I work as a server and there are just some people who seem to not understand the proper way to behave when dining out in a restaurant. No worries, I'm here to help!
1. If you can't afford to leave a tip, you can't afford a sit down restaurant.
Seriously. Go get fast food if you can't afford a tip (looking at you, high school kids!). I make less than five dollars an hour. Unless you legitimately received bad service, you need to leave a good tip! I will remember you, if you ever come in again.
Seriously. Go get fast food if you can't afford a tip (looking at you, high school kids!). I make less than five dollars an hour. Unless you legitimately received bad service, you need to leave a good tip! I will remember you, if you ever come in again.
2. Don't blame the servers for things out of their control.
I can't control prices of items, how long your food takes to cook, or rules about substitutions. I don't make up rules just to be mean. If I tell you we can't do a substitution, please don't argue.
I can't control prices of items, how long your food takes to cook, or rules about substitutions. I don't make up rules just to be mean. If I tell you we can't do a substitution, please don't argue.
3. PLEASE treat your server with respect.
-I am not beneath you because I work in food service, nor am I your slave; please don't treat me as such.
-Please don't condescend to me. I know how to do my job. I don't need you to tell me how over medium eggs are cooked.
-It's extremely disrespectful to just completely ignore me by talking or being on your phone; I only need two minutes of your time to take your order. Please pay attention so you hear any information you need (what kind of soup we have, etc.) and answer any questions I ask you.
-Please don't shout at me from across the restaurant.
-Speak up! I can't hear you if you whisper and/or speak with your head down.
-I am not beneath you because I work in food service, nor am I your slave; please don't treat me as such.
-Please don't condescend to me. I know how to do my job. I don't need you to tell me how over medium eggs are cooked.
-It's extremely disrespectful to just completely ignore me by talking or being on your phone; I only need two minutes of your time to take your order. Please pay attention so you hear any information you need (what kind of soup we have, etc.) and answer any questions I ask you.
-Please don't shout at me from across the restaurant.
-Speak up! I can't hear you if you whisper and/or speak with your head down.
4. Tell me if there's a problem and allow me to fix it.
If something is wrong with your food, anything at all, please tell me right away and let me fix it. If you choose not to say anything, fine, but please don't complain to a manager after the fact when you didn't provide me the opportunity to fix it.
5. Pay attention.
When I bring your food and ask you "Is there anything else I can bring for you?" pause, look at your plate, and think about what you need. Please don't send me on seven trips for things that can be brought in one trip (i.e. ketchup, napkins, refills).
6. You are NOT my only customer (most likely).
-If you come into a restaurant and see it's completely full, have some patience (especially if you see I am the only server on!!). If there are people that were there before you, their orders are going to be taken first.
-Cut your server some slack. Sometimes we get all of our tables sat at once or have a table that sends us running eight times. I promise I'm doing my best!
7. Pay attention to the hours of operation.
I can't leave until you do, so please don't come in at five minutes to close. How would you like it if I came to your job right before closing and made you stay an extra hour?
-If you really can't go to a different restaurant that is open 24/7 (there are at least four in town), then at least get your food to go.
8. Keep your hands to yourself.
Unless you personally know your server, do not touch them. It makes me so uncomfortable when a customer grabs my arm or even my hand. It's inappropriate, no matter how innocent the intent. A pat on the shoulder, sure, but don't grab my arm.
9. Be courteous to other customers as well.
-If you send me running eight times for things that could have been brought in one trip, you're preventing me from tending to my other customers.
-Please don't interrupt me when I'm taking another table's order. It's rude to them and to me.
-Watch your volume and your language. Please don't be loud or swear, especially when there are children around.
10. If you're coming in to eat with a large party (more than 8), please call ahead.
-We can be better prepared if we know ahead of time.
-All rules stated above need to be followed double. You need to be patient, and you definitely need to be quiet. It's impossible to take an order of 20 with everyone talking and laughing very loudly.
If something is wrong with your food, anything at all, please tell me right away and let me fix it. If you choose not to say anything, fine, but please don't complain to a manager after the fact when you didn't provide me the opportunity to fix it.
5. Pay attention.
When I bring your food and ask you "Is there anything else I can bring for you?" pause, look at your plate, and think about what you need. Please don't send me on seven trips for things that can be brought in one trip (i.e. ketchup, napkins, refills).
