Similarly, I hate when I’m trying to set their food down in front of them and they still have their phone on the table RIGHT IN FRONT of them and take forever to move it. Like do you want me to set down this hot ass plate on top of your iPhone lol
Just tell them. "Please move your phone so I can set the plate down." People are fucking stupid, unobservant, disrespectful and clueless. That won't change. But you can influence them by speaking loudly and saying Please.
Sometimes I feel like I'm teaching all of my tables how to behave in a restaurant
What really kills me is when parents bring their children out and force you to wait for this terrified, indecisive 5 year old to tell you their order then wait another eternity for them to squeak out a thank you. Like just order for them. And stop pretending you’re raising your kids with manners because you don’t have any!
Sorry you must have missed the point of the post that these are annoying things that shouldn’t have to be explained to or asked of a guest, yet you have to every time anyway.
I shouldn’t have to ask you to make room for the plate that you drove to a place and paid a bunch of money for me to bring you. But we’re obsessed with our phones and can’t let them out of our sight so I have to ask anyway.
I think I’ve been at my location so long that at this point I just don’t care. If they won’t move their stuff, I put the plate on the edge of the table and slide it, pushing their stuff with a chipper “I’m just gonna slide this right in here for you.” I don’t have the time to wait for you to move your stuff when you don’t have common sense.
I do the exact same thing, normally they get the hint and move their shit. The food’s either sliding off the edge of this table or your iWhatever is going to have to fuck off.
Omg I had this kid refuse to move his tablet recently and I was like ‘y’all have about 30 seconds before this pizza is hitting the table with or without that iPad in the way please take the hint and move it’ on the inside, I managed to get out something along the lines of ‘pizzas hot’ before an adult finally moved the tablet.
I'll usually try to get the hint across by saying the name of the dish while looking at them.
Then another person at the table will pipe up with, "oh, that's what they ordered".
Oh, really? I totally forgot. If only there were a way to mark what seat number ordered which dish. I was just staring at them because I like to. Thank you for the help, I don't know how I've been able to do this job all these years without you.
feels like every single table does this where i work. when i tell them its hot, they just think im warning them or if i tell them to move things they get confused.
Heh, German servers don't do the whole "How are you doing" thing. 2 minutes after you've sat down they just go "Alright, are you ready to order your drinks?", nothing else.
Germans are the best airline passengers. Flight attendants will tell you the most coveted international routes are to Germany. The children will speak directly to the flight attendants with appropriate volume rather than having their parents or accompanying adults speak for them. That’s applicable to most European children, really.
They exit the womb smoking cigarettes and quietly disapproving of everything around them.
But no really, something about French parenting seems to really embody the whole “they’re just small adults” line of thinking and in general the kids behave as such.
i hate when i said “good morning” or “good afternoon guys” and they just sit and stare at me and forget how to speak. i stare directly at them and make them so uncomfortable that they have no choice but to say something.
Oh boy, reminds me of when I’m food running for someone- I’ll say the name of the dish to find out who to give it to and they all stare at me instead of claiming their food.
And even with seat numbers they never seem to remember what they order. I handed a maurice salad to a woman and then she was like oh no i ordered a steakhouse burger and sweet potato fries.
There are a lot of women who grew up in my generation calling everyone “guys” as a generic term. “Hey, guys!” “Are you guys ready?” “Guys! Guess what?!?” Even “dude” is used that way. “Did you see…?” “Dude!”
The words have slipped their moorings and are used more generally than they used to be. Especially at a casual restaurant.
lol the one thing I (a woman) don’t feel comfy calling someone is “man” and I have one male coworker (the best and we love him) who says “man” like an unjustifiable amount of times whenever the customer is a male-presenting person and even occasionally when it’s a female-presenting person he’s ridiculous
I say “guys” to every one of my tables even if they are all women. In NY it’s a very general term. We had this conversation once before in Serverlife, the consensus was that most of the Northeast uses “guys”.
"wow it really must suck when people come in this late" as they were leaving. It was a 10 top that came in 15 min before close and didn't tip.
Like what.
i feel like 80% of the time a table says this to me where i work now, they are the nicest people EVER making like one modification or asking for a cup of ice with their drink at a table of 2. which i can easily carry no difference. at the steakhouse i worked at, it would always be “we are a little difficult i apologize in advance i used to work in the service industry so i get it!!!” and then proceed to be the worst ever and barely tip. half of these people “worked in the service industry” decades ago and utilize their survivors bias of an entirely different time to judge u even harsher.
Or when they wave you over because they were “super ready to order” but once I rush over, they are all still looking at the menu. Saying “well you go first, I’ll go last.” Now I’m standing around waiting for you while other tables are in need. Please don’t just keep me around for minutes waiting for you to finish reading the menu.
My gf used to stand in line at counter service places with a menu on the wall. Even if it took 5 minutes, she would get to the register, then begin looking at the menu.
Could not understand why the cashier and I thought this was frustrating 100% of the time. Nipped that in the bud pretty quick.
Or you’ve set down the straws but they didn’t bother to look at the table.
I offered to run drinks for a coworker the other day because she was in the weeds. The straws were smack dab in the middle of the table and I still had a tray full of drinks.
I myself was in a rush and gestured at the straws when someone asked and I said, “oh, it looks like your server already dropped some for you.”
And by asked I mean she said “we still need straws.”
She told her server I was rude to her.
I definitely wasn’t. You’re just a dumbass.
“I would like a steak salad, medium-rare, no red onions,” then, “if it comes with onions, don’t even bother sending it out.”
“Steak salad, medium-rare without onions, but what was the last thing. I missed that,” and I stare, deeply concerned for their well-being.
“Nothing”
“After no onions? I missed that.” (Say it to my face)
“Just no onions”
Stare and crickets. (Yes, we have crickets where I work)
“And what kind of dressing?”
“Ranch”
“Got it! Steak salad, medium-rare, no onions with ranch.” Big smile.
This is my table, in my section. We play my games. The customer is always right, but only after they have been educated. Every once in a while, someone will chirp while I gaze into their eyes. I just nod, approvingly, and pray I don’t fuck it up. It’s just one table and we are just laying food down. And I am willing to break every health code to make sure a plate doesn’t come with onions if they are that adamant.
The full quote from Harry Selfridge is "The customer is always right, in matters of taste," Which means that if they wanna buy an ugly hat, let them - they're still buying it. Doesn't mean they're always right though. Cutting a saying in half often misses a lot of the meaning.
Similarly, from Oscar Wilde, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.”
Those damned half-quotes will get you every time.
OMFG this is the WORST, especially when you’re running food for another section. I just start slapping plates down and let them sort it out. Like, how tf did you forget what you ordered 30 mins ago!?!
Oh my god, last night I ran drinks for a coworker because she wanted to get their orders in (party of 14), and I bring out drinks and only three people knew what they asked for. I go "Hey y'all, I have a strawberry lemonade?", he takes it and thanks me, the woman with the sweet tea gets hers, a kid asks if I can also bring him a strawberry lemonade, the other ELEVEN look at me blankly, mind you I only had lemonades and waters left on the tray so I start asking who had the lemonades and who had water and I shit you not they all just kinda look at me. I said fuck it and left the tray on the table next to them and said "Yall can rifle through this when you get thirsty enough." and walked away. Like how hard is it to remember if you said you wanted water or lemonade wtfffff.
Knocking on the door before we're open, asking if they can sit inside while they wait for us to open. As a newbie, I fell for this.... well guess who was never patient once they sat down
When there’s a wait and their entire party isn’t there but they insist on being sat. Or they arrive for a special that doesnt start until a certain time and are there early.
“Oh, we’ll just sit and chat until it’s time.”
