I serve for a living. This isn't a job for me, its how I pay for my mortgage, for my hobbies, for my food and clothing, for all my expenses. And as such, I have to respect the people who pay my way. And I don't mean my employer, I'll always respect my employer! I mean the people who tip me so I make more than minimum wage.
That being said it is with the utmost respect to all customers when I tell you about a server's biggest pet peeve. The "Oh, just one more thing" customer.
Every server has served one of these people. And we hate them. Perhaps hate is not the right word! We despise them! This is the person who always needs one more thing. When you bring them their coffee, they need sweetener. When you bring their breakfast, they need marmalade. When you offer to refill their coffee, they want a glass of water. When you bring them a cookie, they want a glass of milk! Oh, wait... that's a mouse, not a customer... never mind!
These customers suck the servers time and energy out of them. For every one trip the server makes to another table, they make three trips to this table. These customers are beyond needy and although they say they appreciate the effort that the server is making to help them, it is hardly ever shown in the tip. The "Oh... just one more thing" customers are notorious for tipping around 10 % but telling their server how much they enjoyed the service.
If you are one of those people, please... for the love of God and all things holy.... adjust the way you behave in a restaurant. Your server is busy and while they want to provide the best possible service for you, they also have other customers who deserve to have exceptional service as well. Let me put it this way. If you were at your job and you had to do a task for your boss and when you thought you were completed the task, your boss decided to tack another thing onto your job what would your reaction be? Its the same thing when you make your server make multiple trips to your table. If you are missing something, let them know everything you need so they only have to make one trip. And reward them for good service. 15% is a polite tip but if your server is making more than three trips to your table, 20% is better. Reward for a job overdone.
But that's just the view from my side of the menu.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Joy, Rapture and Kids in Restaurants
Restaurants are going to have children in them. There is no way around this. Families are the bread and butter of restaurants and this may shock you but most servers don't like serving families.
Its not because your children are bad, usually they're as good as gold. A little loud... but good as gold...
Its not because your children leave a mess around the table. They do... but usually the busser will clean that up so the server isn't too put out by it.
Its not because your children have a limited palette and will only eat certain foods. I've served adults that are fussier than children and no one at the table is able to tell them "You'll eat it or you won't get any dessert."
No, its none of these reasons that servers don't like serving families. In fact usually it has nothing to do with the kids. Its the parents. Parents are often the bane of a server's existance.
There seems to be an inconsistency in the parents' actions and expectations that is overly pronounced when they are in a restaurant. And for all the parents out there I'm going to show you some of the things that you do that seems a little off to us.
Parents drill into their kids heads not to talk to strangers. From an early age kids are told that talking to strangers can be dangerous. Children should be seen and not heard. But as soon as a child is old enough to speak parents seem to want to show that off. If your child is told repeatedly not to talk to strangers and you tell your child to tell the nice man (or woman) (your server, who your child has never met) what they want, of course they aren't going to speak. I'm a stranger and only there are good strangers and bad strangers, your child doesn't know which one I am and of course is going to be shy around me. Save all of us time and just order for your child.
Manners are important in a civilized culture. And children are taught from an early age to use "Please" and Thank You" went they want something. This is great but sometimes they forget, it happens. And although its great that you are gently reminding them about the use of their manners, please don't forget your own. Alot of the time ten seconds after parents remind their child (who may have ild to use Please and Thank You, the parent will order and not say Please and Thank You. Children learn by example and you've just shown that you don't practice what you preach.
I always try to make sure that any kids at the table get their food before the adults so that the adults can start the feeeding process. Kids sometimes eat slower then the adults and usually the parents appreciate this but remember that parenting is still your job. If your child is done and you still are eating you still have to parent. At home when your child is done eating they can get up from the table and wander around the familiar surronding of your home. Restaurants are public places and if you allow your child to wander they will disturb other guests or possibly get hurt by being underfoot. Or the other side of that coin, if they are forced to remain seated, the whining and anger starts. And usually its not the kids who are whiny and angry... its the adults. If your child is bored and figetty, don't be stern with them. They are bored. Sometimes you have to be the adult and get what's left of your food to go. Or one of the adults has to entertain the kids.
