You just got off from work, after a long hard day, and you're starving. You're exhausted after your eight-hour shift, and the last thing you want to do is go home and cook dinner for yourself. So, you call a friend or your significant other and ask them if they would like to go out to dinner with you. Your friend agrees, so you both decide to eat at your favorite restaurant. You love that they have great food, great service, and it isn't too pricey.
When you get to the restaurant, you are told by the host that your table will be ready in five to 10 minutes; even though you can see open tables, it's not a big deal, your stomach can handle waiting 10 more minutes. After ten minutes go by, you see a group of six people walk through the door and get sat immediately at an open table. Now, you're starting to get frustrated, as it has already been 10 minutes and other people are getting sat before you. A few more minutes go by, and your name is called. Once you’re at your table, it takes the server a little while to get to you, and after you order your food, it doesn't come out for another 40 minutes! By this time you are very upset at your server for taking so long. When you get the bill, you pay the amount and decide she doesn’t deserve a tip because her service was terrible, so you leave.
Most people would be frustrated to have this experience at their favorite restaurant; however, people don’t realize how little their server can control. Not tipping your server is one of the worst things you can do, and most people do not understand why. At the end of every night, servers must “tip out” the bussers, food runners, and the bar. When a table stiff’s their server, at the end of the night, the server will be paying for that table out of her own pocket. This is unfair to the server, especially if there was nothing wrong with her service.
Let me take you behind the scenes of the scenario I described. When you were waiting for a table, the reason it took longer than 10 minutes was because the host was new and was not great at predicting wait times yet. She didn’t want to give you too long of a wait time because you might have left and gone somewhere else, but didn’t want to give too short of one either; so she decided five to 10 minutes was a good happy-medium. There were open tables because it was a Wednesday night, and not all sections of the restaurant are open during the week; the open tables were tables that were not going to be sat at all that night. The group of six people that walked in and were sat immediately had a reservation, so a table was ready for them.
The server took awhile to get to you because she wasn’t ready to take your table, she already had all of her tables full and didn’t know she was taking an extra one as well. She was running around taking care of her five other tables when you were sat, so by the time she got to your table, you had already been there a few minutes. The food came out late because the kitchen was behind. An unexpected party of 15 came in about 20 minutes before you and the kitchen was backed up making their food. It took the kitchen awhile to recover and catch up again, so your food came out later than usual. The server had no control over the kitchen, even though she was asking about your food every couple of minutes.
When you decided not to tip her, you are making her pay for her coworker’s shortcomings. She couldn’t control your wait time, or that the host sat you at the wrong table. She also couldn’t control how long it took to cook your food. Instead of focusing on the aspects of your meal that she couldn’t control, you should focus on the server herself. Was she kind? Did she apologize for the wait? Did she bring refills when you needed them? If you can answer yes to these questions then she deserves to be tipped for doing her job. So, the next time you are at a restaurant, think twice before stiffing your server, because probably deserves the tip more than you think.
9 comments:
Wow. When someone doesn't tip, a server has to tip the others from her own pocket? That doesn't seem right!
...Can that even be legal? :(
"The server had no control over the kitchen, even though she was asking about your food every couple of minutes. She also couldn’t control how long it took to cook your food."
My server may not control how long my food is actually takes to "COOK"(unless they put my order into the computer incorrectly such as ordering a medium rare steak and my server presses the well done button), but they do have control over ***HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET TO MY TABLE!***
Ask yourself did you put the order into the computer AS SOON AS YOU POSSIBLY COULD(unless someone else's food or drink that previously ordered was ready)? You can go back every few minutes to ask, but if I ordered my food at 7:18p.m. and you decided to go to greet another table or buss a table or anything that should be done after putting in the order, then if you don't put my order into the computer until 7:25p.m., well GEE, I wait an extra 7 minutes due to you HOLDING my order basically and not communicating with the kitchen staff(meaning no order in the computer system).
My husband and I waited a half an hour LITERALLY for an appetizer all because our waiter FORGOT TO PUT THE ORDER INTO THE COMPUTER. See, we ordered our drinks and appetizer first. Then he came back some time later to get our entree order. We waited a while, so we decided to ask about it. He ADMITTED he FORGOT to put the order into the computer. HOW LONG you wait to put in the order is HOW MUCH LONGER CUSTOMERS WAIT FOR THEIR FOOD. HE was the CAUSE of us waiting that long. HOW THE HELL CAN YOU BLAME THE COOKS FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
Also, when servers decide to buss a table or go voluntarily to other tables to ask if they need anything after taking a customer's order, THOSE ACTIONS ARE DELAYS IN GETTING THE ORDER INTO THE COMPUTER, THEREFORE, IT'S THE SERVER'S FAULT I AM WAITING AN EXTRA 3 minutes or 5 minutes. As long as there's nobody's food or bar drink that is ready that ordered BEFORE the current customer that the server just got the order from, the thing the server should be doing at that point is going to put the order into the computer. They should NEVER pick up dishes or buss a table BEFORE doing putting in an order into the computer unless there are no computers available to put the order in with no server at them. By waiting to put the order in even an extra minute or 2 even, delays the customer's food or drinks. Even though it may be 2 minutes, it may add up to be 8 minutes due to the bartender putting in an order, beating YOU to the punch per say, which may be for the same exact thing that was ordered, ordered the same exact way such as an order of mozzarella sticks. Think about it. If the bartender puts in an order for the cheese sticks BEFORE my server does all because my server decided to buss a table instead of putting my order in for my cheese sticks, GUESS WHO’S FOOD COMES OUT FIRST? The person at the bar, even though I would have placed my order BEFORE the person at the bar did. The difference, the bartender would have put the order in IMMEDIATELY, whereas my server would have basically held my order on his or her pad of paper until she or he was ready to put the order in. THAT IS WHAT IS IN CONTROL OF THE SERVER. The server has **SOME** CONTROL HOW LONG I WAIT FOR MY FOOD. They wait to put the order in, that's more time I wait to receive my food. Let's say they forget to put the order into the computer or drop our food by accident, that's THEIR FAULT, NOT the cook's, THE SERVER'S FAULT.
