as i was blogging about the denny's effect on my restaurant and the nightmare it caused, i thought i needed to come up with a list of things from a servers point of view customers need to remember when eating out.
1. if you are in a bad mood when you enter the restaurant, please do not take it out on your server. depending on your server, a few things most likely will happen. generally, your server will try to avoid your table because who wants to be given a hard time.
2. if you feel your food is taking to long, its not your servers fault. your server is not your cook. he or she cannot do anything to get it cooked any faster. look around you, if the restaurant is full there is your explanation. if there has been inclimate weather, there is a good chance the staff of the restaurant may not all be there either. your food item may be in high demand at the moment ie we ran out of grits and more are cooking. remember if you wanted fast food, you wouldn't be at a sit down restaurant. good food often takes time. my all time favorite incident involving this happened when a customer got upset with me when we had received word less than 15 minutes ago that a coworker had passed away. i apologized and explained the situation that we had been surprised by this news and were in a bit of shock and doing our best to cope. she handled herself as a perfect customer and human being from then on out.
3. do not base how quickly your food should get to you by the tables around you. just because you arrived first does not always mean your food will arrive first. your food item may take more time to prepare ie your neighbor ordered a salad and you ordered a well done steak. in my restaurant the most common situation this happens is with a wait on grilled chicken. grilled chicken takes the longest to cook of any of our proteins. they may have ordered before you. most tables order drinks then need time to look over the menu before ordering, but sometimes customers especially regulars come in already knowing what their order will be and give it to the server as soon as they see the server. speaking of regulars, just like in bars some restaurants have regulars who get their food without even having to order because they get the same thing every time. i have several of these regulars who the cook sees them walking through the door, and the cook begins their meal.
4. if something is wrong with your food, do not blame your server. once again, your server didn't cook it. explain to your server the problem with the food, and he or she will get the cook to fix it. often when taking food to a table, a server has no idea until the customer tastes the food there is a problem. i have served more steaks than i care to remember and am clueless as to the difference from external appearance between a medium rare and a medium steak. tell me, and i will happily take it back to have it recooked. please do not get rude with your server, yell at your server, or take it out of your tip.
5.do not wait til after your meal to tell anyone a problem with your food. complaining after you've eaten does no good but to leave you miserable. many restaurants and restaurant managers aren't willing to do anything if you've already eaten the meal. however, if you make your server aware the server can have it recooked or get you a new item or possibly even taken off the check. but, still a tip for the full amount of the bill is expected.
6. tip and tip appropriately. tipping for servers is generally expected to be 18-20%. tipping beyond that for good service is appropriate. as a server, i generally tip more since i work in the industry and know what its like. verbal tipping meaning telling someone they did a good job then giving a crappy tip or no tip at all is considered just about the worst in the industry. if you are trying to save money or can't afford a tip, don't go out. servers end up paying in essence for you to eat.
many states require servers to be paid minimum wage. but, the federal government only requires servers to be paid $2.13 an hour. many states still go by this guideline, virginia being one. servers absolutely depend on tips as their main source of income. additionally, the federal government tax servers based on their tips. the government assumes that servers will receive at minimum 8 1/2 % of their sales in tips. whenever you tip less than this or stiff someone the server is still expected to claim they made this much and be taxed for this. some restaurants automatically claim for the servers a minimum of 15% regardless of what the server actually made. additionally, a server is required to make minimum wage once tips are added. so, if a server only makes $2.13 an hour the difference between that and minimum wage must at least be claimed. there are slow days or days when you get stiffed and this does not always happen especially as minimum wage increases and server wages do not.
additionally, many servers are required to tip out. meaning a server has to pay a percentage of their sales to hosts, busboys, bartenders, and food runners.
finally,good service and bad service can often be tied to your tipping habits. if you ever repeat your business at a bar or restaurant, there is a good chance all the employees not just the person who served you last will know how you tip and treat you accordingly. someone who tips well even if they require a bit more work will have all the servers falling all over one another to wait and you and will go out of their way to make sure everything is perfect. a bad tipper is often ignored by waitstaff for the same reason. servers are working to make money and if they know you are going to tip poorly why bother when they can turn their attention elsewhere.
7. if you come into a restaurant as part of a large party, tip more. large parties are more work. its easy to remember who ordered what at a table of 2 or 4, a table of 21(yes, i've handled tables of 21 and larger and delivered everyone's food from memory.) is a lot harder. carrying the food for a larger party is more work. it means more running to and from the table since peoples needs are less likely to be in tune as with a smaller party ie drink refills will be more staggered. often in handling a large party, the server will have to give up taking other parties or not be able to give their other parties proper attention. i have learned through the years larger parties rarely tip more than 10%. this is less than miss manners would recommend and i have always been puzzled by this. my only explanations are that it may seem like a lot of money to give one person or they assume gratuity is automatically included with larger parties. i have never worked at a restaurant that has included gratuity for large parties.
8. use your manners. say please and thank you. its always the right thing to do. don't talk with your mouthful to your server. do not bark orders at them. your server is your server not your servant. do not yell across the restaurant or snap your fingers at him or her. rudeness is never appreciated and often will lead to you being ignored or who knows what else where your food and drinks are being prepared. never ever cuss at your server. this will hopefully get you kicked out.
9. do not physically harrass your server. this may sound simple but apparently it is a difficult concept for many customers both male and female. verbally flirting while not always appreciated is par for the course and generally harmless as long as it does not get lurid. i still do not know what it means when a guy tells me i am prettier than a pair of new snow tires. i told everyone i worked with and we all got a good laugh out of it. squeezing my butt has far from the same reaction. i currently work in a family restaurant that serves breakfast and had this happen only a few weeks ago. there were children who saw this, and that disturbed me. but, beyond that i am not working for those kind of tips. a spilled drink in your lap or worse will often follow this behavior.
10.be careful with your kids, do not let them roam or put a child especially baby at the end of the table. many people will assume i am griping about how parents need to be better parents. not at all. this is a safety issue. servers carry some dangerous stuff often balanced somewhat precariously. i have had children run into me full force with no place thanks to tables being in the way for me to go to avoid it. luckily no one has ever been hurt from me, but i worry. at any given time, i have hot beverages and food that could easily burn me or the child or glass and ceramic that could break and seriously gash someone just to name a few. leaving children in the walkway by being at the end of the table or leaving a baby carrier at the end places them in the same sort of danger. who cares if you want the comfort of sitting in a booth. put the child's wellbeing first.
11. if you are going to sit at a table for a long time and by a long time i mean several hours especially when a restaurant is full, you should tip more. you are making more work for the server and should pay as such. additionally if the restaurant is busy or sometimes even if it isn't, you are taking a table away that could be turned and be another customer and money for the server.
12.people may not realize this but you should tip the person who prepares your carryout. at many restaurants, this person is a server who has to put together in addition to his or her other duties. tips are expected and appreciated.
13.please do not complain the restaurant is cold. there is a reason for this. the back of the restaurant is ridiculously hot. the servers are running and burning up. the restaurant employees appreciate when the restaurant is a bit cooler. you may only be there for an hour or so. the employees will be there for many hours. the last thing you want is a server perspiring into your food.
14. consider what time of day it is when you go to the restaurant. going at the very end of the day may mean your food quality is not the best. as a server, i am the exception when i say that i like customers til the last minute. more customers more money to be made. but, cooks, busers, and other employees are hourly and ready to go. they will not give it the same time and care to preparing your food.
15. you are usually not the only person a server is waiting on so be patient. the server is trying to get to everyone, but it may some time.
16. handing the server the tip is appreciated if tipping with cash. a lot of restaurants have problems with busboys or other servers stealing tips. its quite a common problem. even worse, as a customer, i have witnessed other customers stealing tips off tables. i once saw the son of a patron go back to the table and take the tip when he was supposed to be going to the bathroom.
17.do not mumble or speak softly when ordering. restaurants are often loud. when i ask you to repeat your order, it is because i couldn't hear you or you spoke to quickly. trust me i just want to get your order right. do not get offended.
18.bringing your own food or beverage into a restaurant is rude. many places have signs posted about bringing outside food or beverage. just don't do it.
19. show your appreciation via speaking to manager or comment card in addition to tipping. many restaurants take these into consideration.
20.if you have a special order, remember your server will hear it from the kitchen. know that the server is going out of his or her way to get your order the way you want it and should be rewarded.
21. do not make assumptions about your server's intelligence or lack thereof. i have a college degree as do many of my coworkers. many servers are in school or are artists or mothers or just prefer the flexible hours. treat your server with respect in general. i once had an older woman overhear my conversation about the trouble my boyfriend and i were having with our water heater. she then proceeded to tell me that god hates people like me who live in sin. consequently, no one wants to wait on her now.
22. horror stories with food do happen. i have never spit in or done anything else foul to anyone's food or beverage. have i heard stories which i know to be true. of course. violating any of the previous rules is always the reasons why. remember your server will be handling your food and drinks and be interacting with those who are preparing them. these are not the people you want to mistreat.
23. tip with cash if possible. in some restaurants, servers do not get credit card tips til they get their paychecks which may be weeks. servers look for immediate money and generally depend on it. this isn't a must but is appreciated.
3 comments:
"2. if you feel your food is taking to long, its not your servers fault. your server is not your cook. he or she cannot do anything to get it cooked any faster. look around you, if the restaurant is full there is your explanation."
SOMETIMES it IS the "SERVER'S FAULT!"
For one thing, they can FORGET to put the order in and DELAY putting the order in as well or even FORGET to get your food. 3 TIMES servers forgot me and my husband's food orders to put into the computer. Once, it was an appetizer at Macaroni Grill that our server forgot, because she decided to not WRITE DOWN any of the orders, which we ordered side salads, appetizer, drinks, and entrées all at the same time. As if any average person can remember all of that, plus specific things without writing it down? Another time, it was a cup of bisque that was supposed to be served BEFORE your entrée. The third time, a server forgot to put our appetizer order into the computer. ALL of these times, the servers ADMITTED forgetting to put in the orders.
