Restaurant Pet Peeves

seltzermint555

I've talked to multiple servers who think if you go out to a run of the mill (lower end) restaurant and order two reasonably priced entrees and your total check (for two people) is $22.50 then you should tip AT LEAST $7.50 rounding it up to $30. That's a 30% tip and yes I'd do it in some situations with extra good service but generally no...I'm gonna leave like $4 and maybe some change. I am told that makes me a "terrible tipper". I have also heard servers say that any tip under $10 is a slap in the face. What?

Springs131

I don't see this as asking for a tip, just a simple question. At least they asked... one time I had a server who just took the money and never came back even though we did need change.

How can you not see it as asking for a tip when the server is asking "Can I keep the rest of this for my tip please?" That *IS* what the server is doing. It's *ASKING* to KEEP THE REST OF THE CHANGE.

I mean why ask if they weren't going to KEEP the rest of it? How can you not *SEE* it's asking for a tip? The main reason is because they are TOO LAZY to do the 100% FULL COMPLETE JOB. That's why. They don't want to *EARN* their tip ALL THE WAY.

Springs131

I've talked to multiple servers who think if you go out to a run of the mill (lower end) restaurant and order two reasonably priced entrees and your total check (for two people) is $22.50 then you should tip AT LEAST $7.50 rounding it up to $30. That's a 30% tip and yes I'd do it in some situations with extra good service but generally no...I'm gonna leave like $4 and maybe some change. I am told that makes me a "terrible tipper". I have also heard servers say that any tip under $10 is a slap in the face. What?

If the service was good on a $22.50 meal, I'd probably leave at least $5, but $4 or $3 would be if the service was OK, but not great. $2 or less would be if it was really bad. I have left more on that amount before like $24 check left $7 for wonderful service.

Springs131

Another thing that burns my beans.. I clean my plate and the server says something like, "Wow, you didn't like that at all, huh?" I get that he or she is trying to be funny, but you really just made me feel like a fat-a**. Please, just take my plate and bring me the dessert menu because, yes, I do stil have room.

I fully 100% AGREE servers are being jerks when they say that. It's making us feel bad that we ate the whole thing and then making us possibly not make another sale on your check making you have less tip you servers out there don't understand that.

It's not nice to make a comment about your ordering. I have that in my list of pet peeves.

randomtai

I've talked to multiple servers who think if you go out to a run of the mill (lower end) restaurant and order two reasonably priced entrees and your total check (for two people) is $22.50 then you should tip AT LEAST $7.50 rounding it up to $30. That's a 30% tip and yes I'd do it in some situations with extra good service but generally no...I'm gonna leave like $4 and maybe some change. I am told that makes me a "terrible tipper". I have also heard servers say that any tip under $10 is a slap in the face. What?

Wow please stay home and cook if you can't tip properly. :noway:

tedrickp

And as for the tipping issue, I'm mostly just annoyed by people who think waiting tables is supposed to pay a "living wage." It's unskilled labor.

You could argue that "unskilled labor" is absolutely needed and vital to the entire restaurant industry tho. But then again, I think everyone who works a full time job should make enough money to live.

I wouldn't tip for horrendous service, but I have only gotten what I would consider "horrible" service once. I dunno if I have low standards or if it is luck of the draw. :laugh:

If I am going out for drinks, Im definitely hitting the bartender or server with a big first tip on the first one :drinker:

TheFisherKing

Children. Or more accurately, unsupervised children. No, children in general! I hate having them peek over the booth and you are forced to enter into a peekaboo game as the parents just think the child's curiosity is adorable. I hate paying for a meal in a fine restaurant here in NYC and having to deal with a screaming baby or child running about. For that, I would go to Dennys. OK, I would NEVER go to Dennys. Ha.

ronrstaats

Automatic Gratuity... If you force me to tip then that is all the tip they are going to get. I always tip 20% or more unless I am forced to tip...

Roadie2000

Give everyone a glass of water whether they ask for it or not. Should be standard procedure at most restaurants.

Springs131

I have found that it is usually a good idea to ring the kids food in a little bit ahead of time of the adults' food, especially if they are small children. That way, the kids are happy and settled, and the adults can enjoy their meal by the time it comes out. So many parents have expressed to me how much they appreciate this move.

You aren't the first person I have heard of this. You obviously want a MIND READER at your table. If you want your kid's food at a certain time, **YOU** have to speak up, *YOU*, just like if you want your side salad WITH your meal or your appetizer WITH your meal, *YOU* have to speak up.