The server could also forget to get the item a customer ordered. I have waited 25 minutes for a margarita, NOT due to the bartender, but, due to my waiter at Applebee's that FORGOT TO GO GET IT. My husband had ordered bisque one time at a restaurant and the waitress totally forgot about it. That was supposed to be out BEFORE the entree, NOT AFTER, which our entrees came out, not bisque still. THAT WAS HER FAULT, NOT THE COOK'S. She forgot to put in the order for the bisque is what happened. It was 100% **HER** FAULT why my husband waited approx. 25 minutes instead of like 10 or 15 minutes for a cup of bisque.
So unless the server goes put the order in IMMEDIATELY INTO THE COMPUTER(OBVIOUSLY unless someone's food or drink that ordered BEFORE the current customer did)and the server or another server gets the food as soon as it is ready, those are the ONLY WAYS that it's NOT the "SERVER'S" fault.
If my server let's my food sit at the window while she chats, well GEE, you can't blame that on the cooks, can you?
If my server goes greet another table or goes voluntarily(meaning wasn't called over) to ask customers something instead of putting the order into the computer. For example:
My husband and I ordered entrees. We are only a party of 2. The waiter instead of going put the order in, greets a table of 6. The waiter takes 2-3 minutes getting drink orders and appetizer orders, which possibly they may have been ready to fully order as sometimes WE have even been ready to fully order BEFORE we even got seated at times. Anyway, my point is, that's 2-3 minutes MORE we waited for our food. Our server was IN CONTROL of WHEN he put our order into the computer.
"people don’t realize how little their server can control."
I find SERVERS do NOT realize how MUCH is in their control.
What servers are in control of:
1. Putting in the order correctly.
2. Remembering to put in the order
3. If the same server brings the food out that took the order, they CAN NOTICE if the correct side dishes are there, the correct entree is being brought, things that are missing that aren't covered up by anything, and ANY missing condiments such as a side of ranch.
Condiments are ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS in their control. A GOOD, CARING server always brings them **BEFORE** the food is brought out to make sure they don't forget or that another server that may end up bringing out the food doesn't forget or just not read the ticket.
Let's say I order 2 extra sides of ranch dressing with my salad. You bring out the salad. Let's say you did put the order in correctly. Well, you still have control of ***WHAT YOU ARE TAKING ME IF IT LOOKS CORRECT AS FAR AS SOMETHING THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO "TOUCH" THE FOOD TO KNOW IT'S NOT THERE.****
Servers are ALWAYS in control of ANY overcharges or undercharges. If the price on the menu is lower than the price that is on the check for the item, then it's up to my SERVER to make sure they are charging the customer correctly. If the customer can take a menu and verify each price, so can my server. There's NO EXCUSE be overcharged, EVER!
Servers are in control if I have utensils by NOTICING if I have any. Servers are in control how long I wait for my refills(unless the syrup is out or some problem like that). Servers are in control of MOST aspects of customer's dining experiences, HONESTLY. They are in control of how long I wait for my check and wait to get it rung up to an extent. Like if someone's food is wrong, I can totally understand if that came first before my check, but if I just asked for my check and you decide to buss the table, there goes part of your tip down the drain. People's time is WAY MORE IMPORTANT than dirty dishes. Dirty dishes will NOT TIP YOU and they can WAIT that extra minute or 2. Customers shouldn't have to wait that extra minute or 2 to watch you clean up.
Things my server couldn't control as long as they put in the order correctly would be:
1. Raw food or undercooked food(as long as it's not obvious) Like if I asked for a well done steak and you bring me a steak that looks red, well that's just OBVIOUS that it's from one extreme to the other. If you bring me out a medium well steak when I ordered a well done steak, NO, I would NOT blame you because you couldn't just tell by looking at the steak if it was correct or not unless you told me you put in the order incorrectly or if it was on my check(which a few restaurants I have been to, the mistakes were on my check.)
2. Burrito filling
3. Things that are covered up like a pickle under a bun, if the customer specifically didn't order pickles or just plain anything covered up.