Other times we have had delays due to the SERVER not putting in the order correctly into the computer. Once I had ordered bbq chicken nachos as my entrée(it was an appetizer, but I had ordered it as my meal). The waiter not only put the order in wrong, but he also never once compared the written order to the plate of food and stupidly brought me quesadillas. So not only did he delay time by pressing a wrong buttons, but he also wasted time bringing me the completely wrong food. Another time, my husband ordered a burger w/fries at Applebee's, which another waitress brought out baby back ribs w/fries. Turns out, OUR WAITRESS ADMITTED she put in the order wrong, so the server that ran the food was 100% NOT at fault. Our waitress got triple sat that time, so instead of her putting in the orders into the computer right after each other's table's of (2) parties of 3 altogether since the computer was almost right by us, NO, so that's why she messed up more than likely, because I honestly think putting 6 people's orders into the computer at once is too much to try to get right all the specifics for those people. I had a bunch of specific things I asked for as well.
Also, a server can forget your food. Once, a waiter stupidly put in front of my husband fried shrimp w/fries when he ordered crawfish au gratin w/baked potato. He admitted not grabbing the correct dish from the kitchen all because he was handing out other table's food from a tray. Instead of being a non-lazy, caring waiter, he wasn't, because I saw he didn't once while he was giving out food to other tables and ours on the tray, that he didn't verify what entrées went with which table. Common sense is you NEVER put some food in front of someone that you took the order from and not know what they ordered. I don't mean by "MEMORY" alone, I mean since he wrote it down, he had EVERY WAY of at least simply glancing at what entrée went to what table. Since he was so nice about the mistake by profusely apologizing twice and fixed the situation immediately we left him 17% still, but I think that was so careless and stupid to hurry up so much as if this was McDonald's or something that he couldn't make sure what plates went with what table. Common sense is to make 100% sure it's the correct entrée at the VERY LEAST. Especially, we were only a party of 2, so this wasn't exactly like we had a lot of stuff, because even my entrée wasn't complicated as it usually is.
Also, how long the server takes to put your order into the computer counts too. Think if the server decides to do something else that could wait like pick up dirty dishes before putting in your order, that's a delay or doesn't come to get your food order in a timely manner. Sometimes servers have said "I'll be right back after bringing soft drinks without the bar drinks that were ordered and me and my husband were ready to order, but they went away BEFORE we could speak up. That's delaying us from ordering. I feel you come to the table, there's ALWAYS a CHANCE the customers may want to place their order first. It would make more sense if our server would get our order and put it into the computer BEFORE worrying about the margarita I ordered. The faster we eat, the more likely most customers will leave faster, which means more potential for more customers to get seated, possibly more tips.
I also hate when servers take your entrée order or appetizer order or dessert order, and then greet a large party. I understand you all supposed to greet within a certain time, but if the servers would get fired, I would say I would completely understand, but these servers that have taken 5 minutes or more to get to us, STILL work at these restaurants, because we go out every weekend just about, usually twice a weekend. I feel if you take my food order, PUT the order into the computer, THEN greet the next table of customers or go check on your other tables. Get the orders cooking so we can get our food faster. Intentionally delaying our food is YOUR FAULT when you COULD HAVE put the order into the computer first. The only exceptions would be things like if someone else's food or drinks from the bar were ready that had previously ordered or someone asked for something before we did or someone has a mistake with their food or bill. I understand if another table's food is ready, because they placed their order BEFORE I did and hot food comes first always.
For instance, my husband and I ordered an appetizer and drinks, then saw our waitress pass up the computer to greet a table. I understand they are supposed to be within a certain amount of time, but servers are allowed to do a mini-greet by saying something like "I will be with you all in a moment." What IF you have a table of 4 that wants to fully order after taking our appetizer order? Is that really fair if they take lots of time to ask questions and stuff that we wait that much longer for our appetizer? NO, it's not! Do the "RIGHT THING" just as you mentioned with manners, well that's part of manners too, to treat your customers fairly and not RUDELY!! It's RUDE if you just took our food order to go take someone else's order if they don't call you over. If they call you over, I understand, but to VOLUNTARILY go over is RUDE!! You are PURPOSELY, INTENTIONALLY DELAYING our food from getting to us faster. It's THE TRUTH, the faster you put that order into the computer; the faster we get our food. You do have SOME control over WHEN you get our order and PUT IN our order.
I also hate when at times I usually order a soft drink or tea and a mixed drink and my husband orders a soft drink, but when the server delivers the soft drinks/tea, they IMMEDIATELY say "I'll be right back", when we really wanted to place our food order. WHY can't servers just simply ASK you if you are ready to order? Customers don't always need to wait until the mixed drinks from the bar are ready. Sometimes I have waited 15 minutes or more to get margaritas before which is a normal amount of time when it's busy, so waiting 10-15 minutes to place your food orders IF you are ready to order sucks. At least ASK, UNLESS it really looks like we are studying the menu really hard. If our heads are up out of the menu, chances are, it's safe to ask that question. If you don’t give us that opportunity to place our orders, then you've INTENTIONALLY DELAYED us from ordering for no real reason. If someone's request was next, don't expect us to not tell you we are ready to order. Also, don't expect us when we are greeted, especially if we had a long wait for a table, that we aren't ready to fully order, because sometimes we are. We like when servers ask if we want an appetizer instead of immediately leaving the table, because I sometimes know what I want as an appetizer when we get greeted.
There are some people that don't like being rushed, but you can at least ASK instead of not asking is all. Especially, the lunch crowd during the week may want to hurry more, because some people are on their lunch break.
"4. if something is wrong with your food, do not blame your server. once again, your server didn't cook it. explain to your server the problem with the food, and he or she will get the cook to fix it. often when taking food to a table, a server has no idea until the customer tastes the food there is a problem. i have served more steaks than i care to remember and am clueless as to the difference from external appearance between a medium rare and a medium steak. tell me, and i will happily take it back to have it recooked. please do not get rude with your server, yell at your server, or take it out of your tip."
You are vague when you talk about food, because MOST of the time the server CAN tell just by LOOKING at the food if it's right or not. Steaks can be the server's fault if they put in the order wrong such as pressing "medium rare" instead of "medium well." Sometimes, if it's one extreme to another with a steak, because I saw a RED, LITERALLY RED, steak at Outback once being delivered to another table and if the person ordered it well done, that would be a DUH mistake. I would say 99% of the time, steak mistakes aren't the server's fault, but they CAN be is all I am saying.
As far as things wrong with your food in general, unless it's something the server can't see by just looking if it's wrong, it's their fault for BRINGING it out wrong. Raw food is not the server's fault EVER, unless the order was put in wrong.
Things that ARE the server's fault IF they took the order and brought out the food:
1. Wrong or missing entrées
2. Wrong or missing side dishes
3. Missing or Wrong containers or bottles of condiments
4. "On the side" when the food has the condiment on the food such as "ranch on the side, but the salad has ranch on it"
5. Twice I had servers confuse "ON THE SIDE" with "2 SIDES OF EXTRA BBQ SAUCE": I got delivered no bbq sauce on my ribs)-since then I tell the server that I want bbq sauce on the ribs, but I shouldn't have to, because I NEVER once had told them "on the side" when I ordered or that I didn't want bbq sauce on the ribs. Bbq sauce taste different cooked than it than just putting it on, because it makes the meat dryer tasting I find.
6. Put in the order into the computer wrong to begin with.
7. Delivering food without the condiments that the MENU states comes with the food unless the customers states they don't want it(Got delivered cheese fries without the ranch, but never once said we didn't want the ranch)(Basically, the servers that did that to us a few times didn't know their menu very well. I don't mean by memory, I mean by TRYING to LEARN the menu by comparing the menu description with the plate if you don't know what comes with something.(9 times out of 10, appetizers have condiments of some sort, especially things you can dip things in)
8. Wrong amount given. If someone orders 2 sides of ranch, don't give them 1 and a half, give them 2 FULL sides. You aren't blind, so don't act like it.
9. If someone orders their bacon crispy, the server can tell just by LOOKING at the bacon as long as it's not covered up by anything if it appears crispy or not.
10. If someone orders "NO pickles" WHY hand me my plate with a pickle on the side or even worse, on top of the lettuce and tomatoes on the side of my plate so the lettuce soaks up the nasty pickle juice? Common sense, if the person orders "NO PICKLES" that means ALSO ON THE PLATE UNLESS the customer states "I want my pickles "ON THE SIDE"", then you would deliver the plate with a pickle spear or pickles on the side. I don't understand WHY at some restaurants servers are SO STUPID as to hand me a plate of food with a pickle on the damn plate when I specifically said "NO PICKLES?" I don't care if it's garnish or it's normally served "on the side", because COMMON SENSE is that if the person states "NO PICKLES" that's what it means, no IF'S, AND's, OR BUT'S about it. If the person really wants the pickles on the side, they will say so, I mean really, lack of common sense you know? I think it's RIDICULOUS that I have had to say "NO PICKLE ON THE PLATE EVEN" to get the server to deliver it correctly. I don't feel I should have to go to such STUPID LENGHTS when I have already stated "NO PICKLES." That's totally RIDICULOUS, don't you think? WHY would I want a pickle on the side if I didn't specifically ask for it?
11. If someone orders "Lightly cooked fries", if the same server took the order brings out the food, they can tell whether they are light or dark.
12. If someone orders extra pickles or pico de gallo, or tomatoes or onions, NO MATTER WHO delivers the food, it's the server's fault if they are forgotten, because they can offer to bring out that stuff BEFORE the food is ready.
