generally don’t know how the restaurant is run at all, from seating systems to kitchen processes.
And don’t be so short-sighted to think that just because something bothers you means it bothers everyone. For every customer that is annoyed by us taking away empty plates before everyone is finished, there’s another customer that would complain that we left dirty dishes in front of them after they were done with them. Just like in life, not everyone’s going to like the way you do things, and we waiters can’t please everybody either, so we do the best we can and hope that our customers aren’t nit-picky pretentious twats.
Sarah, I agree with you that everyone is different. What irks others doesn’t bother others. It is hard to gauge. However, if you apply the same rules that your company dictates to every person and every table don’t be surprised it you either don’t get tipped or not tipped as much. Some people want their plates cleared away during the meal. They want to be asked every five minutes how the food is. I find these things annoying as heck. The high-maintenance and elderly people may love this level of attentiveness.
If someone comes in and looks high maintenance (lots of fancy, expensive jewelry and dressed impeccably), you may have to handle them in a different manner than someone like me. (No jewelry, no makeup, jeans, sweatshirt, and tennis shoes). I don’t want to be bothered when I eat at a restaurant. Just bring me my food and maybe check on us once. I am smart enough to realize that if there is a problem, I need to speak to a manager or with my server. I would speak with my server first before bringing in management. Wouldn’t want to get the server in trouble. If that doesn’t rectify the situation, I would be left with no other option but to speak with management. With the woman who wore expensive jewelry and is dressed impeccably you will have to wait on them like you would the First Lady. I don’t want nor deserve that level of service and attentiveness. To me it is too annoying. To the high-maintenance lady, she probably loves and expects that degree of service.
i have to disagree with #4, while they should not rush you out the door, sitting at your table and shooting the breeze while there are 5 other groups of people waiting for a table is extremely rude on your part, if you want to talk, do it somewhere else where you arent taking up space, think about it from their perspective, not only are you making other people wait, but your also preventing your waiter from serving the next customer and probably getting another tip, i mean you can talk anywhere…. the thing is that most people dont realize how much complete utter crap waiters put up with, people walk into restraunts and think they own the place, and i know from experience waiters take all the crap, whether its their fault or not, i once had a customer yell at me in front the entire restraunt because the chef messed up his order, and it wasnt "can you please correct this for me" it was more like "your incompetant and will never amount to anything"…. in other words, consider why it is that some waiters are like this, you need to give respect to get it
Maybe it isn’t that we are merely occupying space preventing more tips to be made, perhaps the customer has just gotten there and has not been waited on in a timely manner. Therefore, no glasses/plates/utensils. Another scenario-the customer has already eaten and is waiting on someone to return from the restroom or the server to bring either the check or change. The table is clear so it would give you the impression that the customer is the rude one. You mistakenly assume in both scenarios that the customers are being rude by sitting there doing nothing. I understand your perspective. However, unless there is a rule stating how long a customer can sit at a table after eating, they do have the right to be there. Personally, we don’t do that. We will carry on extended lengthy conversations elsewhere. Also heard that Sunday and Christmas holiday crowds are the two rudest and most demanding crowds to have. It’s also very frustrating when you are waiting to be seated, and the customers are sitting at the table visiting. The after church crowds and large parties are the ones I notice sitting and visiting for lengthy periods of time.
We’re not saying that anyone sitting at an empty table is inherently rude. There are other scenarios (such as those you mentioned). We can tell the difference between someone staying too long or someone who’s doing something else and has a legitimate reason to be there. If you sit for 5 minutes, let your meal settle, go to the bathroom, that’s fine. When it becomes 30 minutes or several hours, that’s when it’s a problem. Your server knows and the hostess knows and if it’s been too long the manager sure will know because (s)he’s probably asking us why you’re still there and how long till you get up and we can seat someone else. If it’s the end of the night and they’re trying to close, the whole restaurant will know. Don’t be that person.
As for specific “crowds,” Sundays can be iffy, I’ve never had a problem with Christmas, Christmas tends to make people happy I think. But Mother’s Day…oh, don’t get me started on Mother’s Day. The worst by far.
Let me start by saying, you make some great points. But let me respond. Hate to play Devil’s advocate, but I will. Never thought of people actually sitting for several hours at a table. Have you ever considered the notion that some people may be conducting business at a restaurant. Maybe they do not want to talk business while their mouths are full. So they wait until they finish eating to talk business. Some elderly people have medical conditions like strokes or dysphagia. So it takes them longer to eat than younger, healthier individuals. With dysphagia, they have difficulty swallowing. They don’t want to aspirate on their food. When you talk, your airway is open. Now if you talk while eating, you run the risk of choking or some food particles going into the airway instead of the stomach. Therefore, they wait until there is less stress or risk of choking. Therefore, they wait to talk after they eat. Sometime with small children or infants it is hard to dine out with children and infants. The parents have to eat, feed their children and infants. As a result, they may wait to talk until everyone has been fed. What about birthday parties or bridal rehearsal parties? You know they are going to talk after eating. Just wanted to give you a few scenarios.
Now, If it is myself and my mother, usually we talk while eating and 30 minutes is the longest we sit after eating a meal. On the other hand, if we are talking about close friends or relatives/friends who live out of town, we may spend an hour or so to talk after we have finished eating. However, if it is busy and there are people waiting to be seated, we either talk elsewhere or we shorten our conversation. We have limited parking space at our apartment so it is more convenient for everyone to talk at the table rather than drive to our apartment and no parking spaces to be found. Do you want us to sit on the concrete or in our cars to talk? What if it is raining, snowing, cold, or hot? Now if that means we spend 30 minutes or two hours (when it is not busy), that is what we will do. This is America and there is no law regulating how long a customer can sit at a table after eating. Therefore, you will encounter this problem-sorry. I suggest that if this bothers you, that you find gainful employment in another industry. That is easier said than done in this economy. My suggestion is to accept the fact that customers will do this and that they have the right to do so. If that means you will not receive as much in tips, I am sorry about that. Perhaps the next day, you will make up the difference. A simple reminder, there is no perfect job!!!! I am glad that I never had to work as a server. Have worked in the fast food business and retail though. As a result, I know that some people are rude and can never be pleased. However, having courteous, rude, disrespectul, and hard to please customers that continue to patronize your restaurant or shop is what gives you job security.
You could go on and on about specific, uncommon situations, many (but not all) of those are valid reasons to stay seated, with which we have no problem. Also, it’s not really a problem 100% of the time. Large parties can stay as long as they want, they’re not taking up tables that would normally get sat and they spend a lot of money. People with children don’t stay long at all (you must have some exceptional children), and elderly people with trouble eating rarely come out to eat anyway and are almost negligible in this conversation. The general idea, however, is that if you are sitting at a table that could be occupied by other, paying customers, without balancing it out with some form of financial compensation, both the server and the restaurant are losing money. If you are the last table in the restaurant and we have to keep the lights on, the air on, and employees on the clock just to accommodate you while you sit and sip water, the restaurant is losing money. If it’s Friday night and I have four tables in my section and every single one of them orders an appetizer and drinks water for 5 hours, I’ve lost money from tips and the restaurant is losing money because they are unable to seat customers who will spend more. Sure, there are understandable exceptions, such as illnesses and whatnot, but these are not generally the case. If you’re going to sit and chat for hours on end, consider making up for it in for form of a larger tip, or ordering more food. However, customers that patronize the restaurant but cause both me and the restaurant to lose money are the opposite of job security.
hello
Your post is absurd. Email me for the reason why 
Hey thetim,
thanks for the comment. You can reply here & share with everyone, or send me an e-mail securely. Thanks!
Sarah, actually I have no children. Just thought about bringing up that potential scenario. However, it is still a free country. Until a law is passed that says otherwise, I will stay as long as I like.
I know that larger parties typically tip more because of the absurd rule about automatically adding gratuity on to your bill. So you are fine with them taking their sweet time. Not really my problem if the restaurant or server is losing money. You knew about this prior to taking the job did you not?. You accepted the job with all of its pros and cons but then you want to complain about rude people or people who stay too long keeping you from making more money. That is part of working with people. You will have those who leave promptly and those that do not. You will have polite people and you will have those who are rude. You will have families with small children who leave a mess and you will have those that try to prebus their own table so you don’t have too much to do.
Having said this, it is not my job to compensate you for having to do your job. When you took the job, you accepted it willingly with all of the positives and negatives. I honestly don’t think that people spend 5 hours sitting at a table. While I would not do that without giving you a larger tip, if I spend an hour and a half to two hours, that is my perogative and you will not receive a larger tip for spending that much time in your restaurant.
There is no problem in the behavior of waitor to us,they are kindly in approach.
Hey William, thanks for the reply. Do you mean the waiters you run into are kind and never do any of the things above? Or do you mean the above things are not rude?
Not pay attention to you when you need help, like when you need a refill of your water glass after you eat something spicy. In my view, unless otherwise noted or told to the customer, a waiter should always keep an eye on the customer in case the customer looks up and around for their waiter. Other waiters should heed to such body language by either helping or by letting the original waiter know about the desperate gazes of the needy, and probably hungry or thirsty, customer.
hahahaha
Thanks Jongren! Do you run into that too?
Delightful post. I love the way you've written the article. Your examles are not just hilarious they are even completely true. Look forward to reading more articles like this.
Thanks Lovepanky [do you have a nickname?
]! I really appreciate it. Do you eat at restaurants a lot or have seen the above things?
One thing waitors do that annoy me is making rude comments while I am eatting, such as "you finished that fast" or laughing and saying, "you look like you are enjoying that." When a waitor says comments such as those to me, they have kissed their tip goodbye.
Minus the first comment your server is probably just doing what his boss tells him and asks if you are enjoying the food…Horrible thing to complain. would you like it if we never came around your table at all…it's called checking in…and if you don't tip i remember faces and tell all the servers next time when you come in, then magically your food gets dropped or lost…
Dude,
I love your comment. I work in a bar, and the part about remembering faces is so true. I do remember people who are rude, and also people who drink too much and say mean things. On another point, I would like to point out that almost every restaurant has a tipping policy for their servers. This means that the server must tip the bartender, busser, cooks, host, etc.. So if you simply decide to not tip, in most cases, that server ends up loosing money by serving you, because the amount they have to tip everyone else is based on sales, not on what they make in tips. So when you take something as simple as the server asking if they can get you anything, and your mouth happens to be full, or tipping the water pitcher on it's side to refill water (by the way this is done so that you have ice in your glass because the lip of the pitcher prevents ice water from pouring propperly) or any of the other things listed, keep in mind that everyone likes to be served in a different way. We cannot "keep an eye on" you and your water glass every second because you are NOT the only person in the restaurant, but we will come to the table and ask how you are doing. We will be in a good mood if you are. We will respect you and even like you if you have good manners and treat others the way you would like to be treated. I think we all learned the golden rule in grade school, and it doesn't mean any less simply because you are a guest and I am a server.
My pet peeve with servers is someone besides your server bringing out your entrees and then "auctioning" them off – e.g. "Who had the chicken parmesan?" etc.
There are ways to note who ordered what so that plates can be set down in their correct place without having to interrupt conversation to ask.