4.Cold food(as long as the server or another server brings out the food as soon as they can(meaning as long as they aren't playing around while my food sits at a window.)
5. If it's a different server bring out my food, then as long as the order was put in correctly, if that other server brought me fries instead of what I ordered which is beans let's say, I cannot blame my server, but sorry, I WILL take off on the tip, because it's PART OF MY SERVICE. Is it really fair for a customer to pay for service that is NOT good? I tip on MY SERVICE.
"Not tipping your server is one of the worst things you can do, and most people do not understand why."
I have stiffed some servers because of lack of caring and just plain awful service. Would you tip someone that made 6 mistakes and was RUDE to you? That's one waitress I stiffed. She had the audacity to kiss her boyfriend and tell him bye as I was giving my drink order. She got my husband's drink order wrong and didn't remember what margarita I ordered. She made a lot of mistakes. Another waitress told me "It's the hostess's job" when I was telling her about that I had to ask twice for utensils. She got FIRED. You cannot be rude to a customer like that. I had several mistakes with that situation also. I waited 30 minutes LITERALLY for my margarita all because of a non-communication with the bartender over it being in the glass, because they were out of Presidente' shakers at that Chili's. The waitress waited until 15 minutes later to decide to ask me if I received my drink, which I waited another 15 minutes to receive it from the MANAGER.
Another time I stiffed a server was when I got the completely wrong food brought to my table with no explanation and I had to GET UP TO ASK WHY MY FOOD WASN'T THERE. I had to get up to get a LITTLE SORRY. He didn't even let us keep the food that was wrong and I had to wait 10 minutes to get my food. He admitted he pressed the wrong button. He also didn't REREAD the order he wrote down even. I had ordered an appetizer as my entree, which was BBQ chicken nachos. He brought me out quesadillas. I feel the way he handled is why he got stiffed, not solely for the mistake. NO ONE called a manager even, which if I was the server, I would have asked the manager to comp something for them since it would have been my mistake if I was the server. He didn't care, so WHY THE HELL SHOULD I CARE ABOUT HIS MONEY. He DESERVED THE ZERO HE GOT.
I tip normally 25% or more, which I start at 20%. If the service goes very well, higher than 20%, if it sucks it goes down from 20%. You have to EARN YOUR TIP. It's NOT a RIGHT, it's GOT TO BE EARNED.
"Did she bring refills when you needed them?"
When servers take 5 minutes or longer for refills, I find that ridiculous unless the syrup is out and when that happens, the customer should be notified. Let's say a couple of refills should take no more than 2 minutes to be given, unless someone else's food or drink is ready that ordered BEFORE the people that just asked for their refills. I still say 5 minutes is a bit long for only 2 cokes. My husband and I have received refills LITERALLY sometimes in less than 30 seconds even with it being busy; due to the soda station was not far from where we were seated.
"think twice before stiffing your server, because probably deserves the tip more than you think."
I disagree in that if the server doesn't care about your food being obviously correct, your time, or if your check is correct(meaning no overcharges), WHY should I pay someone that is MEAN AND UNCARING? WHY should I pay someone to make me pissed off and miserable?
"Once you’re at your table, it takes the server a little while to get to you"
I agree that if you have a long wait to wait to get greeted, because it's busy. I disagree in that once you have greeted us to go to another table to greet them. If let's say my husband and I just placed our soft drink orders and an appetizer order, my server should be going straight to that computer to put the order into the computer and going to get the soft drinks(obviously, unless someone else's food is ready or drink from the bar is ready that had ordered BEFORE we did). As you would be delivering our soft drinks, you would then say you'd be right back and go to greet the next table.
Let's say my husband and I would order a margarita and a beer along with an appetizer when you greeted us. If you go to greet the next table right after, you have DELAYED OUR DRINKS from getting the bartender to be made by at least 2-3 minutes, possibly 5 minutes even. One time at a restaurant, these people by us kept asking the server questions about the entrees, so we ended up waiting like 8 minutes to get greeted. Also, we have ordered everything at once before, so when that happens, our ordering taking process may take 3-4 minutes to place, especially if we ask questions about the food. NOT EVERYTHING is listed on the menu such as A LOT of restaurants do NOT have their side salad ingredients listed. Every restaurant makes side salads DIFFERENT. Macaroni Grill for instance puts olives in their salads. I HATE olives. I am SOOO GLAD I asked my waitress what came in the salad, which I wish the menu would have had the description of it to not have to do that, but it didn't.
My point is, if you go in order of request as much as you can possibly can, THEN it would not be YOUR FAULT the food or drinks are delayed.
"The food came out late because the kitchen was behind."
I will agree that SOMETIMES the cooks are 100% at fault, but NOT ALL THE TIME. I would say MOST of the time, the SERVER has **SOMETHING** to do WHY I am waiting a little while longer than I shouldn't have had to wait. It may be something just as instead of going to put in our entree orders into the computer, you decided to grab dirty dishes to put in the kitchen first. That's more time that we wait for our food, which something like that IS in YOUR CONTROL 100%. Putting the order into the computer as soon as you can(meaning no other orders are ready from people that ordered before the people that just ordered) and as long as it was put in correctly, my server cannot be blamed at all.
