I used to think that if I could handle being a nanny and working with kids for almost four years, that I could handle working for customers in the restaurant business with no problem. But after almost a year in the service industry as a hostess and server, I can say that I love most of my customers... but I certainly do not love their restaurant habits. Here is a compilation of restaurant worker pet peeves that almost doubles as a guide of what not to do in a restaurant.
1. When Customers Seat Themselves
If I had a dollar for every time a customer walked in and attempted to seat themselves after I have greeted them at the door saying "Hi, how are you? How many are in your party?", I would be one very rich girl! But unfortunately instead, I just awkwardly run after them with menus in my hand and hope for the best that they go where I want them to go.
2. When They Ignore You
Let me just show you what a day at work is like for a server and a hostess:
Server: Hi, how are you?
Customer #1: *stares intently at menu ignoring server*
Customer #2: "Iced tea with lemon"
Hostess: Hi, how are you?
Customer #1: *holds up three fingers to show three people are in their party*
Customer #2:*ignores hostess entirely and goes to join their friends at a table*
Do not be like Customer #1 and Customer #2. Be Customer #3 and go along with our small talk, I promise you will still get the drinks you want and a table big enough to fit your party (and maybe even a booth if you're lucky).
3. Getting Upset Over A Wait
It is a Friday night, of course there is a wait! I have had customers walk out because we were on a 15-20 minute wait on a weekend night, only after making a scene because there were no booths available to them upon arrival. I have also had walk-in parties of 9+ and they get upset when we cannot seat them for at least an hour... It is not our fault that you and your entire extended family decided to come to our restaurant without a reservation and just assumed we would push everyone out and let you have all the tables!
4. Hitting On You
Listen, sir, I am being nice to you because I am not a soulless person and because I am your server/hostess. I am not being nice to you so that you can make comments about my appearance the entire time or sit at the bar and stare at me while you drink your wine and say "cheers to you, young lady!" Yes, that has actually happened to me before.
5. Making Comments About You/Your Life
"Your name is Jordan? *Gasp* Your parents must have thought you were going to be a boy!"
"Wow, you need to go out in the sun, you're not sun tanned!"
"Living with your boyfriend before being married is a sin!"
Just as you would not want me telling you to lay off the butter or that your jokes are terrible, I do not need you making comments about my appearance or trying to give me life advice.
6. Awkward Jokes
When you walk up to a table full of empty plates because the food has been entirely consumed and the customers say "It was all terrible!" followed by a menacing grin or laugh. We will forcefully laugh along with you, but it is certainly not the first time we heard that joke or the last time we will hear it that day!
7. "Can I get a booth?"
Every time you bring someone to a table and a guest says "Can I get a booth?" every host/hostess around the world cringes. For logistical reasons, when you ask to move to a booth instead of a table it can mess up server rotations and server sections. For practical reasons, do you really need to be in a booth instead of a table? If you have a medical need to be in a booth, we completely understand. But if you're just being picky because you think a booth is "cozy" then I need you to sit down at the table and stop acting like this is the Queen's dinner and I am your humble servant available to clean the booth that a party just got up from.
8. "I Am Friends With Your Manager, They'll Want To See Me!"
Yeah, you and everyone else, my friend! Whenever I have told my manager that so and so is here, I can assure you they have never responded with "Oh, I love them! What table are they at?" It is usually followed with a "Who?" or an unsatisfied look on their face. My managers respect and genuinely care about the dining experience of all of their guests, but they are not your best friend simply because they had to comp your meal one time.
9. Blaming The Server
Listen, lady, it is not my fault that your ravioli did not come out cooked all of the way. Much to your dismay, I do not taste your food before it is brought out to you. It is also not my fault that you did not inform me you were allergic to red pepper or cheese or milk, it is your fault for assuming certain food items did not include such allergens.
10. Ridiculous Requests
People need to realize the difference between wants and needs and that a restaurant is a public place. This is not the hotel episode on "Spongebob Squarepants", we do not follow the rule "we must never deny a guest, even the most ridiculous request". I understand when people need a quiet area because someone in their party may be hard of hearing, but deciding to have your work meeting in the middle of a lunch or dinner rush and expecting a "quiet booth" was your own mistake. It is a public place, there is children, loud noises, smells, and most importantly other living people. If you really need so much privacy and hate people so much, order your food to go!