Whoever wrote this article is a retarded petty person. Waiters aren’t slaves
1: howabout u aaccomodate for the waiter struggling to approach the water glass which u have more than likey moved to anawkward position on the table
2: a payment can be processed by anyone it is a CARDINAL rule that wait staff should not return empty handed, hence also helping out your section waiter who is obviously off dealing with stupid questions like can i order the fish but i dont want it to taste like fish.
3:well after waiting for at least 30mins for your guest to eat that last small morsel of food most waiters will start to clear the table as they also have other guests to attend to ones that will eat their dinner instead of talk for an hour taking small insignificant bites.
4: its is polite not to hold the table as most businesses rely on the turn over to stop themselves from going BANKRUPT. if you were to order more than water u would find that you could sit at the table as long as u like.
5:we arenot touching you to get more tips we avoid dopin so cause we dont know ur bathing habits. we touch u to stop you from talkin long enough to pay attention so we can actally give you the service that you can complain about later on websites like this
6: how else are the waiters suppose to pik up the utensils….. with our TEETH?
7: you complain in #10 about to much service but in this one u complain u dont get enough service. how about u REALISE that you are not the only customer in the restaurant and if you cant handle spicy food dont order it or actually pay for your water!!!!!
8:depending on where you are in the world tipping is mandatory u tight ass
9: it is a requirement that all waitstaff follow up on the meal so as to avoid any issues so that wen u choose to complain after devouring the entire meal u dont get it for free like your tryin to by complaining. this also allows the kitchen to remedy any issues you may have at the begining of the meal so you have an enjoyable experience. you tight ass
#10 its called customer service it is wot you are payin us for make up you mind do u want service or not u cant have it both ways….. u tight ass cheap skate
hahaha this is SO TRUEEE!!!!!!
I’m a waitress
& I love my job but seriously people can be SO RUDE.
#1. If u want water in your glass I’m going to pour it however the heck I want. I’m the waitress and I know what I’m doing. If the way I pour your water offends you or If you want your water poured a certain way maybe you should go home and pour your water there any way you want.
#2. Get over yourself.
#3. If someone is done with their plate I remove it so they don’t have to sit there with a dirty plate in front of them. I don’t care who is still eating, why does it matter if I remove someone else’s plate? Just as long as I don’t remove the plate of someone who is still eating it shouldn’t matter.
#4. I hate people that just SIT THERE for like 3 hours to “talk”. Ew go talk somewhere else. People act like its their lounge. Well its not! Eat and go home you’re annoying.
#5. I’m not trying to touch you. Actually I’m trying to stay away because sometimes you have really bad breath.
#6. Yes I touch everything of yours with my bare hands. The cook touches all your food with his bare hands. Everything of yours is being touched. Why are you eating out if you don’t like your things touched????
#7. I hate people that are so needy and still RUDE. If someone is trying to get my attention without snapping at me I am more than happy to help, but people that fail to say please & thank you I HATE.
#8. Its very simple. If don’t (of can’t afford) to tip then you should NOT be eating out. Cheap ass! Even if you had bad service or experience leave a freaking dollar!
#9. I ask how everything is because then after you devour your food you complain about it! Thats why I go check on you and how your food is! If you’re in the middle of devouring your plate and your mouth if full at least give me a thumbs up or do sign language but don’t be offended if I simply just come to check on you!
#10. If you can’t handle eating out and are just there to see what goes wrong I beg you PLEASE JUST STAY HOME AND EAT THERE. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!
i found your site from search engine,it’s awesome. I will bookmark your site for waiting your more articles. thanks.
Work as a server and then you can criticize…you have no idea how fickle people are, most can't recognize good service, let alone understand that when you "sit and talk" you have got to be aware you must leave more money, you're renting a table, and at that point costing your server money…think before you talk
If I were your waiter, I'd spit and piss in your drink.
If I caught you doing that, I would fire you and have you arrested. On the spot.
I work at a restaurant and this article is probably coming from arrogant pricks that dine out to have waiters become their slaves while they feel superior. I have a suggestion: LET YOUR WAITER KNOW BEFORE YOU FINISH YOUR DRINK. so by the time you take the last sip, they will be at your table with a new drink. and as for the clearing plates comment, i always ask if the person is done, they say yes, i ask them if i can clear their plate, they also say yes. remember, we have to flip tables and pre-bus them in order to make money. there are no busers where i work so i need to clear plates in order to get my next table sat quickly. oh and for the record, we dont want you to sit and talk!!! we want to make more money because you probably left a shitty tip, so now i have to try to get the next table to be a little more generous!! don’t sit there for hours unless you’re gunna order a drink other than water.
Also, the biggest misconception is that waiters still get an hourly rate. I don’t know about anyone else but where i work i get paid around $2.30 an hour. that is SHIT. and if i get shitty tips, i will make no money because i rarely get paychecks. so next time you hoodrats or oldies are out dining somewhere, think about the waiter not your arrogant self. you are NOT the only one in the restaurant, and i have many tables other than you that need tending to!!!!
If your tips and poor hourly wage do not equal minimum wage, aren’t you paid the difference to equal minimum wage? A lot of employees who make minimum wage put up with a lot, too. They don’t receive tips either. If you receive great tips, then you probably would not be given any compensation from your employer for the discrepancy. If you make great tips, you would probably make a very decent salary. I know some servers who make $700 a week. I bet there are many people who would work in the food service industry for that salary. Also, perhaps we are not arrogant, we just don’t have a lot of disposable income to leave a 20-25% tip. Please don’t tell us that we should either eat at home or at a fast food restaurant. If we did that, you would not have any job security. Be thankful that you even have a job!!!!! You don’t know if the customer has a job, what the customer’s financial situation is, and what has happened to the customer in his/her personal life. So perhaps you should take time and think about the customer every now and then. It is prejudicial of you to think that if we stay too long at a table, don’t leave a tip, or leave a minimal one that somehow we are arrogant. You don’t know the situation. Just like we don’t know yours.
No you are arrogant, and let me tell you why. You back a list of annoyances that are directed not at the cause but at the only part of the restaurant you see, the waiter. You spent no time actually researching or perhaps learning why these things happen. This idea that waiters are just running around doing all these things on their own is ridicules it’s the business behind them. Any time spent by all you people supporting this article actually looking into the industry as a whole and perhaps you would be able to see where your grievances should be placed. And when it comes down to writing about just consider it responsible journalism because even in an opinion piece such as this some research is necessary. I guess that would be too much work however.
No, I don’t think that research has to be done to blog about pet peeves that bother you. When something tastes bad or you have a bad experience at a store/restaurant, do you do your research with regards to why it tastes bad or what goes on behind the scenes at a store/restaurant before you complain to the staff? Somehow I doubt that you or anyone else would. We do the first thing that comes to mind and that is complain. If your food is not cooked properly or isn’t what you ordered. Do you complain, mention it to the manager/server, or do you go home to research or contemplate on what went on behind the scenes? Most people would do the two former things. They have spent money on a meal and they want what they ordered. They will not eat something that is not cooked according to their directives and they will not pay for something they did not order. So they will either complain to the server or to the members of their party or mention it to the manager/server. Most people will not eat what they did not order or eat what was not cooked according to their directives.
This site is to state things that servers do that “bug” us. What research needs to be done to state opinions? The only thing one needs to blog on this site is experience in dining out. Now, if this site dealt with why restaurants cause servers to do these things, you might have a point. But this site is “10 rude things that servers do.”
Were you saying that I sounded arrogant? We have been asked multiple times by servers, “Are you all always this nice?” Doesn’t sound like arrogance to me. Even the hostesses and servers at restaurants will see us at other restaurants and stores. They will inquire about where we have been. They will ask, “When are you all going to come back?” They will then say, “We have really missed you all. We wish all customers were as nice and polite as you all.”
eaaaasy man !!!! you would die of anger if you take things so serious…. you are not a king after all , you are just normal as others , so just calm down and let them do their job , you tell me your job then i can list 100 rude things people in your job do , i agree on the fact that some waiters would go too far on few things , but it’s all because of the pressure there is , not only in this job , in many other jobs. you gotta understand them , if you don’t then in case you don’t have a job , please get one and you shall keep your anger down as well as understating the situation of other people on their tasks and by the way , whatever job that is , everybody make mistakes
Very impressive article. Very unique and original.
This is all true. I do also experienced some things mentioned at this article.
I have never experience like this before.
I agree that you must let know first your waiter before jugging.
this is the stupidest thing ever. you complain TO MUCH!
Good day
-CA
If I hear one more waiter ask me “Are you still workin’ on that?” like it’s a %$!# construction site or a chore, I shall scream!!! Are we in a hash house? Are you a child? There are many ways to get the answer to that question: “May I remove your plate?” would be the best one. Learn it. It’s easy.
Don’t ask me if I want change you Lazy, just bring the change back.
Don’t remove plates while others are still eating.
If English is your second language, don’t blame me when the order is incorrect and I send it back. Work on your English.
Don’t call me HON or DEAR or anything else. I don’t know you and I am not your sweetheart. I am pollite enough to ALWAYS ask for your name when you approach me so I don’t have to call you “Hey You” when I need something, so if you feel compelled to call me something, call me maam.
Don’t stand over me and yap at me through my meal. I didn’t go there to talk to you and I don’t need your personal life story.
I hate it when they come by to visit mid-meal. Your hungry and your food is getting colder by the minute, and they want to converse. You don’t want to be rude and eat while they are talking so you sit there, starving, looking at the entree, and knowing that the quality of food is now lower. Then they get mad when you stay too long at the table to talk or finish eating. Well, if they had not come by to converse, you could have eaten your food much more quickly. You could have been out of the restaurant earlier so they could turn over their tables and make more money.
WAITERS AND WAITRESSES: I am a customer who is ALWAYS polite, nice, acknowledges your arrival, am not condescending, am reasonable in my requests, and tip EXTREMELY well. I have also been a food server and a manager of a fine dining restaurant, so I have experienced all sides. I have been eating out a lot the past month I feel compelled to share a partial list of my pet peeves:
Do not ask me “Are you still workin’ on that?” as if my meal is a construction site or a chore. Are we in a hash house? Are you a child? There are many ways to get the answer to that question: “May I remove your plate?” would be the best one. Learn it. It’s easy.
Don’t ask me if I want change, just bring the change back. It’s your job to take my money and bring my change back. What I plan to do with my money is none of your business and it is rude.
Please don’t make the mistake that because you are beautiful or handsome that you don’t have to be a good food server and should get a great tip anyway. You are wrong.
I do not lower your tip because of a problem in the kitchen, or anything else that is not your fault, so if you get a tip that you feel is chintzy, guess what….it’s you, and you need to think about what you did or did not do and work on it. If you want, ask me, I’ll tell you. Or ask your manager or fellow servers. They will tell you.
Don’t remove plates while others are still eating. It’s rude and it makes the person who is still eating uncomfortable.
Don’t offer me a refill on a soda or iced tea if it is not really a refill. Let the customer know you charge for refills. Most places don’t, so you need to let the customer know so they are not shocked when the bill comes. The same goes for asking a little sour cream, or a little more dressing etc. (Most nice places won’t gouge for little things) If there is a charge, say, “There’s a small charge of 90 cents for that, is that acceptable to you?” I actually went to a restaurant the other day with ten people and got a mystery charge for $2.75. It was for 11 glasses of water at 25 cents per glass. This was in Rancho Cucamonga. We were not told when we asked for water that we would be charged for tap water.