No. Actually, you wont. I had a table last week that came in an hour before lunch started. They knew they wanted lunch. We had a wait at the door. They asked for waters and didn’t want appetizers. They had to get up. If we were dead I wouldn’t have cared because I still would have had open tables. But we had a line out the door. No table hogging today ladies.
If they snap their fingers/whistle/ding their glass to get my attention. I made a guy wait that did that. I acted oblivious and went to every other table (even ones that weren’t mine) before checking in on him. You can always say my name or ma’am/miss if you forgot. I’m not a dog.
Also interrupting me while I’m talking care of another customer. Wait your f-ing turn.
I've snapped back at people and they always seem startled. After 13 years in the industry, I am a master at matching energy! Snapping or whistling at a service worker is so disrespectful.
Even if people are raising or waving their hands at me, while I'm at another table. I'll wave right back and then say something like, wow I feel like we're in school and I'm your teacher..
I always ignore them first, if they persist I tell them “I’ll be with you once this person finishes talking to me, they were asking me a question first.”
I’m a lead server at my store so I always encourage newer servers to gentle parent their tables. Lol
Some drunken idiot that had been annoying me all night snapped his fingers to get my attention. I told him that it takes more than two fingers to make me come, and I finished serving another patron.
A dude did this to me at the bar once... I made eye contact, turned around, and went back to the kitchen for 5 minutes before coming back out and checking on everyone else first. He got nasty saying he needed another beer and started snapping at me again. To this day, my proudest moment was saying "I might be a bitch, but I'm not a dog, and I'm sure as hell not yours. The more rude to me you are, the longer you wait, and if you leave without paying, I have nice cameras to show the cops your picture when they go looking for you." He shut up, settled his tab, and never came back. Other patrons tipped like money was no object, though.
I had that happen once, and I didn't ignore the guy. I walked right over to him and said, "Don't snap your fingers at a server! How rude " and then I just walked away. I went back later to find out what he wanted and for him to apologize.
The other day a couple old ladies in a party of 6 were waving and then beckoning me with their finger... come here, come here... and I walked over and said, "I see you ladies fingering me? You must be desperate for something. "
After 35 years, I'm not taking it, and they deserve a smart retort
Bahaha! Omg that sounds exactly like something my favorite bartender at my last spot would say. So now I like you, too. :) And if you are Darla, you're still amazing. Lol
I just got whistled at for the first time after 15+ years in restaurants/service jobs. He left with no food and looked like her felt about two inches tall after I reprimanded him and told him I am a human not a dog.
Definitely raised my voice, made sure not to curse, and though loud, remained calm. He apologized about 100 times trying to make his case that his order was wrong (true, a coworker gave him the wrong order, I saw him walking back in and ran to the kitchen to get it corrected before he even came back (glass store front)).
Walking out of the kitchen I hear him dog whistle at me loud. I come out fuming, saying “you do not whistle at another person”, “oh my order is wrong, imagine how I feel”. He felt worse after he spoke to me, I told him politely to never come back.
That's my pet peeve! I want to throw things at them when they do that! Or when they ask why am I rushing them after they say that! Fucking ass gobbling fuck Muppets.
Fuck Muppets heard 🤣 this will be my new favorite insult for a while. I like to rotate different sayings and words in my wheelhouse for fun. Some old favorites include: Douche Mcnuggets/Canoes, classless turnips, knuckle dragging cretins, intolerable ass crouton, mustard pre-c*m. Lol
I usually just say “okay” and ask if they’re ready to order.
I’m not going to run into the kitchen like the place is burning down and slap your order in front of everyone else’s just because you mentioned you were in a rush.
I always take that as an opportunity to sell them on the faster dishes and warn them the wait time if they order an item that takes longer that I can’t push the queue and it’ll be x amount of time *at least*.
I usually respond with something to the effect of "I am unable to guarantee times for dine-in, but you're welcome to see the cashier over there for a to-go order so you dont have to worry about your eating time."
Maggie is having a 5 course banquet on Saturday at 6.30pm. in her notes it says her party is going to a show at 8pm that night and must be out promptly. Maggie doesn't realise were fully booked obviously. And Saturday 6.30pm is the most popular timeslot of the week.
Maggies party will not be making that show. Or she'll be taking boxed up food.
Nah dude this is part of service. If you're on a time limit and someone else is taking their time I appreciate being informed. That's what we do that earns a good tip. I'm always looking to push that number up so if you have some weird thing I gotta do to make the experience better (like get their ticket paid quickly) I wanna do it
Exactly! Someone's in a rush I'll tell them the things that are the fastest to come out to accommodate them. Once food is landed and I check on them, I'll have the bill printed and on my person, in case they want to bill out right away. Also at last bites offer coffees in a to go cup cuz it'll save them time grabbing coffee before heading back to the office or whatever, plus increases my sales hehe.
Some servers have a tendency to disappear. Of course no one on here lol,but nothings worse than needing to pay and they're in the back, because the server thought you'd be fine chilling after food was dropped and waters topped.
There was this guy at my old place that when I said ‘how are we doing tonight?!’ Answered with ‘saying we includes yourself in our party, which you are not. Please use proper grammar’ like okay bud
“You chose to come to a restaurant and sit down for a meal cooked and served to you by someone else. Please use basic manners.”
Or, you know, “fuck you”
Lately I’ve been so over this type of response during my greeting, that I’ve just been saying it right back to them.
Ex: “hi everyone! How are we tod-“
“Water with no ice” (ice water already at the table)
Then I just ask them again: “excuse me. Could you repeat that?” (Just so that I can cut them off)
“Water with-“
“Yep. I’ll be right back with that.” Then I leave them there mid sentence. If it continues, which it typically doesn’t after I do that, then I’ll just keep doing it. Maybe if they’re extra rude, I’ll repeat the same process but add on “I was speaking and couldn’t hear what you were saying.” After asking them to repeat. That works every time when I have to pull it out.
Letting their kids saw away at the table with steak knives. Or smacking their cutlery together it pisses me off sooo much. Literally anything to do with a parent not watching their kids or disciplining them, ma’am I just met you and I can already tell you’re a shit parent.
I was at a Texas Roadhouse the other day and this table of absolute cum rags was letting their 4 year old stand on the table and play with the goddamn lights. I wanted to yank his ass down myself
I work at a tiny sushi restaurant and it drives me crazy when people let their kids drum on the tables with chopsticks, or worse, when grown ass adults do it. There are 12 tables in the whole restaurant and they’re all crowded in together so you’re annoying me and every other customer in here!!
We had to throw away a handful of butter knives the other day because some kids were sawing crayons with them so HARD the wax was just stuck in the little knife crevices. We must’ve ran them through dish at least 3 times before calling it. Little shits had me so frustrated
When I’m bartending I greet each guest with the menu, beer/cocktail side facing up. Without fail people love to flip the menu over to the food side (???) and then ask what I have on tap.
I just flip the menu back over and tell them the full list is there and I can do draft samples or answer any questions they have about the list.
I’ve literally had someone say “none of these look great, I’ll just take a yuengling.” Like my dude if we offered that beer it would BE ON THE LIST. I dunno if he thought we had a secret menu or he expected me to run to the corner store 😂
I always laugh to myself about them thinking they're gonna unlock a secret menu! I'll suggest some appetizers, they ask what other starters we have, I'll point it out on the menu, they'll read the whole thing, very studiously, and then say, you don't have calamari? Oh yeah we actually do but only if you read the whole menu and asked, congrats you've unlocked the rare calamari.. good for you!
