Dining Etiquette

I know I've posted things like this before, but being in the industry myself for 10 years, I have to stick up for myself and others in the industry. It's important to me. It is my livelihood.
So please, be respectful of us, just as we would of you if we came into your office and hired your services.
I absolute hate it when I bust my ass for a table and I get gypped when it's all said and done. Next time, I won't work so hard for you. I'm sorry, you wanted extra ranch, well when you leave me a better tip, I might be in a hurry to get that for you. I remember who you are. And I remember those who do treat me well. They always come first in my book. Want the best service I can provide? You've got to earn it and by earn it, I mean tip well and respect me!

I saw this article on AOL and I don't think I could have said it any better myself.

Tara


DON'T TALK DOWN TO ME

Quote: "I hate when customers speak down to me like I am a teenager/20-something because I look young. I am 30 years old, and have been serving food for 20 years."
"For those of you who think servers are stupid, ignorant, or somehow below you in class or social standing, etc., let me just say that I am far classier than most people I served. Most of the people I worked with were extremely classy individuals as well. Money does not equal class."




PLEASE DON'T CAMP OUT

Quote: "When it's closing time, please GET OUT. How would you like it if someone came to your office five minutes before you closed and kept you there an extra two hours?"
"Remember that every minute you occupy one of our tables is affecting our income for the night. If you sit for two additional hours chatting after settling up and drinking water, consider compensating us for that time, especially since most good servers will continue to check up on you and refill those sodas and waters. If you buy drinks at the bar and then move to our tables and just sit talking, remember that table represents our livelihood. The longer you sit not tipping us, the less our hourly rate comes out to at the end of the night. Many servers only get between two and five tables to earn off during a shift. If they lose one for a couple of hours to "campers", as we call them, it can make a big impact at the end of the shift."



IF YOU CAN'T TIP, DON'T EAT OUT

Quote: "Oh and here's a little tip for those of you who don't know: we don't just want tips for our pocket, we want 'em for the food that Uncle Sam taxes US to feed you. That's right, I get taxed for what I sell. So if you order a huge meal, and then sheepishly tell me that you're sorry but you just don't have enough for a tip, I may smile and say, "That's ok, just get me next time." (Which is exactly what I do.) But inside I'm thanking you for giving me the privilege of paying for part of your meal, and for working for you for free. I'm sure my kids will too."
"Does anyone realize what a waitress/waiter gets paid an HOUR!?!? I work in a restaurant that is like Eat n Park. Make ALMOST $3.00 an hour for wages, but HAVE to pay TAXES on $4.35 an hour! If I do not "bust my butt" and try to get AT LEAST 18% TIP from a table, I am LOSING money!"
"Also, when prices rise in the rest of the world, i.e. gas, milk, the percent you should leave as a tip rises a little as well. So don't leave that crummy 10% tip you watched your father or grandfather leave while you were growing up. 15% is the minimum today, with 20% being customary most everywhere."



JUST TREAT ME LIKE A PERSON

Quote: "I think that a lot of people might really be ashamed of themselves if they could witness their own behavior. for some reason, it has become socially acceptable to treat wait staff like indentured servants. People should just stop, take away all the tangents and remember that they are dealing with a PERSON, with feelings. It truly is amazing to see how people act, especially when they don't realize they are being watched (or worse yet, when they know they have an audience)."
"People seem to totally forget themselves. I have an aunt who is a pretty cool person, until she walks into a restaurant. Is there a sub-culture that gets some secret, subconscious thrill from being able to put themselves on a pedestal above another person, just because that person is literally depending on YOU for their very livelihood? Some of the behaviors I have witnessed from restaurant guests is reprehensible, and if some people would stop to chill out and listen to themselves for a minute, they might truly be ashamed."



UP-SELLING IS MANDATORY

Quote: "I'll let you in on a little secret -- we have meetings on up-selling and suggestive selling, and yes we have to go and listen to someone explain the importance of up selling for 2 hours at the butt crack of dawn on a Saturday. Sounds fun doesn't it?"
"All of the restaurants I have ever worked in require the servers to not only up-sell (for example, from tap to bottled water) but also require that they offer specific appetizers, desserts, and alcoholic beverages. And the consequences for not doing these things can be anything from getting a "bad" section to being fired."



I'M BEING WATCHED

Quote: "At our restaurant (and most other high end major restaurants) we have what we call a shopper. This person basically grades us on our job, without us knowing, and we have to hit several key points. For example, if a couple of people at a table ask for the same glass of wine, we must offer a bottle. And we must tell you about a feature that is off the menu. We must offer cracked pepper. If we do not do this, we are reprimanded and maybe even have some good shifts taken away until you can prove that you are a quality server.
"Anybody can be a secret shopper. If these aren't met the server can be fired on the first offense. think about that next time you think the server might be helping too much. They are not just trying to make more money they also trying to save their job."



PLEASE WATCH YOUR KIDS

Quote: "We would not need to use the sweepers or brooms on the floors, if you and your kids did not act like pigs, throwing everything on the floor, just because you don't have to clean it up!"
"We get tired of people that allow their kids to throw food everywhere and behave like little animals simply because they don't have to clean it all up (for that big two dollar tip no less)."
"I clean up after kids that are monsters (even puke!). How can you take them out in public and let them act like that?"
Please do not let your children run around the restaurant. It's dangerous and we're not your babysitters. Waitresses come by with big heavy trays filled with hot food or coffee, and she can't always see a small child. And we're not required to entertain your child just so he or she won't run around the restaurant and act like a monkey. It takes away time we could have spent getting you refills or helping out another table that is acting a little more civilized.



DEALING WITH CHANGE

Quote: "I don't understand the gripes about asking if you need change. I work at a restaurant and if someone has cash (and most of the time I don't know because our checks are in books) I can't read your mind if you have a twenty or a hundred in there and I am not going to look until I get to the register, because it's rude. I ask because some people do not need change and get offended if I don't ask. So if you need change say so."
"Many places do not require severs to carry cash on them, SO if you do need change we have to go to the bartender, wait for him/her to see me, wait to give him/her the cash, then wait for it to be returned to me (many times the bartender is busy so this can take several minutes) only to go BACK to your table and have you say "Oh it's for you." I could have helped other tables or done another tasks and could get that change later or at the end of the night. It is NOT our way of asking for a better tip! It is our way of saying "Do you need me to come back to this table anymore?"

[[Personally, I just tell the table I will return with their change. Usually they tell me ok or they say no change needed. Sometimes they don't say anything and that's annoying because I don't know how much is in there and depending on what you left, I might return with 2 cents that you didn't even want. So please speak up.]]



WE'RE NOT THE COOKS

Quote: "We did not cook your food. We only brought it to you. It is okay, if the food is not to your satisfaction, for you to tell us this, and we will bring you something else. But please remember we are not COOKS, we are servers."
"A restaurant is not a McDonald's. Our food is not cooked ahead of time so please allow ample time. Most of our food is cooked to order. If your food comes out and its not satisfactory, please tell your waitress. It is her job to take it back and get you what you want, but keep in mind that she didn't cook the food so there is no reason to be nasty about it."
"If you order something well done, duh, it's going to take longer."