13. If I am served an OPEN-FACED burger and see on top the bun lettuce, but let's say I said I didn't want lettuce, COMMON SENSE would be NOT to DELIVER it to my table that way.
Just basically ANYTHING that the server can SEE without having to TOUCH OR TASTE OR CUT OPEN the food to notice the mistake if the took the order, it's the SERVER'S FAULT. If there is anything like onions, pickles, tomatoes, pico de gallo, containers or bottles of condiments, those are things IN THE SERVER'S CONTROL to BRING out BEFORE the food is ready. There's NEVER a reason to trust another server with your tip, because they aren't getting tipped from the customer, YOU ARE though, so it's YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to get what's IN YOUR 100% CONTROL out. You should always ASK if it's ok to bring out condiments ahead of time, because there are some people out there that don't want that. I know, because I have had people say so on my blogs. That's why you give the OFFER, so that way, if they don't mind, that part will NOT be WRONG, because you took CHARGE of your tip with that type of stuff. You will only have to depend on another server if another server brings out the food, for the food that needs cooking and side dishes that may or may not need cooking. If you don't need to depend on someone else, DON'T!! It's YOUR MONEY, you decide to take charge of it or not by trying to PREVENT mistakes that can be prevented.
I do agree NEVER to YELL at your server or be RUDE! That gets you NOWHERE and it's not nice, because we ALL make mistakes!! Now, I do feel as a customer however, 9 times out of 10, servers don't make "mistakes", it's that they NEVER once took the written order and compared it to the plate of food considering 99% of the times we eat out, it's only me and my husband, so it's really not as hard as a party of like 7 or something like that to handle. I can tolerate the mistakes, but I cannot stand when a server brings you ONE item and messes up such as at times, we have had OUR SERVERS(NOT another server) bring out our appetizer that we had shared WITHOUT a side of ranch we added. It's ONE plate of food, so it's not that difficult to verify that and honestly it shouldn't EVER be a mistake, EVER! The times this happened, I just said "We ordered a side of ranch" and the servers didn't be nice enough to say they were sorry, which I DON'T get that? For me, the dipping sauce is the reason why the appetizer tastes good, so without it, there's no point to bringing it out for me, anyways. Say you are sorry, you will be much more forgiven than if you act like you could care less.
If my food is delivered from another server, containers or bottles of condiments can always be offered to be brought out ahead of time and not wait for that other server that won't be getting tipped from the customer to care if it's right or wrong before they deliver the food. So in other words, containers and bottles of condiments forgotten are ALWAYS the main server's fault no matter WHO BRINGS out the food. You can prevent the mistake, because you should care about your tip to do some preventative measures beforehand. If you don't compare the ticket to the plates of food for another server's food, then why should you expect another server to do the same for you? Even if you do, chances are, a lot are lazy out there and just won't do it. You have got to take charge of your own tip for things in your control.
"get you a new item or possibly even taken off the check. but, still a tip for the full amount of the bill is expected."
It depends, if it was the SERVER'S FAULT or not. If the problem wasn't, then OF COURSE tip on the full amount. If it was, then OF COURSE I am for sure not going to tip on the before the discounted amount. I honestly start at 20%, could go to 25% plus, could go lower than 20%, then if the service starts going not-so-great, lower than 15%. I take into account not just the mistake, but MOSTLY HOW IT WAS HANDLED:
1. Did my server apologize?
2. Did my server act sorry such as fixing the mistake in a timely fashion as much as they possibly could or did they take their good ole time such as a simple side of ranch taking 10 minutes?
3. Did my server try to get something comped for a major mistake such as a wrong entrée or did they not report the problem to their manager?
4. Did my server blame someone else when THEY were 100% at fault?
5. Did my server profusely apologize for a major mistake? ( I EXPECT a "SO SORRY" if I cannot eat with my husband, wouldn't you feel that if YOUR meal was ruined by not being able to eat TOGETHER and get DELAYED the person that was at fault for putting in the order wrong should say "I'm SO SORRY about that?" I am a human with feelings, just as you are, so I expect to get treated with some RESPECT just as you do with "Thank you" and "Please" instead of customers saying "Give me" or something like that.
6. Did my server apologize immediately when told the problem or just afterwards? The waitress at Macaroni Grill that forgot to put in our appetizer that didn't write our orders down, just put her hand over her mouth(acting like Opps!), but didn’t say she was sorry until after, NOR did she report it. I would have reported it to the manager if I were the server and PROFUSELY apologized before and afterwards as well as asked the manager to comp the appetizer since it would have been MY FAULT for forgetting, because I was too lazy to write the orders down(they aren't required not to write down the orders, because months later we went to Macaroni Grill and the waiter we had WROTE DOWN ALL our orders). Her tip was 9% of a $5 off coupon discount amount. WHY?
1. Didn't apologize right away.
2. Didn't try to get something comped or paid for anything herself out of her OWN pocket since it was HER fault, she could have paid a COKE off the bill at least, would have gotten a much normal tip if she would have something like around 18% for an extra 2 dollars and profuse apologies before and after the mistake was fixed.
3. Didn't write the orders down to begin with because she was so lazy ass.
We will tip you the WAY you treat us!! You treat us like you don't give a shit, so we won't give a shit much about your tip!! Treat me as if that were YOU as the customer. Do you want your server not to apologize? Do you want to pay for an appetizer that was delivered AFTER your entrées all because the lazy server didn't even TRY to REMEMBER by writing the orders down? It's not a guarantee to write the orders down, because the bbq chicken nacho situation, the waiter wrote our orders down, but it sure does HELP to have something written down. I bring a list to the grocery store, because I cannot remember everything I need from memory alone. I cannot stand when servers aren't prepared when they walk to the table with a pad and pen READY to write down anything you say, because you have NO CLUE what we are going to say.
7. Did my server apologize for something that wasn't their fault? *(BONUS POINTS FOR BEING EXTRA SPECIAL POLITE)*(Due to the fact we sometimes don't get ONE sorry for a mistake that was theirs, so when I have a mistake apologizing for something that wasn't their fault, they get a good tip and get a small mistake to be let go or not to take off as much off the tip as we would have done.
"7. if you come into a restaurant as part of a large party, tip more. large parties are more work."
ONLY if the service is GOOD would I tip more if I were in a large party. If the service sucks like lots of obviously wrong orders, forgotten things, the tip will be based on those things and how they are handled.
"8. use your manners. say please and thank you. its always the right thing to do."
I say "thank you" every time just about that the server brings me things. I don't say please all the time, because I feel that is like begging. I do ask NICELY for things. An example would be "Can I get another coke?" I just don't add please to it all the time, because I don't think about it and it's like begging when 9 times out of 10, servers don't apologize when they mess up for some reason. I am nice enough to say "thank you", they can at least apologize when they mess up.
The "right thing" to do would be for servers to admit when they are wrong by not only admitting that, but apologizing for the mistakes they make, which I find 9 times out of 10, I get the servers that don't be nice enough to apologize. I dealt with customers about 10 yrs ago at a donut shop and I even apologized for things that weren't my fault like raw food or if we were out of something. I was nice, WHY can't servers apologize when they mess up. It's not like we were born under a rock to not know who's at fault or not. Not apologizing lowers the tip more than if they would just be nice enough to apologize. I want to hear that sorry from you servers out there when you mess up. Make me feel like you care, then I will back in the tip more.
You say do the "right thing", but sometimes servers don't. Once, our waitress at Red Lobster was unfair. Maybe the long wait for our entrées(around 50 mins) wasn't her fault, but what was her fault was her handing side salads that were on the SAME TRAY as our entrées to the customers that weren't even in the building when we placed our entrée orders to them BEFORE giving us ours. She COULD have decided to be FAIR and bring us our entrées FIRST, then their side salads. I don’t care if we are talking about seconds, it's not as much about that as it is about the principle of it that WE ORDERED OUR ENTRÉES BEFORE THEY ORDERED THEIR SIDE SALADS, so since she had all 4 items on the same tray, she COULD have DECIDED to deliver them in the ORDER in which they were taken in out of COMMON DECENCY. I would have NEVER done that if I were the server. I would have handed out the food in the order in which it was ordered in out of being nice and common sense that I wouldn't want someone to let someone CUT in front of me, I wouldn't do it to them. My point is, some servers, through their ACTIONS(actions speak louder than words) are RUDE!! My jaw almost dropped when I saw her do that, especially considering our long wait. We got seated around 11:15a.m.(not a busy time you know) and didn’t get our entrees until around 12p.m. That was just MORALLY WRONG for her to hand them theirs before ours. I couldn't fathom treating another human being on purpose like that, EVER!!
I had ordered my fries at Outback once from our waitress that brought our food out "Lightly cooked" "Not brown, yellow" "Not overdone." She brings out the darkest fries, even my husband noticed how DARK brown they were. Instead of being nice to apologize, she fucking blames the damn kitchen staff!! She said "I put in the order right." I saw within 2 SECONDS, COUNT, 2 FUCKING SECONDS she put the food in front of me, that it was DARK BROWN! She wasn't BLIND and she did write down the order. I cannot stand when servers act like it's not their fault, but anyone, even a colorblind person can tell the difference between dark and light things. If you can notice something is wrong and YOU took the order as well as brought me the food, it's on YOU, NOT the kitchen staff! I didn't have to touch a thing, NOT one fry. For my husband, because sometimes he doesn't always agree with everything I say, he even said that the fries were dark. Even if something wasn't my fault, at the donut shop I worked at about 10 yrs ago, I apologized out of being NICE when customers had wrong food or we were out of something!! This was HER fault though. Her job was to tell the kitchen staff that the fries were overdone and that to RECOOK a set of fries ****BEFORE***** leaving the kitchen with the food cooked wrong considering anyone can tell if fries are dark brown and yellow color. It's just like if I don't have a side of ranch, to remind the kitchen staff, well, I said YELLOW, NOT OVERDONE. Her tip was 12%. WHY? She could have apologized once at least and she have NEVER, EVER, blamed the kitchen staff for HER STUPIDLY ****BRINGING***** me the plate with the fries like that. That was on HER, NO ONE ELSE!! To be able to notice a mistake before touching any food is the SERVER'S FAULT if they took the order and brought the food out, unless the customer didn't order correctly.