I’ve heard waiters don’t like being asked questions. Well, that’s part of your job. We don’t have ESP about your menu. If you don’t want to be asked questions, work in a morgue.
FYI: Learn the menu! Know how the dishes are made and what is in them. When I was a restaurant manager I had my servers meet in the kitchen every night before their shift and go over the specials and how they were prepared and what was in them. I also made sure, that over time, every server had tasted everything on the menu so they knew what it tasted like. And by the way, if you work in a rib place or a steakhouse and I ask you about a certain meat dish, do NOT tell me you don’t know because you are a vegetarian and you do not eat animals. Keep that to yourself.
I know you want to turn your tables to make more money but please do not rush us. Most groups of people don’t go out just to eat, they go out to visit and enjoy each other. If you want more money, ask for a larger section or go to another restaurant.
If English is your second language, don’t blame me when the order is incorrect and I send it back. Work on your English. If you have a heavy accent, please enunciate and repeat back the order. This only goes for the USA of course. When I am in another country I try to order in your language. If I am unable, I enunciate.
Don’t call me HON or DEAR or anything else. I don’t know you and I am not your sweetheart. I am polite enough to ALWAYS ask for your name when you approach me so I don’t have to call you “Hey You” when I need something, so if you feel compelled to call me something, call me maam.
Don’t stand over me and yap at me through my meal. I didn’t go there to talk to you and I don’t need your personal life story. I want to eat without you staring at me, expecting responses, and I want to converse with my tablemates.
I agree with your points. Pet peeves are:
1. Sitting next to us as while ordering. Encroaching in someone’s personal space can be uncomfortable. If I know the server well, then that is a different story.
2. Wanting to come over multiple times to chit chat while our food is getting cold sitting on the table. If the customer has worked hard all day and is starved, they don’t want to be rude and eat in front of you or tell you to go away, so they sit there looking at the food knowing it is getting colder by the minute.
3. Asking how everything is every five minutes or so (always when you have food in your mouth) which could be a choking hazard. Then they fail to acknowledgewhen a refill is needed or they take too much time bringing the check or change to us when needed.
Please ask us how everything is right after we get our meal to make we have received everything and that it is prepared properly with no mistakes. After that, come back once after we have eaten some of our meal then, you can simply leave us alone.
4. Be attentive looking for half-empty glasses and heads looking around as if the customers are trying to find you. Try not to interrupt unless you know they need you.
5. Do not interrupt the party to ask if you can refill their salt/pepper shakers, sugar/sugar substitute packets, light their oil lamps, and lower/raise the blinds. That should be done prior to the customer sitting down and ordering. I don’t like to be in the middle of a conversation and have an additional set of ears to hear my conversation. Then, we forget our “train of thought.”
6. Wanting to clear away dishes when we are still working on our meal. They think you have to be eating constantly. Perhaps you want to take a breather or want to carry on a conversation while eating. They assume that because we have taken a minute or two to rest that we are finished eating. Unless the dishes are piling up to my ears or I have requested dishes to be cleared, leave me alone.
7. Forgetting condiments after you have requested them when you ordered or when the food is brought to the table. Then it takes them another 5-10 minutes to get them and your fries get cold so you eat them. When the server returns with the ketchup, you have already eaten the fries and the ketchup is no longer needed.
8. Barely getting your appetizer or salad and then the entree comes. It would be nice if you could place the order for the appetizer(s) and salad(s) with the kitchen staff before actually placing the entree order. I hate to get my appetizer or salad and 1-3 minutes later the salad or the entree comes. I know that the server cannot help that. But if things were ordered in a different manner, perhaps that problem would not recur. The server would definitely receive a much better tip if this would happen. Just let customers know because they might get their “feathers ruffled” when their entrees have taken longer than expected.
9. If you are not fluent in English and you work in an authentic Mexican restaurant, please learn English. If you can’t or don’t want to, then work behind the scenes in the kitchen, deliver chips and salsa to the table, and/or bus the table.
10. Asking “Do you want any change back?” Instead of asking that question, they should automatically assume that you do and bring it back anyway. It makes the customer feel like a tightwad for requesting to have their change brought back to the table.
11. When the server either assumes the change is his/hers and you have to call for a manager or stay an additional 15 minutes to get the change.
12. Above all, my biggest pet peeve is when the server brings the currency to you, but fails to give you the change. Theft is still theft if it is a penny or ninety cents. This will always result in leaving the server a note telling them that their tip is the change that they have kept. I will also call the manager. If it happens multiple times, I will e-mail the company.
Rose and Kay, you both make great points. A lot of the things you mentioned are things that good servers will not do. It is impolite, informal, and condescending to call people by “pet names,” and I also hate when I’m dining out and the server sits down with me. It seems like an invasion of space. I’m there to enjoy a meal, not make new friends. There is no excuse for a server who doesn’t know the menu or who objects to being asked lots of questions, especially if it’s while orders are being placed (note, though: the greeting/beverage order is not the time for Q&A. Please hold most in-depth questions until we bring your drinks or for when you are ordering, we will have much more time to dedicate to you and your questions then). Also, a huge part of serving is reading your tables, and knowing that some want to chat and some want to be left alone, and accommodating that.
The things I disagree with are the following: removing plates while others are eating, and asking about change for cash payments. In fine dining, which is your experience, these are obviously not done. However, in other, non-fine dining establishments the rules (put forth by managers, mostly, not servers) are different. Where I work, somewhere between casual and fine-dining, (it’s no Ruth’s Cris but no Waffle House either) we are required to clear empty plates as soon as possible. It saves time later, less work for the busser, leaves more table space for customers to enjoy, and for every table that complains about us taking away plates too soon, there will be tables that complain that we left dirty plates in front of them for too long if we don’t do it. I don’t entirely disagree with you that it’s better to leave them all whenever possible, but in non-fine dining we are not given the same resources (such as front and back servers, server assistants, or the luxury of a 2 or 3 table section) so we work with what we can. Also, when being given a cash payment, I ask if you would like change primarily because all our change comes from the bar. If I don’t have what I need to break your bill in my own pocket I have to wait until the bartenders have time to make change for me, put it together, and bring it back, which often takes time that, when unnecessary, is better spent doing other things for your table or others. Also, it’s very frustrating to spend several minutes waiting for the bar and putting it together, only to walk back and find that the customer has left the table already because he/she wasn’t expecting change. It’s a waste of time that I very often don’t have to waste. However, I agree that a server should never assume that the change is theirs. When in doubt, give change.
I understand your points, and hope I could offer some insight/understanding on the points where our opinions differ. I think what it comes down to is your environment. In fine dining, you can expect certain things you wouldn’t expect at other restaurants. Know where you are and pick your battles, and understand it’s usually the managers making us do things like clearing plates early or flipping tables to accommodate a wait list. We’re mostly all just trying to get by and pay tuition/bills so we wont have to spend our whole lives doing this job.
Thank you for your kindness in responding to my grievances. You, unlike other servers, have refrained from denigrating name calling such as “arrogant.”
I agree with you that every table is different and every person within the same party is different and it is difficult to gauge what bothers each table/person. If we are finished eating, it is usually very easy for someone to detect-I usually place a napkin either on the plate in the bowl. So if the server wants to clear away the plates/dishes at that point, I don’t have a problem with it. It is when we are in the middle of a conversation and the servers interrupt to ask us about clearing the dishes. We have to stop our conversation, hand the plates/bowls to the servers, and then try to remember where we were in our conversation.
I am the type of person who does not eat all of one thing before moving on to the next thing. Therefore, I may eat a little of my salad, move to my entree, eat a few bites of that, then eat a few bites of the sides. Then I repeat the cycle. The server may think that I am finished and take away the plate when I am not finished. Sometimes my mouth is full and I cannot tell him/her that I am still eating from that plate. With a buffet, this would not pose a problem. I could go back and get some more. With a sit-down restaurant, you can not go back and get some more. If the server does this, their tip will not be as much as it would if they had left the plates/bowls on the table. So by trying to clear away the table so it can be turned over more efficiently and expeditiously, they may shoot themselves in the foot by doing that. Obviously no one wants dishes up to their eyeballs. However, with myself and my mother at a big booth, that rarely happens.
With regards to the change, if the customer leaves before the change is brought back, then the fault lies with the customer. On the other hand, if the server just does not want to wait for change from the bar staff then the fault lies with the server. The thing that you stated that really got my goat was- that waiting for the bar staff to get the change together was “a waste of time and you don’t have the time to waste.” Those are not my words, but yours. My respect for you went way down with those words. Perhaps it is a waste of my money to tip someone who has that mindset. My suggestion is to take the time to get some change before your shift so that you don’t have to wait for bar staff, take the time to wait for the change from the bar staff, and simply tell the customer that you are waiting for the bar staff to get the change together. It could possibly result in a larger tip from the customer. If the server did that, I would wait for it. If the change isn’t that much, I would just say, “keep it.” However, if no attempt was made to bring the change, a phone call would be made or I would speak to the manager. Also, an e-mail to the company would be sent. ALWAYS bring back the change EVEN if it is a penny. The customer is worth it. If you feel that taking care of the customer is a waste of time, then perhaps it is time for you to find employment elsewhere. Next time, if my money for a tip is too difficult to find or get together, I’ll just write a note saying, “Would have left a tip, but it took too long to find the money. It was a waste of time to look for it when I could be spending that time doing something else, sorry.”
I was not saying that getting change in general is a waste of time, but instead that getting change for someone who does not want it, but felt for whatever reason that they could not or would not communicate that to me, is a waste of time, and I won’t change my mind about that. Remember, my argument wasn’t about getting change at all, but about whether or not we should ask you if you would like change in the first place. Now, if they ask for change and it’s taking a while, I would definitely tell them what’s going on and that it is on the way. These are the reasons that I ask people if they would like change, because I would never just assume it is to be left as a tip for me, but I also don’t want to waste my time by getting change unnecessarily.
The main point is, despite some people’s apparent unwillingness to do so, the key to getting good service is communication, be it verbal or non-verbal. We know you came out to enjoy a meal with your friends, but if you want things done the way you want them done, you need to communicate a few basic things with us, and we’re going to ask you before we try to read your mind. We’re just trying to get our job done in a way that makes both the customer and our managers happy, and sometimes those are two contradictory ideas. If one can’t be bothered to answer a question or two (or even nod their head once or twice if their mouth is full) then maybe social settings aren’t ideal, and if “trying to remember where you were in your conversation” afterwards is such a huge issue then perhaps one has more pressing life issues than to complain about some of the petty things this article talks about.
Sarah, ALWAYS assume that the customer wants his/her change. When it is time to pay and the money is in the black leather money holder, if the server says, “I’ll be back with your change.” If I don’t want my change, I will tell the server that. If not, the server should not ask they should assume that you do.