Certainly a lot going on in this commentary/column.
Suggestion: While the frantic pace of serving in a restaurant is mirrored in the writing, it's a little exhausting to have so much thrown at the reader.
The points are all in there, but because they move so quickly, it might not be as effective as being a little slower, a little more direct.
Good points raised...
Wow springs1, wow.
First of all, I feel that you might have misunderstood what the author of this blog was trying to say.... The way I took it (and I'm pretty sure I understood what they were trying to say), she was simply suggesting to think again before stiffing your server! There are many people out there (not all, but some) that will "take it out" on their server when anything in their dining experience is not up to par.
The author does a good job of reinforcing this point by providing some questions to ask yourself before you decide your server does not deserve a tip. I'm sure she realizes that there are such things as bad servers and that there are some things that are in the server's control, just suggesting that you think before you decide not to tip.
All I can say, is that I would never want to be your server with your ridiculous expectations. You act as if you are the only person in the restaurant and that your servers are not human and not allowed to make mistakes. I can tell you, having been a server myself, that every server knows the better they do the more money they will make, so they will do everything in their control to get to your table, take and place your orders, bring you your food and condiments, and generally do everything in their power to ensure you have a good experience. However, it is important that you, as a guest, remember that your server must do that with usually at least 3 other groups besides yourself and believe it or not, they are not flawless.
And as a last comment, more of a side note really... If my server was honest and admitted that HE forgot to place my appetizer order, I would be forgiving and understanding. I'm sure from that point forward, he would be doing everything in his power to make sure that the rest of my meal was flawless.
Michael
“First of all, I feel that you might have misunderstood what the author of this blog was trying to say.... The way I took it (and I'm pretty sure I understood what they were trying to say), she was simply suggesting to think again before stiffing your server!”
NO, I UNDERSTOOD IT VERY CLEARY. The fact is, this blog is POORLY WRITTEN. It has this statement that is SOOOO UNTRUE: “"people don’t realize how little their server can control." The fact is, servers have MOST of the control of what ends up getting to the customer’s table. If a mistake can be PREVENTED, it should be PREVENTED from getting to the customer if at all possible BY THE *************SERVER***************.
“I'm sure she realizes that there are such things as bad servers and that there are some things that are in the server's control”
Yet, she DOESN’T BOTHER TO MENTION ALL THE THINGS THAT **ARE** IN HER CONTROL. Just because the food takes a long time to cook, DOESN’T mean it’s ALWAYS the cook’s fault. If the server waited to put in my order for 3 minutes to buss a table or to greet another table, well, gee, that’s at least 3 minutes more I will wait for my food to get to me. This blog is POORLY WRITTEN. It doesn’t go into detail that a customer waits for their food according to if their server puts in the order as soon as they can(meaning no other customer’s food or drink is ready before this person that just ordered), if the server puts in the order correctly, if the server remembers to put in the order, and if the server goes get the order or another server goes get the order as soon as it’s ready.
***MOST MISTAKES AND LONG WAITS ****ARE*** IN THE SERVER’S CONTROL TO A DEGREE!****
“All I can say, is that I would never want to be your server with your ridiculous expectations.”
HOW in the world is it “RIDICULOUS” to want your food correct and in a timely fashion? It’s NOT “RIDICULOUS” to want your server to put some **EFFORT** in getting your order correct and in a timely fashion to you the very FIRST TIME AROUND. You are paying for the service, so WHY should you put your money towards poor service if things go badly?
WHY is it “RIDICULOUS” to want your server to CARE about your food being correct, things getting to you in a timely fashion, and for you not to be overcharged?
I feel “YOU” have ridiculous expectations that you feel you should always get mistakes in your service. It’s NOT “RIDICULOUS” to think nothing will go wrong. It’s called be “OPTIMISTIC”, NOT “PESSIMISTIC” like YOU. WHO WANTS SOMETHING TO GO WRONG? I’d rather any day pay 30% to a server that doesn’t make any mistakes and nothing goes wrong than to give a low tip to no tip. I want GOOD service, NOT crappy service.
“You act as if you are the only person in the restaurant”
NO, I act like I am a customer that DESERVES to have good service just as ANYONE DOES. I act like I should get the service I am willing to PAY FOR. I am PAYING for something, so shouldn’t it be worth my MONEY?
“and that your servers are not human and not allowed to make mistakes.”
HONESTLY, WHO THE HELL WANTS MISTAKES WHEN THEY GO OUT TO EAT, HUH? EVEN YOU WOULDN’T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN IF YOU KNOW IT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. You just DO NOT WANT TO ADMIT THAT.
We all make mistakes, but that doesn’t mean that we deserve to get paid as well for them. Just recently, a co-worker that is a licensed insurance agent got DEMOTED for making too many mistakes. She is now not an agent anymore. Just that shows you how mistakes affect EVERYONE’S PAY, NO MATTER WHERE YOU WORK. If I make too many mistakes in my job, I may not get that raise I wanted or as big of a raise.
