Posted on 02/11/2011 7:18:48 AM PST by MissTed
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 kitchen’s 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 aren’t on any menu.
What you should know on Valentine's Day 1. Make reservations early. Restaurants usually don't have an abundance of tables for two. We need to time to plan where to put everyone. You'll get a better table and we'll be prepared.
2. Don't propose. It's so cliché. But if you do, warn us first. We'll put you in the corner. Nothing's worse than a crying woman in the center of the restaurant. Trust me.
3. Since Valentine's Day is on a Monday this year, go out on Friday or Saturday. Most restaurants will also serve their special Valentine's Day menu on those days. Or go out for brunch! Then you can sleep the rest of the day.
(Excerpt) Read more at shine.yahoo.com ...
Excellent point. While I don't trouble managers when the service is good (or even just adequate), I do go out of my way to let them know of extremes in either direction.
1. Be a regular.
2. Call your staff by name.
3. Tip significantly.
4. If you're getting shorted because the staff is having a hard time with another table, don't take it out on the staff, tip extra and leave a note, "this is for putting up with that brat at table 10." Smile and wink on the way out. Believe me, this one really works.
5. One bad experience, forgive. Two, take a couple of months off. If you've done 1-4 it will be noticed.
6. Never be confrontational. Nobody wins. It may make you feel better but she/he'll be bringing you your food.
Nine, going on 48.
In Mexico, 10% is considered a hefty tip. The local Chilis used to do a “south of the border sunday” which attracted a lot of Mexicans (actual Mexicans not hispanics) and the waiters I knew would bribe, threaten, and cajole the hostesses into putting them in someone else’s section.
Actually, I thought that was the norm for crappy service.
Not to go out on a limb, but if you were broke, should you really have been dining out? ;)
An update - the sample was confirmed to be from the store employee (he was arrested in January for failing to show on child molestation charges).
http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/crime/apd-dna-links-suspect-to-yogurt-case
I shop at this market (good selection of produce). I don't recognize the guy, but I don't spend a lot of time there (too many loony libs there). Apparently, according to earlier reports, the guy actually pointed the lady out to other employees and, for lack of a better word, stalked her in the store to get her to taste the stuff.
Perfect!
He didn't come back out.
LOL!
I remember my dear Mother and Father went out to eat one night (they didn't do that very often) and being the nibblers that they were their dinner and beverage bill came to about $25. Mom put the bill on her cc and left $5 on the table. When the cc bill came, that $25 showed up as a $200 charge and she was highly upset. She pulled out her receipt and and I showed her that she had left the line for “tip” blank and that it was probably how the charge ended up higher. She called the cc company and cleared it up and then marched down to the restaurant and ended up walking out with gift certificates totaling $500 (which she gave away to her friends). G-d how I miss that lady!
It’s funny, when you’re not ready to kill him. There was a major shrieking fit this morning because Tom moved one of the spoons Pat was arranging slightly out of alignment.
Are you sure Pat isn’t my child? :)
Oh my, I thought I was the only one to get that treatment! Two women, long after the dinner rush. I busted my ass giving the TERRIFIC service and that was my tip. I would have liked to tell them where to put it, but of course, they had already slunk out.
I suppose it’s possible ... I figured he was just not from Earth at all, though. There’s a precedent for that.
Bill: Tom says he can breathe under water. Doesn’t that mean Tom is evolving?
Anoreth: No, he’s an alien. That’s totally different.
Been there - done that too. The restaurant was almost empty, and it took over 20 minutes for a waiter to bring us water and menus. We looked at the menus, made our choice and closed them back up. I even stood mine up on end to let the waiter know we were done.
After another 15 - 20 minutes, he came back. Food came out in another 20 minutes or so. Both our orders got screwed up, so we sent the food back for the correct order. The wait staff were in the back doing nothing most of the time. We never got a refill on our tea either.
I actually wrote the tip on he back of the check. I suggested she pay attention to the needs of the table as to empty drinks etc. I then told the cashier that the tip was on the back of the check and left.
How stupid are people? Is it really a “secret” that you need reservations on big days like Valentine’s? That this Saturday will be busy at restaurants?
No, not kefir. They call it aryan.
I can relate, I have a mother-in-law like that and I always wonder what they put in my food just because I'm at the same table with her. One time, she was so bad that I got up with the excuse that I had to go to the bathroom just so I could slip the waitress an extra $10 for putting up with her crap.
Also, my mother always hated tipping. She felt that if she didn't get tipped for serving meals at home then sure as hell nobody should get tipped in a restaurant for doing what she does at home for free. Now my mother would always "hover" at the table as we were leaving and I always wondered why she did that. I eventually found out that she would take the tip off the table before leaving. When I caught her doing that, I hardly ever took her out with me again!
I was a restaurant worker myself in my younger days so I know what a thankless hard-working job it is. I automatically tip 20% and if service is exceptional, it goes up from there. People will treat you as you treat them. Very rarely have I ever been treated rudely by a waiter/waitress and any issues with the food, wait time, etc., is beyond their control so I never subtract from the tip for that.
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