It is never a waste of time to deal with a customer. That is basically what you are saying. You say, “I don’t want to waste my time getting change for a customer unnecessarily.” So, I suppose that you would not waste your time dealing with other things. Would you not get a refill for a customer if they did not request one? You may see their empty glass on the table. If I had to ask for a refill and the server has walked by multiple times with the empty glass in front of him/her, I would not tip. However, if the server “wasted his/her time” by taking the initiative to get a refill without being asked or told multiple times, especially if the glass was still half-full, their tip would be twice as much. If it is a waste of time for you to actually do your job (wait on the customer), then it is a waste of my time to look for your tip-which is not my job. It is merely thanking you for doing a good job. Tipping is not compensation for merely showing up for work.
About the conversation statement that you made. Do you like to be interrupted multiple times in the midst of a conversation? Probably not. Most people do not. We teach our children, at a young age, that it is rude. My point with interrupting in order to check how everything is or to clear away the dishes is that some servers are relentless in interrupting to check how the food is. Now I don’t mind the checking in the first time after the appetizers, meals, or desserts have arrived. I understand that you want to check back with the customer so you aren’t getting any complaints later. You also want to know if the steak is cooked to order or if there is anything that the customer needs. However, If you ask once how the food is and we say, “fine,” why keep interrupting us multiple times to ask the same question. While I have no problem remembering where I was in the conversation, my mother , who is elderly, does have trouble with that.
Wow, you took a lot of time to think of that list buddy. Chances are, you have such a bad experience because all the waiters in your area know your face and dread taking care of you. Remember, we have decent memories and we always remember an asshole. The joke is on you however because all of your complaints and gripes usually get laughed at by the entire staff, we all know your type and it’s usually typicall that we wonder how bad your life really is that you harrass college kids making 2.13 an hour. I bet you love taking dates out and treating the waiter like crap and wonder why you can’t get a second date? Here’s a hint, women like men who are confident and easygoing, not guys who treat strangers like dirt. Hope this advice helps.
I went into a small Boston restaurant years ago for the first time, saw a couple of staff people standing at the back near a counter, and went up to them to ask if I was supposed to place my order there. (I frequented another eatery where that was the case.) I didn’t realize that they were waiters. One of them actually yelled, “SIT DOWN!!!” Stunned, I did so. He glared at me as he took my order, slammed the plate down when he brought it, and made my dining “experience” horrible. For all I know, he could have spit on my food. To this day, I don’t know why I stayed, or why he treated me as he did. I didn’t tip him, and I never went back This was in the 80′s, and in case Mr. Jerk Waiter is reading this, the establishment was called “Ruby’s”. I don’t fault the restaurant of course, but this waiter was a total ass.
Wow Nick, it’s interesting to realize (or remember) how things were (and still are) in situations where people do not feel like they will get into any trouble because of their actions.
The new social media world is changing that, forcing more and more companies to tell their employees to basically take a chill pill, or suffer a bad public note for billions to see on social media sites and blogs.
Do you go to Ruby’s still?
Then they call us arrogant and rude. Did you get the server’s name and call the restaurant to report him/her? When I have a bad experience like that, I make it a point to remember the name of the server and to call the restaurant ASAP. If it recurs, than an e-mail to the company is sent. I have never encountered anything quite like you have described. Sorry that it happened to you.
I hate when waiters drop lemon in my water without asking me. Even if I wanted lemon (which I don’t), they tend to drop the slice into the water instead of putting it on the rim. For all of you who don’t know, lemons travel from other countries sometimes, through dirt, hands, planes, disease. It is up to the restaurant to wash them, and they don’t always get washed. It isn’t something that you want floating in your drinking water.
Eeeps – same thing here: when they bring water with lemon in it, it looks very nice. However, I wish they hadn’t done that later on usually.
HOWEVER: this is probably, and usually, the restaurant owner’s/manager’s decision as far as I can think, unless not the glasses with lemons are appearing randomly and not for everyone (unless, yet again, someone asks in advance to not put lemons in)
Regarding dirt, hands, planes, disease = YUCK! Didn’t think of the lemon peels. ><><><
Never thought about that!!!! Don’t know why. I always either have a Coke or a lemonade so that never happens. Sometimes I will order a bar drink (margarita).
The lemons are washed before they are put into your glass…also it is a health code violation in MANY areas to hang it on the side. We can lose our jobs doing that. If you want it on the side, just ask for it that way and I’m sure if you aren’t in a horrible establishment, your server won’t mind setting it in a bowl for you. Also, when the lemons are sliced up and stored, the rinds are touching the fruit for hours at a time…just saying
Wow, maybe it’s because I’ve waited tables, but your list is incredibly annoying to me. Have you ever waited tables? Been ran ragged and given great service to not be a left a tip at all? Especially when you have to pay 3% of your sales as “Tip Share” to the bus boys/hostesses so you’re basically PAYING your own money to wait on douche bags? Well if you haven’t, I’m gonna enlighten you a little bit…
1. You tilt the jug on the side to give more ice, if someones ice has melted it’s polite to give them more ice so that their beverage stays chilled. If you want hot watered tea, then by all means I’ll pour it out the spout which gives no ice. No ones trying to spill drink all over you.
2. It’s their job to collect payment for the food, so if a waiter/waitress promptly takes your payment, that’s a good thing. Now not helping with your food order, I don’t know about that, but I always try to answer food related questions as best I can. Stop looking into it so much.
3.Sorry that all servers aren’t mind readers? If they take away your plate it’s to be polite and clear the table so you aren’t talking over a stack of dirty dishes. Trust me, I would much rather just leave clutter all over your table. And if you’re not done eating just politely let them know you want your plate, what is so hard about that?
4. Bringing the check quickly is also a form of being polite, I’ve had people say in a rude tone “We want our bill!” I always drop off the check promptly and remind them that there is no rush. Why do you think all that they are thinking about is getting you out of their section? Seems kinda paranoid.
5. Ever thought maybe they just touched you because they’re friendly? Not trying to get more tips? Once again, you seem kinda paranoid here.
6. Do you expect servers to wear gloves all the time? There is nothing wrong with touching plates or glasses with bare hands as long as they don’t touch inside the glass or on top of the plate. This is not unsanitary.
7 & 10. You say in 7 not pay attention to you at all times, and you say in 10 not to hover? MAKE UP YOUR MIND.
8. I’ve never complained about a tip to a table, now to a coworker… maybe. Especially if the table received excellent service and didn’t tip at all.
9. How is it a tactic used by servers? Maybe they just didn’t see you take a big bite. You should try not eating so barbarically and maybe you wouldn’t have this problem?
10. See above.
Sorry if this came off harsh, but your list kinda struck a nerve with me. People never try to put themselves in other peoples shoes, waiting tables is a hard job, cut them some freaking slack. I’d like to see you do it.
100% AGREE!! I think someone needs to write a book on customer ediquette.
I would love to read that book!
Maybe I should write something like 10 Rude Things Customers Do To Waiters soon?
I 100% agree with you! The person that wrote this piece is the ass that sits in the section for hours and leaves 10% if that. If your in a nice restaurant, understand we are to make sure your glass is full, empty plates are taken and every moment your in the restaurant it’s 100% service. If you don’t want it, go to mcdonalds..
I 100% agree with you! The person that wrote this piece is the ass that sits in the section for hours and leaves 10% if that. If your in a nice restaurant, understand we are to make sure your glass is full, empty plates are taken and every moment your in the restaurant it’s 100% service. If you don’t want it, go to a fast food restaurant.
I 100% agree with you! The person that wrote this piece is the jerk that sits in the section for hours and leaves 10% if that. If your in a nice restaurant, understand we are to make sure your glass is full, empty plates are taken and every moment your in the restaurant it’s 100% service. If you don’t want it, go to a fast food restaurant.
a couple things you need to be aware of:
point #1:
if a waiter splashes water all over you, trust me, they are sorry, and probably more embarassed than you are. The water/tea jugs are tricky to master, as there are dents on both sides of the spout. therefore, the water has to be poured from the side, not the spout, in order to prevent water from spilling out. there’s a technique to it, and if this has happened to you they were probably a new waiter trying to get accustomed to the weird restaurant jugs a lot of places seem to have. rest assured, they didn’t do it on purpose
#3
this is called “prebussing”. most if not all restaurants have a “team-work” type policy and in this instance, they are helping out the bussers, as well as preparing the table for the next customers to reduce wait time. less wait time = happier customers. even if customers finish their plates at the same exact time, most restaurants want their waiters to help the bussers as best they can, bussers already bust their ass as it is. again, i assure you they are not trying to offend anybody.
#4 do at least try to understand, that waiters and waitresses make their money solely on tips. so, its really bad manners to sit for hours and hours after finishing your meal. i mainly say this because of point#8 in which you basically said, that you do not think you need to tip your waiter. with that being said, a lot of times, if it seems like your waiter has dropped your check “early”, me personally when i was waiting tables i did this so the customer had the choice of when he or she wanted to leave. a check on the table does not mean leave now, it simply means, you have the ability to leave whenever you want. much better than having to wait extended times for your check, especially if you have plans for after lunch/dinner.
#8 not tipping your waiter a reasonable amount, is just plain wrong. understand that waiters make money solely on tips. the 2.13 they make an hour? well, at the end of the night waiters put their tips into the computer, which is then taxed out of their paycheck. if a waiter DOES get ANYTHING on their paycheck, its the result of a terrible pay-period in regards to tips. if you can afford to eat out, you can afford to tip. if you dont think you need to tip, your reducing your waiter to slavery, and well, you quite frankly dont deserve good service. which is probably why you have this page full of complaints. i repeat.
IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO EAT OUT, YOU CAN AFFORD TO TIP.
#10 more than likely, your waiter is just trying to be a good waiter, and give you a good experience. if you’ve had waiters that can’t interpret your grouchy personality then, i’m sorry.
Hi Natalie,
Thanks for the reply. Relaaax, try not to get angry online.
Sure, you’ve good points too. However, look at it like this: everything you said is just a theory where you’re summing up all waiters as being the same “trust me, they are sorry, and probably more embarassed than you are.” I can understand you feeling that because you’re a waiter: however, I’m pointing out what happens and what I feel as a reaction, without considering at all whether or not anyone out there is a waiter. I have been a waiter too, and splashing water on people without caring, even if you do it to a family member, is rude and annoying.
Again, just because you’re a waiter doesn’t mean you have to get so angry and upset online. Relaaax, realize that there are people who will not always love waiters simply because you, Natalie, are a waiter too. I pointed out all the actual observations. You’re simply telling me that all the above things are justified.
This isn’t about “agree to disagree”; this is about me pointing out things that I think are 100% annoying and things that I think can be avoided. You as a waiter may actually feel differently about above things, but others (other customers an other waiters) don’t have to feel the exact same thing.
Relaaaaaaaax.
I think one of my main concerns is your comment about checking on a customer with a mouth full of food. Many restaurants (especially corporate) train their servers to check on a table withing 3 minutes of receiving their meals to ensure customer satisfaction. That being said, wouldn’t you rather a server check on you rather than wait until your finished to find out if you actually even liked your meal, or if you simply ate it because no one ever came by and you didn’t want to wait on a re-cook? Also, what is the alternative? Would you prefer your server “hover” over you while you finish chewing or stare at you uncomfortably from afar? As a server, I know if I happen to check on a table in the midst of eating, a simple “thumbs up” will suffice and I will leave. Just a tip for the future.
