I've been a serving tables since I left high school. While most servers can agree that the job kinda sucks, we all know why we have to do it. For me, I'm your average college student. I'm waiting tables to pay for my bills. While it is not a profession I want to continue as I grow older, the money is great and helping me pay my bills. In the four years that I have been serving, I've accumulated a few tips for those of you lucky to not work in the food industry but instead love dining in. Consider these the next time you go out to eat...
First things first, let your server introduce themselves.
I cannot tell you how many times I have gone up to a table to say hello and before even being able to tell them my name, they tell me what they want to drink or as an appetizer.
While clearly this is just rude, you are starting off a bad experience for both you and your server.
Lesson One: Servers have feelings too... I can guarantee you that if someone cut you off that way, you'd be just as pissed...
Secondly, Control your kids.
Servers cannot take your order with your kids grabbing onto their apron. The kids crawling under the tables and screaming at the top of their lungs has got to stop. Its ruining other customers' dinner just as much as it is yours. Please don't get me started on the mess your kids make, if you're not going to clean it up, please tip your server more. I promise you, it'll make them careless about cleaning it up.
Lesson Two: Be a parent.
Third of all, please understand that what you order plays an important role at the timing in which you get your food.
I've had customers ask me why their steaks are taking too long to cook. Well, a well-done steak is going to push your entire table's order back. Consider that...
Lesson Three: Just do everyone a favor, choose for your steak to be anything but well done!
Next, I understand that everyone likes their food different. Being picky is OK trust me I am as well. But you may be doing the most when you completely change a meal. The restaurant business is always booming during lunch and dinner, I really do not have time to run back and forth to ask the chef what kind seasonings they use or to cook something a certain way.
Not only is it inconvenient for the server, you are slowing down other people's food because everyone has to focus on your fries that can't be too light or too burnt. If you're fixing all kinds of things, maybe you could just consider ordering something else that fits your needs, or just cooking it yourself at home.
Lesson Four: Leave it like it is.
Lastly, I think you all know what I was saving for the ending. I swear servers aren't asking for anything crap. But at least 20 percent is a must. It's the right thing to do. I may have made serving sound as if it were the worst job, but its not. The money is getting me by in college. I don't get paid every week, not even biweekly. Your tip is helping me pay for rent, textbooks for the class I am taking, and food that I have. Your tips reflect my service, I've had many compliment me on the wonderful job I've done waiting on them. Come to find most of those people are leaving me $5 on a $100 tab. It's an insult.
You've heard many servers complain about people not tipping, but it really is important for people to know that they should not go out to eat if they can not afford to leave a decent tip.
Lesson Five: SIMPLY TIP
I promise you that if you take care of your servers with the respect you would want to receive, they will take care of you.
