By Rodney

May 14, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this

How fun! Sort of a he said/she said -

I think I can buy just about all of these but #6 is too far out …

By FCM

May 14, 2008 3:56 PM | Link to this

Meredith I have been on the other side of the table too….

By bartender

May 14, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this

If you want faster service, do not believe the Visa commercials. multiple debit cards for the same table and by the drink usage at the bar only slow down service as they take time to process. We’re servers not accountants.

By lucky

May 14, 2008 5:28 PM | Link to this

Also, just because you are high or drunk, it does not make you funny!

By Gofigure

May 14, 2008 5:43 PM | Link to this

I see it from both sides.

Don’t complain about the seperate bills. You know that when 6 men come in for lunch or beers that we’re going to have seperate checks. Stop b***. You’ll probably actually get a bigger overal tip.

Oh yea, don’t sit in my booth while you take my order. We’re not friends. Especially when you sit by me and my wife gives you the stink eye.

Keep my glass full. That’s right, Im a camel and I’ll drink 50 gallons of your water or sweet tea. You’re charging me $2.50 for beverages so you’d better believe that I’m going to drink it up.

Make sure the silverware and tableware is clean. Super clean. Would you eat off of it? If not, swap it out.

As for tipping, I always over-tip. I’ve heard other races are notorious for not tipping. That’s them though. Something for nothing right?

I don’t want to hear your baby or your kids while I’m out. Odds are, I’m out because I’m getting away from my kids. I also do not want to here you talking kid jibberish over and over and over-repeating that same phrase over and over and over. And if your kid has a trendy name, don’t f’n say it a thousand times. Like “Taylor, please sit down-Taylor, please don’t smack, Taylor, please be nice to everyone, Taylor…” Stupid soccer moms.
I f’n hate that. Disclaimer: Taylor may not be a trendy name but I was stuck.

By deegee

May 14, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this

Don’t come into a crowded restaurant at 8:00 on a Saturday night and complain about having to wait for a table. Have a beverage and enjoy your companions. If you are miserable while waiting to be seated then just go get some fast food.

See above, being nasty and obnoxious doesn’t free up a table any sooner than being nice and patient.

Tidy up a bit behind your kids before you leave. It’s never okay to leave vomit behind for the restaurant staff to clean up. (yes, it happens)

By southern girl

May 14, 2008 10:47 PM | Link to this

GET OFF THE DAMN CELL PHONE AND GIVE ME YOUR ORDER!

By InTheKitchen

May 15, 2008 1:25 AM | Link to this

*You came here to enjoy what our Chef worked hard to create. If you don’t trust his ability to blend flavors and balance tastes - why are you here? Please don’t look at all of the ingredients on all of the dishes and ask to create your own plate using a bit of this and a bit of that.

*We season the food the way we believe it should be served. Please do not add 13 shakes of salt before you even take the first bite.

*This is not your cubicle. Take an hour to relax. Leave the blackberry in the car and TAKE THAT FREAKING BLUETOOTH OFF YOUR EAR WHILE YOU EAT. You look like an idiot with that thing on. They are about $20 these days - wearing it non-stop does NOT make you look wealthy or more important. Who could you possible need to speak to/text that it can’t wait long enough for you to EAT?

*Don’t insist on having “a good table.” We honestly don’t look around our dining room and say “this table sucks - let’s put X person here so he’ll be unhappy.” We choose where to seat you based on which server is available to give you and our other guests the best possible service. If everyone picks their own seat, one server gets swamped while others are left standing. I promise - no one looked at your dress and decided you needed to sit over “there” because you’re not cool enough. It doesn’t work like that. If it did, we’d be out of business pretty quickly.

By Peter the Seater

May 15, 2008 3:38 AM | Link to this

My job is that of host in a popular restaurant that is kid friendly. I also assist the servers in every way possible. Here’s my perspective: 1. If you walk in the front door with a cell phone in your ear and ask for a table, you will be politely informed that you will be assisted when your conversation is finished. 2. We are not mind readers. To walk in and expect us to know how many are in your party, the identity of your friend(s) or the name of the group you are with, expect to be disappointed. Please politely inform us of your number, preferably number of adults and number of children. It is amazing the number of customers who come in and stand in front of the desk and never open their mouths.
3. Control your d*mn kids. We are a restaurant, not a soccer field. Having your children running wild disturbs other diners, causes accidents and is dangerous to everyone in the dining room. If your child wishes to select a coloring book, take one and just a few crayons, not a double handful and when your meal is finished, please gather them all up and return them to the stock we have for that purpose, neatly, if you please. Keep your child in the chair and his noise level down. Modern parents do not discipline their children for some reason and become deaf once the first cocktail or glass of wine is served.
4. Leave your laptop in your car. 5. If you see a friend and wish to speak to him/her, fine. Please do not launch into a long conversation while standing at that table. You’re blocking the staff and other customers. 6. Please call ahead if you have a party over six (6) people, especially during peak hours. You may have to wait so please don’t sit in the waiting area staring at the host or hostess in an attempt to get a table more quickly. It’s rude and it doesn’t work.
7. Yes, you are important to our business and we truly want you to enjoy your meal and return again but remember that you aren’t nearly as important as your self-perception tells you. We strive to be polite and professional but remember, we all put on our shoes one foot at a time and just because your’s are more expensive doesn’t mean you are more important than anyone else. 8. If you have large party, please do not camp out while the dining room is full. We have others waiting for a table and if you have children in the group, they WILL get restless and disturb others. 9. Do not get upset if your favorite server is not available. It’s the luck of the draw. We’ll do our best to assist you but some things are not meant to be sometimes. 10. Please, please, please stay off of your telephone. Would you answer your cell phone if you were having dinner in a friend’s home and others were eating? I didn’t think so.
Public rudeness is the latest craze in Atlanta. Mind your manners, be polite and pleasant and remember that you were probably raised better but have forgotten that. Our jobs depend on you, the customer, and life is a whole bunch better when everyone is pleasant and polite.