Two other little items
1. I hate it when you obviously need a refill but you still have a lot of food left to eat. They come by to see if you need a refill. Instead of just bringing you a new glass of water/tea/Coke, they take your glass, leave you with food in your mouth, and now have nothing to drink.
2. I hate it when they drop off your check and tell you to take your time. Two minutes later, they come by to pick up the money or credit card If you tell us to take our time and you are in no hurry, then why do they come back two minutes later. They seem kind of agitated that you have not hurried up to pay them. I’m still working on my food.
Great article, exactly what I needed.
Thanks Darcie!
What were you looking for exactly, though? (like things waiters do, how customers feel, etc?)
Wow. You are absolutely ridiculous. Customers need to learn ediquette. SORRY, but you are NOT better than us. Just because we serve you does not mean you have the right to treat us like dirt. Yeah, I do think people in the service industry need to treat you properly (even if you are being complete snobs), but that doesn’t give you a right to NOT treat us the same. I think that pretty understandable. Respect eachother. You did state some things servers should know and do on a regular basis. When we ask if you would like anything else, we mean it! Can we serve or provide you with anything else today? Would you rather us not when you do actually need or want anything else? We don’t purposely ask you how everything is mid bite. MOST times people are shoving their faces with food, chances are we don’t have a chance to ask you while no one is in the middle of a bite at your table. Don’t forget you are not the only table we are serving at the moment. Customers expect lighting quick service or like we can read their minds that they need something? Don’t just sit at your table if theres other customers waiting for a table, that’s just pure rude, bring your conversation elsewhere. It’s completely acceptable to ask us to get you something, but don’t make us run back to the kitchen 6 times. If you get good service TIP! Dont knitpick at the stupid little things that we accidentally messed up on. Put yourself in our shoes. Most servers are making there way to something bigger in life. I’m going to college, working at a restaurant and a coffee stand to make ends meet because my parents passed away. It’s not fun dealing with rude egotistical customers when all your giving them is great service and trying everything just to please them. So please give us the respect we deserve as well. I didn’t even finish with half the stuff we have to deal with with customers.
Sometimes it’s not that customers are just occupying space preventing you and the restaurant from making money it’s that we don’t always have an attentive server. Grant it, at these Mom and Pop restaurants during the mornings you will get these older customers who like to sit, talk about politics, and drink coffee. With us,we are simply waiting for the server to do his/her job. It appears that we are occupying space because we are sitting at the table without a menu, glasses/plates, and food. We are sitting at the table waiting for the server to come by to order food, receive our meals/beverages, drop off the check, and drop off the change if and when needed. Instead of getting mad about that, you should know the circumstances. I don’t like to visit at the restaurant. Maybe we will talk 10 minutes after we finish eating. Usually we visit while we wait for our check and change.
I’m sure that you are a great server and you have to deal with a lot i.e. low wages, low tips, and people who are rude. Sorry about that. I try not to do those things. Aren’t servers given minimum wage by their employer if their salary and tips combined do not equal out to minimum wage? While I cannot control your wages, I can control the amount that I leave as a tip and my behavior. I base my tip on one thing, the level of service that I receive. Now, I really don’t expect a lot (one refill of soda, my order to be correct, don’t bug us multiple times to clear away dishes, and check on us only once). If you do those things, you will receive at least a 15% tip. If I receive exceptional or poor service, I will adjust accordingly.
I agree with you that there is no way to possibly know when a customer will take a bite of food.
if it looks like they are chewing or have their mouth full, then that is an indication that they have food in their mouths. If you ask them a question while they are eating, in order to speak, your airway has to be open. Therefore, they could either choke or aspirate (food going into the lungs). In some cases, aspiration could lead to pneumonia. Simply wait a minute later or ask again on a second “sweep” of their area. If they are eating their food and do not look repulsed, the food is probably acceptable. When they have pushed away their plate with it being at least 3/4 full, you may want to inquire about their food. Otherwise, please leave the customer alone-especially if you have asked once and they are fine.
I understand your frustration when people are rude to you. It can upset you and make a good day, miserable. You may not feel well, but the manager insists on you coming in to work. Unfortunately, the customer cannot help what your manager or customers have asked of you or done to you. So please don’t take it out on us. We could have also had an equally terrible day. Please show some reciprocity. If the customer is nice, keep your attitude in check and be as nice as the customer is. I can’t control your behavior or the behaviors of others but I can control mine. If you let external factors get to you and dictate your behavior and attitude, it will cause one thing-low tips.
You don’t need a waiter, you need a psychologist. Don’t bug me but but make sure you catch every subtle nuisance of my obvious bi polar personality while iam in your establishment.
Hate it when they assume that the change is their tip-they leave you waiting for 15 minutes for your change. When they return, they say, “I assumed this was my tip.” Another pet peeve is for them to bring back the currency but not the change. The amount of the change is not the issue, it is that they have kept money that does not belong to them-theft. Don’t care if it is a penny or 80 cents, it is the principle.
Kay, thanks for sharing too!
I’ve had this happen also: I’m not given back the change sometimes, and have to ask for it.
For me, it’s not even the principle: it’s my money. If I want to tip, I will voluntarily.
As a server, I hate when other servers don’t give back (jingle) change. If it’s a penny or two (say, 37 cents) I might just round to 35 (and cringe every time) but if coins are hard to come by, I’ll round up to the next dollar before rounding down and give the customer too much. In defense of this, though, many customers hate getting a book full of change back, and usually just leave it as part of the tip anyway, making the time of breaking your bills with the bar a waste of time for the customer, the server, and the bartender who also has his/her own customers. I understand disliking the practice, but I can also understand why it’s done.
have you ever served yourself your own meal? or some one like you. have you ever worked in the service industry? or anything like it?
Yes, when I cook at home.
I have worked in the service industry for several years.
really would like to hear back, im confused as to whom you think you are, im not even a waitperson anymore, but you are so obnoxious, and i would like to hear you say otherwise. with the same esteem as you did in the above writing
I am assuming that you are talking to me. I am just an average American who does not expect a great deal from their server.
Your obnoxious statement is a bit “over the top” since you don’t even know me. If you knew me, you would think otherwise. I have had servers who will tell us that our table is a joy to have or was the best table of the day. They will mention that any time we are in, to request them. So, we must have our good points. Otherwise, they would “head for the hills” or give us to another server. We don’t ask for extra condiments once our food is on the table-we will mention any condiments needed when we place our order. We don’t send anything back-if it’s cool, we try to eat it anyway. If it is the wrong entree, we will try to eat it (if there is no price differential, it is something that we would have ordered anyway, or there is no food allergy). We usually don’t order appetizers or refills, so they aren’t having to come by our table an excessive number of times. We usually tell them if we want dessert prior to them leaving our check so they don’t have to make an extra trip or make out another receipt. We will also tell them how our checks are to be rung up so they don’t have to make out another receipt. We compliment them and tell them please/thank you multiple times. And when service is exemplary, we will ask to speak with the manager and e-mail the company. So, the obnoxious statement is both unwarranted and prejudicial.
Any posts that were written, have been basically about things that get under my skin. Just like when you or I drive, we all have our pet peeves about other drivers. That does not mean that we are either obnoxious or arrogant. We are just pointing out little minor things that get on our nerves. Same thing applies here. I am just mentioning little minor things that get on my nerves. I don’t expect the server to comply with every little rule that was listed. If they don’t, they are still compensated with a tip. I will tip 15-25% unless the service is terrible-not checking on us period, going without any mention of a refill (when all that is left is ice), and exhibiting a poor attitude.
you are obnoxious. and i would hate to have to serve you in my section. servers are not “servants”. oh yeah, try not eating at ihop and see what kind of service you get.
If I didn’t eat at IHOP, I would not know what level of service I would receive. Hate to correct you, but didn’t you mean try not tipping at IHOP and see what kind of service I would receive?
Tonight, i had dinner with my mother in law.. and the food and service were great, until the server took away our salad bowl.. and then our plates while they were still half full.. and then left the check and came back a minute later before we had even filled it out. The guy was nice, but it would have been nice to finish my food
That has happened to me and it always irks me. I wish they would wait until we either request our dishes to be cleared away or as we are preparing to pay. Since they have to clean off the table with a wet cloth anyway, why not wait to clear away the dishes then? Since they would not be able to wipe off the table and seats until the customers leave, just leave the dishes on the table until then. There are only two in my family so space is not usually an issue.
With regard to the check, I bet the server told you to “take your time.” They always say, “Take your time, I’m in no rush” and then they come back in two minutes to take your money. Sometimes it seems like it makes them mad when you tell them you haven’t had the time to get your money out for them to take.
A server should always ask before removing plates with food on them. As for waiting to clear dishes until the customers have left, managers often encourage “pre-bussing” to keep the table neat and tidy. It’s one of those things, similar to “never bring the check until it’s been specifically requested,” that has 2 trains of opposing thought in the restaurant industry: some think it’s rude to clear any dishes before everyone’s finished (most common in fine dining/upscale restaurants) while others think it’s rude to leave dirty dishes in front of someone for extended periods of time after they’ve finished eating. Your server may not be trying to rush you, rather may be trying to make the experience more pleasant for those who have finished. Also, especially towards the end of the night, your server may need to print reports and turn in receipts to their managers, who want to get started on bookkeeping so they can leave at a decent hour. It’s usually ok to sit for a while, but that receipt may be needed to close the check and get final reports to management.
Your server should have asked to take your plate. However, they’re required by clear all dishes before you leave. It’s called pre-busing. It’s standard in any reputable restaurant to have a clean table (except for glassware, coffee cups, and a spoon).
Regarding your check, we’re trained to check back in two minutes, as some guests are in a hurry to leave for their next appointment. It’s a courtesy.
Nice response in return of this query with real arguments and describing the whole thing regarding that.
1: How does one pour water without tilting the jug? Ladle it into the glass perhaps?
3: Many people do not like sitting for ten minutes with the remains of a duck confit festering in front of them.
5: You want to sit and talk? I hear a house is good for that. A restaurant is for eating, not public speaking.
6: I don’t know where to start with this. If you can find a waiter who is able deliver a plate to you using psycho-kinetic powers, more power to you. Until then, I’m afraid we have to use our hands.
7: Because, of course, you are the only customer I have.How dare I neglect you for even a second?
9: Again, of course I have time to identify when your mouth is empty. Would you like me to count the number of bites you’ve taken before approaching as well? As for being able to “see that your mouth is burning..,” unless you have flames dancing around your lips, I’m at a loss.
10: And now you’re whining about over-attentive waiters? Give me strength.
ANNOYING THINGS A CUSTOMER DOES: Writes inane, spoilt, whining nonsense like your article.
YES!!!
AMEN
I have waited tables since i was 16, I am currently 28. Many restaurants I have worked in have very specific time standards set for each service step. If you feel I am rushing you, that is not my intent. I simply do not want to give my bosses reason to yell at me. If you have finished your meal, and are just sitting and chatting you are hurting my income. I have four tables in my section, the 20% that would have been a nice tip had you left the table in a timely matter is no longer a good tip. Coffee houses are made for chatting. As for compliments,if they are not accompanied with a good tip, they hold no merit. I can’t deposit a compliment in my checking account and pay my bills with it.
