Posted on 12/20/2009 5:25:26 AM PST by Daisyjane69
What would two dozen servers from across the country tell you if they could get away with it? Well, for starters, when to go out, what not to order, what really happens behind the kitchens swinging doors, and what they think of you and your tips. Here, from a group that clears a median $8.01 an hour in wages and tips, a few revelations that arent on any menu.
(Excerpt) Read more at shine.yahoo.com ...
Years ago, my brother and I were on the road in Kansas and stopped at a diner. This big, as in obese, slovenly mamma with bruises and tattoos on her arms, hands out the menu as if she was dealing cards, and says, "Whaddaya you kids want?" Killed the appetite right then and there. From then on, when we ate out, we'd look at one another and ask "Whaddaya you kids . . .?" and go into spasms. Some people thought we were choking. Oh yeah, we ate little, ate it quickly, and literally "got outta Dodge" fast - and didn't tip that gal.
Glad you enjoyed it. Destined to become a classic. ;-D
But if you're in Level Five of Drinking, you'll turn to your pals and say, "Someday I'm going to marry that girl." (Kudos to Larry Miller)
so do we! i think the key grip would appreciate that we stay to see his/her name... in addition, i know someone who just had her first credit in The Christmas Carol--the new 3-D movie... she works for Disney in accounting, and her name was in the credits!
I have a secret for most waiters..STFU and do your job, your complete job. If you don’t take pleasure in serving people’s needs, wants, and desires, in a way that forces a person to want to come back, go to work for the Government.
P.S. If I order eggs; over easy, you had better not bring me eggs; over medium or hard. If I order steak medium-well, and it bleeds, or moves, don’t get all up in my stuff when your tip reflects the product. And never, ever, tell me “I only serve it, I don’t cook it!”
If I want crappy service, I’d go to a self serve buffet.
You should pay for table service because even though (in your opinion) the business "should pay a straight salary" you know very well that it doesn't. Therefore you should honor the ethical contract in place when you walked into the restaurant. If you don't feel comfortable doing that, you should probably stick to fast food.
oh brother... if i'm at Denny's and i want a grilled cheese sandwich, w/o the slice of tomato that comes in a Denny's grilled cheese, i ought to be able to order that and get it that way... if i say i want the salad, but no croutons, i ought to be able to get it that way... on occasion when something is alread mixed in before it's plated, such as spaghetti sauce that has onions in it, it's understandable that they cannot leave out the onions, but other than that, a person should be able to order a burger and have something taken out or something added, like a peppercini, or extra cheese--something other than how it is listed on the menu... ask the owner what he or she thinks...
we eat out all of the time... high-end restaurants to coffee shops to take-out and fastfood... we typically receive very good service... we are kind, polite, friendly, waiters and waitresses always tell us how well-behaved our kids are... when we request something special, we tend to get it without incident... most even go out of their way for us w/o our asking... we tip generously... i have a hard time trying to come up with a ghastly eating-out experience... one time we received very slow service at a restaurant that was having a grand opening... that was understandable... the other one i can think of is when a new restaurant opened and the head chef walked off the job leaving the kitchen in disarray... poor service, poor food... we were not charged even though we didn't say anything about it...
Don't tell me my business. I know it well. Staff always appreciates it when I throw out a hideous customer who abuses staff. Reaps great rewards in the long run from the good employees.
Remember this all started with your view that someone should not order a Cobb salad if they do not like avocados.
I disagreed.
I brought fourth my allergy (I have sent back 100+ burgers for mayo)...your response - 'stop eating at fast food restaurants.'
WYF do you know about this business anyway? You've eaten in a restaurant? Good.
How many have you run?
A) Zero
B) One
C) Two
My gurss is your an ‘A’ kind of guy with a F- attitude.
I'd kick your ass out of my place and hear the employees cheer.
86 is forever in my book
Amen.
That annoys me too. And they always seem to ask that when you have food in your mouth. There was a steak place I went to a few months ago that had a small mat on each table. One side was blue and one side was red. If everything was fine, you left the blue side up and nobody bothered you. As soon as you needed anything (like a drink refill) or had an issue, you flipped it to the red side and almost immediately, the waiter would come to your table.
I thought that was a pretty good idea.
If you know what you want to order, put the &^*$ menu down!
Totally disagree. I almost never order an entree without some modification. I don't do that to be a jerk but I'm not going to let anybody else decide what kind of side dishes should go with my porterhouse or my roast chicken. SO instead of say mashed potato and corn, I might elect to have two sides of broccoli or a side of broccoli and a side of butternut squash. In over 20 years of going to restaurants on a regular basis, I almost never have a problem getting the sides I prefer. And if I want my steak with or without mushrooms and onions on top, I should be able to decide that as well.
Now in a fast food joint like McDonalds or Taco Bell where speed is key, I can see where that kind of accommodation would gum up the works. But in a sit-down restaurant where you are going to be paying upwards of $25 per person, you ought to be able to expect a higher level of service and get the food the way you want it. (That's why you tip in sit-down restaurants but not at McDonalds and Taco Bell.)
I know a Sushi place like that in White Plains, NY. The chef decides what you will eat. If you don't like it, then go someplace else. One of the best sushi experiences that I have ever had -- ever!!!
That's OK as long as the restaurant normally has those sides on the menu. But when a customer says I would like the sausage and peppers without the peppers, Phili Cheese Steak without the cheese, etc, then there is a real problem.
I can see your point there. I would never ask a restaurant to actually alter a menu item (such as removing beans from a bowl of chili). I usually limit my “special requests” to side dish substitutions.
Try explaining allergies to most waiters and they look at you like you are stupid. I have an extremely long list which I keep in writing. When I order I hand the list to the waiter and ask, “What on your menu can I have?” You would be amazed at how many of them can’t figure out that rolls have wheat in them. I have also had wonderful waiters who went straight to the chef and between them they came up with an absolutely delicious dish. I appreciate the extra effort and I do tip accordingly. For Labrythinos to say just order something else or don’t go out is shortsighted. I hope he never has an allergic reaction to a meal.
You sound like a freakin Democrat, as if you have some entitlement to a meal at a restaurant that doesn't cause an allergic reaction. If you have that many food allergies, then stay home for God's sake. I don't want you at my restaurant and my liability insurance carrier doesn't want you either.
Not a Democrat. Never have been and never will be. But I do have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness same as you. And I never asked you to prepare my meal. Nor have I asked you to pay my medical bills. I can spend my money at a restaurant as well as you can. If you own a restaurant please let the rest of us know and stick a sign on it that says “If you have allergies, don’t bother coming here because we don’t care.” Probably not too many people who want to spend time with you anyway.
it’s a paraphrase of a Eugene Levy line from the movie Splash.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.