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| Picture from Marcus at Freedigitalphotos.net |
Some of it is just angry people wanting to spill there hate onto the internet. Others are just angry food industry staff members.
Being part of that industry for more years then I would like to admit I would like to put my 15% or is it 20% in.
I feel like a lot of the issues people describe mostly come down to how people should just act in a restaurant to begin with. I also think that people should take each experience as that an experience and not hold it over the head of every waitstaff or guest that ever comes in.
For people dining out:
First and foremost, NO ONE is making you come out to eat. No one has a gun to your head or holding your children or small animals hostage to make you wait for over an hour to eat. If you pick up the pager or put your name down and tell yourself that you're going to wait the hour or more for some food, that is on you. If you are quoted one time and it is over by more than 5 minutes then that goes into the restaurants mistake. Kindly bring it to their attention of the staff. And I say kindly because getting mad and angry will not get you seated faster. It is easier and people are more willing to help you when you are nice then when you scream and shout at them. No restaurant intentionally makes you wait and go over your quoted time on purpose.
Second: Please let your server do their little spheel. Not everyone does it, but if the poor person starts to launch into what is new, different, or whatever, they probably aren't doing it to hear themselves talk. It is part of their training, what they are told to do, and could be useful to you as well. Just let them get through it. If during this thing they bring up something like beer or rum and you don't drink either, congratulations, then don't order it, you telling them you don't drink, well the server doesn't care. They are just doing what they are told to offer which is usually food and a drink.
Third: Try to remember who your server is. Maybe not their name but at least a better description then a female with brown hair. This can be useful when trying to get them if something happens or needs to be changed.
Fourth: When the sever asks if you are ready to order and you are NOT ready, as in don't have sides or you are still struggling to figure out what you want, ask for another minute. Having the server stand around and staring at you adds stress both to the server and the guest and the pressure seems to build. Plus, the sever will NOT forget to come back and they probably have 8 other things that could be done while you go ummmmm.....
Fifth: When the server comes back to the table, please listen to what they are saying. They might be checking on you and have already told you that they will be back with some more bread or a drink refill.
Sixth: When the food arrives, if everything isn't right, try to tell your sever right away. If you need anything, try and tell them all at once. Sending them back and forth for ketchup, then salt, then tea, then bread, is really annoying and would be more useful for you and the server to get it all at once.
Seventh: If in these millions of little trips they forget something, hash it up to being human and wait another minute.
Eighth: If something is wrong with your food, it doesn't taste like you thought it would, or it is over or under cooked, or it is too salty and you are going to eat it ANYWAYS, please don't tell anyone. If you don't want them to cook something new, or change something, or if there is nothing they can fix, what is the point of telling the sever or manager? Either let them help you or shut your pie hole please. The cooks make hundreds of meals a day, they are also human. There are going to be some mistakes that happier with over or under cooking something it is just a fact. If nothing can be done please hold the comment to yourself.
Ninth: If your food is amazing, tell the sever to tell the cooks. Poor guys work hard and don't always feel the love.
Tenth: If you are taking left overs home please try and remember to take them. A unclaimed box will sit around for a few minutes confusing everyone wondering if it should be tossed or if it will suddenly be remembered and ran back in for. Plus it is just causing wasted time and trash.
Eleventh: When the bill comes, tip. If you are eating out someplace that requires someone coming to your table and giving you something more than one trip, please tip. Start at 15% and move up. Some people say 20% is the new standard because like everything else in the world it is called inflation. Even when service is shitty give them 15%. If they did an amazing job just don't tell them show them with some extra cash. Going above 20% is a lot more helpful then just telling it to me. Telling me wont buy me food. I still appreciate it, but would appreciate it even more with some extra cash in the book. If they were rude, had everything wrong, were mean, and all that sure give them less but still something, but if it was just alright service, you had everything you wanted, everything came out, you might not have been wowed, 15% is what you should be leaving. Nothing less than that.
Twelfth: We have no real control over the bill. I personally find the exchange of monies the most stressful and uncomfortable part of the whole meal. Make it easy by having your payment ready if you ask for the check. Also, know that the staff does not control how much a burger costs or drinks cost. If prices or up charges are not listed ask if you are worries about an extra dollar or two. If your server does charge you and they didn't tell you, unless it is something outrages, suck it up and pay. If you modified something that comes on the menu there can be a charge for the change. It happens all the time, even in places like McDonald's. Accept it, learn from it, pay it, move on. Most if not all entrees and sides have prices, do the math and don't get pissy or cheap when it is all added together with tax.
Thirteenth: If you are in a large party know your wait might be longer, it is a lot more tables to get together and probably less space. Be patient, be on time, be prepared to wait, and know that gratuity, even if your bills are one different checks, will be added. Just accept it, pay it, thank the people for their time. Asking for it to be removed or be crossed off just causes problems, makes it weird, and makes the server hate you and probably wish bad things upon your trip home. Don't do it.
Fourteenth: If you are putting a gift card and your credit card together in the book, please assume that we know what to do. I appreciate you reminding me, but I probably have taken payment more than once and if I have any questions I shall come back and let you know.
Fifteenth: Please control your children. I don't say this to be like don't bring your kids out. No, just don't let them wander all over the place. I am walking around with lots of food, drinks both hot and cold, and sharp objects usually on a tray that could float over their head. If they run out under my feet, or grab something off of a tray, or push glasses off the table, they could get hurt and not like ouch kiss it better hurt. More like cut up, broken, bruised and possibly bleeding. Which in turn makes your life hell because it takes a lot more cooing and soothing to calm a kid that is bleeding. It isn't safe for them, it isn't safe for me. Please, to the best of your ability keep them under control. Also, if they make a huge massive mess, tip a little extra. You know and I know who gets to clean up this fun spit, crumb, and drool educed mess. You might get to do it at home all the time, but this, is not your home and will probably take a little bit longer to take care of. Please and thank you.