If I was a server and I forgot to ring in an order, I wouldn’t blame the customer one bit if they stiffed me, because I would DESERVE IT, quite honestly.
“so they will do everything in their control to get to your table, take and place your orders, bring you your food and condiments, and generally do everything in their power to ensure you have a good experience.”
If that were true, I would NEVER have many problems at all with my food being delivered to me wrong. I don’t see many servers (ONLY 8 servers since 2004), VOLUNTARILY bring the condiments BEFORE the meal comes out. When the food arrives, sometimes it’s from the same server, sometimes from another server, but the result is that my condiments I ordered with my food aren’t there. If they truly would have done EVERYTHING in their control to get my food correct, they would have brought the condiments BEFORE the food came out. It doesn’t take 25-35 mins. to get for instance a couple of sides of ranch.
Also, if it were so that they would actually “CARE”, I wouldn’t have servers bring out wrong entrées, wrong side dishes, missing items, wrong soft drinks(once I ordered a dr. pepper which was served in a CLEAR glass and got delivered from our waiter SPRITE.) If the server cannot LOOK at what they are taking to the customer to make sure it’s indeed correct, then obviously they aren’t trying very hard. It’s like DUH when my husband ordered an au gratin entrée and our waiter delivered fried shrimp with fries entrée to my husband. I really thought to myself “WHAT AN IDIOT.” Luckily, he just grabbed the wrong dish, so it wasn’t a really bad situation or anything. I still tipped 17%, because he was APOLOGETIC and FIXED IT IN A TIMELY MANNER. I still think though a server that actually CARES AND TRULY TRIES, DOESN’T DELIVER THE COMPLETELY WRONG ANYTHING TO A CUSTOMER. That’s just plain STUPID! Fried shrimp and fries are NOT au gratin. This is NOT “ROCKET SCIENCE.” This was caused by the waiter being TOO UNCARING AND LAZY TO COMPARE THAT WRITTEN ORDER WITH THE PLATE OF FOOD ***BEFORE*** HE HANDED IT TO MY HUSBAND. WHAT AN IDIOT! That’s NOT TRYING; THAT’S JUST PLAIN NOT CARING.
Also, we have been overcharged since 2001 over 20 times and I haven’t ONCE seen a server take time to make sure we aren’t being overcharged. I haven’t seen out of the 6 times at least, seen a server take a menu and make sure the prices on the menu match the check prices. Instead they make their CUSTOMERS DO IT, which that’s NOT OUR JOB TO BABY-SIT OUR SERVERS. Stuff like that is not a “MISTAKE”, it’s a lack of EFFORT TO EVEN “TRY.” I find that to be what servers do A LOT, which is NOT even TAKE AN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THINGS GO RIGHT.
“If my server was honest and admitted that HE forgot to place my appetizer order, I would be forgiving and understanding. I'm sure from that point forward, he would be doing everything in his power to make sure that the rest of my meal was flawless.”
The server that did that was RARE in that he apologized twice profusely(RARE TO EVEN DO THAT TODAY IT SEEMS) and he also offered us something for free to make up for it. His tip was 16% BEFORE the $5 discount we ended up receiving. I will NOT pay 20% to someone that could have easily gone to the computer RIGHT AFTER he took our order in the first place. NO ONE can win back my TIME. I do think it was a “DECENT” tip for making us wait 30 minutes for an appetizer, which it was even longer for our entrées.
The server shouldn’t be COMPLETELY forgiven(20% or more) otherwise, he won’t care if he does it again.
“they are not flawless.”
I have had MANY of times “PERFECT SERVICE” where I had NO MISTAKES, NO LONG WAITS, AND NOTHING AT ALL WENT WRONG. You CAN get “flawless” service at times, because I have gone through it quite a number of times.
springs 1, while I very much appreciate your paying attention to my blog, I must say...you're insane.
"I don’t see many servers (ONLY 8 servers since 2004), VOLUNTARILY bring the condiments BEFORE the meal comes out."
Do you log every meal into a journal? How else would you know that you have only had 8 servers bring you condiments before the meal since 2004? That is some ridiculous knowledge to hold on to.
And as a side--what good are the condiments if you don't have any food to eat them with? I think I'd be a little upset if my server came by and placed a side of ranch on my table instead of my whole meal...but maybe that's just me.
Oh springs1...
"NO, I UNDERSTOOD IT VERY CLEARY. The fact is, this blog is POORLY WRITTEN."
You say you understood it "VERY CLEARLY" yet you say its poorly written... another contradiction! Surprise, surprise! You calling ANYTHING poorly written is hilarious! Should we count the number of grammatical errors, misspellings, and contradictions in YOUR comments?
"Yet, she DOESN’T BOTHER TO MENTION ALL THE THINGS THAT **ARE** IN HER CONTROL. Just because the food takes a long time to cook, DOESN’T mean it’s ALWAYS the cook’s fault."
The author of this blog was merely writing a scenario. In this particular scenario, she was pointing out how, IN THIS SCENARIO, the things that went wrong and came across as "poor service" were things that were NOT in the server's control!