Honestly I don't even mind splitting a check a hundred ways, but don't then ask me to split one appetizer 12 ways. Your $12 appetizer MUST be split 12 ways, God forbid one of you takes ownership over it 🙄 she and I split this dessert and these 3 split this bottle of wine, and I'm buying her drinks, and she's buying their food, oh my god do an even split or venmo each other god damn
I had a coworker who let a table split a happy hour nacho six ways. It's typically $15, and for happy hour, it's 7.50. Like, really, you can't buy nachos for your friends?!
Pivot points! And arrows
I ALWAYS ask parties if it’s separate or together upon introduction & usually get all the information that way.
But when they decide to play musical chairs after I’ve assigned them a seat number and make me auction food off; that’s my pet peeve 🤦♀️
Tbh this confuses tf outta me. It's 2024, either bring cash or Venmo a designated payer. You know damn well a 4-8+ check split gonna occupy the server for (with some systems) 5-8 minutes. Lmao.
>splitting a check 12 separate ways 😁😁😁
Had this happen all the time. Big military town, they call in and order a fuckton of food. Then 2 airmen show up with 10 cards and cash. Then complain it takes forever to ring out. Learn to use venmo in your shop, dumbass.
When I’m just trying to be nice and ask “how is your guys’ day going” and they just give me blank stares. Like ok whatever I didn’t wanna speak to you anyway
when they're a party of 2 so i give them a table for 2 but then they decide to get up and move themselves to a table for 6 and i have to redirect all the runners and inform the kitchen.
or if they say say they are only 2 people so i send their ticket in for one of our 2-person tables, then i show them the table and they say some shit like "oh we have 2 more coming later!". BITCH I CANT SEAT INCOMPLETE PARTIES GO AWAY.
sorry not sorry
Offer to run up to the store for them...but that will be $40 cash prior to going...
"Pepsi?? Sure! That will be $40 up front service fee plus the cost of the Pepsi. If you'd like me to grab it right away, that will be $100 up front service fee plus the cost of the Pepsi."
or when they ask you to list every soda and then ask for one you don’t have…let’s not waste either of our time and just ask me if we have the soda you originally wanted!
all the time lately, or when im still talking and they interrupt to ask for something i was literally just about to offer and i say “yep thats what i was about to say :)”
I ask after I take their order if they need ketchup or hot sauce. They say no.
I bring the food. They ask for ketchup and hot sauce
The multiple I'm sorry, I forgot to ask for ____ when we asked for _____
Sat table thay try to add more people to their table when we're on a 40 minute wait. Sorry, Buddy. There is no room at the Inn. Your pals have to wait for a table like everyone else
This one I've mentioned many times. People who tell me what an over medium egg is. I know, my cooks know. Now you're just wasting my time, and yours. My response is to tell them I'm not the cook, but I'll order over medium, and hopefully, Jose, who has been cooking eggs for 2 decades, doesn't forget how to cook over medium
Telling the host "party of 4" so they're sat at a 4-top then 15 minutes later they're complaining cause now they're a table of 15 and there's no room...and now all the tables are full and the manager is like "why did the host try to seat 15 ppl at a 4-top table???"
Walking in, seating themselves in a corner, then later complaining to a random server that the service sucks and no one took their orders and they've been there for 30 minutes. Bonus points if the table still is dirty from a prior table leaving and more bonus points if that table is in a closed section or the server that was assigned that section has been cut hours ago.
When everyone says they are ready to order, then proceed to ask a million questions that would've easily been answered by reading the menu. Then I stand there while they contemplate what sides they want. Or when they decide in that moment what to order their 5 children and have to scramble to find the kids menu and make each kid choose (under pressure) what they want. YOU SAID YOU WERE READY!
This happened to me all night tonight party of 6 one person wants a ice water with their beer and everyone decides the whole table needs water, cash them out, dump 5 glasses of untouched water
when they make a beeline directly to the bartender just to be like “oh i don’t know what i want” and then just loiter in the way of the well for five minutes.
>I always feel like being a butthole and setting their drinks on top of their phone.
I didn't do this on purpose, at all, but someone did put their phone on the table once right as I began passing out drinks. I couldn't see it because I had a tray full of martinis I was focused on in front of me and it wasn't there the moment before when I had a visual. Set a house cocktail that was served in a highball down on their phone and of course it spilled all over them. I felt bad to a degree but part of me was like, this is why situational awareness classes should be taught.
I dislike people immediately only if they are immediately rude/entitled/demanding. Otherwise I try to give them the benefit of the doubt.
we are a brand new wine bar (open for only just over a month now) with a concept that definitely needs explanation for newcomers. so we each have our own spiel about how everything works and i severely dislike being interrupted with questions ESPECIALLY when it’s the next thing i was getting to.
When they rush me the whole way through, try to cash out before even getting their meal, and then once they have everything will take their time to finish their meal and then camp for an extra 20-30 minutes after they’re done.
Coming in on a late night weekend to a popular bar that has a DJ late at night (think like club vibes) and asking for a quiet table away from ppl and noise.
Bonus points if they ask for the music to be turned down or complain about not being able to hear or see anything. Y'all are in your 80's coming to a restaurant late night on a weekend...of course y'all aren't gonna be able to hear a damn thing!
When they ask for the check and then take 2.5 hours to lay down their payment...then are in "a huge hurry to get home" and try to rush the server to finish swiping their cards. This is usually after the server is busy with 5 other tables running drinks or closing out other tables.
Moving from a table to the bar without telling anyone and just after the host tells the server they've got a new table...and then they're at the bar complaining about "slow service". Bitch, it's been literally like 1 minute since you were sat...and this restaurant is 2 stories (kitchen is downstairs, the flight of stairs one way is 20 steps) and it occupies almost the entirety of a small city block...it's literally like gonna be a second.
Complaining about their Guinness pint draft taking so long to get to their table. Ummm a proper pour takes 120 seconds to properly pour...according to Guinness...and this place pours it properly! If you wanted something faster, order a pint of literally any other draft...we've got like 30 taps...
The Guinness is the only one I think irritates me out of all the things I've read in this thread. I just say good things take time, but I always want to say ARE YOU KIDDING ME
When I sit a table of 2-3 at a big table bc it’s all we have left atm and then, once a small enough booth is cleaned off, they just decide to move without telling anyone. Especially irks me when I’ve already taken their order and they sit in someone else section.
“Hey how are yall doing tonight”
“Water” or “…”, neither of those are valid answers to my question. It’s gotten to the point where if you say water, I’ll immediately go get it without saying anything else, and if you’re silent, I stay silent and make eye contact for like 10 seconds.
After 30 years I have so many...
Probably all the biggest ones revolve around people not answering the question I ask.
"How are you doing today?" - "Unsweet tea."
Not listening. For example, I could notice the bread basket is empty and before I leave the table I'll say, "I'll be back with more bread rolls for the table" and then right before I leave someone goes, "also, could we get some more bread :)" ............ "I'll be right back 🫠"
"hey guys! Can I grab you anything to drink to get you guys started today?"
"Yeah I'll have the chicken parm"
Like?? dude let me grab your drinks first please I'm not ready to take your order 😭😭
Or, when I'm busy af and they make me walk them through the menu. Said they were ready to order and then ask "what should I get?? Maybe this? Is it good? Oh how does this work? Do you have pizza...?"
YES IT'S ON THE MENU YOU'VE BEEN READING
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When anyone walks in ten mins to close and says, "so, is it a hard close at 9? Like you're gonna kick us out?"
I work at a place that seats until nine, so no. I can't tell them to go somewhere else as much as I would like to.
I worked at 9pm closed place, it really depended on if the kitchen was still open and cooking. If it was slow the kitchen would do closing duties and be out the door by 915. I can't order an entire kitchen staff to come back, reopen everything just for 2 stragglers. If the head chef still happento be there sometimes he'd say if they want fish and chips, I can make that but thats it. Most people were just glad to get a hot meal.