If I were a server, I would ask this since I have seen people say this. I have read the 100% opposite that some parents said they were ready to go and they couldn't eat their own food by the time the parents got their food that their kids were getting antsy. I don't have kids, so I have no true idea, but I can't see your point of view to not eat together. I see their point of view more. I wouldn't want my kids food first if I were a parent, because I'd want to be able to eat in piece myself. Sure I may have to take an extra minute or two let's say cutting their meat for them or something like that, so what? Seriously, that's ridiculous that you seem to EXPECT it rather than just *ASKING* for what you want.

If I want water, I order it. I don't expect my server will just bring it. Get what I am saying?

http://forums.thebump.com/discussion/7408119/dinners-out

keg said: "We do it relatively often. We generally go early (5-5:30ish) and go to kid friendly places. For some it works best getting their kid's food first, but for us, I've found that's a recipe for disaster. I seem to have decent luck entertaining them before the food comes but once they are finished eating they are done. When they were younger, I carried the Tiny Diner placements and used those instead of plates. Now, we just use the restaurant plates and silverware. I also carry our "secret weapons"--ipod touches with toddler apps that will keep them occupied when all else fails."

See there is someone I found just googling this subject that disagrees with you. Not everyone wants things like that. That's why you need to place your ORDER that way. ORDER in that way if that's how you want it. NO SERVER CAN READ YOUR MIND NOR DOES EVERY SERVER HAVE KIDS TO KNOW WHAT YOU WANT OR DON'T WANT. This would have never occurred to me if I were a server since I do not have kids. If you want things that way you *ASK* for it.

Springs131

Give everyone a glass of water whether they ask for it or not. Should be standard procedure at most restaurants.

No WHO are you to tell me what I want for *******MY TIP MONEY**********, HUH CONTROL FREAK?

Springs131

Wow please stay home and cook if you can't tip properly. :noway:

This person would be paying a 17% tip if they left $4. That's not a horrible tip. You obviously would rather have zero and for that, I would make sure I would stiff you for being so UNGRATEFUL AND ENTITLED! That's the problem today, servers think that they should make more than someone that has a degree. Yes it's a very hard job, but I don't get the being unappreciative of $4 on an only $22.50 check. I would leave $5 if it was good, but not great which is 22%. 17% is still acceptable. Think about that you aren't doing as much for a $22.50 check in most cases. Now in my case, you would, because I order modified orders, so that's why I tend to tip $7 for a check like $24 if I had really wonderful service. It would depend on how much I make my server work and how the service is. Did I make them jump through hoops per say or did they have it easy just ordering one drink no refill and a pasta dish for example. How much you get paid should be based on how much work you provided and how the service was. Being nice is the key to getting more money. I don't understand the not saying sorry for mistakes that I seem to get no matter how nice I am to them, it's like WOW, mean people, then they want a good tip, WTH?? I mean if you want a good tip, you need to be nice. A simply "sorry about that" let's say if you forgot something I asked for like my refill. That goes a LONG WAY.

I think it's sad you don't appreciate any money. I used to work at a donut shop/diner back in 1998-2002 off and on a little over 2yrs worth, which we served similar to like a dunkin donuts sort of that they have all kinds of foods like burgers, sandwiches, biscuits, etc. I was counter help made min. wage plus tips. When someone left me a quarter or sometimes even less, I appreciated that they left me SOMETHING. Money is money. I don't get your attitude? I would rather have $4 than have nothing. I guess you'd rather have nothing. That's sad, it really is. Why do you act so entitled to the big bucks? I mean I can see being pissed of if you went all out did everything perfectly, even them saying it was good service, then them leave you $4, THEN yes I would be pissed *SOME*, but I would be grateful they didn't leave me just $2 or nothing. Look at it from the bright side they left me SOMETHING, much more than just a dollar or two. I really don't get your attitude?

Springs131

Your screaming messy kids who want 50 refills of cherry coke

You sound VERY LAZY!

My bar is 3 rows of people deep at 11:00 pm and you asked for a blended margarita

WHO THE HELL ARE YOU TO TELL ME WHAT I CAN ORDER CONTROL FREAK? I ORDER WHAT I WANT. I will get what *I* want for *MY* money! I can order what the hell I want.

Game day and you come in and eat the 5$ bucket of 2lb wings, drink water, and eat the free taco bar only at half time? sit in my section for 3 hours and spend 5 bucks?

We can spend what we want and spend as much time as we want, because it's up to the OWNER and OURSELVES what we spend. If you don't like it, DON'T BE A SERVER! Stop trying to ***CONTROL*** people's lives.

Yea, customers can suck.

Servers at times suck, especially with their LAZY, CONTROLLING attitude.