"11. if you are going to sit at a table for a long time and by a long time i mean several hours especially when a restaurant is full, you should tip more. you are making more work for the server and should pay as such. additionally if the restaurant is busy or sometimes even if it isn't, you are taking a table away that could be turned and be another customer and money for the server."
I don't do this type of thing, but, if the server isn't doing anymore work such as my table doesn't want anymore refills or anything for the additional time there, then the payment should be stopped. Sitting longer doesn't mean always more work. The customers could be just chit-chatting and not wanting anything more. I feel the customers should get their butts up so someone else could sit, because that's just rude that they are hogging the table when they are completely finished. Those type of people don’t think about what if that were THEM waiting for that table.
I do agree if during the hours more the customers spend if they want refills or other things, they SHOULD tip more, because of the more work. All I am saying is if they don't want anymore service from their server, even if they spend an extra hour there, they don't owe you anymore, because you aren't "SERVING" them anymore.
"12.people may not realize this but you should tip the person who prepares your carryout. at many restaurants, this person is a server who has to put together in addition to his or her other duties. tips are expected and appreciated."
NO, sorry, but to-go food that is picked up inside is the SAME or LESS amount of work that a typical fast food cashier does(excluding Sonic Drive-in since they deliver your food out to you). If it's car-side-to-go, definitely tip, because that's delivery to your car. If you are picking up food inside, NEVER TIP unless it's a huge order.
A McDonald's cashier did all of this for me for an order of hotcakes and sausage that I ordered to-go inside:
1. Took my order and rung it up
2. Took my money and gave me change(or took the credit card)
3. Got a bag and put in the food
4. Went to one box to get a fork and another box to get a knife
5. Went to another box to get a couple of butters and another box to get a couple of syrups
6. Went to another box to get a couple of packets of strawberry preserves for my sausage
She did ALL of that for NO TIP.
A bartender at Applebee's that I went to get my food from didn't even get it right.
1. Put my order into the computer over the phone
2. When I got there, I paid.
3. She waited until I got there to get the containers of condiments I specifically ordered instead of having all of them in the bag as a DECENT HUMAN BEING WOULD HAVE DONE instead of bagging my stuff without the stuff I ordered, which she still didn't get it right after, which was frustrating I had to send her back to get more condiments.
4. She didn't even look at the fries, which I could see had salt. I don't know if she took the order or not, but I did specifically order no salt on the fries. If she didn't take the order, I couldn't blame her for that part, but the rest of the service was shitty, so this part makes no difference.
5. NO APOLOGY MOST OF ALL for the wrong amounts of condiments, the fries being with salt, and her waiting for me to get there to get the containers.
WHAT'S THE POINT OF TO-GO if they are going to be like a fucking McDonald's you know? LIKE HELL I would have tipped anyways for the SAME or LESS amount of work the cashiers at fast food restaurants(excluding Sonic) do.
At McDonald's, I had the CASHIER put some extra tartar sauce and special sauce in cups before. THE CASHIER DID THIS, NOT the kitchen staff in the back! I have had at Wendy's, the CASHIER make my burger and fill my drink up. I saw her put mayo, lettuce, cheese, and onions on my burger. The CASHIER did this. I also have seen a cashier at KFC put in biscuits in the box with the thongs. I saw her also put in the mac n' cheese in the container. I also saw her put the chicken in the box. THE CASHIERS did these things for NO TIP, SO WHY THE HELL SHOULD YOU DESERVE A TIP FOR COUNTER SERVICE if you are doing the **SAME** or **LESS** amount of work? What you make from your employer has NOTHING to do with CUSTOMERS paying FAIRLY to the workers that do the same or less amount of work, it really doesn't. If we all tipped all fast food, then I'd say tip the to-go servers for when you pick it up inside, but we don't, so to be ***FAIR***, you shouldn't tip on orders to be picked up unless it's a really large order. For instance, if I ordered 10 entrées to-go, I'd tip at the most $2-$3, that's it, because typically, fast food workers don't have 10 orders at once for someone in general. If I only order 2 or 3 entrées, unless I get the food delivered to my car, I would NEVER TIP just to get up to pick it up inside. As I said, 99% of the time, the food is wrong anyways. I feel like the times I get take-out that isn't Chinese(because I find Chinese usually get the orders right), the food is wrong.
Those fast food cashiers(excluding Sonic) do MORE WORK or the SAME amount of work and they don't get tipped, WTF SHOULD YOU for to-go orders that are picked up inside? 9 times out of 10, the food is WRONG anyways the few times in my lifetime I have gotten take-out.
I had gone once to order a pizza and a sandwich with a side of ranch and a side of bbq sauce from some local pizza restaurant. THANK GOODNESS I NEVER GET DELIVERY. I LOOKED in the bag, even if the ticket had the ranch and bbq sauce, THE BAG DIDN'T!! This is pathetic that getting take-out is like a fucking McDonald's, so WHY THE FUCK TIP? She didn't even apologize. They are too fucking lazy to verify the ticket and the bag of food. WHY tip for them just handing you the bag and putting things in the bag? I don’t at McDonald's, WHY ANYWHERE?
Even if they get the order right, they are doing the tasks that a typical fast food worker does, which it's not fair if I can't tip them, but tip you. As a customer, I will pay FAIRLY to everyone in this world. It's just like Starbuck's when I get a Frappacino. I don't care that Starbuck's cashiers get at least $6.50/hr, because they are doing the SAME work as a bartender would making me a white russian or a pina colada. They should get a dollar a drink or 15%-20% of the total bill just like a bartender. If they do the same work, WHY should it matter HOW MUCH they get paid from their employer? The CUSTOMER can be fair, it's that the employers aren't fair to the to-go servers at times.
"18.bringing your own food or beverage into a restaurant is rude. many places have signs posted about bringing outside food or beverage. just don't do it."
Some restaurants let you. In the area I live in, Applebee's in 2004 or so decided to switch to Pepsi products. At times, I brought my own coke or dr. pepper. As long as we ordered something, they didn't care, NOR do I think it's rude by a long shot. As long as we aren't taking up a table and not ordering anything, I don't consider it rude.
Also, sometimes kids don't like adult food and some restaurants don't have food for kids, so I don't see anything wrong with bringing a kid's happy meal, while everyone else gets adult food, unless the restaurant has it posted.
"21. do not make assumptions about your server's intelligence or lack thereof. i have a college degree as do many of my coworkers. many servers are in school or are artists or mothers or just prefer the flexible hours. treat your server with respect in general."
I don't have to make assumptions, when you are telling us that you have some issues with a lack of intelligence in this blog. You don't go into the issues that sometimes it can be the SERVER'S FAULT for certain things and that to-go servers that you pick up your food inside is just like McDonald's or Wendy's or Burger King.
Sometimes, servers act like they have a "lack of intelligence" with bringing out things wrong or blaming other people for stuff that is their fault. I had once a waiter at Chili's that had took my order and brought my food out that "THE KITCHEN FORGOT" when **HE** forgot my 2 sides of mayo and 1 side of mustard FROM THE KITCHEN. He has a set of EYES that could have compared that written order with the plate of food BEFORE he decided to bring me my food. I cannot stand someone that isn't going to blame themselves. Take the credit for where it's due. It's not my server's fault if they put in the order right if my steak is not cooked well done only medium well, but it is my server's fault they forgot some containers from the kitchen. Get the difference?
Your blog doesn't go over all the problems that CAN be the server's fault. You just want people to look at the positive, but a lot of times, things don't always go the right way. Shouldn't your blog go over the problems that ARE your fault as well instead of just being defensive? At least, I am HONEST by stating it's not the server's fault if the server put in the order correctly, but the food comes out not OBVIOUSLY cooked right(such as no color difference) or it's raw or wrong filling that you'd have to break it open to know or cut open something to know it's wrong or lift up a bun to know there's a pickle under a bun. I am at least being HONEST that it's NOT ALWAYS the server's fault. Sometimes the kitchen staff may forget about your order or not get the ticket in the back because of a machine malfunction or the kitchen staff reads(medium rare real fast, but the ticket has medium well).
I will give you that sometimes you can put the order in as soon as you could fairly(meaning as long as no other customer's orders are ready or no problems arise) as well as go get the food as soon as it's ready and it still be the kitchen staff's fault for the food taking a long time. I am saying what experiences we have experienced. I know more than you and I have NEVER been a waitress, how about that for "INTELLIGENCE" as you say? Don’t write that you are intelligent, then write all of these things without ALL the details and FACTS!! I am not trying to be mean, but I am SO SICK of servers saying "IT'S NOT MY FAULT" when it IS!! I HATE when servers blame someone else or something else THEY could have caught themselves!!!!
Read my 3 favorite blogs, because they are all the TRUTH:
http://thenonobservantserver.blogspot.com/
http://howtobeagoodserver.blogspot.com/
http://priceovercharges.blogspot.com/
"23. tip with cash if possible."
There are many reasons why I don't ever want to pay with cash:
1. Less convenient
2. Usually don't carry $50 or more on me
3. MOST IMPORTANT- Sometimes servers short you your money.
I will NEVER pay with cash again and if I ever would, I wouldn't ever tell my server to keep it until I would see if they would come back with the exact amount they owed me to see if they would be a thief.
