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After messaging with one of the mods, they agreed to Sticky this thread which will be advice for all new servers. We know how much we get asked that question on this sub so please feel free to jump in! I am not adding any content at this time but will in the very near future. And much appreciation to The Mod Squad on this sub!
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Sorry this is long.
So it's a busy Friday night. I was sat with a table out on the patio (mom, dad, early 20s daughter) right at the beginning of our busy time. They immediately ordered 3 espresso martinis (which unbeknownst to them are super annoying because the server has to go to a different part of the building to pull the espressos for the bar and there's usually a line for the espresso machine...so that kind of put me in rush mode because I know I'm going to be sat again soon) but anyway, they order the drinks and two appetizers and want to finish the apps before deciding on mains. That's fine. Buys me some time. When I come back, they ask for a candle for their table. Ok. I searched and only found an electronic votive, brought it to them and turned it on. The daughter was like, "Oh, uh thanks. We kind of wanted a real candle to fight off the bugs..." (Ok, well, you're sitting outside. There are gonna be bugs.) So while I'm being sat with other tables, I'm also searching around for a real candle. Found one and brought it to them and they were pleased. For now.
They ordered mains. Daughter got soup that she wanted served before stir fry. Mom and dad got burgers, hers MR and his medium with no lettuce. After 15 minutes, I noticed the food runners never took the girl her soup so I went to find it and was told by the kitchen "It went out.. maybe it went to another table..?" Well what the fuck? No one noticed that they got a soup they didn't order? I ladled a soup myself and brought it to her because I realized they were almost ready to plate their mains. I checked back a few minutes later and the girl had finished her soup and parents had their burgers, but the daughter's main didn't come out. I went back to the kitchen to ask about the stir fry and they were like, "Oh, this one?" and handed it to me. WHAT THE HELL? Two food runners were standing there and the food was under the heat but not being delivered?? So I took her the stir fry after her parents had already started eating. As I approached the table, I saw dad's face. He looked unhappy. I asked how everything came out and he said his burger was undercooked AND had lettuce on it. I looked and YUP, waaaay rare, topped with lettuce. I apologized and told him, "I agree, that is NOT cooked medium. I will have it fixed for you right away." I take it to the kitchen and told Chef the situation. He looked and said "That's a perfectly cooked medium rare." I said "yes it is, but the guy wants medium and plus asked for no lettuce." Then he fucking said to me "Yeah, I saw it said medium but my mind saw it as medium rare.." (WHAT?) Chef then rolls his eyes and said "Well what do you want me to do?" (WHAT??) I told him to either put it back on the grill to cook it more or make another burger, whichever works best for him. I then high-tailed it out of there because I was getting slammed with tables.
About 15 minutes later I went back to the kitchen and saw them take his burger off the grill, plate it with a new bun, and I take dad his amended burger for him to eat alone, as his wife and daughter were finished. I told him they made him a new burger and I hoped it was cooked to his liking. I told him I appreciated his patience while I tried to make it right for him and he thanked me. I finally got to go spend some time on other tables for a bit. After a while I go back to hopefully clear the dad's plate, except that he hasn't eaten. Once again, he had an extremely rare burger!! I apologized again, told him that I had thought I made it clear to the kitchen what temp it should be. He replied "Well, I think they just torched the same burger to make it hot but didn't cook it any further." I told him that I did see them take it off the grill but apologized again and said I would have it taken care of because that was not anything near medium. He was not happy. I told him "I don't blame you for being upset. This is unacceptable. I don't understand how this happened twice." Like, I think the second one was actually rarer than the first one. I find the manager, explain the situation and he goes to the table. By this time, I have 5 other tables requiring attention so I make my rounds. After a bit, I return to the table as the manager was walking away. The dad had an incredulous look on his face. (Uh oh..) Dad immediately said, "Your manager just threw you under the bus. He said there was a lack of communication on your part with the kitchen, but I don't believe that. I know you knew what temp I wanted. I think the kitchen dropped the ball TWICE and the manager is trying to blame you." WHAT THE HELL?
The dad went on to tell me I did a great job with them and that they appreciated the candle and the friendliness and that I shouldn't let management treat me that way. I just shrugged and thanked him. I didn't know what to say. While at first I thought they were being unnecessarily high-maintenance, they ended up being a very sweet family, tipped on the entire amount (after being comped $25) and told me they would try us again but order something different next time.
Now I feel like I can't trust my manager. Next time I send him to a table, I will stand there to hear what he has to say.