"If the server waited to put in my order for 3 minutes to buss a table or to greet another table, well, gee, that’s at least 3 minutes more I will wait for my food to get to me."
The fact you actually count/add the minutes until you get your food is ridiculous and hilarious at the same time! Maybe you are so anxious to eat your food and be over with dinner because you are with poor company. I know when I go out, I don't even realize how long my food takes (unless of course it takes like an HOUR) to get to me because I am out eating with people who I enjoy spending time with.... So who really counts the minutes at your table, you or your husband/guest?
"It’s NOT “RIDICULOUS” to think nothing will go wrong. It’s called be “OPTIMISTIC”, NOT “PESSIMISTIC” like YOU. WHO WANTS SOMETHING TO GO WRONG?"
You call yourself OPTIMISTIC about food service. I'd have to disagree... You hold on to every bit of bad service you have ever had. You call me PESSIMISTIC, I consider myself a realist and forgiving of people who have perhaps had a bad day, have more important things to worry about such as maybe a sick family member, a big test, or any other thing that might be stressing that person out that day. Should they be rewarded for it? Not necessarily, but should the customer keep in mind that these people do have lives outside of the restaurant and that, believe it or not, you are not the most important thing in their life, absolutely!
"If that were true, I would NEVER have many problems at all with my food being delivered to me wrong. I don’t see many servers (ONLY 8 servers since 2004), VOLUNTARILY bring the condiments BEFORE the meal comes out."
I have to agree w/ Erika about getting the condiments BEFORE the food... What the hell will you do with them before the food even comes? Dip your fat fingers in them? And the fact you count is yet ANOTHER ridiculous/hilarious comment. Finally, if you HONESTLY think that a server does not intend on providing you with the best service possible, then you really are a NUT! All servers know that better service = better tip. I have a feeling that YOU just get more bad service than most people for one of two reasons... 1) you sit there and try to pick out imperfections because something is missing in your life. or 2) You are just the type of person that gives off the "I'M A GIANT DOUCHE BAG AND I'LL COMPLAIN ABOUT EVERYTHING" vibe.
I have a feeling its both.
Erika
“Do you log every meal into a journal? How else would you know that you have only had 8 servers bring you condiments before the meal since 2004? That is some ridiculous knowledge to hold on to.”
I DON’T log things in a journal. You just don’t understand that I like MOST of my food I order WITH condiments whether it’s a burger with mayo and mustard & fries with ranch or sometimes tartar sauce or ribs with extra bbq sauce, I eat my food WITH condiments MOST of the time. I just can’t tell you HOW MANY TIMES my food gets delivered ****WITHOUT*** the condiments that I specifically ORDERED. Sometimes it’s been from the SAME SERVER that took the order, but was too lazy to REREAD that order and compare that order with the plate food to make sure all components were there as far as condiments go. I would say the majority of the times I get my food without the condiments I order is when another server brings out my food, because they are too lazy to **REREAD** the ticket and make sure everything is on the plate.
It’s NOT “ridiculous” knowledge to hold on to, because for me, without the condiments I do NOT want to eat the food. I didn’t go out to eat to eat a dry burger or dry ribs or fries without a dipping sauce(I hate ketchup). I also eat tartar sauce with fried shrimp also. I absolutely HATE cocktail sauce. So when my food comes, let’s say I order a burger with fries, if my condiments aren’t there, I wait to eat my food until they are, which sometimes LITERALLY has been 3-5 minutes, meanwhile my food gets COOLER. I order condiments on the side for my burgers or sandwiches, because I like a little mustard and a LOT of mayo, so I may say “LITE on the mustard”, but it’s VERY POSSIBLE to get way more than what I truly want. Same thing with mayo, that usually I say extra even at fast food places, but it’s NOT extra at all. I usually get condiments on the side at ALL restaurants(fast food or non-fast food).
I literally have to ask the server if they can bring the condiments BEFORE the food comes out. It’s RIDICULOUS I am have to do that, but I want to eat when my food arrives, NOT 5 minutes from then. I cannot TRUST that my food will come out as ordered, because I try sometimes to trust they will get it right without having to ask for them to bring them before the food comes out, which some of those times, the food didn’t have the condiments I had ordered. So honestly, I GIVE UP on getting my order correct, because servers just don’t care if you are happy or not.
An example: On time at Applebees, I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich that came with fries. I ordered 2 sides of mayo, 1 side of mustard, and 1 side of ranch. Another server brought out my food. Guess what? NONE, NOT A ONE, condiment was on the plate. My server said “They are just too lazy to read the tickets.” I have heard from a manager at a chain restaurant(not Applebee’s) that usually the other servers that run the food do NOT either rewarded or penalized through their tip. That the other servers that run the food out get tipped out by the sales, NOT by the server’s tip. My point is, that is exactly why the “food runner” system DOESN’T WORK VERY WELL. This person that runs the food to me isn’t going to care if they bring it out correctly, because their tip won’t suffer if it’s wrong. It’s a really UNFAIR system if you ask me. I tipped the waiter 12%. Now, honestly, I feel it’s the waiter’s fault, because he COULD have done what those other 8 servers did by bringing the condiments before the meal came out and not depended on people that won’t care if the food is right or not. If those 8 servers brought out the condiments before the food came out as well as many other servers have brought out the condiments BEFORE the food came out when I have asked them to, he COULD HAVE AS WELL. Condiments do NOT need cooking, so there’s no EXCUSE to have a missing side of ranch or mayo or whatever. These situations shouldn’t happen. It’s rather OBVIOUS to the EYES that little containers of some condiments AREN’T THERE.
