I have held three different jobs, all in the food industry, and after each term of employment I vowed to never go back. How people act in restaurants just destroys my faith in humanity. I'm going to chalk rude customers up to ignorance and just pretend they are unfamiliar with how a restaurant is run rather than that they simply have no manners. Now the opposite of ignorance is education, so I'm going to explain here a brief overview on how the restaurant business works, and hopefully this benefits the guy whose server contemplates spitting in their drink.
1. Please and Thank You
This may seem elementary and unnecessary, but the amount of people who seem to have no basic manners is shocking. I get it, we are literally paid to serve you, but that doesn't mean you should treat us like we are beneath you — especially when we handle your food.
2. Seat Rotation
When a host seats you somewhere it is generally with a purpose. Hosts need to make sure that each server is seated an equal amount of times or they aren't seating one person four times back to back. This is to ensure each guest is waited on properly and not ignored because a server is simply too busy. This doesn't mean your voice can't be heard. If you have a strong desire to sit in a booth or not to sit somewhere specific: please tell the host ahead of time. Don't wing it and just hope you don't get seated somewhere you don't want then ask to be moved. It throws everything off.
3. Tips
In certain countries, tipping is different, but in America the general consensus is that you tip when you are waited on. Servers only make about two to five bucks an hour, so they depend on your tips. Now, if the service was terrible or your waiter is particularly rude or intolerable, that is a different story. But on most occasions, servers deserve your tip. Plan for at least 15% before you go out. Many places require servers to tip out the bar, food runners, and hosts, so they really can't afford to not be tipped.
4. Patience
Have a little patience. On a Friday night, if you go into a crowded restaurant, I can assure you that your server has about 1,000 things on their mind and you are one of them. If it takes them a few minutes to get to you, don't demand a manager and request your meal be free. Just sit back and chill a little bit.
5. We're All Human
People make mistakes. Groundbreaking, I know. Please just be understanding. If you had the wrong side dish, don't demand something for free; just tell your server and they will fix it. Have a little understanding, and it will make everyone's, including your own, life a whole lot easier.
If you cannot understand these simple procedures please, just cook at home.