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When I was 16 years old my mom had a friend, who owned a Mexican restaurant so she got me a job for the summer. It wasn’t a fast food place but it did have a drive through. I had been working there for a couple of months and it was alright. One day I was working the window when some guy ordered a bean burrito. Where I worked the bean burritos were like $5 so they were huge. He paid and got his food then drove off. Instead of leaving he drove right back around in the drive through. He went right past the speaker all the way behind the car that was at the window. I figured he forgot hot sauce or there was a problem. If a customer ever complained about the food, which happened from time to time, we were happy to replace the food or refund them if they wanted. When I finished with the first car I turned around to grab something. When I turned back around the man was at the window and he tossed his bean burrito at me. I caught it against my stomach and because he had taken a bite or two out of it, I got beans all over my shirt and it was dripping all down my hands. Then he said “here you eat this shit” and started to drive off. I am normally a very nice person but I thought “oh hell no!” As he was trying to drive off I wound up like a baseball pitcher and spiked this large bean burrito through the window right onto his shoulder. It hit him and exploded like a bean and cheese filled bomb. It erupted all over his face and coated his windshield like a thick layer of refried paint. He slammed on his breaks and jumped out of his car. That’s when I realized he was a huge man now covered in beans. He left his car in the drive through and ran all the way around the building in a rage. He busted through the front door and threw what was left of the tortilla at me and it smashed against the wall right behind my head. He ran at me with a crazy look in his eyes almost jumping across the counter at me. He smashed all of the cups and condiments off of the counter sending them flying all over. He was screaming at me going ballistic. My Co-worker comes running out from the back saying that he is going to call the cops. “Call the cops! look at what he did!” the man screamed with beans all over his face. The other customers around were all freaking out wondering what was going on. My co-worker runs in back and calls the cops. The man is screaming at me for a while till he decided he doesn’t really want to wait for the cops to come. I watch him walk out and around to his car. My favorite part was watching him having to wipe the burrito filling off the inside of his windshield enough that he could drive away.
I realized that I was going to get fired so I clean up the mess, gathering my things and left as soon as the next employee showed up. It was just a summer job so I wasn’t heartbroken but I felt bad for making my mom look bad to her friend. Later that night the owner calls my mom and tells her that she had watched the video of what happened. She said that not only was I not fired but that’s exactly what she would have done in my place. I think I am one of the few people in restaurant history to throw food at a customer and keep my job.
TL;DR- Man didn’t like his bean burrito so he tossed it at me and said “here you eat this shit.” I caught it and spiked it on his shoulder as he tried to drive off. I didn’t even get fired for it!
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So, this happened tonight. Got a call at home from a fellow server on shift who had just received a call from an irate guest. Said she came in with her daughter the day before, they split the bill and she left a hefty cash tip, but that her card had been charged an extra 20%. After figuring out when she came in we determined that I was probably her server. When she called she was absolutely livid. Shouted at the poor server she happened to get on the phone that she was going to go to Facebook and tell all her friends not to use their credit cards there, and everyone was thieves, and...here’s the kicker.. she ‘had half a mind to come up there and drag that server out by her hair’. Now, I’m a damn good server and take a lot of pride in what I do. I took this very seriously and felt a need to figure it out and defend my honor. So I went straight into the restaurant, and dug out those credit card receipts. I was immediately able to pinpoint the transaction in question and my paper trail proved they were closed correctly. So, I brace myself and call this woman back. She is obviously peeved, but I lead with, “I was your server yesterday and take this very seriously. I take pride in my money handling and being great at my job so I would like to straighten this out immediately. I’ll forward you the proof that there is no wrongdoing on my end and get you in contact with my manager.” So that’s what I did. Turns out, some banks put a hold on your card for an additional 20% until it processes. I hope that she takes this as a lesson to have more faith in people.
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I am a server at Red Lobster, which is something I'm doing to try and gain experience to become a fine dining server, but anyway, I get some real pieces of work in the door every night, but this woman honestly took the cake.
So, a couple gets sat at my table and definitely don't seem like the smartest cookies in the universe, but I am pleasant and so are they, they order and I bring their food order when it comes out, no problems, no waits, etc, I ask if all is ok and they say yes so i tell them to enjoy their meal and I will be around if they need anything. I keep checking back periodically and ask them if everything is still going well, if they need anything, etc. They both eat all their meals, the woman has maybe 3 shrimp that she wants a to-go box for and then when I come back she asks for a manager? I was puzzled, we had no issues, I kept them in biscuits, refills, etc and they seemed fine the whole time. I ask, if you don't mind my asking, what is going on? She says she didn't like her food, it didn't taste good, it was overcooked, rubbery, etc. I stare at her empty plate (AND TO-GO BOX) and ask her why she didn't tell me that something was wrong when I could've fixed it? She tells me that I didn't ask HER personally if HER food was good, I was asking her boyfriend if HIS food was good? I was flabbergasted! I got the manager, and in the nicest way possible he let her know that he couldn't do anything for her considering she ate all the food and never said anything on the multiple times that I came over, and she did tell him that I came over multiple times to make sure all was okay. Of course, my tip (I didn't get a tip) suffered! I am still baffled by this situation!!