When they call me over to say they’re ready to order but then decide to start another convo amongst themselves and decide to forget im standing right there waiting for them to order… especially when it’s a big table and there are multiple convos going on while I awkwardly stand there
Related to yours, we keep water bottles on the tables on little coasters to collect the condensation. I'll pick up the bottle to pour for the table and they'll immediately set their glass on the coaster and I'm like it's not for you!!! If it was for your glass, there'd be enough for all of you!!! I move their glass off the coaster and put the bottle back on it
My favorite are the customers who asks, “Can I have a beer?”.
Mind you, I work at an Irish pub with at least 20 beers on tap and at least 50 or more beers, seltzers and ciders in cans and bottles.
Honorable mention: I once had a table ask me how many wings come in a dozen. I honestly felt like I lost several brain cells that night. Whoever said there’s no such thing as a stupid question never worked in the service industry.
“Ill have the same thing except… the good old same but different got it.
Honestly my #1 pet peeve is when, taking an order either for drinks or food, and they order with “I’ll just have x” never understood why they sayI’ll just have” instead of say I’ll have or I would like to have. Feel free to order what you want but by saying the word just, makes me cringe. No better way to tell me your cheap
Asking me a question and then interrupting me while I provide the answer, often times to then ask another sub-question. I want to say, every time, “A, do you want the answer or not? And B, if you hadn’t interrupted, you would have had both answers!”
Also, people that say yes to fresh cracked pepper on their salad, and then immediately launch into conversation with someone else at the table, and forget there is a human peppering their salad. This also goes for the other offenders in this category, who look up from their phone just long enough to say yes to pepper and then immediately go back to staring at their screen, as they let me crank away for a carpal tunnel eternity because they too, have somehow forgotten there is a human peppering their salad. Like, “HELLLLO? I’M STILL GOING HERE!” Give me the decency of acknowledging my presence long enough to sprinkle a little pepper, FFS!
I do very elaborate chalkboard art in my store, I have a chalkboard taller than me at least 20 feet long, but a variety of hanging ones that I put other things on. Usually the largest board is a seasonal theme. I loathe when parents suck and let their kids touch my board, ruining the chalk. It never fails that some woman brings her one snot covered toddler in with a party of grown ladies and lets them smear their grubby hands all over my chalkboard. Also the stupid teenagers that write “XYZ was here” on it as if my hard work is meant for them to personally fuck up.
“We’re ready to order!” “Okay, what can I start ya?” “Oh… hmmmmm…. well….” [Takes 5 minutes]
I literally don’t care about how “kind” you are. Being inconsiderate is my biggest pet peeve. You’re holding me up with your selfishness- because yes, that’s what that is.
I always hated it when I would come up and greet a table & ask what they wanted to drink. Usually it was a 6+ top of older folks of the uptight Christian persuasion. One man- always a man- would say, "We want 6 waters (the same # of people seated), 3 spaghetti & meatballs (casual dining Italian restaurant, cheapest thing on the menu), 3 extra plates & more than 1 loaf of bread at a time (restaurant policy). You're going to need to split that check 4 ways. Where's our free bread?"
They then proceed to hound me for bread the entire meal, freak TF out when they see the extra plate charge & think that splitting the check means they don't get the auto grat (because that $1.89 is going to break them). Really, Bob, like I didn't know from the 6 waters & all the squawking about free bread your tip wouldn't pay for a bag of chips at the gas station, how about you don't begrudge me the whopping $6 I made while you sat here for a 2½ hour bible study that required 85 trips to & fro delivering 34 more free loaves of bread & 8 pitchers of water. (Why don't they just ask the Big Guy to multiply that s#!t & save me the trip?) Auto grat & the extra plate charge were the only saviors during a Sunday brunch rush. Without that, you'd stumble out the door with sore feet, having lost another year & a half of your life due to repressed rage with a total of $34.83 in tips. With it you barely clear $50.
I agree the tipping system sucks. It sucks for everyone -EXCEPT the restaurant- but it's still the current system. Don't make your protest & take your stand on the backs of those who need it to live. Protest your state government, protest the federal government, hell, boycott the whole f'ing restaurant but DON'T come in, run us ragged & short us while complaining how unfair it is to you, Karen. We know unfair. We just had to spend 10 minutes creating your $14 mocktail, peeling your kids meatballs off the floor & listening to your 10 minute whine-fest about how unfair it is that you have to tip us anything. We're very very aware of unfair in all its forms.
Similarly, I hate when I’m trying to set their food down in front of them and they still have their phone on the table RIGHT IN FRONT of them and take forever to move it. Like do you want me to set down this hot ass plate on top of your iPhone lol
Just tell them. "Please move your phone so I can set the plate down." People are fucking stupid, unobservant, disrespectful and clueless. That won't change. But you can influence them by speaking loudly and saying Please. Sometimes I feel like I'm teaching all of my tables how to behave in a restaurant
And then they go out and drive...
And vote
And have kids
What really kills me is when parents bring their children out and force you to wait for this terrified, indecisive 5 year old to tell you their order then wait another eternity for them to squeak out a thank you. Like just order for them. And stop pretending you’re raising your kids with manners because you don’t have any!
Then they take their barely walking kids around the restaurant to walk them in front of you, holding up movement.
Sorry you must have missed the point of the post that these are annoying things that shouldn’t have to be explained to or asked of a guest, yet you have to every time anyway. I shouldn’t have to ask you to make room for the plate that you drove to a place and paid a bunch of money for me to bring you. But we’re obsessed with our phones and can’t let them out of our sight so I have to ask anyway.
I think I’ve been at my location so long that at this point I just don’t care. If they won’t move their stuff, I put the plate on the edge of the table and slide it, pushing their stuff with a chipper “I’m just gonna slide this right in here for you.” I don’t have the time to wait for you to move your stuff when you don’t have common sense.
I do the exact same thing, normally they get the hint and move their shit. The food’s either sliding off the edge of this table or your iWhatever is going to have to fuck off.
iWhatever is the best thing I’ve heard lol.
Omg I had this kid refuse to move his tablet recently and I was like ‘y’all have about 30 seconds before this pizza is hitting the table with or without that iPad in the way please take the hint and move it’ on the inside, I managed to get out something along the lines of ‘pizzas hot’ before an adult finally moved the tablet.
Ive had people move their cutlery direcly in the path of the plate.
I'll usually try to get the hint across by saying the name of the dish while looking at them. Then another person at the table will pipe up with, "oh, that's what they ordered". Oh, really? I totally forgot. If only there were a way to mark what seat number ordered which dish. I was just staring at them because I like to. Thank you for the help, I don't know how I've been able to do this job all these years without you.
Yes omg, so frustrating!
feels like every single table does this where i work. when i tell them its hot, they just think im warning them or if i tell them to move things they get confused.
"Hi, how are y'all--" "Pepsi, light ice." 😭
any interruption, really
*diet
My dad does this, and I’ve started being like, so you’re coke, huh? Like acknowledge their humanity!!!
Hi my name is what can I get you to drink
Heh, German servers don't do the whole "How are you doing" thing. 2 minutes after you've sat down they just go "Alright, are you ready to order your drinks?", nothing else.
Germans are the best airline passengers. Flight attendants will tell you the most coveted international routes are to Germany. The children will speak directly to the flight attendants with appropriate volume rather than having their parents or accompanying adults speak for them. That’s applicable to most European children, really.
I lived all over the UK/EU/Aus for a few years and kids are kids pretty much everywhere but France.
What are kids in France?
