Being a waitress for the past two years during high school has taught me a world of lessons. I have had some of the nicest regulars who I know I could count on for everything, who are some of the kindest and supportive souls, I have had a revolving door of coworkers, I have learned how to carry multiple drinks in one hand, stack plates up my arms, and how to be a better people person. Luckily the restaurant I work in is small, and everyone who comes in are locals so seeing the same faces all three nights I work every week isn't a big surprise and more often than not everyone is so great and genuinely cares about me and most of the girls I work with. However, there can be some very trying costumers and tendencies they have when working in a restaurant. These are just some of the things all waitresses know too well.
1. Not Getting A Tip
Walking up to a table to clean it off after the customers have left and not seeing any tip makes your heart sink. Typically, nine times out of ten you just know when a table didn't leave a tip. At my restaurant people pay at the register so when I am really worried I will ask the cashier. Finding out your gut feelings were right is the most infuriating thing. I am a firm believer that you should not go out to eat if you cannot afford to tip. For me being a high schooler those three dollars aren't the end of the world but for my coworker who has three kids at home it might be.
2. When The Food is Taking Too Long
Trust me, I always know how long it has been since I have taken your order and that it has been far too long for that chicken salad sandwich you ordered, but it is not my fault. It is my top priority to make sure all my tables are happy and their food is accounted for but when the kitchen is backed up, or if Johnny forget to tell Sally he didn't put the fries in the fryer. So please bare with me, I am usually just as frustrated as you are.
3. I Promise I See You Need More Tea
One of the most stressful things is having all your tables full and being on your way to fill up someones drink and they starting shaking their glass at me, please just ask and I will be happy to help. Also I usually feel really bad if it gets below half a glass so oops I am really sorry.
4. Please, No, That Table is Dirty
Our restaurant is a seat yourself place, so that means, if I haven't gotten around to cleaning off a table yet, often people just sit down at it. Even if there are 11 other open tables. Then once a family of 8 sit down at a both that it much longer than I can reach to the end of I am totally unable to wipe it down or grab the cups that the previous customers pushed against the wall. Please, patience is a virture, and please don't be upset that the table is still dirty. Then again I guess we could just seat your ourselves.
5. Yes, I am 17, No You Cannot Say That To Me
Easily the worst part of waiting tables is the occasions I have had to deal with crude and inappropriate comments. I once had a older man tell me that for his birthday he "just wanted me to be 18," it was the first of sadly quite a few nasty remarks. Sadly, as a waitress you often become accustom to letting things like that roll of your back and be water under the bridge. Most of these encounters start with the assumption I am in my 20's and not still a teenager and are followed my things such as, "you sure don't look 17," or "you're the prettiest 17 year old I've seen," my 15 year old coworker was even told she was "some nice eye candy." Things like this are easily the worst part of the job and have given me a rude awakening to how dirty people out there can be. But, with that I have such a strong work family that I know all of us have each others back when it comes to things like this.