And of course there is that all important reason why servers aren't usually excited to serve families... Tips are lousy. We understand that its expensive to take your family out to a restaurant. But you made the decision to enter a sit down restaurant. There are plenty of fast food places that you could have eaten at and you chose to eat at a place where you are being served. Don't punish your server who makes less than minimum wage by not tipping them. When we see a family sit down, we're not expecting 20 % for a tip but don't give us 10 % either. You've just had a night out where someone else is responsible for the clean up. Make sure that soneone is rewarded for cleaning up after you.
Restaurants appreciate family's business. If they didn't there wouldn't be a children's menu available. But servers cringe at the idea of serving families. And its not because of the kids. Usually its because of the parents.
But that's just the view from my side of the menu.
Its not because your children are bad, usually they're as good as gold. A little loud... but good as gold...
Its not because your children leave a mess around the table. They do... but usually the busser will clean that up so the server isn't too put out by it.
Its not because your children have a limited palette and will only eat certain foods. I've served adults that are fussier than children and no one at the table is able to tell them "You'll eat it or you won't get any dessert."
No, its none of these reasons that servers don't like serving families. In fact usually it has nothing to do with the kids. Its the parents. Parents are often the bane of a server's existance.
There seems to be an inconsistency in the parents' actions and expectations that is overly pronounced when they are in a restaurant. And for all the parents out there I'm going to show you some of the things that you do that seems a little off to us.
Parents drill into their kids heads not to talk to strangers. From an early age kids are told that talking to strangers can be dangerous. Children should be seen and not heard. But as soon as a child is old enough to speak parents seem to want to show that off. If your child is told repeatedly not to talk to strangers and you tell your child to tell the nice man (or woman) (your server, who your child has never met) what they want, of course they aren't going to speak. I'm a stranger and only there are good strangers and bad strangers, your child doesn't know which one I am and of course is going to be shy around me. Save all of us time and just order for your child.
Manners are important in a civilized culture. And children are taught from an early age to use "Please" and Thank You" went they want something. This is great but sometimes they forget, it happens. And although its great that you are gently reminding them about the use of their manners, please don't forget your own. Alot of the time ten seconds after parents remind their child (who may have ild to use Please and Thank You, the parent will order and not say Please and Thank You. Children learn by example and you've just shown that you don't practice what you preach.
I always try to make sure that any kids at the table get their food before the adults so that the adults can start the feeeding process. Kids sometimes eat slower then the adults and usually the parents appreciate this but remember that parenting is still your job. If your child is done and you still are eating you still have to parent. At home when your child is done eating they can get up from the table and wander around the familiar surronding of your home. Restaurants are public places and if you allow your child to wander they will disturb other guests or possibly get hurt by being underfoot. Or the other side of that coin, if they are forced to remain seated, the whining and anger starts. And usually its not the kids who are whiny and angry... its the adults. If your child is bored and figetty, don't be stern with them. They are bored. Sometimes you have to be the adult and get what's left of your food to go. Or one of the adults has to entertain the kids.
And of course there is that all important reason why servers aren't usually excited to serve families... Tips are lousy. We understand that its expensive to take your family out to a restaurant. But you made the decision to enter a sit down restaurant. There are plenty of fast food places that you could have eaten at and you chose to eat at a place where you are being served. Don't punish your server who makes less than minimum wage by not tipping them. When we see a family sit down, we're not expecting 20 % for a tip but don't give us 10 % either. You've just had a night out where someone else is responsible for the clean up. Make sure that soneone is rewarded for cleaning up after you.
Restaurants appreciate family's business. If they didn't there wouldn't be a children's menu available. But servers cringe at the idea of serving families. And its not because of the kids. Usually its because of the parents.
But that's just the view from my side of the menu.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Joy, Rapture and my favorite Waiter.
I both love and hate serving other servers. You know unless you cover them in food, you're going to get a decent tip but there's always the chance that you will give only adequate service and feel that you didn't deserve that tip. And of course, if you ever apply for a job at the restaurant they work at, they may give a bad review.
