It’s important for everyone to be in the restaurant business at least once in their life, especially as a server, so they can be grateful for the people who serve them. People who haven’t worked as a server are usually the jerks who don’t tip you, are high maintenance, or just act snobby and rude for no stinkin’ reason. They don’t understand how much pressure you are under as a server, and they treat you like you don’t exist.
My biggest pet peeve is when someone’s food somehow gets messed up, and he or she blames it on me, even though it was a problem within the kitchen. The kitchen staff are left with a lesson to learn, while I am left with no tip. How is that at all fair? I just took their order and brought them their food; do they think I made it from scratch, too?
Don’t get me wrong. Before I served, I would get frustrated with the server when our food was taking an exceptionally long time. But through my experience as a hostess and a server, I now know that it was probably because the host triple sat the server on a busy Saturday night when the kitchen was backed up. Don’t go out to eat if you’re incapable of being patient with your most likely overstressed waiter or waitress, or with anyone for that matter.
During my serving days, I encountered many different types of people: the drunk ones who spark a conversation with you, the nice couple that is so understanding when their food is taking too long, the teenage kids who try to pass for 21, and the super-duper nice table that ends up leaving you a one percent tip. It’s crazy how that works. Does that sweet family of four think I get paid hourly? I don’t. Servers live on tips, so we try our very best to satisfy our customers, which is why it is such a punch in the gut when you see that measly $1 on their receipt after you thought you were vibing with them so well. Ah, but alas, those folks have probably never served in their life.
I have never understood people who are angry right off the bat. You’d think that since they are about to eat delicious food, that they didn’t have to prepare themselves, that they would be happy. When I was a hostess, people would come in and immediately treat me horribly, as if they thought it was appropriate to take their anger out on someone who was just trying to find them a suitable table. Then they take their anger out on the servers; they yell at them for their meal not being just right or for how slowly it took for their drinks to hit the table. It just makes me think, why did you decide to come out in public and torment innocent strangers when you could’ve just stayed at home where you belong?
Working in the restaurant business definitely has its ups and downs. Overall, it has been enjoyable for me; it has taught me that not everyone is as enthusiastic and positive as I thought. But, hey -- it’s good to have a little faith in people. If you plan to work in a restaurant, you will encounter some nasty people. Just keep in mind that they have no idea what goes on outside their table. Keep a big smile on your face and try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt.