Ok, I am a waiter. Obviously you haven’t had great experiences going out, and if you don’t like servers THIS much then don’t go out. Here’s rebuttals for ALL of your points:
1. By tilting the pitcher on its side you actually will spill water LESS than if you pour it out the front. Ice usually blocks the front, resulting in water going around it and nowhere in the glass. If your server pours water in your glass over your table, he’s not doing his job right.
2. Other servers help you out at your table if your server is busy to accommodate YOU! If I stop by a table because another server tells me to do so, I’m going to do it. Drop off your check, run your card, get your drinks for you, etc. If you don’t appreciate helpful and quick service then I don’t know what to tell you.
3. At many restaurants servers are told to grab plates out of the way once they are finished. If you’re finished first and your friends/family are only halfway through their food do you honestly want to just stare at an empty plate? Get real
4. As above, we are told to do things quick. At the particular restaurant that I work at we’re supposed to try to drop off the check before the first person finishes the last bite. Now, I don’t always do that as some people are fast eaters, but a lot of servers go by the book. If we bring you your check quick it’s because we’re told to. Most likely managers will tell us to anyways if we haven’t. Not your server’s fault for trying to give you quick service. If you plan on just sitting there and talking, let your server know. We’ll leave you alone until you give us your payment.
5. Not that I do this but that’s just how some people are. I know plenty of servers that will sit down at the table with you, if there’s room, to give you a more friendly feel. Sorry for servers trying to make you feel welcome and more than just a guest.
6. You’ve actually seen servers with their hands ALL OVER your plates and silverware? Also, ask anyone about the amount of times we need to wash our hands while working our shift. Your silverware is clean, and if it isn’t it’s not because of our hands being all over it.
7. If your server doesn’t notice you looking around, and other servers don’t help you either, you’re not doing very much to warrant attention if you really need it. Once you have your food is when we start to lay off more so you can enjoy your meal. Raise your hand when one of us walks by if you really need something that badly.
8. I agree that a server should never complain about the tip you give them directly to you. As a server I try not to look at the tip until the table leaves so my service to them is still the same. But remember, a shitty tip means we’ll stop caring about you. 20% is the standard. We’re usually ok with 15%. 10% or below and good luck getting us to honestly want to give you good service, especially if we did give you good service. The more you make us do the more you should tip us (if it’s things you send us for, like condiments you didn’t specify at the original order. If it’s something we forgot then don’t worry about it). But do know that we remember tables that give us horrible tips. If you tip 10% on average and go to the same place every time we won’t be very inclined to give you great service. Why work hard for someone who’s not going to pay you a proper amount anyways? We rarely get a paycheck (thanks to taxes on claimed tips) so your money is basically all we make. Don’t believe me? I’d be more than happy to show you all the paychecks I’ve had that read “Void”, or even the one I got that had $0.02 on it.
Sometimes we make bank and sometimes we make less than $10 an hour…it all depends on how you tip us. Tip us well and you’ll always get great service (plenty of servers always tell me things like, “Oh, you just got the luckiest couple. They’re so nice and they tip great.” Plenty of servers also say things like, “Good luck with them. I got $3 on $45 last time they were in.”) Just know we remember you one way or another.
9. Oh yes, I must definitely say that we plan on asking you short questions while you have food in your mouth so we don’t have to grab anything more for you. YOU NAILED IT!!!
Honestly though, we ask short questions like that once you have your food. We’re supposed to check back quickly after you got your food to make sure it’s ok. For instance, maybe you didn’t order ranch with your fries. You’ll notice that within a minute or so, which is when we’re supposed to go back and check on you. Once again, sorry for doing our job like we’re supposed to. Next time we won’t accommodate you as well and wait until you aren’t taking a bite of anything to come by.
10. People are needy. That’s why we give you a lot of attention; to make sure everything is to your standards. We can read people too, and usually when it’s obvious someone doesn’t want to be bothered much we’ll stay away. Otherwise the one table we give less attention to will complain. Sorry some of your brethren are picky bastards.
I think everyone should know what it’s like to serve tables before they actually go out of their way to complain like they’re the know-all of the restaurant business. I have been a server for around six years now and I can honestly say there’s not too many people that get under my skin, but the ones that do have no idea what they’re talking about. Every now and then we’ll have people from other professions follow us and help us out and they’re constantly saying things like, “I could never do this. How the hell are you able to keep up with it all?”
Think about how tough you think your job is. The nuisances of it all. Don’t go around making dumbass columns like this if you don’t know what the hell it’s like on the other side.
kevin-
i couldn’t agree anymore!!! you put it better then i could have.
AMEN!!! I completely agree with ALL of this as a server, myself! You answered these all perfectly.
I think I am going to copy and print this so I can give it to every guest that walks into my or any restaurant in the Dallas area!!!
Dine in better restaurants and you won’t have these problems…and if you think we are going to put gloves on while handling everything that comes to your table, think again. The majority of us DO wash our multiple times (like every five minutes). Do you think we want you filth on our hands from touching all those customer’s plates, silverware and glasses? ICK!
P.S. Have you ever gone to your place of employment and not finished all the work that you had intended to do or did your boss tell you that your performance was not it’s best one day? Well, do you think it would be ok for he/she (your boss) not to pay you for the day? Just a thought.
i’m a server and while most of the points you made are true, i find that each table of guests require different treatment. When training most servers are given a few golden rules but not every server will be equipt with the common sense to feel out what a table needs from you. I have table that are chatty and want me to stand there and gab while other tables just want tobe left alone. Removing plates is supossed to be a way of keeping your area tidy but most servers will ask if it is ok to remove the plate. I find that in this line of work you are expected to be a mind reader sometimes and it can be difficult. Its a seemingly simple task that is made difficult by the many personalities you come in contact with. As far as tips are concerned most people do not tip graciously but you just take the good with the bad and never tell a guest they did not leave you a good tip or enough of a tip. I can appreciate your standpoint as a guest but trust the other end has a laundry list of complaints as well. People make many assumptions about servers, A guest told a friend of mine that she shouldnt have to pay her salary, and that we should be paid hourly. If you want good service be a gracious guest. I could go on and on about this but you get the idea. As a server I always appreciate a compliment but we all know compliments dont pay bills. If you have an issue make your server aware and if its not corrected dont give up on the establishment just try a different server next time. I dont think your obnoxious by the way.
Where do you go to eat. You seem like an uneducated cheap patron who always tries to act like you know more than what you really do. Where do you eat? probaby at places where entrees are under $15. If you dont want to pay for service then cook your own food. Oh, wait, you probably can’t.
Waiting on you must be similar to a double-edged sword. You complain if the waiter isn’t attentive enough and complain if they are too attentive. I personally do not mind an attentive waiter. Then, if I need something, I c;an be sure my waiter will return. And if the waiter never asked you anything while one of you were chewing, then the waiter would never get a chance to check on you. How hard is it to swallow, then tell him how the food is?
And I think it is very inconsiderate to keep sitting there after you ate and drank. Did it ever occur to you that the restaurant might be closing and everyone is waiting for you to go home so they can end their 8 hour shift and go home too? Go to a bar or a lounge if you want to sit around and talk. And why can’t you pay right away? How inconvenient is it for you? Maybe if you paid right away, then the server won’t have to have to keep on checking to see if you paid. And besides, some people WANT to get out the restaurant as soon as they can. That’s why it’s important for the server to keep checking on the bill, to make sure that you aren’t waiting on them to charge your credit card or bring you change.
You must be a very cynical person, because most of the servers I know are genuinely good, kind-hearted people, who touch people, in and outside of work, because they are warm people. They are not the conniving tactical “perverts” like you make them out to be. They aren’t only being nice to you for tips. They are nice to everyone outside of work too. I used to be a waitress. I would know.
Are you serious?!?! I am a server. I can answer each of these questions for your ten rude tips. For #1. Have you ever been a server. By research it is one of the most stressful jobs in the world. I am held up to your perfect expectations every time you come in the restaurant. Maybe i am busy. I have more tables than just you and your friends. I get busy my bad. I didn’t realize you never get busy. #2 We are required by management to pick up any checks we see on any tables. We have a lot of people to feed and getting you in and out is our main job. #3 Taking away your plate is our hint that you need to hurry up. Most bad service comes from customers doing what they want and not following the servers pace. We don’t mean to be rude, but when you screw up our pace, you screw up your experience. #4 My pet peeve, we bring you the check so you can leave. You want to sit and talk, go to your house. I know i make 2.13 and hour. If you sit there for two hours your $4 tip doesn’t even help me make minimum wage. Not to mention those that come in right before we close and stay way late. Staying late in a restaurant is super rude and inconsiderate. It says that i don’t care what you have to do, my 10% tip is important. I can tell you from experience, i hate people like you. I don’t come to your place of business and keep you there an hour after you close and give you $5. #5 Pervert, really, we have resulted to name calling. Well i can tell you, there are a lot of names servers give crappy customers. We make our money off of you, sorry if we’re not perfect, your not perfect either. If you give your server a better tip, instead of being a stiff a$$, you won’t have this problem. #6 How else are we supposed to get your things to the table? If you don’t like it, stay home. #7 As I stated above. I get really, really busy. Sometimes I am running my butt off just trying to get things done. If you find your drink running dry to much, try not drinking so much. If you drink a lot, let your server know way in advance. If a person lets me know they drink a lot, i will bring them two drinks. Main point, don’t be and ass, you don’t do your job perfect, neither do we. We are waiting on a bunch of people. #8. Why wouldn’t you tip. I personally believe it should be law to tip. Why should i pay you, for say a bag of potato chips, when all you did was swipe the bag and tell me the total, but i still have to pay you. Then you don’t want to tip me what i deserve when i work super hard just to make sure everything is as close to perfect for you. Doesn’t make much sense does it. You don’t want to tip huh? Then why should i pay for your services either? Only the worst people don’t tip. #9 For real, maybe i am super busy and just swinging by your table. Again, your not the only table I have. And if you have a problem with this comment, you should try waiting tables for a day, it is a lot harder than it looks. #10. Are you for real, you have to concentrate that hard to eat, that you can’t be cordial to your server. That’s pretty bad. Bottom line, you want to have incredible service. Go to a restaurant you habitually visit. Instead of leaving a low dollar tip, leave a high dollar tip. Ask for the same server when you go back. After two times your name will get out. Trust me, if you leave good tips, you will get better service. I know at the restaurant i work at, if you are a great tipper, the manager will discount your check because you take care of the servers.
What an annoying server!!!! If you feel this way, please do us all a favor and find another job!!! I am sure it is a tiring job, but one of the most stressful-give me a break!!! Try being in the medical profession (surgeon) or being an air traffic controller. Perhaps the president has a more stressful job than you. No, I have never been a server.
Regarding your statement about getting you in and out. It really isn’t so much about making our night great, it is about giving you the opportunity to make more in tips. You really don’t care about making our dining experience wonderful. It is making your wallet a bit thicker.
When you say, “taking away our plate is a hint for us to hurry up.” What a terrible thing to say!!!! With your attitude, I am sure the customer is as excited to hurry up and leave you as you are for them to hurry up and leave.