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Not a server, but a driver. I hate delivering to rich neighborhoods because they are usually a pain in the ass to navigate and generally they don't tip well. Generally I just grin and bear it because my other customers are awesome and usually make up for it. This lady just takes the cake enough for me to wanna vent. I never carry cash, as we don't handle the payment or anything. We simply deliver the food from point A-B. Most people don't tip cash, but when they pay online. The exchange went like this, i'll be M, she'll be RB(Rich Bitch)
::Afer handing food:: RB:Do you have change for a ten? M: I am sorry ma'am but we really don't carry cash as the payments are handled online on the back end. RB: Well I wanted to give you five, I only have a ten. M: (awkwardly standing there, not really sure what she wants me to do) Well ma'am I am sorry but I don't have any change for the 10. RB: Well then i'm sorry have a good night.
Seriously bitch? You live in a fucking mansion with multiple cars worth more than houses in the driveway. You decided to stiff me on the tip instead of just giving me a ten when you know damn well you can afford it after ordering 50 bucks worth of food?
People like that suck. Give me a good old working class neighborhood, they always tip well.
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I work at a very popular brunch spot and one of our most popular items is a sandwich that is between two cronuts. It clearly states on the menu that they are cinnamon sugar cronuts drizzled in syrup.
Since we are so busy people often start their bottomless mimosas at the bar while waiting for a table. Two ladies that were waiting at the bar got sat at one of my tables and informed me they had already ordered. Perfect, saves me time.
When their food arrives I check on them and the lady who ordered the cronut sandwich says “I really like it and it’s delicious but I didn’t want something sweet. Can you take this off and and can I get this item instead?” Oh. You ordered something sweet, and now that it’s here you finally decide that you didn’t want something sweet?
I went and talked to the owner who helps out during brunch and told him exactly what she said, that it’s delicious, nothing is wrong with it, she just wants to send it back after eating a quarter of it, not pay, and order something else. Of course he says that since nothing is wrong with the meal we wouldn’t do that. I went and told her and she just calmly said okay.
Next thing I know she’s at the host stand talking with him saying she didn’t know it was sweet and then he shows her right on the menu where it says so. She makes such a big deal that he just takes care of it.
I just don’t understand how people fail to read what’s on the menu and make a big deal just because their perfectly fine, “delicious” meal isn’t just what they were feeling at that moment. I understand sending something back that you clearly do not like, or that there’s a problem with, but don’t go on about how great it is then say that it just isn’t what you’re feeling. What a waste.
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I used to work at a snack shop a few years ago, where I would cook peoples' food and then bring the food to them. I had been working for two weeks when dick husband (DH) and dick wife (DW) walk in. They ordered their food and were polite enough, and I went to the kitchen to prepare there food. DH ordered a hotdog and fries, and DW ordered an olive burger. Now it is possible to order a burger without a bun, but customers would have to let me know that. This couple didn't.
I finish preparing the food and go up to the front and call out their names, but they were not out there. Despite there being a sign that specifically asked customers to wait inside for there food, the couple decided to go sit by the playground. I walked around calling out their names for a minute or so, before I found them. I give them their food, tell them to have a nice day, and start walking back. Before I got far they called me back.
I return and ask them if there was a problem.
DH: "Why is there a bun on this burger?"
Me: "I'm sorry, I didn't realize this wasn't supposed to have a bun, I'll go make a new one."
DH: "My wife is gluten free, and we come here regularly. How do you not know that she can't have a bun?"
Me: "I'm terribly sorry, I just started working here recently."
DH: "Yeah but we come here so often you should have still known this."
Me: "Well maybe next time just let me know that the burger can't have a bun."
DW: "Well now you know, don't do this again."
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I'll try to keep this short.
An old lady (in her 70s) walks in with another lady of similar age. I seat them, get them their drinks, everything seems cordial.
I go to take their orders. Old lady orders a pasta that has mixed bell peppers in it. She specifies she wants only the green ones taken out.
We can't do that since we cut our peppers into half inch cubes then mix the red, yellow and green ones in prep, and no one's gonna stick their fingers into the mixed peppers and hand pick them to make sure the greens don't end up in her pasta. I tell her this.