“And as a side--what good are the condiments if you don't have any food to eat them with? I think I'd be a little upset if my server came by and placed a side of ranch on my table instead of my whole meal...but maybe that's just me.”
I am talking about “BEFORE” the meal comes out, like WAY BEFORE. I have had one server for instance just this year that said to me “Is it alright if I bring out the condiments before the food comes out so I won’t forget?” I am glad she did, because another server brought out our food. I am willing to bet my food would not have had the extra sides of mayo I ordered or the ranch I ordered.
WHY would you be “UPSET” if the server was making sure you had your condiments so you can eat at the exact moment your food hits the table? To me, that’s VERY CARING to do that, because it shows that my server would CARE if my order is at least partly correct. At Joe’s Crab Shack one time, I found that very CARING for my waitress to bring the 3 sides of tartar sauce BEFORE my entrée came out. She said “I just didn’t want to forget” she said. See how CARING AND SWEET THAT IS? She just wanted to make sure I had my order as correct as possible WITHOUT having at least THAT as a mistake. She eliminated the condiments being a mistake, because she took action BEFOREHAND.
I feel it’s EXTREMELY CARING and THOUGHTFUL when a server brings out the condiments BEFORE the food comes out. It shows they CARE that you are happy. Those servers get VERY GOOD TIPS. One server this year got 27%. When you care, it pays off(hopefully people will be fair back to their server).
Michael
“You calling ANYTHING poorly written is hilarious! Should we count the number of grammatical errors, misspellings, and contradictions in YOUR comments?”
I NEVER ONCE CLAIMED to be smart in ENGLISH, but I AM SMART WITH KNOWING ABOUT WHO IS AT FAULT WHEN MISTAKES HAPPEN WHEN I EAT OUT. You are also acting like a 2yr old by trying to attack my grammar, spelling, etc. GROW UP!
“The author of this blog was merely writing a scenario. In this particular scenario, she was pointing out how, IN THIS SCENARIO, the things that went wrong and came across as "poor service" were things that were NOT in the server's control!”
We HONESTLY DO NOT KNOW THAT FOR A FACT. She NEVER once said WHEN she put in the order and WHEN either HER or SOMEONE ELSE BROUGHT THE FOOD TO THE CUSTOMER’S TABLE. So until we know ALL the facts and details, no one can say 100% for sure that she wasn’t at fault. That is why I said this blog is poorly written, because it fails to have ANY DETAILS that make things not a person’s fault and sometimes DOES make it their fault. If she waited 3 minutes to put in the order to let’s say buss a table, well, she has NO ONE to BLAME BUT HERSELF for getting customers mad at her. 3 minutes is 3 more minutes the customers could have been EATING.
“The fact you actually count/add the minutes until you get your food is ridiculous and hilarious at the same time!”
Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t, but A LOT of times I do keep track. I am HUNGRY so YES, I CARE HOW LONG I WAIT FOR MY FOOD. Just because YOU DON’T CARE if you wait 5 extra minutes let’s say, doesn’t mean EVERYONE ELSE feels that way. MOST people DO CARE if they wait 5 extra minutes for their food.
“I consider myself a realist and forgiving of people who have perhaps had a bad day, have more important things to worry about such as maybe a sick family member, a big test, or any other thing that might be stressing that person out that day. Should they be rewarded for it? Not necessarily, but should the customer keep in mind that these people do have lives outside of the restaurant and that, believe it or not, you are not the most important thing in their life, absolutely!”
Totally DISAGREE 100%! I DON’T GIVE A RAT’S ASS WHAT MY SERVER IS IN THEIR “PERSONAL LIFE.” They are there to do a *****JOB****** which has NOTHING at ALL to do with “PERSONAL THINGS.” WHY should I care if they had a big test, so that is why they forgot my condiments? They should be concentrating on their JOB, NOT other things in their lives. WHY should you expect to get paid very well to “DAY DREAM” on the job and end up making lots of mistakes?
If they don't care about my food being correct and getting to me in a timely manner by not putting my order in right away or putting the order into the computer incorrectly or forgetting to put the order into the computer, then WHY should I CARE about THEIR PERSONAL LIFE by not tipping them well? I will treat them the EXACT, EXACT, EXACT, WAY THEY TREAT ME.
Treat others as you'd like to be treated.
“I have to agree w/ Erika about getting the condiments BEFORE the food... What the hell will you do with them before the food even comes?”