I once had a waiter that decided to take me and my husband's coin change. We had paid with (2) $20 gift certificates and our bill was $34.69. He gave us only a $5 bill back without the 31 cents. It's not the 31 cents, it's the PRINCIPLE of it that he took his tip ahead of time and STOLE, so he got completely stiffed for being too lazy to go to the bar to get the change. Getting change is part of the job that we tip for. The tip is not just for bringing us food and drinks, it's for ALL the steps the server makes for us. Instead of giving us a buck for our troubles, NO, he gives us the exact amount, so FUCK those people that want to be assholes. If he would have given us more money back, he could have had some type of tip, but NO, he didn't care, so we didn't care about his money. Give a buck, you will see how customers won't be as pissed at you when you do that sort of WRONG thing. The fact that he also didn't do it right when I told him was rude, because that meant we had to wait until he was finished to get the change, how RUDE!!
I say NEVER tip with cash, because servers short you at times. If they want a tip, don't STEAL!! Tips are EARNED, NOT A RIGHT!!
"20.if you have a special order, remember your server will hear it from the kitchen. know that the server is going out of his or her way to get your order the way you want it and should be rewarded."
It doesn't matter what you hear. It's YOUR JOB to get what we asked for. When servers do go out of their way, they get paid really well 25%-30%. You only hear it from the kitchen staff, because WHO wants to do more work, you know? It's common sense that customers know this already.
"3. do not base how quickly your food should get to you by the tables around you. just because you arrived first does not always mean your food will arrive first. your food item may take more time to prepare ie your neighbor ordered a salad and you ordered a well done steak."
As I stated above, we have a set of EYES and COMMON SENSE to know that we ordered ENTRÉES BEFORE someone ordered their side salads when our waitress delivered a party of 2's side salads to them BEFORE ours when we know they weren't seated even when we ordered our entrées and it's common sense that they were a step behind us since we had already eaten our side salads aprox. 15 minutes earlier.
I saw once, me and my husband ordered mozzarella sticks at Applebee's and drinks, so just an appetizer and drinks. We saw our waiter take the other table of 2's order. He passes our table with our mozzarella sticks on the tray as well as their cup or bowl of soup(can't remember which they ordered) to deliver THEIRS FIRST. I have a set of EYES to know we placed our orders first and got seated first as well as he KNOWS WHICH TABLE he took the order from, so if it's on the same tray, have the common decency to deliver the food in the ORDER in which it was taken in. He should have delivered ours first since we did order first and got seated first. WHY servers at times are so UNFAIR, but then they want US to be fair to them when we tip? They KNOW WHO ordered first.
I agree about the time as far as a well done steak will take much more time to cook than let's say chicken tenders. I know, not only because it's common sense, but at the donut shop I worked at, we served chicken tenders. All the cooks did was put them in the fryer and they were out pretty quickly unlike a steak, which takes LOTS of TIME to cook well done.
It's just like if I order my bacon crispy, like DUH, it will take more time than if I don't order it crispy, because you have to COOK it more to make it crispier. Some people don't have common sense these days.
well, you have a lot to say; and have had it appears have had so many bad experiences that i am surprised you would even go out to eat at restaurant.
i will try to address some issues with what i see, but obviously since i was not there i can neither defend nor condemn your particular servers.
also, i should add that i wrote this post mainly as a means of venting after having a particularly rough day at work including being stiffed, cussed out, having a walkout due to food taking too long to the customer just to name a few things. this was an unusual day in terms of these issues which i noted in my previous post about the "denny's effect". i am new to blogging in general, and this blog is only a few weeks old. at this point, i only expected it to be read by my friends not only because of its newness but also my rather obscure blog title. i believed this to be true since until your comment only my friends had left comments. this does not mean that i do not stand by original post. those who know me know that i am very conscientous server and take pride in being quite good at what i do.
now a more specific response to your comment.
i suppose i should have said rarely is the time on your food your servers fault. that may have been more accurate.
i did i forget to give the cook my ticket to be prepared one time. even with that, i got the cook to put the ticket at the front of the line when i realized what i had done and offered the customer a free dessert after apologizing profusely. but, we all make mistakes even when at work. and, i had just the day before had my best friend's son pass and quite a bit out of it. is that an excuse, no. i screwed up. one time in years though, not a bad record. additionally, i think you will restaurants are more likely to have situations like mine occur. i can't take a sick day and get paid like most jobs or take a vacation for that matter. i have to come to work to get my tips which is the basis of how i make my income.
and, not all restaurants use computers to get orders back to the cooks. i have worked in several restaurants and bars through the years. many, many restaurants still have the servers turn in handwritten tickets to the cooks and just use the computer for ringing up the bill including the restaurant i currently work for. if you see me using the computer, do not assume your food isn't already cooking unless it is a salad or dessert and even then i may have made it myself instead of having the kitchen make it for me. watch kitchen nightmares or a variety of shows on travel channel, and you will see both methods being used at both high end and low end restaurants.
in terms of a server not writing down your husband's order, i am not personally familiar with macaroni grill's policy but some restaurants try to establish an appearance of poshness by not having the server write down the order. people complain when servers in those restaurants don't write down the order, but the server is just following policy. often, it is the server's choice if they have to put the order into the computer to be cooked. in terms of whether an average person can remember drinks, sides, special orders, entrees, desserts, etc, a server is not expected to be an average person. a good server is expected to have an amazing memory. i regularly tray my food without even looking at my ticket. if i didn't have an excellent memory, i couldn't remember all the things i have to do in my job which table has what food, drinks to refill, etc.
in terms of the mistakes, those servers made they admitted their mistakes and i cannot defend them although in comparision with the number of tables they have served it is probably an infrequent error.
as for doing unnecessary things such as clearing dishes, many restaurants require that whenever you come back to the server station you have something in your hand generally meaning dirty dishes. managers have no qualms with writing someone up for not doing this. usually, 2 writeups means termination. turnover in the restaurant industry is extremely high with lots of people who will be more than happy to replace you if fired. now even more than other times with a bad economy and difficulty of finding another job, following policy just makes good sense. i will never fault someone for clearing dishes on their way to put in an order.
why the server did not offer to take your order when the server brought the nonalcoholic beverages, i am not sure as i was not there. but, the server may have had higher priorities such as running hot food for another table always a number one priority in any restaurant. i know that i have run to a table especially if close to the server station to deliver a warm beverage and told the table i would be back i needed to run food. additionally, a server may have been given a only enough time to drop off drinks before following someone else running hot food to a table or singing happy birthday(one of the few things i truly hate that my current restaurant and none other that i've worked at does) or even been called to the back for an emergency meeting in the middle of shift often to advise everyone as a group of a death or severe injury or illness to a current or former employee or regular.
in terms of the policy for greeting tables, the corporate policy at the restaurant i work at is 1 minute from being sat. this is the first corporate restaurant i have worked at, but even as a manager at an independent restaurant(a previous job of mine
), i would have spoken to the server for not greeting the table before placing your order. greeting a table buys time for the server then to put in your order. remember the server has to juggle all tables at once. and, i will be with you in a moment does not cut it at my restaurant where i have to give the my name is such and such speech.
and in terms of firing a server at a corporate restaurant, its becoming more commonplace these days even for small infractions which to you may seem minor but company policy is an easy excuse to cut back on benefits. even if servers may not have health benefits cutting matching 401k benefits for employs have a certain amount of tenure can be incentive enough to increase the desire to terminate tenured employees. job stress is seriously on the mind of many servers and restaurant employees where i know a number who have simply been laid off recently due to the economy.
being on the other end of things as the server, i know the wait on your food more often than not is issues with the kitchen whether it be not staffed enough to handle the business which is especially pertinent as restaurants are trying to run on smaller staffs right now. yes, even restaurants are downsizing. for instance, during the denny's incident we had a packed restaurant with a wait and only one person who was a cook. managers did step in to cook, but they are not as effecient since they spend less time on the line. and, even fully staffed there are generally several servers with multiple tables putting in orders for each cook. its a lot for them to handle. i've been a cook too. i feel for them. sometimes we get a run on an item that may not be as popular or exceed expected popularity like a new item. for instance, we unexpectedly had a bus come in today. we had more orders for pot pies then we normally would and ended up with a wait on them. also, it is that a customer's idea of appropriate cook time does not match up with actual cook time. we are required to cook grilled chicken til well done and cooked thorougly to prevent salmonella. so, even if you order a cobb salad which we top with grilled chicken one would think it would take longer than a few minutes to cook. yet, on tuesday, i had a customer complain her cobb salad was taking a ridiculously long time when it had only been 8 minutes since she ordered her food even to her own admission. her argument was that a salad should be ready quicker and much like you used the example of mcdonalds where her salad is ready in a minute. of course, they do not grill each chicken to order; but like many customers in this age of fast food it is her point of reference. what you mention as common sense is often uncommon sense to customers who on a daily basis still surprise me with insane time assumptions. i have requests about fried fish which takes 12 minutes to cook or steaks or my favorite browned scrambled eggs yes browned as in burnt scrambled eggs which she expected to be ready almost immediately and her husband berated me regarding this since she only order this and biscuits.
i suppose my vagueness is because most of my non breakfast orders are entrees with proteins as the element many customers would complain about. many meats are difficult to detect doneness from the exterior and not just because i am a vegetarian. it is possible for many meats to appear fully cooked outside and not done or done to temperature on the exterior a common complaint.
when i said wrong with the food i suppose it was vague but i meant cooked incorrectly not missing or incorrect.