The customer is paying heavily for a good time. It is up to the server, not the customer to ensure that a good time is had by all. Bad service is not due to us not keeping pace with you, it is because of inattentive servers and servers with bad attitudes like yours that gives us a bad experience. I did not realize that eating out was compared to a sporting event where we had races and if we didn’t keep up with YOUR pace, than it is our fault. What about if you aren’t keeping up with OUR pace?!!! What a jerk!!!!
You bring the check so we can pay the bill. If we are ready to leave we will. If we want to visit, we will visit-free country. No, if I want to stay and converse at the restaurant I will. I don’t have a house, but an apartment. Limited parking so I will stay and visit at the restaurant for as long as I want. If you had that attitude, you would get stiffed. Regardless of whether I visited longer than you wanted.
I would never come in as the restaurant was closing. I will have to agree with you that it is rude to do that.
To tell us that if we are running dry, then don’t drink as much. Are you serious?!! I am paying dearly for my eight ounces of Coke. I will drink as much as I want. What are you, the Coke Nazi?
I tip well, but also use common sense with regard to tipping. I don’t think a server should expect a tip by virtue of showing up for work and having people sitting at tables in their section. You have to work your butt off to receive it. I know I don’t do a perfect job where I work. However, I don’t expect a tip or raise every time I go into work. I do not believe there should be a law mandating that we tip. I can just see how the service would suffer. You know that you would be tipped anyway and your service would reflect that. When you go to Wal-Mart and have the cashier check you out, you are not tipping the cashier. Wal-Mart pays their employees. When a person tips you at a restaurant, it is for going above and beyond the call of duty. What do you not understand about that?!!!! I am not tipping you for showing up for work and taking my order That is your job!!!! I am tipping you for brining it to me, ensuring that we don’t run out of soda, bringing us condiments, etc. If you do those things, you can expect a $3-$6 tip on a $30.00 bill depending on their attitude, how many times they interrupted us, if they gave us a Coke to go, if they refilled our drinks without us asking while our glasses were half-full, and other things. We ate out tonight. Bill came to $23.00. We had exemplary service and tip was $6.00 plus change. Not bad!!!! So I am far from cheap you jerk.
Regarding your comment about having to concentrate while eating. My comment was mainly about relentless interrupting to ask the same question. When the meal was dropped off, I can understand checking with us within three minutes. Now if we told you we don’t need everything, food is great and cooked properly, everything is what we ordered, and we don’t need anything else, why keep interrupting us every five minutes? The server should look for red flags like empty glasses and full plates. Perhaps that is indicative of needing refills and food being subpar. That is the point that you should intervene (bring a new glass of soda and check about how the food is). Now you mention that you want us in and out after we pay the bill. Now if we are constantly interrupted, we will choose to converse after eating so we can visit without being interrupted relentlessly to answer the same questions.
I won’t comment on everything, but there are a few things I’d like to say. I’ve been a server for many, I work for a large chain restaurant. A lot of the things you’ve mentioned that annoy you, are POLICY. Things we are told we HAVE to do. For 1, we have a 2 bite 2 minute rule. After we bring your entrees, we have to come ask you about your food. We are also told to check on you more then once. Our manager also has to come to every table as well. The second thing, prebussing, is required. We as servers once again HAVE to do this. Don’t get me wrong, your plate should never be taken before you’re done. But it is required to be taken when it’s empty. We were also told to take empty plates from other tables that aren’t yours if you are walking by.
I’m not saying that everything you said it’s wrong, but you have to remember that even though we might not want to do a lot things we do, we have to. And if we don’t do our job the way they want us too…we could get fired.
Lisa, I think we work in the same chain. Two min two bite is our standard. VI??
You are an absolute waste of space.
What a stupid and ridiculous thing to publish!
I think your an asshole and think way too much into our jobs, your why single mothers bust their ass only to not be able to feed their families. you sicken me and I hope a waiter throws soup in your arrogant face.
With havin so much written content do you ever run into any issues of plagorism or copyright infringement? My site has a lot of completely unique content I’ve either written myself or outsourced but it appears a lot of it is popping it up all over the internet without my authorization. Do you know any methods to help prevent content from being stolen? I’d genuinely appreciate it.
I’m sure all of us servers could write a column titled “10 Things Ignorant Guests Do To Servers” and writing columns about how “rude” we are in the things we’re expected to do would be on that list. Do us all a favor and never go to a restaurant with a serve staff; just stick to the drive-thru at McDonald’s.
Okay. I will break this down (I am a so called evil waitress)
1. waitresses and waiters tip the jug to the side, because the ice will clog the tip of the water jug, causing the water to spill all over the table.
2. If there is a different waiter or waitress taking your payment, it’s usually because your regular waiter/waitress is busy with something else, they have their own tables, if you must, ask them for water, they can’t read your mind.
3. There are a limited number of plates in most establishments. (They don’t magically appear on the shelves) in some cases the waitress has to do the dishes. If you are not finished, simply say “Oh, sorry i’m not quite done.”
4. Common courtesy, some customers decide to sit at the table after their meal, and chat with friends. This is okay of course, but after about 30 minutes, it get’s quite annoying. The dining room isn’t your hang out space, other people are usually waiting to sit down.
5. I don’t do this. If you are grossed out by being touched, tell them that. Guaranteed it will piss them off, but it will make you feel better.
6. Who do you think washes your dishes? In some cases it’s the waitress, they’ve probably touched the cuttlery (wrapping it, washing it) about 20 times that day.Waitresses wash their hands, it’s not like they’re going to pass on the flesh eating virus.
7. The waitress/waiter can only take care of a customer as best as they can. Forgive us if we miss your empty glass of water once in a while, we have about 10-15 other people who are ordering. If there is a waiter/waitress walking by, simply say “Excuse me, can you please fill my glass?” They can’t read minds.
8. Most waitresses only recieve tips as wages. I agree that it’s rude to ask for tips, but have common sense. If you order 200 dollars in food, and leave 2 dollars, you’re paying someone 2 dollars for the half an hour or so you were treating them like your personal slave.
9. it’s the waitresses/waiters job to make sure you are taken care of. Seriously, you people complain if we don’t ask you if you want more water, and you complain when we do.
10. They are tending to your needs. In most places, it’s considered good service.
Spot on!
lol my favorite, #10: “asking you about the food or service or your needs…while you try to focus on eating.” Sorry we want to make sure the food we plop in front of you (with our dirty server hands allllllll over it) is ok and if you need anything else. God knows if we don’t check up on you you’re going to find something you want or need or don’t like and you’ll start waving at us frantically and complaining that we weren’t there to get you what you want, when you want it. Chances are, unless you’re the last table in the restaurant and we’re trying to get you out, we will ask you how everything is ONE time, within 2 or 3 minutes of dropping off your food. If you can’t handle muttering a one-word answer or even giving a nod one single time during your meal, don’t go out to eat. Trust me, we don’t want to talk to you either.
Wow…Really? Not tipping is such a dick move. Do you know how hard it is being a server? Obviously none of you have worked in such an environment. I have broken dates with people becuase they were rude to our server; I am very passionate about treating everyone fairly and to basically say all of this and just be rude is wrong. You are all bastards.
It seems to me that you are not, and possibly have never been, a waiter. Otherwise you might know that depending on the restaurant you are in there are different standards when it comes to simple things such as clearing plates and even when and how you drop the check. As you said you are just an “average American who does not expect a great deal from their server”, though obviously after reading your article you expect a lot more than you care to admit. Basically what you expect is for your server to read your mind and give everything you want at the exact moment you want it, whether its to leave you alone or be there putting water into your overly spiced mouth. What I have learned from working in every FOH position in restaurant over the past 10 years is that the “average American” knows absolutely nothing about eating out in restaurants. First off most the things you complained about have little or nothing to do with the servers and more with the business behind them pushing to turn tables, which by the way is important for the restaurant to make money so you better believe the management is pushing it. Second, I cannot even begin to touch you number 6 unless the server brought the plates and licked them before giving them to you. I am kinda tired so I might have to cut this short, but believe me there is so much more to say on this topic, but if a server told you that you were a delight to serve; 75 % of the time they were blowing smoke up an orifice I must decline to mention. If it makes you feel better feel free to believe you are in the 25% other than that I will say, if you took the time to write this ridicules article you are not the restaurant savvy person you think you are.
You are correct, I have never been a server. Have worked in the fast food industry though. You may think that I am a snob for writing rants about things that servers do. However, these are merely pet peeves of mine. Unless the server totally ignores us, fails to give us the correct change, and does not refill our drinks after coming by multiple times seeing empty glasses on the edge of the table, I will still leave the customary tip. I will not take off his/her tip for incorrect orders, cold food, untasty food, or slow service. I will always say “please and thank you.” As for your comment about blowing smoke out my bodily cavities, when I have servers snagging us from the hostess’ stand, I can assume that they do enjoy waiting on us. We do not ask or expect a great deal nor do we put them through a Herculean task to get a tip.
All I want is for the server to give us our order and check on us (only once) a few minutes after eating to see if everything is okay. After that, they can simply leave us alone and wait on other tables. Having a Master’s degree I can figure out that if anything is wrong, I should either ask to speak to the manager or talk to the server. So the server does not have to interrupt our meal multiple times to see if everything is still okay since I know with whom I should speak. If we are eating our meal and we look like we are enjoying our meals, the server should assume that everything is okay. That is not the server having to read minds, it is about having common sense.
Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Good thing, I think, that I’m no longer on the front lines. It’s less pay with slightly less stress, but it’s worth it since I don’t have to deal with random people that are as unpredictable as the weather.
I’ll take a flat paycheck (cooking the food) over people arguing about my tip any.day.of.the.week.
Dear Kay,
I came upon this article, while looking up the legality of carrying a waiter’s friend on my person while traveling to and from my job.
I can understand how this attention can be annoying and if it were up to us we would just drop your food off and forget about you, that is until you complain to our supervisor that we are not giving you enough attention. I have worked in some of the most VIP areas London has to offer and I must admit the social interaction with snooty people who have standards that seem to be all over the place is the WORST part of the job. Before you say ” well obviously you should have done better in high school, or get a new job” I will inform you that I am in college and this job I have take,n is to pay off those loans till I graduate with my bachelors, in journalism no less.
As a waitress I am tired, I have been on my feet for several hours carrying plates hotter than hades, so I probably wont be out floating next to your table waiting for you to look at me like mute moron with bees in your mouth as I don’t know if you have noticed there are other people who need me to fill orders for them. So when I do manage to come back round to check on you, how about you tell me to bring you a pitcher of water for the table, rather than telling me ” No, everything is great.” with that strained gassy looking smile.
As for the tip issue, I have the feeling your a 5%-er, one of those “they get a steady check, they don’t need a tip” type of person, and well that may be but you’ll be getting crappy service forever, and I don’t feel sorry for you.
Waiting till you have food in your mouth is a tactic? A tactic for what? Seeing you chew? Maybe you just seem to always be chewing when we come round to check on you, or maybe because I don’t know, you came there to eat and being the waitress, I understand that its my job to bring you more food and drink had you needed more to fill your gullet with, so when is a better time to do my job? Would you like to ring a bell, a buzzer, give a holler? If we didn’t come around to make sure your content you’d be trying to flag down someone in charge demanding a more attentive service and we’d lose our jobs.