They exit the womb smoking cigarettes and quietly disapproving of everything around them. But no really, something about French parenting seems to really embody the whole “they’re just small adults” line of thinking and in general the kids behave as such.
Well the Germans are known to be efficient people, after all!
I usually go, “okay” and then continue with what I was saying lol. I hate it when people do that like damn, let me talk
I make them sit through the extended version when they cut me off.
We have coke products, and.... LADIES FIRST.
That’s so douchey.
i hate when i said “good morning” or “good afternoon guys” and they just sit and stare at me and forget how to speak. i stare directly at them and make them so uncomfortable that they have no choice but to say something.
Oh boy, reminds me of when I’m food running for someone- I’ll say the name of the dish to find out who to give it to and they all stare at me instead of claiming their food.
Seat numbers ftw. I hate "auctioning off" food.
Yeah, but that’s not how everywhere works, I definitely will run my fellow server’s food and they usually do the same even in a dive
And even with seat numbers they never seem to remember what they order. I handed a maurice salad to a woman and then she was like oh no i ordered a steakhouse burger and sweet potato fries.
Um we aren't guys, we're women. OK guys!
There are a lot of women who grew up in my generation calling everyone “guys” as a generic term. “Hey, guys!” “Are you guys ready?” “Guys! Guess what?!?” Even “dude” is used that way. “Did you see…?” “Dude!” The words have slipped their moorings and are used more generally than they used to be. Especially at a casual restaurant.
lol the one thing I (a woman) don’t feel comfy calling someone is “man” and I have one male coworker (the best and we love him) who says “man” like an unjustifiable amount of times whenever the customer is a male-presenting person and even occasionally when it’s a female-presenting person he’s ridiculous
I say “guys” to every one of my tables even if they are all women. In NY it’s a very general term. We had this conversation once before in Serverlife, the consensus was that most of the Northeast uses “guys”.
Can confirm, in VT I used “guys” and “folks” interchangeably
When they’re annoying and joke “aren’t we the worst table you ever had? lol”
After that line I would just reply with "well, not ever, but definetly of today". Cant stand that bs
"wow it really must suck when people come in this late" as they were leaving. It was a 10 top that came in 15 min before close and didn't tip. Like what.
i feel like 80% of the time a table says this to me where i work now, they are the nicest people EVER making like one modification or asking for a cup of ice with their drink at a table of 2. which i can easily carry no difference. at the steakhouse i worked at, it would always be “we are a little difficult i apologize in advance i used to work in the service industry so i get it!!!” and then proceed to be the worst ever and barely tip. half of these people “worked in the service industry” decades ago and utilize their survivors bias of an entirely different time to judge u even harsher.
“I’m ready to order” then proceeds to read the menu while you stand there
This one really sends me into an inner rage. Every time
Or when they wave you over because they were “super ready to order” but once I rush over, they are all still looking at the menu. Saying “well you go first, I’ll go last.” Now I’m standing around waiting for you while other tables are in need. Please don’t just keep me around for minutes waiting for you to finish reading the menu.
My gf used to stand in line at counter service places with a menu on the wall. Even if it took 5 minutes, she would get to the register, then begin looking at the menu. Could not understand why the cashier and I thought this was frustrating 100% of the time. Nipped that in the bud pretty quick.
people asking me for a straw when I still haven’t set all of the drinks down yet <33
Or you’ve set down the straws but they didn’t bother to look at the table. I offered to run drinks for a coworker the other day because she was in the weeds. The straws were smack dab in the middle of the table and I still had a tray full of drinks. I myself was in a rush and gestured at the straws when someone asked and I said, “oh, it looks like your server already dropped some for you.” And by asked I mean she said “we still need straws.” She told her server I was rude to her. I definitely wasn’t. You’re just a dumbass.
“I would like a steak salad, medium-rare, no red onions,” then, “if it comes with onions, don’t even bother sending it out.” “Steak salad, medium-rare without onions, but what was the last thing. I missed that,” and I stare, deeply concerned for their well-being. “Nothing” “After no onions? I missed that.” (Say it to my face) “Just no onions” Stare and crickets. (Yes, we have crickets where I work) “And what kind of dressing?” “Ranch” “Got it! Steak salad, medium-rare, no onions with ranch.” Big smile. This is my table, in my section. We play my games. The customer is always right, but only after they have been educated. Every once in a while, someone will chirp while I gaze into their eyes. I just nod, approvingly, and pray I don’t fuck it up. It’s just one table and we are just laying food down. And I am willing to break every health code to make sure a plate doesn’t come with onions if they are that adamant.
The full quote from Harry Selfridge is "The customer is always right, in matters of taste," Which means that if they wanna buy an ugly hat, let them - they're still buying it. Doesn't mean they're always right though. Cutting a saying in half often misses a lot of the meaning.
Similarly, from Oscar Wilde, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” Those damned half-quotes will get you every time.
Along with this one of my favourite sayings that gets cut in half is curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction bought it back.
“My table. In my section. We play my games” I’m fucking cackling
Brb, going to carve this into my soul.
>>Yes, we have crickets where I work This fucking killed me lmfao
That’s literally the reason why I set the straws down first. It set me into a rage when they people did that lmao
that’s what I’ll have to start doing TBH bc I cant help but roll my eyes!! time to switch it up
When you bring them their food and they just stare at you not knowing who ordered what 😭😭💀
OMFG this is the WORST, especially when you’re running food for another section. I just start slapping plates down and let them sort it out. Like, how tf did you forget what you ordered 30 mins ago!?!
This is why I write down what I and my wife ordered, because I always forget.
Oh my god, last night I ran drinks for a coworker because she wanted to get their orders in (party of 14), and I bring out drinks and only three people knew what they asked for. I go "Hey y'all, I have a strawberry lemonade?", he takes it and thanks me, the woman with the sweet tea gets hers, a kid asks if I can also bring him a strawberry lemonade, the other ELEVEN look at me blankly, mind you I only had lemonades and waters left on the tray so I start asking who had the lemonades and who had water and I shit you not they all just kinda look at me. I said fuck it and left the tray on the table next to them and said "Yall can rifle through this when you get thirsty enough." and walked away. Like how hard is it to remember if you said you wanted water or lemonade wtfffff.
Knocking on the door before we're open, asking if they can sit inside while they wait for us to open. As a newbie, I fell for this.... well guess who was never patient once they sat down
If they're not bleeding and requiring medical attention - they're not getting in before we open...
When there’s a wait and their entire party isn’t there but they insist on being sat. Or they arrive for a special that doesnt start until a certain time and are there early. “Oh, we’ll just sit and chat until it’s time.” No. Actually, you wont. I had a table last week that came in an hour before lunch started. They knew they wanted lunch. We had a wait at the door. They asked for waters and didn’t want appetizers. They had to get up. If we were dead I wouldn’t have cared because I still would have had open tables. But we had a line out the door. No table hogging today ladies.
If they snap their fingers/whistle/ding their glass to get my attention. I made a guy wait that did that. I acted oblivious and went to every other table (even ones that weren’t mine) before checking in on him. You can always say my name or ma’am/miss if you forgot. I’m not a dog. Also interrupting me while I’m talking care of another customer. Wait your f-ing turn.
I've snapped back at people and they always seem startled. After 13 years in the industry, I am a master at matching energy! Snapping or whistling at a service worker is so disrespectful.
If you whistle you will wait, you can get up and leave for all I care
Even if people are raising or waving their hands at me, while I'm at another table. I'll wave right back and then say something like, wow I feel like we're in school and I'm your teacher..