in terms of on the side vs 2 sides of bbq, i truly am torn as to whether this is a no brainer or something someone would easily mistake as i can see someone's confusion without the phrase in addition being inserted. for me, i find it better to just ask to prevent such confusion. ie asking do you want the 2 sides of bbq in addition to what is already on the ribs or instead of the bbq on the ribs.
the computer issue is a repeat which keeps seeming to come up which is why many restaurants still use handwritten tickets.
as for condiments, my restaurant and several others i have worked at make it a simple policy to just bring all condiments on the side even ranch for our ranch burger.
in terms of the no pickles seems simple enough to me. but, by the same token, i have tons of times when even though items are listed on the menu as being on the menu item ordered ie the burger comes with lettuce, tomato, and pickles as ours does and they fail to say no pickles then insist on having it recooked because the pickle touched their food. yesterday, i had that very scenario happened regarding a tomato on a sandwhich.
in terms of extras such as tomatoes, pico, etc., often the server gets those from the cook and has to wait for the table's food to come up to get the requested extra.
as for other condiments such as ketchup, i am embarrassed to say we do not have the same number of bottles of all condiments as tables and may have to wait for another table to be done to get the condiment. this is mainly a problem with oil and vinegar which is so infrequently requested that we only have 2 sets. but, with ketchup at peak times, i've had to scrounge to get a usable bottle when another table was done. this wasn't as much a problem before the economic slowdown generally except when ordering may have been screwed up. but now, sunday mornings can be a battle to find honey or ketchup. i wish i could bring them out before the meal, but it may not always be that easy. or, i may not have the time while trying to get to all my tables. time really can be an enemy. there are times when i come back to have a tray of food handed to me without condiments and i have to continue on my journey then return to get condiments.
its true you cannot trust another server to get your food out correctly, but we may not always have a choice. other tables get sat or have needs at the same time. i wish i had a million hands to do it all, but i just can't always be everywhere at once.
i always try to apologize and believe it is key when a mistake is made and sometimes even when it is a mistake you have nothing to do with ie raw interior of meat. trust me phrase i'm so sorry for that may be some of the easiest for me to say. but, it can be hard for some people to hear the apology when already rilled up.
i can tell you having waited on thousands of tables, most people tip based on the final amount after the comp not the original amount regardless of whose fault the error was. just a pet peeve of mine since i did the work of a for instance $40 check and corrected the problem to the best of my ability plus got it comped then got a tip for a lower check amount.
and trust me i've had bad service before but i guess by having been in the restaurant business i am more forgiving. the worst tip i have ever given is a 20% tip for awful service, but i know i am the exception.
with saying please, my issue is more having people bark orders which is often an issue of tone and wording. when a man said to me today get me a coke instead of could i have a coke or i'd like a coke neither of which even have the word please, i was a bit taken aback. i need is a big pet peeve of mine not only because it is often rude but usually incorrect. you rarely need mayonaise for your fries but you might like mayonaise to go with your fries. some of that is the former high school enlish teacher in me.
i find your generalization of servers not apologizing to be a generalization based on your experience which is one i find hard to believe. i eat out, have trained servers, managed servers, and am a server myself and apologizing regardless of fault is something i have received, taught, witnessed, and have done with a ton of regularity. today, when we had the pot pie issue, another server took my pot pie while i was waiting for the rest of the food to come up which would have left me with a 20 minute wait and complete recook on the remaining 7 meals at the table. she really screwed me. i was so embarrassed and literally bright red in the face when i approached the table and apologized profusely explaining the situation. i offered him another meal since i knew it was impossible to wait that long. in fact, i offered him the most expensive on our menu which i also knew was quick. i pushed it to the front of the cook's order, comped his meal, and gave him dessert for free. you know even now 10 hours later, i still feel bad. i really do take pride in my customers being happy. and, it upsets me that he could not get what he ordered.
i will ask that the expletives be left out ie the use of lazy a** especially when adding the expletive is not necessary. lazy conveyed the message. the f bomb though is not at all necessary. i have no problem with that language in real life. but, other people may be offended; and i don't want that. eventually, i would like to increase my web traffic and that language could preclude people who have their browsers censor content not visiting my site. this is especially true since i've got a lot of information that i would like to continue posting that would be of interest to mom and educators. if i can keep my language in check, i hope that others can too.
with the side salads, it could have been dropping off to who is closer to her exiting the station or preventing her tray from being off balance. i am not sure.
refills can be more work especially when it goes on for hours. i've had customers hold tables for upwards of 14 hours and still want coffee refills for every 5 minutes. this has happened several times with multiple patrons. and yet still, the tip may only be $1.
picking up food inside may be the same work as a mcdonald's cashier but the mcdonald's cashier gets paid a wage to do that. when you go into a restaurant, you make a tacit agreement as a customer to pay some of the servers wages in the form of a tip even if the service is carryout. obviously, the tip is not the same as for full service sit down meal. and yes as a server for a carryout meal, i do work. the bartender may not had the condiments in the bag because he or she was waiting on patrons in the seated in the restaurant. and, cashiers get a wage about 5 times that of a server to prepare your meal.
you and i have a different opinion of whether it is rude to bring outside food or beverage into the restaurant. nothing can change that. i am a vegetarian and lots of places don't serve vegetarian entrees. i would never dream of not bringing in outside food. i just don't go somewhere i can't make do somehow. it's the same if you have kids. we offer close to 20 kids meals at my restaurant at prices comparable to happy meal prices. parents still bring in outside food and ask for ranch or honey mustard for their kids.
with assumptions its not just how you are treated but also what people say. no one needs to be told they are a stupid server or to get a real job. sometimes i think strippers get more respect. that is meant to be sarcastic. my point is i dislike classism in any form.
i didn't get into anything that could be a server's fault as this was not my mission. i really do not appreciate an attack on me personally. this post was a generalization. i never name names of any customers. you on the other hand choose to insult my intelligence and berate me without even knowing me. i make it perfectly clear at the top of my blog with a description that this is a journey through my so crazy called life that is a personal blog. i do not appreciate you turning your bad experiences with other people and anger into a rant on my lack of knowledge of restaurants or intelligence. actually, i never even said i was intellient-how bout that you just assumed i felt that way. i only stated i have a college degree. i do in fact feel that i am intelligent but that is neither here nor there. the title from the post is that it is from a server's point of view. nothing in that should give the impression that i am here to apologize for your bad experiences. if anything, it would seem your disdain towards waitstaff could make bad experiences a self fufilling prophecy.
in all my years, eating out i have never had a server keep change ever. and my point was only to tip with cash not pay with cash. it is simple to pay with a debit or credit card and give a cash tip. i have customer do it all the time and generally it would be under your $50 maximum cash policy. beyond that, of all the things in my list this certainly has to be the nicest. i said tip with cash if possible. i understand if you can't or even don't want to. its just a nice thing to do. i have never stolen from a customer and never would. a lot of servers i know hate coin change and would never think to keep the coin change. personally, i save mine up in a jar so i am fine either way. and, at my restaurant i don't even cash you out. a host does. so, i could never short you change.
as someone who has admittedly never been a server, i doubt you would be capable of stating that you and only you know all the details and the "truth". i am of the philosophy that there are 3 sides to every story. the 2 parties involved and the "truth". having been on both sides as a patron and server, i can at least see two sides. it is also why i added from a server's point of view to the title. and, it is also why i do not make definitive statements to defend the servers in your bad experience stories except with the greeting of a new table. i was not present and am therefore a less than accurate judge.
i find common sense often lacking in our society even more so since i have dealth with customers in this job or others.
in terms of the percentage tipping issue which i should have addressed above and somehow missed and at this point have neither the time nor patience as i need to get to other tasks of properly placing, my issue is not with lower tipping for poor service. i would understand that. my issue is with stiffing a server completely and substandard tipping. for instance, people who regularly only tip 5-10% regardless of level of service.
i feel i have tried to address your comment less redundancy. some things we will never see eye to eye, but i hope to shed a light on what may be happening on the other end of the spectrum
"in terms of a server not writing down your husband's order, i am not personally familiar with macaroni grill's policy but some restaurants try to establish an appearance of poshness by not having the server write down the order."
As I stated before in my last post "would have reported it to the manager if I were the server and PROFUSELY apologized before and afterwards as well as asked the manager to comp the appetizer since it would have been MY FAULT for forgetting, because I was too lazy to write the orders down(they aren't required not to write down the orders, because months later we went to Macaroni Grill and the waiter we had WROTE DOWN ALL our orders). "
So you are WRONG about this. I guess you didn't read my post very well, did you? I seriously doubt all of sudden they made changes months later, because at Chili's(which Macaroni Grill is owed by the same company) let's their servers write down the orders.
"whenever you come back to the server station you have something in your hand generally meaning dirty dishes."
The server can pick up ONE glass, NOT buss the entire table then, because them stacking up many dishes and bussing the table takes TIME. You CAN CHOOSE to take less dishes in that one trip so you can make the customer have their refill or check or whatever is in my server's control faster.
"i will never fault someone for clearing dishes on their way to put in an order."
WHY? They aren't going to the server's station; they are going to the COMPUTER? I definitely find that to be EXTREMELY the RUDEST thing to worry about cleaning up over a LIVE HUMAN BEING. I ALWAYS fault them if I see them be RUDE like that. They CAN decide to put the order into the computer first. They don’t have to grab all the dishes, just one glass takes a lot less time than several dishes if they absolutely have to.
"why the server did not offer to take your order when the server brought the nonalcoholic beverages, i am not sure as i was not there. but, the server may have had higher priorities such as running hot food for another table always a number one priority in any restaurant."
WHY didn't she just run the food then and not had even brought our drinks then, you know? If hot food is ready, don't bring me my drinks, plain and simple!! If you aren't ready to take an order, DON'T COME TO MY TABLE, it's that simple, because you have NO CLUE WHAT AND HOW MUCH I WILL TAKE OF YOUR TIME!! We have ordered from being greeted at times and the time I talked about at Macaroni Grill, so think about how LONG she was standing there compared to if we had only ordered our drinks or drinks and an appetizer.