Just in case you wanted to know, it actually pains me to have to come over to talk to you, ask you how your doing, so watching you fumble around with a piece of deceased bovine swilling around in your mouth makes me feel as awkward as it make you feel.
You claim to be a dream customer, but then again you write this snarky article, so that makes me think your not such a great customer, your seem more like a customer that comes into a restaurant not to have a good time and enjoy a meal but judge the waiter or waitress.
That seems a bit weird.
How about writing an article that doesn’t make you look like such a jerk, perhaps something about cats?
Talk about snobby. I am not arrogant nor snobby. Your subjective opinion of me is completely untrue. These are merely pet peeves.
Good for you for going to college. I admire anyone who does that. It is not a difficult thing to do. So I hope that you finish soon.
Now, let me stop with the pleasantries and get to the “nitty gritty” of what you have rambled. If a refill is needed, I will say so. I won’t lie and tell you that I am fine, when refills are needed. Usually the glass is placed on the edge of the table so they will know. When they come by, I may mention it and say, “I know you are busy, just when you get the chance.” Oh, yes, sounds very snobby, high maintenance, and arrogant to me. Therefore, I have some knowledge that you have been on your feet and acknowledge that you could be tired. So I know that we are not the only ones at your section, you have been on your feet all day, and you could be tired. That’s why I say, “I know you are busy, just when you get the chance.”
As for the amount I tip, tipping is at the discretion of the customer. Since I rarely ask for refills, extra anything, no condiments, they don’t have to do a lot of “leg work.” So I tip according to level of service. If they have kept refills coming, don’t ask us every five minutes how our meal is, and don’t forget anything, their tip will be great. I will usually request condiments when we order so they don’t have to go back to the kitchen after our meal comes and they don’t have any extra leg work. If they forget the condiments, I will mention it. Now if they forget it and never bring it, their tip will reflect that. I will never not tip for slowness, food not cooked properly, or food not tasting good. So if their tip is 5% of the bill, it is because the server completely ignored us and forgot everything we asked even after requesting it multiple times.
If it looks like the customer is in the middle of a conversation or eating, let’s say we need a refill. Simply bring a full glass instead of interrupting. Also, if we look like we are having a good time and you have asked us once or twice if our food is good, and we have responded in the affirmative, why keep asking? If it pains you to deal with customers, than it pains me equally to have tip you. So why should I? I am not required to tip. However, like it or not, when you filled out the application, interviewed for the job, and accepted it knowing how some customers are and how they can tip, you do have to deal with us.
You probably do think that waiting on us is such a horrible thing. We get servers all the time who ask, “Are you all always this nice?” Even when we see them outside of their restaurant, they will ask, “Where have you all been? We have really missed you. When you all come back, ask for me.” They will say, “My feelings were hurt when you did not request me.” They will snag us at the door or give the host/hostess to switch us to their section.
In response to your comment regarding writing about cats. You would not want to read that either because I hate cats. I am a dog person. You also seem like a jerk.
Lacy, meant to say, “going back to college is a difficult thing to do.” I mispoke and said, “It is not a difficult thing to do.” Sorry about that. Do snobby people admit when they made a mistake and/or apologize? I don’t think they do.
Ay yi yi. 10 Rude Things Waiters Do To You http://t.co/SoQaOSFo via @besz
i disagree with #3.. i try to clear plates asap so people dont have to sit there with dirty dishes.. if others are still eating its ok, but i think it would be lazy for everybody to finish THEN CLEAR
Thanks Brittany! Check out my “10 rude customers” post too @brittmhoffman: Ay yi yi. 10 Rude Things Waiters Do To You http://t.co/fFyEJmdb
As a waiter I just want to give you the service I can but you need to know I am human too.
Well said.
1.) We tilt it on the side so you can have ice in your glass. Otherwise you’ll have an ice-less drink.
2.) Sometimes other people pick up your credit card because we help each other out when we’re busy or in the back doing something else.
3.) I agree, they should ask first.
4.) We hate it when you sit around and talk. It’s okay to have a good time, but if you notice you’re the only table left or they’re super busy, it’s courteous to move along. Also, we ask about payment because sometimes people split checks, some cash some credit and it takes a while and you’re not the only table we have to worry about.
5.) We don’t touch you on purpose, I’ve never touched anyone. Some people are just that way, I don’t think that goes for all waiters.
6.) We have to touch your plate to give it to you. I doubt anyone who’s ever waited on you has dropped by to randomly touch all your stuff.
7.) Yes we should. But we’re not perfect. Sometimes we can’t watch everyone.
8.) I agree, no waiter should EVER discuss their tip. However, tipping is not law, but it is extremely rude to not tip if your meal went well. We have to make a living too.
9.) We need to know how everything is. We can’t wait around all day until everyone in your party is done chewing. However, we don’t do it on purpose.
10.) It’s personality. Some people are overzealous and some don’t do enough. We still have personalities. Some people love chatting, others don’t.
People complain about waiters, but guests can be just as aggravating. Follow @MeanWaiter to see what I mean. And until you’ve worked in the restaurant business you have no room to bitch.
Clearly the writer of this article has never been a server, because sir, you have no idea what you’re talking about. Also, if I waited on you I could probably write a list of 10 things you did that annoyed the shit out of me.
love it!
I am a server, I have never been a waiter. Alot of things that your touching on are service steps that are requried, such as the check back with in a minute, the pre bussing of dirty dishes immediately and prompt payment to ensure guests are not waiting on you to make their payment. While you individually may not welcome the small talk or touch, other guests really appreciate that. Everyone has their own idea of “good service”, but come on how many times does the average person eat daily? Yet, it is still of such importance… geeze… I, along with many other servers really wish that everyone have a trial in the food industry. It is not a simple as many of you might think. But I am guessing that you are perfect and when it comes to your employent you never make mistakes, and everyone just thinks your the greatest thing since sliced bread! Everyone is a critic.
A server,
Are you referring to me? I understand that you do have rules that your company has made you all folllow. While the company may think this is how they will train their employees, not everyone likes these rules. For example, checking back with the customer after they get their meal. You want to follow up with the customer to see if the food is cooked properly, if it tastes great, or if there is anything that is needed. Now when the customer says, “Everything is great, the steak is cooked properly, we are fine, and nothing else is needed,” why keep asking every five minutes?
I understand why you prebus the tables. So that tables can be cleared quickly, the next customer can be seated more quickly, and more money can be made. Unfortunately, if you are having to constantly hand over your plates/bowls and your conversation is being frequently interrupted, people will stop talking while eating and converse after the meal is over. Now you want us in and out within an hour of sitting down and getting the menu. This is so you can make more in tips and the company can make more money. But if you keep interrupting our conversation to clear away the dishes, I will wait to talk when I have finished eating. Then you will get mad about that. Unless the plates/bowls are up to my eyeballs, leave us alone.
You mention the prompt payment. Usually the servers will say, “No rush.” Well if you did not mean it, why say it? If you say, “There is no rush,” then why get mad when we take our time?
Regarding talking and touching, I don’t mind that. But if you want to sit down and talk while we are trying to eat, then that is a problem. If we can’t talk amongst ourselves during the meal, we will just wait until the meal is over. You will get mad about that. You want us in and out.
I know the food industry is hard business. Trying to figure out what each person wants would be a difficult task. So why set aside a set of rules that your company has and apply it to everyone and every table.
I am not perfect nor am I the greatest thing since sliced bread. Everyone assumes that since you have a list of grievances (pet peeves) that somehow you must be a horrible person with which to serve. Just wanted to tell you that I am not. Do you not have a list of pet peeves with regard to driiving? You might say, “I hate the people who don’t drive the speed limit, don’t use their turn signals, drive in the wrong lane, drive too slowly, drive while talking on their cell phone, drive with their radio on too loudly, etc.” Does that make you snobby or horrible? No. You, just like everyone else, has things that bothers them.
And, just to let you know, I do make mistakes at work, at home, and at other places. I am only human.
Man this guy knows how to complaint.lol. I’m a server and from this reading I already know that’s he’s a cheap mofo! So dear servers please remember his face so when ever u serve him u can spit at his food and his drinks!! Cause I will!!! Definitely will!!!!
A lot of things are required by management at a restaurant. I do not take away plates before each person is done with their meal and I always ask but we cannot wait until every single person is done before we start taking dishes off of the table or we get chewed out by management for not pre-bussing. We are supposed to take each thing off of the table as soon as possible. I do not think it is rude. Why would you want to keep a dirty plate in front of you just because your friend is still eating? As goes with bringing the check “too soon”. At my job, we are required to bring it out with the main course and then exchange it for an updated check if they add a dessert or another alcoholic beverage. And as far as asking a question as soon as you take a bite, it is nearly impossible to stand there and wait for you to not be eating to ask you anything. You are there to eat and we can try to time it right but if there is a problem, I will gladly wait until you our done with that bite if you do something like hold of you finger when i ask or some signal that you need to tell me something as soon as your mouth isn’t full. And as for the tip, I would never say something to a guest about not tipping well directly. I have complained to other co-workers after the fact but you should always tip something when going out and yes it is not the law to tip but waitors only get paid about $2/hour so if everyone thinks they don’t have to tip then waitors will make no money and then who will do it? You will not have anyone to wait on your every need when you go out to dinner. So give some slack, everyone is not perfect and 20% is a decent tip if you waitor didn’t suck. I get that you think it’s rude to be rushed out but not all comments are meant to rush you out. I do make comments asking if someone needs a refill in their to go cup before they leave but it’s to be nice and make sure they have what they need before they leave. You make think all these behaviors are rude but have you ever stopped to think about how you treat your waitors? I try so hard to be nice to everyone but I do have some repeat customers that are really rude about everything which makes it hard to keep a smile on my face. Remember, treat others how you would like them to treat you! If I have happy guests that say please and thank you (that’s a big one for me, don’t forget the manners your mother taught you!) then I am way more happy as I wait on them. And like someone else said, if you sit there for 3 hours and only tip $3 of course I won’t be happy with that. Remember, we get paid about $2/hour and if you expect us to refill your drinks and still wait on you for an extended period of time then what you tipped has decreased our hourly pay. And especially when it is at shift change. I have had to transfer tables to night shift when people want to “camp out” because I do have children to pick up from daycare by a certain time and then I just lost out on anything I would have made from them. And I don’t want to be late getting my children or waiting around for one table to leave just to make a couple bucks from them. Think about how long you waitor is waiting on you and how much they are doing for you when tipping. If I never have to refill drinks because they just weren’t that thirsty and they were easy guests then I’m not so upset if they only tip 10% but when I have to bring 3 drink refills before they even get their appetizer and I have to bring then something every time I turn around then the tip should be more. Which brings me to another point. If you need more than one thing, try to ask for it all at the same time or you know you will need extra whatever with your meal, ask for it when you order. I hate to make 15 trips if I could have gotten everything in 1 or 2 trips had I known what my customers needed. It’s just sad to see a post that talks about servers being “rude” over stupid little things like this post. Get a life and some respect for your fellow man!
Whoever wrote this piece is a filthy cunt who I pray I never meet.