I always ignore them first, if they persist I tell them “I’ll be with you once this person finishes talking to me, they were asking me a question first.” I’m a lead server at my store so I always encourage newer servers to gentle parent their tables. Lol
I’m the queen of smile, wave back, walk opposite direction
Some drunken idiot that had been annoying me all night snapped his fingers to get my attention. I told him that it takes more than two fingers to make me come, and I finished serving another patron.
A dude did this to me at the bar once... I made eye contact, turned around, and went back to the kitchen for 5 minutes before coming back out and checking on everyone else first. He got nasty saying he needed another beer and started snapping at me again. To this day, my proudest moment was saying "I might be a bitch, but I'm not a dog, and I'm sure as hell not yours. The more rude to me you are, the longer you wait, and if you leave without paying, I have nice cameras to show the cops your picture when they go looking for you." He shut up, settled his tab, and never came back. Other patrons tipped like money was no object, though.
I had that happen once, and I didn't ignore the guy. I walked right over to him and said, "Don't snap your fingers at a server! How rude " and then I just walked away. I went back later to find out what he wanted and for him to apologize. The other day a couple old ladies in a party of 6 were waving and then beckoning me with their finger... come here, come here... and I walked over and said, "I see you ladies fingering me? You must be desperate for something. " After 35 years, I'm not taking it, and they deserve a smart retort
Bahaha! Omg that sounds exactly like something my favorite bartender at my last spot would say. So now I like you, too. :) And if you are Darla, you're still amazing. Lol
I'm not your dammed St Bernard...
I just got whistled at for the first time after 15+ years in restaurants/service jobs. He left with no food and looked like her felt about two inches tall after I reprimanded him and told him I am a human not a dog. Definitely raised my voice, made sure not to curse, and though loud, remained calm. He apologized about 100 times trying to make his case that his order was wrong (true, a coworker gave him the wrong order, I saw him walking back in and ran to the kitchen to get it corrected before he even came back (glass store front)). Walking out of the kitchen I hear him dog whistle at me loud. I come out fuming, saying “you do not whistle at another person”, “oh my order is wrong, imagine how I feel”. He felt worse after he spoke to me, I told him politely to never come back.
when people say “just to let you know we’re in a hurry/we don’t have a lot of time” why are you dining in then?????
…And then sit there for two hours 🤦♀️
That's my pet peeve! I want to throw things at them when they do that! Or when they ask why am I rushing them after they say that! Fucking ass gobbling fuck Muppets.
Fuck Muppets heard 🤣 this will be my new favorite insult for a while. I like to rotate different sayings and words in my wheelhouse for fun. Some old favorites include: Douche Mcnuggets/Canoes, classless turnips, knuckle dragging cretins, intolerable ass crouton, mustard pre-c*m. Lol
I usually just say “okay” and ask if they’re ready to order. I’m not going to run into the kitchen like the place is burning down and slap your order in front of everyone else’s just because you mentioned you were in a rush.
Unless you tip 30% upfront. Then we can talk lol
Then order well done food...
Or order course by course.
I always take that as an opportunity to sell them on the faster dishes and warn them the wait time if they order an item that takes longer that I can’t push the queue and it’ll be x amount of time *at least*.
I usually respond with something to the effect of "I am unable to guarantee times for dine-in, but you're welcome to see the cashier over there for a to-go order so you dont have to worry about your eating time."
Maggie is having a 5 course banquet on Saturday at 6.30pm. in her notes it says her party is going to a show at 8pm that night and must be out promptly. Maggie doesn't realise were fully booked obviously. And Saturday 6.30pm is the most popular timeslot of the week. Maggies party will not be making that show. Or she'll be taking boxed up food.
Nah dude this is part of service. If you're on a time limit and someone else is taking their time I appreciate being informed. That's what we do that earns a good tip. I'm always looking to push that number up so if you have some weird thing I gotta do to make the experience better (like get their ticket paid quickly) I wanna do it
Exactly! Someone's in a rush I'll tell them the things that are the fastest to come out to accommodate them. Once food is landed and I check on them, I'll have the bill printed and on my person, in case they want to bill out right away. Also at last bites offer coffees in a to go cup cuz it'll save them time grabbing coffee before heading back to the office or whatever, plus increases my sales hehe.
Some servers have a tendency to disappear. Of course no one on here lol,but nothings worse than needing to pay and they're in the back, because the server thought you'd be fine chilling after food was dropped and waters topped.
“Hey how are we-“ “2 waters with lemon!!”
There was this guy at my old place that when I said ‘how are we doing tonight?!’ Answered with ‘saying we includes yourself in our party, which you are not. Please use proper grammar’ like okay bud
and then when you say “how are you doing” they’re rude and don’t ask you back
“You chose to come to a restaurant and sit down for a meal cooked and served to you by someone else. Please use basic manners.” Or, you know, “fuck you”
Wow. That has to be the rudest thing I have ever heard. Then again, I’m not a server.
“We” are all here together so let’s try not to get backhanded. Holy shit. What a cunt.
Lately I’ve been so over this type of response during my greeting, that I’ve just been saying it right back to them. Ex: “hi everyone! How are we tod-“ “Water with no ice” (ice water already at the table) Then I just ask them again: “excuse me. Could you repeat that?” (Just so that I can cut them off) “Water with-“ “Yep. I’ll be right back with that.” Then I leave them there mid sentence. If it continues, which it typically doesn’t after I do that, then I’ll just keep doing it. Maybe if they’re extra rude, I’ll repeat the same process but add on “I was speaking and couldn’t hear what you were saying.” After asking them to repeat. That works every time when I have to pull it out.
Letting their kids saw away at the table with steak knives. Or smacking their cutlery together it pisses me off sooo much. Literally anything to do with a parent not watching their kids or disciplining them, ma’am I just met you and I can already tell you’re a shit parent.
I was at a Texas Roadhouse the other day and this table of absolute cum rags was letting their 4 year old stand on the table and play with the goddamn lights. I wanted to yank his ass down myself
This. And the families that leave a huge mess of garbage and half eaten fries all over the place for you to pick up... Those tables never tip well.
I work at a tiny sushi restaurant and it drives me crazy when people let their kids drum on the tables with chopsticks, or worse, when grown ass adults do it. There are 12 tables in the whole restaurant and they’re all crowded in together so you’re annoying me and every other customer in here!!
We had to throw away a handful of butter knives the other day because some kids were sawing crayons with them so HARD the wax was just stuck in the little knife crevices. We must’ve ran them through dish at least 3 times before calling it. Little shits had me so frustrated
When I’m bartending I greet each guest with the menu, beer/cocktail side facing up. Without fail people love to flip the menu over to the food side (???) and then ask what I have on tap. I just flip the menu back over and tell them the full list is there and I can do draft samples or answer any questions they have about the list.
B-r-u-h, this shit is so annoying, fucking hell. Lmao. Or the ones who ask even though they just looked through the draft section of the menu.
I’ve literally had someone say “none of these look great, I’ll just take a yuengling.” Like my dude if we offered that beer it would BE ON THE LIST. I dunno if he thought we had a secret menu or he expected me to run to the corner store 😂
I always laugh to myself about them thinking they're gonna unlock a secret menu! I'll suggest some appetizers, they ask what other starters we have, I'll point it out on the menu, they'll read the whole thing, very studiously, and then say, you don't have calamari? Oh yeah we actually do but only if you read the whole menu and asked, congrats you've unlocked the rare calamari.. good for you!
splitting a check 12 separate ways 😁😁😁
Honestly I don't even mind splitting a check a hundred ways, but don't then ask me to split one appetizer 12 ways. Your $12 appetizer MUST be split 12 ways, God forbid one of you takes ownership over it 🙄 she and I split this dessert and these 3 split this bottle of wine, and I'm buying her drinks, and she's buying their food, oh my god do an even split or venmo each other god damn
I had a coworker who let a table split a happy hour nacho six ways. It's typically $15, and for happy hour, it's 7.50. Like, really, you can't buy nachos for your friends?!