By Robert

May 15, 2008 6:07 AM | Link to this

Wow! This blog has certainly opened up raw wounds. What more could I add?

By ihorizon

May 15, 2008 8:01 AM | Link to this

I wonder if there is a potential for a show here….It’d be modeled after the Southwest airline show “Airline” only this would be titled “Restaurant” and camera would follow unruly customers and hostesses and busboy/busgirls and watch them eat. But that might get bored after a few episodes.

By bbb

May 15, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this

1) When a server says, hello, how are you this evening? That is a question- it means it should provoke a response from you such as “great!, and yourself”…not “Sweet Tea” or “chardonnay” Would that be an appropriate response to anyone esle asking you that question. 2)On the other side, I agree with Gofigure on the sitting in my booth or on the seat beside me. It is unprofessional and makes me uncomfortable. Also, do not touch as I would not touch you. 3) Guests, if you are in such a hurry, why are you in a sit down restaurant? Going out to eat should be an enjoyable experience, not a trough where you can angrily stuff your face and run out back to work or the soccer game. Servers experience the people who come in and are friendly, enjoy food, have lively conversation,and are a joy to serve. Then there are the people who come in angry, are in a hurry, never satisfied, and leave 10% on a corporate AMEX. I do not envy your life and would not want to be you 3) If you want lemonade, order it! Do not ask for 35 lemons and 60 sugars, you cheap skates. 4) And servers, especially in chain places, please treat serving as a job. I can tell when you are hungover and if you just woke up.I can tell if you are high as a kite and you have no idea what is on the menu when you ask me if I would like the fruit ‘compost’… or maybe you are just dumb! Working in the industry, I have met some of the most educated, intelligent people working in the kitchen and on the floor. I have also met the laziest, worthless, carnie people too. The guest and the server can both ruin each other’s experience. We are all just people.

By Nick

May 15, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this

Classic Golddigger - “When he said no, I said yes.”

By LT

May 15, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this

FCM - unfortunately your suggestion of tipping up-front won’t work with everyone. We once had a party of approx. 11 & the server gave us some of the worst service I’ve ever experienced - merely b/c she knew she was getting an automatic 18% tip off our table. We were so upset by her lack of service, that I actually took the bill to the manager, explained the situation, & told him there was no way I was going to give her an 18% tip. He promptly took the tip off the bill & we were able to tip her accordingly. Good thought, but it won’t work with all servers.

Peter the Seater - when I was a hostess, they taught us to greet the customer with Hi or Hello or Good Evening - How many are in your party? I’ve actually waited for a host/hostess to say something first b/c in my experience, that’s part of their job. Not just to look at me blankly & expectantly. They should be expected to greet me 1st, since I’m the customer. Just IMO.

By LT

May 15, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this

FCM - unfortunately your suggestion of tipping up-front won’t work with everyone. We once had a party of approx. 11 & the server gave us some of the worst service I’ve ever experienced - merely b/c she knew she was getting an automatic 18% tip off our table. We were so upset by her lack of service, that I actually took the bill to the manager, explained the situation, & told him there was no way I was going to give her an 18% tip. He promptly took the tip off the bill & we were able to tip her accordingly. Good thought, but it won’t work with all servers.

Peter the Seater - when I was a hostess, they taught us to greet the customer with Hi or Hello or Good Evening - How many are in your party? I’ve actually waited for a host/hostess to say something first b/c in my experience, that’s part of their job. Not just to look at me blankly & expectantly. They should be expected to greet me 1st, since I’m the customer. Just IMO.

By Voiceofreason

May 15, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

FROM A PATRON POINT OF VIEW:

First, Peter the Seater. Where do you work? Just the initials are fine. I just want to make sure I never, ever go there.

Secondly, just as you servers would like us to remember to tip, you guys must remember that it is not OUR RESPONSIBILITY to tip. We come for the food, we pay for the FOOD. Anything else is on a completely volunteer basis. Its not our fault the industry pays low wages to servers, its not our job to compensate for what your bosses aren’t paying you. Please remember that if we walk out without tipping, you can’t call the cops, deny us future service, write your congressman or anything else because its completely fine. Now, with all that said, YES, I DO TIP. However, the problem is that servers tend to think that its a rule that I tip and the service generally reflects that attitude.

