As a server, I notice things here and there that make an impact. Specifically, in how we're treated. Really nice guests make an impression on us, and the same goes for the other end of the spectrum. We spend much of our time trying to make our customers happy, and sometimes it's rewarding and other times it seems that we can't catch a break. If you personally know a server and hear the stories they tell, you should pity them because of some of the things they deal with. This is a shout-out to all of the needy people that frequent restaurants with the sinister plot of being as rude as possible. If you want to avoid being one of these people and make your dinner outing a splendid time for both yourself and your server, follow some of these tips.
1. If you say you're ready to order, be ready to order.
Whether I'm busy or not, it's always a little irritating when a guest says that they're ready to order and then forgets that they have to choose sides, and then I have to stand there for 10 minutes while they pick out their sides. If you had read the menu, you would know what comes with your meal. Please, read the menu. Worse than waiting on sides is when guests ask me questions that are clearly answered in the menu before opening the menu to see if the answer might be in there. Just. Read. The menu. That's what it's there for.
2. Pay attention to your server.
I don't mean that in a needy, attention-seeking manner. I mean that in the "someone else's guest just gave me a tip but I look nothing like their actual server" manner. If your server has bright blonde hair, and I have dark red hair, you should be able to notice the difference. Astoundingly, though, some people don't. When guests come to the vestibule looking for their server and they can't even tell you the server's name or what they look like, it's weird. This person has stopped by your table several times. Take a minute and learn their name. It shows respect. I appreciate it when a guest calls me by name. It means that they're paying attention and care that I am a person who has a life, just like they do.
3. Do not shout for your server.
Please, for the love of God, do not shout any server's name, "ma'am" or "miss" across the dining room. If you need something, wait until we come back around to your table, or ask another passing server. We have other tables to attend to. We have other things to do. You are not our only priority. Do not think that you can shout for your server and they'll come running. It'll actually make them want to ignore you.
4. Communicate.
The basis of every good relationship is communication. Or something like that. Anyway, communicating what exactly you want from your meal with your server will ensure that you have a good dinner. If you don't like the food and won't leave a tip or even complain to the management because of it, tell your server so they can fix the problem. Don't wallow in misery when a problem can be fixed in about five minutes. Please. It'll just make both of us miserable.
5. Remember: your sever doesn't cook the food. They simply serve it.
Do not take it out on your server when the food isn't cooked to your expectation. Don't take it out on them when your steak is a little more well-done than you would prefer. Don't take it out on them if you don't like your meal. If your server has made a mistake, they'll own up to it. You can blame them then. If it's not their fault, though, and instead is a kitchen mistake, do not be rude to your server because of it. We might do a lot but we do not cook the food. Blame the cooks. Maybe you feel like you can't get the retribution you want for your crappy meal from the cooks, but your server's not the proper outlet. When in doubt, blame the management and probably get free food. If you're rude to your server, they'll try their best to make sure you don't get free food.
6. Tip decently.
People say that they proper tipping amount is between 15 and 20 percent. I make $5.03 before taxes and I say that the proper tipping amount is 20 percent. I understand not tipping because of terrible service, but have you ever bothered to think that servers are going to have off days, just like everyone else? Even if we screw up, please refrain from not tipping us. We're human, just like you. If you can have off-days, so can we. We're not machines. If we preform wonderfully and you're very impressed with our service and tell us so, we're going to be hoping for a bigger tip than 20 percent. To a server, 20 percent is standard, not the max amount we can be tipped. Remember that we live off of our tips, not our paychecks.
Servers have as hard of a job as anyone else. People in the restaurant and retail industries deal with so much from people who thinks our jobs are insignificant and that we're here to wait on you hand and foot. We have other things to do and if we had it our way, we wouldn't need to have a job that required us to bend over backwards for anyone who gives us little to nothing in return. That being said, don't be rude to your server just because their job is to serve you. Don't treat them like they're beneath you. It's rude. I always want to give a big shout-out to those wonderful guests who know that food miss-cooks aren't always the server's fault, or know that we are and have patience. Thank you guys. You make this job worth doing. Any of you that fall into the eight categories above...thanks for your money (maybe). Please don't ever sit in my station when you go out to eat.