One time, I did see where a waiter went once when he did that to us at Chili's, which he did something else and then instead of coming "RIGHT BACK" as he said he would since it was OUR TURN, NO, he greeted another table that had gotten seated AFTER he had even brought us our soft drinks(I had ordered a margarita as well, so he was waiting until that was ready I guess). He passed up our table to greet them and then was not even going to come to our table, which I had to almost grab him to say we were ready to order. Priorities are to hot food, because they ordered BEFORE we did, but we got seated first, so we should have gotten to place our food orders first since we were ready when he brought our soft drinks out, but instead we didn't get a CHANCE to say anything when he IMMEDIATELY said he'd be right back. He WASN'T "right back." My point is, there were no priorities that he couldn't have came right back as he said he would after he would have delivered whatever he was doing.
I feel if you deliver anything to the table, you should ASK if the customer wants anything. That waiter at Chili's delayed our food orders a long time for no real reason. He could have been put the order into the computer before those customers were even greeted that were at the other table since they weren't even there when we received our soft drinks.
"in terms of the policy for greeting tables, the corporate policy at the restaurant i work at is 1 minute from being sat."
If that were so true, those servers we see ALL THE TIME that make us wait 5 minutes or longer would have gotten FIRED, so this is a bunch of BS that this is actually FOLLOWED, because in most restaurants when it's real busy, it's sometimes just IMPOSSIBLE to follow that. What if you get a table of 7 that wants to order their entrées at the time of greeting? You cannot get to a table that just got seated within one minute after these people got seated. That's impossible! Sometimes it's just not possible to do things exactly how they are supposed to be.
"i had a customer complain her cobb salad was taking a ridiculously long time when it had only been 8 minutes since she ordered her food even to her own admission."
I will agree with you there, that was just a stupid idiot. She just wanted to complain to get it for free if you ask me or acts like this is McDonald's.
"when i said wrong with the food i suppose it was vague but i meant cooked incorrectly not missing or incorrect."
Sometimes cooked incorrectly can be caught with the server's eyes. I can tell just by looking at bacon(let's say it's on the side of the plate like the grand slam at Denny's), if it's crispy or not. If you can see white fat or it looks limp, it's not crispy. Same thing with the fries example light vs. dark that it can be the cook that didn't cook it correctly, but sometimes the server CAN notice the difference with their eyes for things cooked incorrectly. A scrambled egg looks totally different than a fried egg. That's a real good example of that would be a DUH mistake if the server would bring me the egg cooked completely wrong. I NEVER said all the time, just for some items.
"ie asking do you want the 2 sides of bbq in addition to what is already on the ribs or instead of the bbq on the ribs."
The servers didn't do that though. One waitress asked me when she had the ribs in her hand, which were dry as a bone. I was some pissed that she was confused, but waited until they were ready to ask me. That pissed me off. I feel if she was not 100% sure, she could have asked me when I ordered or even a little after I ordered, NOT waited until my food was ready.
They shouldn't get it confused honestly, because if I ask for bbq sauce "on the side" that means nothing on the food, but if I ask for "SIDES OF BBQ SAUCE" that means "SIDES OF BBQ SAUCE" and has NOTHING to do with the food. I agree, the server should ask, but they don't. That's why I have had to tell them I do want bbq sauce on my ribs. I shouldn't have to though, because I am not ordering "no bbq sauce on the ribs" or ordering the "bbq sauce on the side."
"and they fail to say no pickles then insist on having it recooked because the pickle touched their food."
You know how to prevent that? I have had servers before ask my husband since he orders his "as is" normally, "Do you want it with lettuce, tomatoes, or pickles?' The server REMINDS the customer incase they didn't read or remember what comes on it. That way, they get it right and no sending things back. It sucks you have to baby-sit the customer like that, but there are LAZY customers that don’t read the menus.
"in terms of extras such as tomatoes, pico, etc., often the server gets those from the cook and has to wait for the table's food to come up to get the requested extra."
If that were so true, how come I have requested to have chopped onions BEFORE the food and the server had NO PROBLEM bringing it?
"i wish i could bring them out before the meal, but it may not always be that easy. or, i may not have the time while trying to get to all my tables. time really can be an enemy."
YOU CAN, servers do it for me ALL THE TIME!! I request it, they do it. I have only had like 3 servers refuse out of so many over the years I have asked this of them. As far as you saying "I may not have the time while trying to get to all my tables" is a bunch of BS, because if I ordered FIRST, I get my stuff FIRST, NOT THEM!! The one minute greet is a bunch of BS, because I go to all these chain restaurants Chili's, Applebee's, Outback, Red Lobster, etc. I know that I see the SAME servers that I have had to wait many minutes to get greeted before STILL WORK THERE!! If I asked for ranch with my appetizer, you should be going to tell the cooks or expo to get it for you, meanwhile, greet your table, and then go check on the ranch to see if they got it. HOW ABOUT THAT?
WHY should you get to table 7 if they just got seated if I just ordered 2 sides of ranch? I placed my order BEFORE them and got seated as well as greeted BEFORE THEM, so NO, there's NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, an excuse for not bringing out condiments ahead of time unless they are OUT or don't have enough bottles to go around. Even then, ask one of the customers that have a bottle of ketchup let's say if they are finished with it and then you can literally get a container yourself to put some in for the customer. HOW ABOUT THAT? TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR OWN TIP, because NO ONE ELSE WILL DO IT FOR YOU!! It's your tip on the line, you decide.
There's NO EXCUSE not to get the condiments out before the food comes out. If table 8 just ordered, don't come greet me, get their order into the computer and go ask if the kitchen staff can get them a side of ranch. Meanwhile, greet us, then see if the ranch is ready. What is so hard about that?
"its true you cannot trust another server to get your food out correctly, but we may not always have a choice. other tables get sat or have needs at the same time."
The other tables have needs, but NEVER, EVER, at the "SAME EXACT TIME", because ONE table ordered FIRST out of the tables. YOU ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE, it's called **GOING IN ORDER OF REQUESTS***!! Table 9 just got seated but not greeted yet, because you were at table 7 that just ordered a 1 ranch and a side of onions. Table 6 as you pass by orders a side of honey mustard, because they just decided now they want honey mustard. Guess what? You should be going put in the orders for those condiments and table 7's food FIRST BEFORE you go greet table 9. While you are waiting for the condiments to be fixed by the kitchen staff, you greet table 9. You may even have to wait until you get their food orders for the kitchen staff to have the condiments and onions ready, but you would have done the RIGHT THING by going in the ORDER IN WHICH THE CUSTOMERS ORDERED IN!!
You are being UNFAIR to say "other tables have needs at the same time", because someone ordered before someone else, even if it's mere seconds. It's NEVER at the same time, EVER!! You know who ordered first or write it down if you cannot remember. As far as customers getting seated, if we got seated first and order an appetizer, we placed our order first and waited in the waiting area for my seat as well fairly, so WHY should I get treated UNFAIRLY when it's OUR TURN finally to place our order for an appetizer. So if I ask for a side of ranch with that appetizer, you should be only being concerned with putting my order into the computer and asking the kitchen staff for a side of ranch to be fixed immediately. THEN, you would go to greet that table. It's the FAIR and RIGHT thing to do.
YOU ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE TO BE FAIR OR NOT BY GOING IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THE CUSTOMERS ORDERED IN AS FAR AS THINGS THAT ARE IN YOUR CONTROL!!
"i wish i had a million hands to do it all, but i just can't always be everywhere at once."
NO, but you can play FAIR!!
"when a man said to me today get me a coke"
I AGREE that's pretty rude. It makes you feel like you are their slave by saying it that way.
"with the side salads, it could have been dropping off to who is closer to her exiting the station or preventing her tray from being off balance. i am not sure."
As far as who is closer is concerned, that's mean to treat someone like that. WHO CARES WHO IS CLOSER, you go by WHO ORDERED WHAT FIRST as if you were waiting in a LINE that you don't want someone's order to CUT in front of yours such as the cashier at Wendy's handing someone else a coke when you had been waiting 8 minutes for your coke and they ordered AFTER you, getting their coke under a minute. What's rude is rude and you cannot change that.
As far as if the tray may be not balanced if something is taken off, well if that's the case, you bring out just the entrées first and make a SEPARATE TRIP to do things in the ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE TAKEN IN TO TREAT YOUR CUSTOMERS FAIRLY! I couldn't fathom handing things in the wrong order, EVER!! When they do that, that's letting them CUT in front of our orders. That's mean.
"picking up food inside may be the same work as a mcdonald's cashier but the mcdonald's cashier gets paid a wage to do that."
You don't get it, DO YOU? To the customer, it doesn't matter if the EMPLOYER is UNFAIR to you, because the CUSTOMER should be paying you ***FAIRLY*** that if we don't tip them, we ain't tipping you. The (((CUSTOMER))) is the person that can be FAIR or not. YOUR (((EMPLOYER))) is not being fair, which is NOT THE CUSTOMER'S PROBLEM, THAT'S THE EMPLOYEE'S PROBLEM if they don't like the pay they CHOSE to get for the SAME OR LESS WORK being done. Work at McDonald's if you want to same pay, I mean seriously.
I don't care if McDonald's workers got $20/hr and to-go servers got $20/hr, meaning the SAME PAY, if we all tipped both, I would tip both as long as I would have good service of course, but if we don't tip one, we shouldn't tip the other out of being FAIR as a CUSTOMER. The customer should pay FAIRLY is what I am saying. Your pay of what your employer pays you means NOTHING to the customer. What you do MORE for them than a typical fast food worker is what earns you a tip; do you get that or what?