Don’t bother writing and saying “oh, that’s not me.” If you EVER complained about not getting a tip, or getting a small tip. Then yes, it is you.

I also waited/bussed tables when I was a teenager and any tip made me happy because I was young enough and worked hard enough to appreciate that the world didn’t owe me something just for being alive. Guess we lose that after we get older.

By Sherrybaby

May 15, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this

Right on with the lemons and sugar thing-please we all talk about your cheap trick in the wait station. And folks, you may think you kids are cute but believe me when they are smearing their dirty hands all over the windows I have to clean they are downright ugly.

By Sass

May 15, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this

I want an adult only restaurant! (No, not that adult only). Or adult only hours. For example; no children under the age of 16 allowed after 9 p.m.

And, I’m sooooooo over parents who don’t give a crap, and children who run the family. If I behaved in a manner I see alot of this children behave my a$$ would have been smacked and taken right out of the … kid friendly or not … restaurant.

What has happened to humanity’s respect for itself and each other?

By FCM

May 15, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this

LT—that was tounge in cheek. TIP really does stand for to insure promptness, and it used to be provided up front (like give the host $10-20 to get bumped to the head of the line)…however, it is not that way anymore. The Serious part of that one came from the recent reports of people going out to eat but leaving little or no tip, saying the cost of going out was too high….IMO if you are going out you should budget for a 20% tip and then downgrade if the service deserves it.

As to host/hostess greeting you first, I would agree for a different reason. Often when I walk in, they are acessing the store as to what is open etc. I would not barge into someones cube/office and just start blurting out anything. I would knock and wait to be acknowledged that they are ready for me….same in a restaurant, the fact that I walked in tells them most of what they need to know. So if they need to mark a table they just sat off the list to keep the store flowing, or get menu’s out of their hands, I don’t have to be ‘acknowledged’ as the customer right off the bat..

By parentof4

May 15, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this

Can’t see what else to add. But I do agree about the children. I worked hard and long to make sure my kids understand that when we are at a resturant, we sit down and use our indoor voices. It kills me when someone elses child from the back of the resturant runs up to my table to “play” with my kids and we do not even know the child. There is a time and place for everything, when at a resturant it is your place and time to SIT DOWN and TALK QUIETLY.

I use to hostess at a resturant and I found when I greeted people first with a big smile and a nice attitude, if they did not like their waitress they would tip me. Not that I was working for it, I realized at that time it was not my “forever” job. My next boss, father, husband, or whatever could be walking through those doors. Besides I wanted people to treat me nicely when I ate. With all that being said, I am usually nice to all staff and tip well. Even if the food is cold and late due to the kitchen, I will tip the waiter well. That was of course after I did not pay for that crap, I still tipped him at least 15% of what the bill was. I understand not all things are in their control and do not take it out on them.

By gizelle

May 15, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this

please know that:

I do not like your children - keep them to yourself.

I do not like your feet - keep them in your shoes and your hands off of them.

I do not want to watch you touch any of your body parts actually.

Keep the PDA at home. It spoils other’s appetites.

Did I say keep your children inside your own booth or in their own seat - guess I really meant it to say it twice.

Please don’t serve me with filty clothes, sweat rolling down your forehead, dirty nails or touching the rim of my glass.

Don’t ever put your hands in my food, glass or plate. I don’t even know you.

By Customer

May 15, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this

I’ve tipped as much as 40% when the service was truly superb (and we lingered a long time). I’ve also tipped zero, and left a note explaining exactly why - because the service was abominable! Servers need to remember that not only will be not return when service is bad, but we will tell our friends and business associates.

To all friendly servers: there is a limit to familiarity. I went to a moderate chain restaurant with my father a couple of years ago, so he would have been 43 and 78 at the time. The server, who was 22 at the oldest, constantly addressed us as “you guys”. That is not acceptable, even in Brooklyn.

Lastly, do remember that we, as the customer, do have a choice of where we go. Bad service will, in time, mean fewer and fewer customers and the doors of your restaurant closing. If the economy drops, then that will mean picking up another server job quickly will be more difficult, but the rent will still be due.

By Peter the Seater

May 15, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this

Many of those who enter the front door are having conversations with other adults or children. Once the conversation reaches a pause, a warm greeting is offered at every opportunity to the customer. Yes, I was trained to do this just as I was taught not to interrupt while others were speaking.
Voice of Reason: There is an old Southern expression that “a bit dog hollers.” Obviously I hit a nerve somewhere and no, I will not give you the name of my restaurant simply because you have seen your reflection in my post and would intentionally visit in order to complain about any and every thing to satisfy yourself. If you will read my original post, you will note that I have stressed the importance of our customers repeatedly and I am aware of the importance of being the first impression of the restaurant on our customers. My points are valid, nonetheless and I stand by them. This is a forum of what restaurant workers wish to convey based on experience.

By meridith ford

May 19, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this

Ditto on the cell phone comments! If you MUST speak on the phone — and I understand that you might — excuse yourself from the table.