6. You are NOT my only customer (most likely).
-If you come into a restaurant and see it's completely full, have some patience (especially if you see I am the only server on!!). If there are people that were there before you, their orders are going to be taken first.
-Cut your server some slack. Sometimes we get all of our tables sat at once or have a table that sends us running eight times. I promise I'm doing my best!
7. Pay attention to the hours of operation.
I can't leave until you do, so please don't come in at five minutes to close. How would you like it if I came to your job right before closing and made you stay an extra hour?
-If you really can't go to a different restaurant that is open 24/7 (there are at least four in town), then at least get your food to go.
8. Keep your hands to yourself.
Unless you personally know your server, do not touch them. It makes me so uncomfortable when a customer grabs my arm or even my hand. It's inappropriate, no matter how innocent the intent. A pat on the shoulder, sure, but don't grab my arm.
9. Be courteous to other customers as well.
-If you send me running eight times for things that could have been brought in one trip, you're preventing me from tending to my other customers.
-Please don't interrupt me when I'm taking another table's order. It's rude to them and to me.
-Watch your volume and your language. Please don't be loud or swear, especially when there are children around.
10. If you're coming in to eat with a large party (more than 8), please call ahead.
-We can be better prepared if we know ahead of time.
-All rules stated above need to be followed double. You need to be patient, and you definitely need to be quiet. It's impossible to take an order of 20 with everyone talking and laughing very loudly.
I also have a few tips for other servers, from a customer's perspective.
1. Don't treat me like I'm an inconvenience.
I pay your wages with your tip, angel face. You don't have to be Energizer-Bunny-on-crack friendly, but don't be rude to me. If you give me bad service, I will NOT leave you a tip.
2. Listen when I order.
I don't talk just to hear the sound of my own voice. If I ask for a lot of ice and get one cube, I'm not happy. I'll tell you everything I need right from the get go; extra napkins, ketchup, ranch, etc.
3. Check back on me.
Don't come back just to bring my check. I usually don't need much, but refills are big with me. Your tip will go up if you bring me more water without me having to ask. I understand if you're busy, but you can make at least one trip back to check on me.
4. Don't judge.
Don't treat me like I'm inferior because I'm in my twenties. I went out for Valentine's Day and there were three other couples (in their 30s or 40s) who also had reservations at 7pm. My boyfriend and I were there first but all of the other couples were sat before us; they were also sat at better tables. NOT COOL, rude hostess at Giuseppe's.
Obviously, these are just my opinions; you're entitled to disagree. I just think maybe some people just don't know the proper way to behave when out to eat (if you've never worked in food service, YOU DON'T KNOW THE HORRORS!), and I just wanted to give you some advice in a more friendly manner than my roommates suggest; their rule of thumb is for all aspects of life, which is simply "Don't be a dick." But that wouldn't make for much of a blog post, would it?
So if you feel you can abide by these guidelines, come visit me some time. You'll get the best service in town! :D
p.s. can you tell I had a great time at work this weekend?
1. Don't treat me like I'm an inconvenience.
I pay your wages with your tip, angel face. You don't have to be Energizer-Bunny-on-crack friendly, but don't be rude to me. If you give me bad service, I will NOT leave you a tip.
2. Listen when I order.
I don't talk just to hear the sound of my own voice. If I ask for a lot of ice and get one cube, I'm not happy. I'll tell you everything I need right from the get go; extra napkins, ketchup, ranch, etc.
3. Check back on me.
Don't come back just to bring my check. I usually don't need much, but refills are big with me. Your tip will go up if you bring me more water without me having to ask. I understand if you're busy, but you can make at least one trip back to check on me.
4. Don't judge.
Don't treat me like I'm inferior because I'm in my twenties. I went out for Valentine's Day and there were three other couples (in their 30s or 40s) who also had reservations at 7pm. My boyfriend and I were there first but all of the other couples were sat before us; they were also sat at better tables. NOT COOL, rude hostess at Giuseppe's.
Obviously, these are just my opinions; you're entitled to disagree. I just think maybe some people just don't know the proper way to behave when out to eat (if you've never worked in food service, YOU DON'T KNOW THE HORRORS!), and I just wanted to give you some advice in a more friendly manner than my roommates suggest; their rule of thumb is for all aspects of life, which is simply "Don't be a dick." But that wouldn't make for much of a blog post, would it?
So if you feel you can abide by these guidelines, come visit me some time. You'll get the best service in town! :D
p.s. can you tell I had a great time at work this weekend?
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