Today I got to serve my favorite waiter. JP works at the Casino and when the Missus and I go see shows at the theatre we usually end up in his section. Today he came in and asked for mine.
After a quick catch-up, I suggested the lunch special and answered with a resounding YES when asked if they should turn the fries to poutine. And within 5 minutes they were eating.
A couple of quick checks on the meal and how things were going and then came bill-time.
Dropped the bill off and did my usual "Cash or credit card you can do right here, debit is up by take out" and headed off to check on my other tables. When I turned I saw that JP and guest were gone but there was money on the table. Thought it was weird that he left without saying goodbye but didn't think too much about it, if you know what I mean.
Went to the table to pick up the cash. The bill totalled 38.14. Sitting on the table were 4 twenties and a ten. I know I give good service but a 120% tip is a little much.
Next time we go to the casino I think I have to give that boy a good talking to..... or a 120 % tip. The game is on....
But that's just the view from my side of the menu.
Today I got to serve my favorite waiter. JP works at the Casino and when the Missus and I go see shows at the theatre we usually end up in his section. Today he came in and asked for mine.
After a quick catch-up, I suggested the lunch special and answered with a resounding YES when asked if they should turn the fries to poutine. And within 5 minutes they were eating.
A couple of quick checks on the meal and how things were going and then came bill-time.
Dropped the bill off and did my usual "Cash or credit card you can do right here, debit is up by take out" and headed off to check on my other tables. When I turned I saw that JP and guest were gone but there was money on the table. Thought it was weird that he left without saying goodbye but didn't think too much about it, if you know what I mean.
Went to the table to pick up the cash. The bill totalled 38.14. Sitting on the table were 4 twenties and a ten. I know I give good service but a 120% tip is a little much.
Next time we go to the casino I think I have to give that boy a good talking to..... or a 120 % tip. The game is on....
But that's just the view from my side of the menu.
Joy, Rapture and the Sun Guy
Last Friday I was lucky enough to encounter a rude customer who lead to a story, albeit a short one.
Guy comes in for breakfast (the special) and as soon as he sat down he ordered his breakfast. I pushed in the order, brought his coffee and he said to me : "If you see a Sun, pick it up!" Now I know what he means, but I play a little dumb and say, "Sure, why not?"
"Oh, and bring it to me, wouldcha?" Now people who know me have heard me say more than once "I'm your server, not your servant!" and the odds of me bringing this guy a paper, especially considering the way he asked me, are slight.
But I do bring him his breakfast. Which he eats and about 15 minutes later he asks for the bill. I bring him his bill (total 4.19) and he gives me a 5 and tells me to keep the change. He gets up and starts heading for the door. As he passes the pile of newspapers near the front of the restaurant he spies a copy of the Sun. He picks it up and heads back to his table. "I'm just going to read the paper and finish my coffee," he tells me and proceeds to do so.
Just to let you know, 81 cents does not entitle you to come back and take up a table... The Sun costs a quarter..... buy your own.
But that's just the view from my side of the menu.
Guy comes in for breakfast (the special) and as soon as he sat down he ordered his breakfast. I pushed in the order, brought his coffee and he said to me : "If you see a Sun, pick it up!" Now I know what he means, but I play a little dumb and say, "Sure, why not?"
"Oh, and bring it to me, wouldcha?" Now people who know me have heard me say more than once "I'm your server, not your servant!" and the odds of me bringing this guy a paper, especially considering the way he asked me, are slight.
But I do bring him his breakfast. Which he eats and about 15 minutes later he asks for the bill. I bring him his bill (total 4.19) and he gives me a 5 and tells me to keep the change. He gets up and starts heading for the door. As he passes the pile of newspapers near the front of the restaurant he spies a copy of the Sun. He picks it up and heads back to his table. "I'm just going to read the paper and finish my coffee," he tells me and proceeds to do so.
Just to let you know, 81 cents does not entitle you to come back and take up a table... The Sun costs a quarter..... buy your own.
But that's just the view from my side of the menu.
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