Being a server can be a frustrating job, not least of all because of the way we're treated in a lot of situations. Here are 14 things we'd like you to avoid when eating out.
1. Drinking your drink way too fast and being incredibly persistent on demanding refills throughout your meal.
We have several other tables we are attending to. Honestly, if you know you’re a fast drinker, it's better if you just ask for three drinks at once.
2. Getting inappropriately angry with us for your food coming out wrong.
Even if it is our fault, understand that servers make mistakes here and there. We input your order on a computer at a fast pace in order to attend to the next table in an appropriate and timely manner. If you asked for no avocado and your dressing on the side, that’s two extra steps we have to remember to specifically input, and even when we do, sometimes, the kitchen messes up. It’s not the end of the world, and you getting angry with us is not going to make the situation better.
3. “Where’s our food?”
I don’t know, does it look like I’m in the kitchen?
4. Calling us over several times throughout the meal, asking for very specific items.
“Can you bring a cup of water with no ice and two lemons?” “Can you bring me bread, make sure it’s warm, and also we don’t want the oil, instead we want butter.” If you’re going to be like that, at least use your manners and be patient.
5. Telling us we got your order wrong, eating it anyway, and telling us it's fine.
Do you just want us to feel bad? If you don’t want us to do anything about it, then why are you telling us?
6. Telling us you don’t like your food, eating nearly all of it, and asking for it to be comped.
Don’t eat out if you’re cheap. You ate it, we can’t comp food that’s already in your belly, sir.
7. Telling us it’s not your birthday, but asking us if you can get a free birthday dessert anyway.
It just makes you look really bad, just lie and tell us it’s your birthday.
8. Asking a server who is not your server to get you something.
If your server is nowhere to be found, just politely ask another server to get your server, and providing the name and/or what they look like is encouraged, as we most likely don’t keep track of what section every server has. Asking a server who is not your server to get you something is like asking a Target employee to check you out at Walmart. We also most likely will forget to get you what you asked for because you aren’t our priority (sorry).
9. Ask to split the bill into three or more separate checks with nearly all of those payments being in cash.
If you weren’t aware, most restaurants have one to very few registers, and those registers we most likely do not have access to. Which means we have very limited change on us, and if we don’t have exact change to return to you, we have to go to the cashier and ask them for change while they are already busy taking their own payments. Needless to say, it takes a lot of time, and even if we're just moderately busy, we will end up getting backed up and super stressed out.
10. Not making it obvious that your check is ready.
Just put it on the end of the table, with the card or money sticking slightly out of the checkbook.
11. Stealing pens.
We have a limited amount of pens, what the heck are you doing?
12. Writing only the total of your bill, including the tip.
This one isn’t as bad, especially for people who can do quick math, but it’s worth noting that it is much easier for us to plug in the tip when we don’t have to do math in our head, or worse, get out our phone for the calculator.
13. Having your server bend over backwards for you and not tipping well.
If you’re one of those people who ordered something difficult and/or consistently asked for things throughout your meal, show your appreciation.
14. Not tipping at all.
Nothing is more heartbreaking than opening a $50 dollar bill and seeing the tip space blank and, next to that, something like a $3 tip on a $60 dollar bill. Come on. Keep in mind that the majority of the money we make comes from our tips; if the service was super terrible, the least you should ever leave is 10 percent.
Being a server isn’t as easy as you may think it is. Next time you’re dining out, be kind, be patient, and be appreciative. Just because we are getting paid to serve you does not give you the right to treat us with any kind of disrespect. Always keep in mind that you are not our only table; we wish we could get everything to you in a speedy manner, but that’s not always going to be the case.
Occasionally, orders are going to get messed up and kitchens will be backed up, it’s just the way things go, and if you can’t understand this, then maybe you shouldn’t be eating out.
