There's one sure thing that I will make sure my children will experience: the restaurant business. Honestly, working as a server and in the restaurant industry overall has genuinely made me a better person. You deal with the public hands on, and let me tell you, the public isn't always nice. But, it teaches you valuable lessons on grace, character and generally treating people the way you'd like to be treated.
Given that, being a server can be a hard job! Especially when you have costumers who just don't get it. They don't get what servers go through and some of the people that you have to deal with. Hence, why I will make sure that my kids will have a job in a restaurant.
Even though serving is a great job and it's a job that I want my own children to experience, sometimes a girl just needs to let off some steam. My steam comes in a form of a list of 7 serving pet peeves.
1. 15—20 percent
Okay, this one I just needed to get out of the way because it's one that us servers tend to get fixated on. And it's one of the most obviously pet peeves. But please, please, do not come into a restaurant and tip less than 12 percent. Being a server myself, my tips are the only thing that I get paid for. Due to taxes, and claiming tips, most our of checks on pay day are little to nothing. Most people don't realize that unless you've actually worked as a server before. Unless you have a problem with the service, tip accordingly!
2. Don't be a sitter
This is a big one. When you pay out with your server, leave in a timely fashion. As a server, you make your money by getting turn over with tables. I've had tables literally sit for hours after they have closed out with me. One of the most frustrating things as a server!
3. The table that cried "water"
One of the worst things I can hear is a table asking for a round of water because they haven't decided what to drink yet. I don't mind getting water, but when you ask me to get 10 waters and then not drink a SIP out of any of them and instead just order cocktails from me immediately when I bring those waters back I'm going to drop kick you. Don't ask for water unless you are actually going to drink it.
4. The dumb-stander
I will never understand why people will stand in the middle of a walk way at restaurants. Like OMG get out of the way before I push you over and stomp waffle fries onto your face. I can only say excuse me so many times with a giant tray of food in my arms before I kick you behind the knees.
5. Try to control your kids, for the love of God
When you joke with me about how much of a disaster your kids are as you hand me your check, there are actually tears forming because I am the one who will be sweeping up the play-dough you somehow let your children throw and stomp on the floor.
6. Gift card pay-outs
If you still have a balance after paying out with a gift card, tip according to the total, not how much you have to pay after paying with the gift card. Might seem like a no-brainer, but trust there are some dummies in the world.
7. Veggie no-no's
Vegetarians who think the world revolves around them and their vegetarian needs are the bane of my existence. Excuse me, sir? You are a grown man, and no you can not order the grilled cheese off the kids' menu. Oh you don't like any of our other vegetarians options? Excuse me while I go fling myself down the stairs.
Hmm. These tips seemed to get more and more hostile as they went on, my apologies. I love serving, talking to and meeting new people, and I am not as cynical as these tips might make me sound. I love my job, but sometimes a girl just needs to vent. I hope that some of these pet peeves can strike a nerve with some of my fellow servers!