Springs131

On the floor, this used to piss me off. You tip on the service, not the food! Your entree price was the cost of the food, the cook etc... if you have a real problem with the food, you take it up with the manager. You don't take out your frustration on the server. It's like shooting the messenger.

Taste of your food I 100% agree, but getting the order obviously correct to your table *IS* SERVICE such as bringing you the wrong food, putting in the order wrong, etc.

Springs131

Or when patrons chew the server out because their food isn't right. The saying "Don't shoot the messenger," applies here.

It depends on what the mistake is.

90% of the time it's the SERVER'S FAULT:

1. They can put in the order wrong into the computer or if it's a written ticket they submit, they could have written something down wrong or hard to read.

2. They could have forgotten to put in the order in the first place.

3. Servers can also misunderstand what the customer is saying such as 2 times when I ordered 2 sides of bbq sauce and the stupid idiot servers thought I didn’t want bbq sauce on my ribs when I NEVER ONCE SAID I didn’t and I didn’t say “ON THE SIDE”, I SAID SIDES, which means extra. One of those times I said extra even.

4. Most mistakes with food are visible:

A. Condiments of any kind regardless of who brings out the food can be brought out by the server ahead of time.

B. If someone orders extra crispy bacon with their pancakes, then the bacon looks limp, not stiff, and you can even see some white fat on it, guess what? MY SERVER COULD HAVE SEEN THAT TOO AND TOLD THE COOKS IT WASN'T CORRECT, TO RECOOK IT INSTEAD OF BRINGING IT TO ME WRONG IN THE FIRST PLACE!

C. Any wrong side dishes or entrees are the fault of the server if they bring out the food even if they put in the order right. You can tell the difference between a baked potato and mac n' cheese, yet, a waiter at Logan's Roadhouse was so stupid as to bring me mac n' cheese when I ordered a baked potato. I noticed it within 5 seconds of the food hitting my table. Like DUH a baked potato looks completely different from mac n' cheese.

D. Any MISSING side dishes, appetizers, condiments, or entrees ARE the server's fault if they bring out the food as well. Have had that happen a few times or so. Our servers aren't blind, so they can tell if something is missing or not.

E. I have seen a red steak delivered to someone before at Outback which means let's say the customer ordered their steak well done, that the server could have noticed the color difference as in your example “Steak cooked rare instead of well done ? It’s not your server’s fault, they didn’t cook it, it’s the kitchen’s fault.”

F. If something LOOKS burnt such as a piece of bread with the food and the person didn't order it burnt, my server is at fault for serving me that.

G. If my server forgets an item that an entree or appetizer comes with, that's their fault if they brought me my food without the item such as a side dish or ranch.

H. I have ordered at Outback my fries "lightly cooked" "Not overdone and yellow not brown." I have had their fries before cooked the way I like them before many of times before this time I am talking about. This stupid waitress decided to blame the kitchen staff for REALLY DARK BROWN FRIES as if she was blind or something and my husband even told me he could see that they were really dark. My husband may not agree with me on every subject of course, but with that, you could EASILY tell just by LOOKING that those fries were overdone and very dark. She said she put in the order correctly. I am thinking, SO? I wish I could have said "Are you blind?" That was HER FAULT she DECIDED TO SERVE ME THOSE FRIES THAT WEREN'T CORRECT. I noticed the mistake within 3 seconds of my food being placed in front of me.

http://www.bunrab.com/dailyfeed/dailyfeed_images_feb-07/df07_02-04_baconn.jpg

You can tell in this picture above the bacon is very crispy just by simply LOOKING at it.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vv2IGE5obwk/RwVi-0hZziI/AAAAAAAABjc/m6bP-Te_wJE/s320/IMG_8338.jpg

You can tell in this picture above the bacon is NOT CRISPY, just by simple LOOKING at the bacon.

While the server didn't "COOK" the bacon, it's obvious to the *SERVER'S* EYES that one batch of bacon is crispy and the other isn't to decide to BRING the food to the customer wrong or not. It's my server's fault if they decide to bring me the bacon that's like in picture 2 if I ordered it crispy that she or he didn't tell the cooks it was wrong and get them to cook the bacon more instead of SERVING it wrong. WHY bring it out only for the food to be sent back?

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DzuAhw_RcXU/TAyZ38A67EI/AAAAAAAAALo/R6zLKIKy1do/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG

You can clearly see the fries are overdone in the picture above if the customer ordered them "NOT OVERDONE, lightly cooked."

http://www.orthogonalthought.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/dsc_6087_550.jpg

In this picture above, you can see the fries don't appear overdone and the bacon is NOT CRISPY. If a customer asked for their bacon to be crispy, I would REFUSE to serve it and I would have enough CARING and COMMON SENSE to get that fixed **BEFORE** I brought it to the customer only to have the customer send it back or leave me a bad tip for not caring about their food.