"when you go into a restaurant, you make a tacit agreement as a customer to pay some of the servers wages in the form of a tip even if the service is carryout."
NO, I SURE DON'T MAKE A "TACIT AGREEMENT" to pay some of the server's wages, because even when I dine in, unless I am in a large party or using a coupon that mandates automatic gratuity or I am not living in New York where they have service charges, I don't have to tip a PENNY by LAW!! So that means if I get carryout, I don't have to tip either, especially because it's the same or less amount of work that a typical fast food cashier gives you for COUNTER SERVICE for NO TIP.
WHERE in the world do you get that when a person orders a to-go order they are in an agreement to have to tip you even if you get their order perfectly 100% right? I am not tipping the McDonald's cashier, WHY should *****THE CUSTOMER*******((((((PAY)))))) UNFAIRLY!! It's YOUR PROBLEM that YOUR EMPLOYER DOESN'T PAY YOU THE SAME MONEY THAT A MCDONALD'S CASHIER MAKES FOR THE SAME OR LESS WORK!! You don't get me refills or check on me when I get carryout. You don't bring me a check, I go physically up to the register to ring it up and get the check(unlike Denny's where the server gives you the check at least). WHY tip you if you haven't done ANYMORE WORK than THEY DO? WHY do you feel you *******DESERVE********* more money just because your wages aren't as much as a typical fast food worker? You don't DESERVE MORE MONEY BASED ON YOUR EMPLOYER'S PAY! WHERE THE HECK DO YOU GET THAT FROM THAT YOU DO by saying "mcdonald's cashier gets paid a wage to do that", when you STILL get a "WAGE" of at least $2.13/hr.
Also, I have read on a message board, that some Chili's have their to-go servers making $7/hr when they are doing the to-go area.
http://www.fohguild.org/forums/general/29367-take-out-tipping-9.html?highlight=takeout
06-28-07
Korioni said:
“I currently work for Chili’s, and this is how it goes:
Hostess: starts at 7.50 an hour
Busser: 2.80 an hour + 2.5% of the restraunt’s total sales during their shift, split between any bussers clocked in. (the later comes directly out of the server’s tips)
Server: 2.15 an hour + tips.
Cook: Starts at 8.50 an hour.
Bartender: Hourly wage and gets a portion of their sales.
Expo: Hourly wage and gets tipped out by servers.
TOGO: 7.00 per hour + their own tips(not tipped out by servers)”
So do you see that customers may not even realize if you do or don't get paid a certain amount? It shouldn't honestly matter as to "HOW MUCH" you get paid, because what should ONLY MATTER is if you do MORE WORK than a typical fast food cashier does for counter service. That's the ONLY thing that should matter to the customer, not what wage you get paid. I don't care what Starbuck's employees get paid, which is for a fact at least $6.50 per hour in our state for making my frappacino, because they are doing the SAME WORK as a bartender would, which means I should tip PAY them the SAME AMOUNT that I would for a bartender to make a mixed drink for me. Do you get what I am saying? CUSTOMERS DON'T CARE HOW MUCH YOU MAKE IF YOU ARE DOING THE SAME OR LESS AMOUNT OF WORK A TYPICAL FAST FOOD CASHIER DOES!! WHY SHOULD THEY? You are doing fast food cashier work, which doesn't get tipped(unless you are delivering the food to the person's car like Sonic).
"and yes as a server for a carryout meal, i do work."
You do, do work, but it's work that is exactly or even less work than fast food workers do for counter service.
"the bartender may not had the condiments in the bag because he or she was waiting on patrons in the seated in the restaurant."
You make up UNFAIR EXCUSES!! If I placed my order let's say at 4:15p.m., the patrons walked in at 4:22p.m., guess what? I placed my order FIRST, so there was NO REAL REASON to decide to serve people OUT OF ORDER in which they were in. That would be UNFAIR and MORALLY WRONG!!
The bartender was probably serving other customers, but you know what? MY ORDER DEFINITELY CAME BEFORE THEIR REQUEST, I can assure you that.
Just because customers sit down at the bar doesn't mean they come first all of sudden and get to "CUT" in front of someone else that had ordered BEFORE they did. I may not have physically been there, but my order was placed over the phone, therefore, it was MY TURN BEFORE THEIRS!! That's the RIGHT AND FAIR WAY OF DOING THINGS. Think about it, the FOOD was COOKED(my chicken fajita rollup with fries were COOKED) BEFORE I GOT SOME OF THE CONDIMENTS. Does that make ANY SENSE to take LONGER to POUR CONDIMENTS INTO CONTAINERS THAN TO GET ITEMS COOKED, especially MEAT?
I cannot believe someone is so MEAN as to DEFEND THE BARTENDER FOR NOT GOING IN ORDER OF REQUEST!! Since my order was ready by the time I had arrived, she had PLENTY OF TIME DURING THE TIME ****THE FOOD WAS COOKING TO GET THE CONDIMENTS*****, NO EXCUSES IN THE WORLD YOU CAN SAY THAT CAN CHANGE THAT, NONE!!! Even if you had to open a NEW BOTTLE, my food cooking takes more time than that even. You are really a piece of work DEFENDING the bartender for being a NON-CARING, LAZY excuse for a human being.
I have sat at restaurant bars lots of times and at bars. If the person that ordered their food over the phone was first, I SHOULD wait to place my order if I am sitting at the bar, because THEIR ORDER WAS PLACED BEFORE MINE, so it's only FAIR.
"cashiers get a wage about 5 times that of a server to prepare your meal."
As I said before, I don't care "how much" you make, because I will PAY people FAIRLY. I don't care if your employer isn't fair, because that's YOUR PROBLEM, NOT MINE!! Go work at a fast food restaurant if you want fair wages for that type of work.
It doesn't matter what amount you make from your employer. All that matters is ***HOW MUCH SERVICE DID YOU PROVIDE ME THAT IS ***MORE**** WORK THAN A TYPICAL FAST FOOD WORKER DOES FOR COUNTER SERVICE***!! Don't you get NO ONE CARES WHAT AMOUNT YOU MAKE FROM YOUR EMPLOYER and that the service they are "RECEIVING" is ***FAST FOOD COUNTER SERVICE****? They aren't receiving more service than that, so WHY THE HECK PAY FOR IT IF IT'S NOT MORE SERVICE THAN THAT, HUH? We don't tip there; we shouldn't tip anywhere else for the same or less work. It's only FAIR to ALL EMPLOYEES who do the SAME OR LESS WORK!!
"i would never dream of not bringing in outside food. i just don't go somewhere i can't make do somehow."
That's YOUR STUPIDITY AND LOSS!! I don't care what other people think of me bringing in my dr. pepper at Applebee's. I could care less. If I am happy, that is all that should matter, not what they think of me doing that.
"you on the other hand choose to insult my intelligence and berate me without even knowing me."
Because when you write a blog, you need to write with the FACTS, NOT just say "It's not the server's fault when such-n-such", because SOMETIMES IT SURE IS!! You deserve to be berated for acting like you are a KNOW-IT-ALL, when you ARE FAR FROM IT!!
"i never even said i was intellient-how bout that you just assumed i felt that way."
NO, this is what you said: "do not make assumptions about your server's intelligence or lack thereof. i have a college degree"
Don't you think when you say "I HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE" that you are REFERRING TO **YOURSELF** as being SO SMART?
"my point was only to tip with cash not pay with cash"
The problem I have with that is, is that the server can try to hide that they got that from the government by not paying taxes on their tips, because it's cash and no paper trail to speak of.
I would rather pay with a credit card to not only make my life easier by not worrying about bringing cash or getting change from a large bill like a $20 bill(which would make the server have MORE WORK), but to make 100% sure they pay their taxes like EVERYONE ELSE!! I am NOT saying you would personal do this, but SOME would and do not claim all of their tips.
"the bartender may not had the condiments in the bag because he or she was waiting on patrons in the seated in the restaurant"
"with the side salads, it could have been dropping off to who is closer to her exiting the station or preventing her tray from being off balance. i am not sure."
"its true you cannot trust another server to get your food out correctly, but we may not always have a choice. other tables get sat or have needs at the same time."
I just have a real problem with you DEFENDING servers and bartenders that had treated us UNFAIRLY. SO WHAT if the person was CLOSER, that's NO REASON to deliver OUT OF ORDER!! SO WHAT if the bartender needed to serve other customers, when you are supposed to go in the order in which orders were taken in out of COMMON DECENCY that most people hate it when people CUT in front of them, so DON'T DO IT TO OTHERS!! So what if they can't balance the 2 side salads and 2 entrées, they shouldn't be bringing all 4 at once then if they can't HAND THEM OUT IN THE CORRECT ORDER IN WHICH THEY WERE TAKEN IN. WHY are you for being UNFAIR? That's RUDE to hand things out in the wrong order, PLAIN AND SIMPLE!! Just as I made the example with the coke at McDonald's or Wendy's that if you ordered a coke that comes with a combo let's say, then person next in line orders a coke, that's all, that the cashier fills both cokes even, that means takes up YOUR TIME for your coke for theirs and even hands the coke out to the 2nd person first. You don't find that RUDE? You don’t find that mean? You don't find that the cashier would have no common sense or caring to speak of? I sure do!! MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE PISSED if someone did that!!
The other people NEVER ORDER AT THE EXACT SAME SECOND. ONE PERSON ORDERS FIRST IN THE SCENARIO, THEN SECOND, THEN THIRD, AND SO ON!! Do you get that or what?
Just as you said you would never dream of bringing outside food, well I would never dream of handing out things in the wrong order on purpose. That's just wrong and mean. Bringing outside food/drinks isn't going to hurt anyone, so I don't get why you have a problem with it?
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