It’s NOT “WHAT” I do with them, it’s that I know for a fact I have my condiments I ordered so I can eat the moment my food arrives at the table HOT. They just sit there until my food comes out.
“Dip your fat fingers in them?”
You don't know what the HELL you are talking about. I am 5’0” tall and keep my weight between 90lbs-92lbs. I am actually a few pounds UNDERWEIGHT. People actually tell me I need to gain a few pounds. My fingers are SMALL. The most I ever got was 106lbs back in 1999. I haven’t seen 100lbs even on the scale since the year 2000. ? I diet during the week by reducing my calories so I CAN eat all of that fattening stuff on the weekend. So QUIT WITH YOUR NASTY ASS, CHILDISH REMARKS! I am 30yrs old, but you seem to act like you are 2 yrs old. Do you see me telling you any MEAN THINGS? I didn’t think so. BTW, I can still fit a dress I wore to a 9th grade dance, which was 1991-1992 school year. I am willing to bet YOU AIN'T THE SAME SIZE YOU WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL? I bet you are a hypocrite and that you are the one that is fat.
“Finally, if you HONESTLY think that a server does not intend on providing you with the best service possible, then you really are a NUT! All servers know that better service = better tip.”
Just because the server knows they will get a better tip DOESN’T MEAN they won’t be LAZY. My husband and I went to a restaurant called Fox and Hound for the very first time in 2005 and you know what? The server was HORRIBLE. She kissed her boyfriend BYE as I was ordering my food and told him something as well INTERRUPTING me ordering my margarita. She got my husband’s diet coke wrong, by bringing him a root beer. She got my margarita order wrong by asking did you say “NEON BLUE MARGARITA”, when I said “TRADITIONAL MARGARITA.” She didn’t get the mayonnaise I asked for. She didn’t get the ranch that CAME with the chili cheese fries according to the MENU. The appetizer and entrée came at the same time.
If you think for ONE MINUTE she thought “BETTER SERVICE=BETTER TIP”, think again. She got stiffed. It wasn’t the mistakes that pissed me off the most, it was her RUDENESS. I have gotten better service at McDonald’s, because at least when you give your order, you aren’t interrupted by someone doing something personal such as kissing someone. I was pissed off a lot by the mistakes, because they were ALL PREVENTABLE. When the food came out, she and another server brought out the food, so, honestly BOTH of the servers could have caught the errors. Also, I asked for no tomatoes or pickles. They serve the burgers with a pickle on top the bun with a toothpick, meaning VERY VISABLE MISTAKE, LIKE DUH. I actually talked to the manager and he said she didn’t put in the order correctly and only verbally told the cooks(like that does any good).
My point is, if you think servers will go through a bunch of work for their customers, think again, because a lot of servers are too LAZY to try to make no mistakes.
“1) you sit there and try to pick out imperfections because something is missing in your life. or 2) You are just the type of person that gives off the "I'M A GIANT DOUCHE BAG AND I'LL COMPLAIN ABOUT EVERYTHING" vibe.”
NONE of that is true, NOT ONE BIT. I just want my dining experience to be as PERFECT as it can POSSIBLY BE. I am so sick and tired of lazy ass servers that don’t give a shit about what they are BRINGING to the table if it’s even the correct food or not or if things are obviously missing. I am sick of servers that don’t say they are sorry no matter HOW NICE you are about the mistake. All I do is when a server forgets my condiments I just repeat my order and say “I ordered 2 side of ranch” let’s say I only ordered just that. I don’t YELL, but they don’t I guess feel it’s important enough to say they are sorry, when it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that I have the condiments, because I will NOT EAT MY FOOD WITHOUT THEM 90% of the time. Some of these servers will end up taking 2 or 3 minutes, meanwhile I have food getting cooler by the minute. I ordered that particular dish because I wanted to eat it the way **I** ENJOY IT. It’s doesn’t taste good without the condiments. Just as you feel there’s no point in bringing the condiments before the meal, well to me, there’s no point in bringing my food to me without the condiments. Which is why I like it when they bring it before the meal, because then they DON’T FORGET. I don’t have to wait 3 or 4 minutes sometimes to eat my food. I have already waited 5 minutes to get condiments, because the server decided to do other things instead of fix a mistake. It’s FRUSTRATING to not have your order correct, when condiments are VERY OBVIOUS they aren’t on the plate, but the server doesn’t seem to CARE if they get it right or not. I am being considerate to the server by ordering the condiments with my food and they want to make extra trips for no reason it seems, because they don’t want to reread the order they wrote down. The concept of writing the order down is NOT to just put the order into the computer, it is to make sure the FINAL RESULT IS CORRECT WHEN THE CUSTOMER RECEIVES IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. No, I couldn’t fault my server for a medium well steak that I wanted well done, but I can fault them for not noticing I have mashed potatoes instead of fries or if I don’t have 2 sides of ranch.
You may ask why we go out to eat? I like going out to eat to eat good food and have a good experience. Sometimes the experiences make me mad when I leave and before I went in the restaurant, I was happier. I do have I would say more good than bad experiences, but I do hate the bad ones.
Post a Comment