My server's job isn't just to bring out what the kitchen staff gives them, it's also getting the order OBVIOUSLY correct to the table as much as possible in order to get that good tip. As someone said on a blog or forum “They just want to be tipped well and will do pretty much anything reasonable to get your money”, which that IS VERY REASONABLE to think OUR SERVERS ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THEIR TIP TO GET THINGS RIGHT TO HAVE A BETTER TIP!!

http://www.akronohiomoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/cindy.jpg

You can notice a lot of things on her plate in the picture above like if the customer asked for no sour cream, well DUHH, it's STARING in your face. If the customer asked for a side of ranch(I would have), it's missing, DUHH!! If the customer substituted fries for rice, well DUHH, that's not on the plate.

Get what I am saying here? MOST of the mistakes happen due to either your server if they bring out the food or another server that doesn't compare the ticket to the food(assuming the order was put in correctly by the original server of course).

You also can notice if someone has wing sauce "On the side" vs. "On the wings" themselves. This isn't rocket science.

Most of the things that are wrong with the food can be caught by the server if they bring out the food, even if they didn't cook it. If it's another server, they can catch obvious errors on the ticket and menu(such as menu states the item comes with bbq sauce and the ticket doesn't say "no bbq sauce") if the ticket was correctly put in by the original server that took the order. Condiments(in bottles or on the side in containers) can always be offered to be brought out ahead of time REGARDLESS of WHO brings out the food to the table.

So most of the time when the food has something wrong with it, chances are, your server or another server could have caught the mistake before it got to you in most instances. I NEVER said ALL, but in most cases, it can be caught BEFORE bringing out the food(unless another server brings out the food with the ticket wrong), because then the original server that took the order is at fault for putting the order in incorrectly into the computer.

There are few rare cases where the food being wrong is the kitchen staff's fault such as raw food(such as raw chicken), slightly undercooked or overcooked food that you'd have to CUT into to know if it was under or overcooked, or anything the server cannot see with their eyes unless they were to TOUCH the food. Things such as a pickle under a bun the server can't notice unless they lift the bun, so unless they put the order in wrong, they wouldn't be at fault, but in general most food mistakes can be caught BEFORE bringing the food to the table.

What I am saying is, MOST mistakes ARE PREVENTABLE by the SERVER if they bring your order to you that they can NOTICE things wrong by comparing those written orders to the plates of food.

Once a waiter at Chili's said "The kitchen forgot" when I had ordered 2 sides of mayo and 1 side of mustard. The thing is, my waiter brought out the food, so NO, HE HE HE HE HE FORGOT, the kitchen staff didn't step out the kitchen to bring me my food and forget obvious missing containers from my plate that aren't covered up by anything. MY WAITER DID THOUGH!!

You walk in one room in your house with a plate of food, but forget the ranch. Even if your mom or significant other plated your food, which you even told her you wanted a side of ranch for your fries, but you bring it to another room. HOW IS THAT THEIR FAULT? It's YOUR FAULT YOU LEFT THE ROOM WITHOUT THE RANCH AND DIDN'T NOTICE IT SINCE IT'S SOMETHING OBVIOUS YOU DON'T HAVE TO *TOUCH* TO NOTICE THE MISTAKE!!

Even if he didn't bring out the food, that waiter could have prevented that type of thing from being forgotten since it needs no cooking to bring it out ahead of time. It is always the person bringing out the food that is at fault for any type of mistake that you don't have to TOUCH the food to notice the mistake, unless of course, the order was put in wrong by the original server that took the order with another server bringing out the food. Of course unless, the kitchen goofs up, making it correctly even if the ticket is wrong, but that's highly unlikely scenario.

I cannot believe you honestly think that the server is not at fault for most food mistakes. WE LIVED THROUGH THE "DUH" MISTAKES, SO WE CAN SEE WITH OUR EYES WHO WAS AT FAULT!!

We had a waiter once admitted he grabbed the wrong entrée from the kitchen. It was just my husband and I. This waiter not only admitted he didn't compare the WRITTEN ORDER with the entrées he was bringing out, but also we saw he had other entrées for another table that he didn't ONCE get his pad of paper out to see WHICH ENTRÉE WENT WITH WHICH TABLE!! So 2 times he could have caught his mistake, but didn't *****TRY HIS BEST AS HE SHOULD HAVE, because that's HIS JOB**!!