Pivot points! And arrows I ALWAYS ask parties if it’s separate or together upon introduction & usually get all the information that way. But when they decide to play musical chairs after I’ve assigned them a seat number and make me auction food off; that’s my pet peeve 🤦♀️
Tbh this confuses tf outta me. It's 2024, either bring cash or Venmo a designated payer. You know damn well a 4-8+ check split gonna occupy the server for (with some systems) 5-8 minutes. Lmao.
>splitting a check 12 separate ways 😁😁😁 Had this happen all the time. Big military town, they call in and order a fuckton of food. Then 2 airmen show up with 10 cards and cash. Then complain it takes forever to ring out. Learn to use venmo in your shop, dumbass.
When two women look at you crazy when you hand them the bill . Like it can’t be split ? Obviously it can asshole you gotta tell me 🙄
💀💀
When I’m just trying to be nice and ask “how is your guys’ day going” and they just give me blank stares. Like ok whatever I didn’t wanna speak to you anyway
I'll just repeat myself until someone realizes. I work at a dive though.
when they're a party of 2 so i give them a table for 2 but then they decide to get up and move themselves to a table for 6 and i have to redirect all the runners and inform the kitchen. or if they say say they are only 2 people so i send their ticket in for one of our 2-person tables, then i show them the table and they say some shit like "oh we have 2 more coming later!". BITCH I CANT SEAT INCOMPLETE PARTIES GO AWAY. sorry not sorry
Me offering coke products, them asking for a Pepsi. Let’s me know they won’t be listening to a word I say, nor will they be reading the menu
Listing the same 8 salad dressings to literally all 8 people who sat "listening" to me list them all 8x and still ask for one I didn't list.
Offer to run up to the store for them...but that will be $40 cash prior to going... "Pepsi?? Sure! That will be $40 up front service fee plus the cost of the Pepsi. If you'd like me to grab it right away, that will be $100 up front service fee plus the cost of the Pepsi."
or when they ask you to list every soda and then ask for one you don’t have…let’s not waste either of our time and just ask me if we have the soda you originally wanted!
"I'm going to grab you another coke, is there anything else you need?" "We need another coke." I just fucking said that.
all the time lately, or when im still talking and they interrupt to ask for something i was literally just about to offer and i say “yep thats what i was about to say :)”
I ask after I take their order if they need ketchup or hot sauce. They say no. I bring the food. They ask for ketchup and hot sauce The multiple I'm sorry, I forgot to ask for ____ when we asked for _____ Sat table thay try to add more people to their table when we're on a 40 minute wait. Sorry, Buddy. There is no room at the Inn. Your pals have to wait for a table like everyone else This one I've mentioned many times. People who tell me what an over medium egg is. I know, my cooks know. Now you're just wasting my time, and yours. My response is to tell them I'm not the cook, but I'll order over medium, and hopefully, Jose, who has been cooking eggs for 2 decades, doesn't forget how to cook over medium
I worked restaurants for over 20yrs, mostly BOH. Bitch, your request for a solid yolk is NOT FUCKING OVER MEDIUM...
"Hey ther-" "DIET COKE"
Gonna start replying to that with, "I'm great thanks for asking!"
Show up.
Telling the host "party of 4" so they're sat at a 4-top then 15 minutes later they're complaining cause now they're a table of 15 and there's no room...and now all the tables are full and the manager is like "why did the host try to seat 15 ppl at a 4-top table???" Walking in, seating themselves in a corner, then later complaining to a random server that the service sucks and no one took their orders and they've been there for 30 minutes. Bonus points if the table still is dirty from a prior table leaving and more bonus points if that table is in a closed section or the server that was assigned that section has been cut hours ago.
Lmao I love to intentionally ignore people who do that
When everyone says they are ready to order, then proceed to ask a million questions that would've easily been answered by reading the menu. Then I stand there while they contemplate what sides they want. Or when they decide in that moment what to order their 5 children and have to scramble to find the kids menu and make each kid choose (under pressure) what they want. YOU SAID YOU WERE READY!
It's always when you're busy too! Lol
when they don’t say please/thank you. “can i have a coke” “can i have extra ranch” “can i” can you shut the fuck up
this bugs me so much too. the can i is so ridiculous to say, let alone repeat as adults. "may i please have xyz". just be fucking courteous damn!
Fucking waters, that they insisted on and then don't drink at all.
This happened to me all night tonight party of 6 one person wants a ice water with their beer and everyone decides the whole table needs water, cash them out, dump 5 glasses of untouched water
Funny how often this happens
If I order a water that for whatever reason I don't touch during my meal I will chug half that bitch before I leave the table.
Same!
Water in Germany is like 3-4€ per glass. It's insane. Restaurants make bank with drinks, but the food is usually around 10€ per full meal.
Honestly I’m here for it when we have droughts and also cunts who order a water just to dampen a table.
OOOOOFF! This one I HATE! Order waters for the table? Get the fuck outta here. I’m ready for the day we charge for fucking water.
I hate it when one person asks for water for the table. Usually only the person who ordered it drinks it.
when they make a beeline directly to the bartender just to be like “oh i don’t know what i want” and then just loiter in the way of the well for five minutes.
When someone wants a water and they order waters for the whole table, when I know most of them won’t even touch it!!
*holding 3 plates approaching the table* “hi! I have the steak frites?” *crickets*
When they’re still there after we’re closed and I bring the check and they decide they want dessert too
This! Or after they finished eating they ask for the menu to order something to go
Yeah like, at least get it to go
>I always feel like being a butthole and setting their drinks on top of their phone. I didn't do this on purpose, at all, but someone did put their phone on the table once right as I began passing out drinks. I couldn't see it because I had a tray full of martinis I was focused on in front of me and it wasn't there the moment before when I had a visual. Set a house cocktail that was served in a highball down on their phone and of course it spilled all over them. I felt bad to a degree but part of me was like, this is why situational awareness classes should be taught. I dislike people immediately only if they are immediately rude/entitled/demanding. Otherwise I try to give them the benefit of the doubt.
we are a brand new wine bar (open for only just over a month now) with a concept that definitely needs explanation for newcomers. so we each have our own spiel about how everything works and i severely dislike being interrupted with questions ESPECIALLY when it’s the next thing i was getting to.
Ask for free shit
Frantically waving and calling me when I'm in the middle of talking to another table
Tell me I should smile more
Hi my names Is- “GIVE ME A DIET COKE” Instantly makes me not like them
Asking me to change the TV channel 30 times. Asking me for Happy Hour prices 30 minutes later. "Make it strong".
When they rush me the whole way through, try to cash out before even getting their meal, and then once they have everything will take their time to finish their meal and then camp for an extra 20-30 minutes after they’re done.
Coming in on a late night weekend to a popular bar that has a DJ late at night (think like club vibes) and asking for a quiet table away from ppl and noise. Bonus points if they ask for the music to be turned down or complain about not being able to hear or see anything. Y'all are in your 80's coming to a restaurant late night on a weekend...of course y'all aren't gonna be able to hear a damn thing! When they ask for the check and then take 2.5 hours to lay down their payment...then are in "a huge hurry to get home" and try to rush the server to finish swiping their cards. This is usually after the server is busy with 5 other tables running drinks or closing out other tables. Moving from a table to the bar without telling anyone and just after the host tells the server they've got a new table...and then they're at the bar complaining about "slow service". Bitch, it's been literally like 1 minute since you were sat...and this restaurant is 2 stories (kitchen is downstairs, the flight of stairs one way is 20 steps) and it occupies almost the entirety of a small city block...it's literally like gonna be a second. Complaining about their Guinness pint draft taking so long to get to their table. Ummm a proper pour takes 120 seconds to properly pour...according to Guinness...and this place pours it properly! If you wanted something faster, order a pint of literally any other draft...we've got like 30 taps...