As waitstaff
One: You choose this job for better or worse. No one forced you to come to work. No one has your kids kind napped or little dog held hostage. This is your job, you chose it. If you do not like by all means please get out. I dont' want to hear how shitty this place is, or how mean people are, or how unfair everything is, or how stupid or mean the guests are. Get out. No one cares and no one wants to hear you whine. You're working with the general public you are going have to some major winners and some super stupid mean losers. Get over it and yourself.
Two: Put yourself in the guests shoes and treat them like you would like to be treated. Plain and simple. You don't want to be ignored, have the wrong food or drink and would like everything on a pretty timely manner. Do you best to do that.
Three: Treat every, and I mean EVERY, table the same. Stereotypes are partial truth, correct, but there are always exception to every rule. They are still people, they still want food, we still hope they tip us, but in the end it is also your job. Plus, if you look on the bright side in an hour or less they will gone and out of your life, hopefully, forever. Go over there and treat them with some respect.
Fourth: Try your best to keep drinks full, even if they have paid and you are hoping for them to go away sooner rather than later. No one likes to be thirsty in a restaurant. Plus, how stupid is that? Do you let people come over to your house and as soon as the main event is over you put all the phone and drinks away and stare at people like they are stupid if they want some more?
Fifth: Restaurants are team environments. If you are not a team player either learn how to be or go someplace else. This is a very complicated game of telephone and if you don't play your part the whole thing goes to crap.
Sixth: "Your Momma Don't Work Here," Which the first restaurant job I had that was not true. My Mom, sister and I worked together actually. But other than very rare cases like that, or family restaurants, please pick up after yourself. If you see a mess clean it up, if you see something broken, pick it up and put it away. If you use the last of something go get more. If you don't have time for this ask someone else who does.
Seventh: Get off your freaking phone. Unless someone is in the hospital or some other emergency put the stupid thing down for a few hours. Generally the shifts of busy time are only for a few hours at a time, 4-6 hours at the most. Is facebook or this blog that important you cannot depart it for a little bit? It makes you look lazy and selfish because while you're playing words with friends I now have to go get more of the butter that you just used and is now out. If you are a host stand even more so. You are at work, a very visible job, get off the freaking phone, seriously.
Eighth: Some people tip well and some people tip like crap. Some days are stupid busy and really profitable, some days are slow and crappy. Take the experience as a whole and weigh your money out that way. Some days you get paid minimum wage and others $30 an hour. It is the nature of the beast get over it or find something else.
Ninth: Learn to budget better so you take can handle the ups and downs. Physically take money out of your wallet and put it someplace for a rainy day if you need. It will help with bills and life a lot better that way. This industry with fast cash and money right now makes this very hard but the sooner you learn to do it, the happier things will be.
Tenth: When a guest asks you a question for the millionth time, realize they aren't working here, they don't know the menu, the restaurant, as well as you. They are new, they are trying to learn, be nice about it. Even if is something as stupid as can I get some more bread and butter? Nope, I'm just going to bring bread and make you lick the butter container. Smile, slam something in the back if you're having a bad day, but say yes with a smile.
Eleventh: Smile. People like people who smile more. You might not want to smile, you might actually want to cry, or punch someone in the face, however, do your best to smile. If you cannot smile think of something really evil and get an evil grin on your face, like holding hostage said little dogs, or just go neutral, not pissed and angry. It makes the dinning epxerince more enjoyable. It makes working with you more enjoyable then someone with a storm cloud over their head all day every day.
Twelfth: Use your manners and if you don't have any go find some. Say please and thank you. Say yes ma'am and yes sir. Say thank you and ask for things. If someone really messes something up and you loose your cool and blow up all over them, be an adult and go suck it up and apologize for it. This is especially true with the kitchen staff. They are people too, they have a crap ton more tables to deal with, like the whole restaurant, so help them out, get them the things they need, ask them for things, listen to them, and be nice to them. They aren't your punching bags.
Thirteenth: Own up to your mistakes. If the food is running behind because you forgot to put the order in, or they asked for something on the side and it came out with it on it, or you put in the completely wrong thing, do not blame the kitchen, tell them it was your fault. It is your fault and own up to it. If the kitchen is running behind let them know be real, be honest, be forward, and people are more likely to be patient and understanding than if you keep saying oh it's almost here and it just started cooking. Tell the manager and let them know so they have time to stop by and put things more right if need be.
Fourteenth: Reward good behavior. Mostly in this business the squeaky wheel gets the grease. If you have messed up something on some one's order and they have been cool, understanding about it, then try to do something extra for them. Maybe it is buying their drinks, or bring them a scoop of ice cream or something. Positive reinforcement can do much more good than just rewarding the bad things with food, drinks, and whatever their evilness deems worthy for them never come back again.
Fifteenth: Don't talk trash about a table until after they leave. If they hear, they don't get in trouble for calling you out to the boss, you do, so shut your pie hole until then. You aren't helping yourself.
Sixteenth: Drugs and alochol is for after hours. If you do it, keep that stuff at home or on your way home do not do it before work, do not do it during work or on your breaks. And try not to come in hungover. Believe me I have done this once or twice, and it sucks, you're a body, but mostly just a body in the way. Plus who wants a server who is green? The answer is no one. So try to control yourself when you do go home.
Okay, it was super long but totally worth it. If you think I'm missing something please let me know. Thanks!
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