He admitted that he grabbed the wrong entrée from the kitchen. He brought my husband fried shrimp w/fries when he ordered crawfish au gratin w/baked potato. Those items look NOTHING A LIKE, but yet THAT WAITER WAS TOO LAZY AND UNCARING TO VERIFY *WHAT* HE WAS BRINGING US!! We still left him 17% BTW, just to let you know since he profusely apologized TWICE and FIXED THE SITUATION IMMEDIATELY just about. We honestly shouldn’t have though, because that really didn't make him LEARN anything. If I had to do it all over again, I would have tipped 13%. It's because since that happened(a number of years ago, maybe like 4), me and my husband have had some terrible experiences. We have had good ones too of course, but the servers need to LEARN that they can't just hand you ANYTHING like McDonald's cashiers do. They are there to EARN a tip, NOT to just hand you anything.

It's very rare that it's not the server's fault. Things like if I order no pickles if you took my order and brought out my food, which there are some pickles under a bun that you'd have to lift it to see it, unless you admitted putting in the order wrong, I will assume it's the kitchen staff that is at fault and probably is.

Things like raw chicken tenders aren't the fault of the server unless they are pink or something.

A slightly over or undercooked steak if the order was put in correctly is not the server's fault.

Also, some people assume things as well, that end up being wrong.

If another server brings out a wrong side dish or if they are missing items other than condiments, no it's not the server's fault if they put in the order correctly, but it still counts against the tip. It's part of the service.

Why also is it when you say "no pickles" or "ONLY lettuce and onions", they still have a pickle on the plate? WHY you servers can't understand that if the customer states they don't want pickles, that means on the plate, because otherwise, they'd specifically state they would have wanted it "ON THE SIDE." Think about it. WHY do I keep having servers bring me some pickles on the plate when I ordered no pickles? NO SERVERS ARE BLIND OR ILLITERATE that they cannot determine any of the obvious errors that don't have to be touched to notice the mistakes or mistake.

So yeah, the customer has EVERY RIGHT to be mad if it *IS* the server's fault or if another server runs the food they can be mad with them if the order was put in correctly.

Springs131

When I help another persons party, or deliver food to someones table, and their table asks me for a whole bunch of different stuff. There are some things I just cant get you, because I dont have access to your table on the pos system.

You do know you can RELAY the message to our server, right?

Another of mine is when you have a group of 25 and they want 23 seperate checks, but they all show up at different times and order stuff at different times, and they switch seats during dinner.

I can see how that can be *VERY* confusing a *FRUSTRATING*, but that is a server's job. I feel servers can help at least somewhat if they ask the party if they are all going to be on one check and not depending on the customers to tell you. Switching seats to me would be pretty confusing, but people can do what they want, it's their tip money.

When a group of teenagers wants to gonout on a friday night, at about 7 when its super busy, you have to put two tables together just for them all to order water and if they order food they want a kids entree....I could have made at least 20-40 dollars off those two tables, but instead ill be lucky to make 7.

While you are complaining, at least you are saying you'd be "lucky" to make $7. At least you look at it as SOMETHING unlike a lot of servers out there.

mikeroybal

Loud cell phone patrons. Unless you're a doctor, put it on vibrate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0uTi2qkgf0

Great way to handle those type of people

mikeroybal

as somebody who used to be a chef in a restaurant my big pet peeve is when a guest wants me to make something that is not on the menu, uses ingredients that we do not have or are out of season then decides to complain. don't order an Heirloom Tomato salad in the middle of February.

Springs131

My drink being left empty too long (and I drink water - no reason for it. Bring me a damn pitcher then if you are too busy).

Why don't you just *ASK* if you could get a pitcher or bring 2 waters? I mean ice water is free, so why not just order MORE THAN ONE WATER, DUHH? Seriously, that's common sense.

As a patron - Watching the way some people eat really grosses me out. Shoveling it in, chewing with their mouth open...gross. It's like watching someone poop in reverse. :noway:

Why are you paying attention to the other guest? My gut tells me you are bored at the table to do that. Try to make your own fun at your own table and not worry about everybody else's business as what they are doing. It's not your business or concern.

Springs131

The chef who is running the line quite often tells the food runners where to go and what to take, and they do not ever see the ticket.

They can *ASK* for a ticket, DUHH! I would *ASK* for the ticket if I were a food runner. NO WAY would I want to get *****ed out from a customer. I also would *CARE* about what I was bringing out. I would compare the ticket to the food for any obvious errors.

So you feel the person that is delivering your food shouldn't have a *CARE* in the world about what they are bringing you? WTH kind of service is that?