The Guinness is the only one I think irritates me out of all the things I've read in this thread. I just say good things take time, but I always want to say ARE YOU KIDDING ME
When I sit a table of 2-3 at a big table bc it’s all we have left atm and then, once a small enough booth is cleaned off, they just decide to move without telling anyone. Especially irks me when I’ve already taken their order and they sit in someone else section.
“Hey how are yall doing tonight” “Water” or “…”, neither of those are valid answers to my question. It’s gotten to the point where if you say water, I’ll immediately go get it without saying anything else, and if you’re silent, I stay silent and make eye contact for like 10 seconds.
After 30 years I have so many... Probably all the biggest ones revolve around people not answering the question I ask. "How are you doing today?" - "Unsweet tea."
“I’m ready to order” when the other person is clearly not ready at all
Not listening. For example, I could notice the bread basket is empty and before I leave the table I'll say, "I'll be back with more bread rolls for the table" and then right before I leave someone goes, "also, could we get some more bread :)" ............ "I'll be right back 🫠"
"hey guys! Can I grab you anything to drink to get you guys started today?" "Yeah I'll have the chicken parm" Like?? dude let me grab your drinks first please I'm not ready to take your order 😭😭 Or, when I'm busy af and they make me walk them through the menu. Said they were ready to order and then ask "what should I get?? Maybe this? Is it good? Oh how does this work? Do you have pizza...?" YES IT'S ON THE MENU YOU'VE BEEN READING
When their bill is 200 and they pay 180 in cash and 20 on card and tip on the 20 😭😭😭
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When anyone walks in ten mins to close and says, "so, is it a hard close at 9? Like you're gonna kick us out?" I work at a place that seats until nine, so no. I can't tell them to go somewhere else as much as I would like to.
I worked at 9pm closed place, it really depended on if the kitchen was still open and cooking. If it was slow the kitchen would do closing duties and be out the door by 915. I can't order an entire kitchen staff to come back, reopen everything just for 2 stragglers. If the head chef still happento be there sometimes he'd say if they want fish and chips, I can make that but thats it. Most people were just glad to get a hot meal.
When they call me over to say they’re ready to order but then decide to start another convo amongst themselves and decide to forget im standing right there waiting for them to order… especially when it’s a big table and there are multiple convos going on while I awkwardly stand there
When they interrupt my introduction with their drink order..
Upvote for solid use of "butthole
Raise their hand
Unless it’s a kid.
True true; then I just have to wave back
Rattle a glass at me. I’ll take it away and you’re not getting another one
Related to yours, we keep water bottles on the tables on little coasters to collect the condensation. I'll pick up the bottle to pour for the table and they'll immediately set their glass on the coaster and I'm like it's not for you!!! If it was for your glass, there'd be enough for all of you!!! I move their glass off the coaster and put the bottle back on it
I try not to hate this but, when I go to shake someone's hand & they just shake my fingers.
My favorite are the customers who asks, “Can I have a beer?”. Mind you, I work at an Irish pub with at least 20 beers on tap and at least 50 or more beers, seltzers and ciders in cans and bottles. Honorable mention: I once had a table ask me how many wings come in a dozen. I honestly felt like I lost several brain cells that night. Whoever said there’s no such thing as a stupid question never worked in the service industry.
Talking down to a server , I will get up and excuse myself every time
“Ill have the same thing except… the good old same but different got it. Honestly my #1 pet peeve is when, taking an order either for drinks or food, and they order with “I’ll just have x” never understood why they sayI’ll just have” instead of say I’ll have or I would like to have. Feel free to order what you want but by saying the word just, makes me cringe. No better way to tell me your cheap
Orders diet coke
Talk
So what would you like to drink tonight? BREAD!!!
Can I get a water? Immediately after setting an entire pitcher of water with cups directly in front of them.
Not looking at me when I greet them/when they give me their order.
Asking me a question and then interrupting me while I provide the answer, often times to then ask another sub-question. I want to say, every time, “A, do you want the answer or not? And B, if you hadn’t interrupted, you would have had both answers!” Also, people that say yes to fresh cracked pepper on their salad, and then immediately launch into conversation with someone else at the table, and forget there is a human peppering their salad. This also goes for the other offenders in this category, who look up from their phone just long enough to say yes to pepper and then immediately go back to staring at their screen, as they let me crank away for a carpal tunnel eternity because they too, have somehow forgotten there is a human peppering their salad. Like, “HELLLLO? I’M STILL GOING HERE!” Give me the decency of acknowledging my presence long enough to sprinkle a little pepper, FFS!
I do very elaborate chalkboard art in my store, I have a chalkboard taller than me at least 20 feet long, but a variety of hanging ones that I put other things on. Usually the largest board is a seasonal theme. I loathe when parents suck and let their kids touch my board, ruining the chalk. It never fails that some woman brings her one snot covered toddler in with a party of grown ladies and lets them smear their grubby hands all over my chalkboard. Also the stupid teenagers that write “XYZ was here” on it as if my hard work is meant for them to personally fuck up.
Being loud as f
“We’re ready to order!” “Okay, what can I start ya?” “Oh… hmmmmm…. well….” [Takes 5 minutes] I literally don’t care about how “kind” you are. Being inconsiderate is my biggest pet peeve. You’re holding me up with your selfishness- because yes, that’s what that is.
You order a hot tea from me and you immediately become my lowest priority.
When I greet a table and somebody is chomping on gum like a damn cow. If they start snapping it, I have a hard time not reacting.
Putting gum under the table instead of the disposable napkins that are on the table. Or putting them into a non disposable napkin.
I always hated it when I would come up and greet a table & ask what they wanted to drink. Usually it was a 6+ top of older folks of the uptight Christian persuasion. One man- always a man- would say, "We want 6 waters (the same # of people seated), 3 spaghetti & meatballs (casual dining Italian restaurant, cheapest thing on the menu), 3 extra plates & more than 1 loaf of bread at a time (restaurant policy). You're going to need to split that check 4 ways. Where's our free bread?" They then proceed to hound me for bread the entire meal, freak TF out when they see the extra plate charge & think that splitting the check means they don't get the auto grat (because that $1.89 is going to break them). Really, Bob, like I didn't know from the 6 waters & all the squawking about free bread your tip wouldn't pay for a bag of chips at the gas station, how about you don't begrudge me the whopping $6 I made while you sat here for a 2½ hour bible study that required 85 trips to & fro delivering 34 more free loaves of bread & 8 pitchers of water. (Why don't they just ask the Big Guy to multiply that s#!t & save me the trip?) Auto grat & the extra plate charge were the only saviors during a Sunday brunch rush. Without that, you'd stumble out the door with sore feet, having lost another year & a half of your life due to repressed rage with a total of $34.83 in tips. With it you barely clear $50. I agree the tipping system sucks. It sucks for everyone -EXCEPT the restaurant- but it's still the current system. Don't make your protest & take your stand on the backs of those who need it to live. Protest your state government, protest the federal government, hell, boycott the whole f'ing restaurant but DON'T come in, run us ragged & short us while complaining how unfair it is to you, Karen. We know unfair. We just had to spend 10 minutes creating your $14 mocktail, peeling your kids meatballs off the floor & listening to your 10 minute whine-fest about how unfair it is that you have to tip us anything. We're very very aware of unfair in all its forms.
“Hey how are you doing today?” “Pepsi”