Me: "I'm sorry, we mix our peppers during prep, I could remove all the peppers and replace it with another veggie if you'd like"
OL: "I've had them do it for me here before!"
So I go into the kitchen ask the chef (whose also the owner) about it, and he says no.
Go back to the old lady just to confirm what I was told. She gets all huffy, says it's the first time shes been denied this service. OK, whatever. She re-orders and gets a chicken souvlaki. Of course when I bring out her side salad and pita bread (comes out before the main chicken plate) she has me take it back, says she doesn't touch that stuff. That was annoying since it says what you get on the menu and she didn't inform me beforehand she didn't want it, but whatever.
She gets her meal and pays, 5% tip on a 40$ bill. Whatever, expected as much.
Although on her way out, she makes sure to tell me: "I've been coming here for many years, but I'll never come back again."
All because we couldn't pick out her green bell peppers for her.
I am positively drowning in guilt /s
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Tales from food service long ago.
Herbie and Melva were a regular couple at our restaurant. They always had a burger and a side of coleslaw-- Melva ate all of hers with a knife and fork, burger included. Herbie ate all of his with his hands, coleslaw included.
Anyway, one day Herbie was having problems with his hearing aid. They buzz or whine if the batteries need changing, I think. Anyway, he kept asking Melva if she heard the flies, and loudly kept exclaiming about how the restaurant must be filthy to have that many flies just buzzing around. Shed just say, "Oh Herbert". Then, because his hearing aid was on the fritz, hed yell "WHAT?" at her. Over and over, "these damned flies!", "oh Herbert" and "WHAT?!?". Other diners were actually getting upset by the disruption.
Herbie got more and more upset about the buzzing noise and finally, he yelled "ill get you, you little bastard!" because he had finally figured out where the noise was coming from.
With that, he slapped himself in the ear as hard as he could. Remember how herbie ate all his dinner with his hands? Yes. He had a full handful of coleslaw when he hit himself, and it splattered all over his face and the table and i think some even got on the window beside him.
He stopped yelling. Everyone looked. He said "Damn it, Melva". Then... "lets get out of here, I cant stand the flies". And they left, but not before he dribbled coleslaw juice from his face, to the table to the front door and all the way out to the parking lot.
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For a short while in high school, I worked at a local sports bar. Wasn't my best job, owner of the place was a dick, but I made good cash cause it was a Mom and Pop kinda place, and usually I was the only server working. I was coming close to the end of an 8 hour shift when a family of around 8 or 9 walks in. The place was empty so I was excited, usually this many people means a bit of alcohol and quite a bit of food, meaning a hefty tip for me. So I take all their drink orders, get that out to 'em, and ask what they want for the mains. The three kids all want burgers of different varieties, except the youngest wanted a full blown burger instead of the regular kids one. Now, the adult burger comes with the standard lettuce, onion, and tomato and I tell his dad that, but dad just waves me off like I rang his doorbell asking if he wanted to accept Jesus. So I go all the way around the table, which was 2.5 notepad pages worth of food and modifiers (cha-ching) before I go and ring everything in.
Fast Forward about thirty minutes to when the food is coming out. I've got two trays of the stuff, and it's lined up and down my arms. So I pass out fish, wings, carrots and celery, the burgers, and a few drink refills to boot. As I'm doing that, I notice the smallest kid lifting his bun in disgust, you know the look. So, I said "Hey dude, is everything good with your burger?" and he looks at me to start talking when his father stops him and says "What'd you just call my son?". Totally caught me off guard, so I ask him to repeat himself. He says "Don't call my son 'dude' ever again. His name is (some name that I can't remember because I was so baffled) and if you ever call him anything else then we're walking out right now.". Obviously, I was shocked. It took me a few seconds to really register what he said, but I threw on the standard faked smile and said "Of course sir, my apologies. I'll get his burger fixed right away." So I rush it back to the owner, who was working on the line. Owner says he'll fix it but gives me a glare.
The day had been slow but I wasn't on my A-Game the whole day so my boss had to fix 2-3 orders before this, and wasn't happy about the new kids burger. So I head back to the table to see if I jacked anything else up, and sure enough I did. Another kid burger had cheese on it when it wasn't supposed to. So I tell her "I'll get this fixed for you. My boss is a bit ticked off right now so it may take a minute, but I'll deal with it." She smiles at that, but her dad didn't. Oh no, Mr. No-Jokes-Allowed busted right in and practically yelled "I don't care how your boss is feeling just fix the fucking thing!". I should add that this was in front of (who I later found out to be) his mother. So, I rush that back too, explain it to my boss kinda shaken. Luckily, my boss's angel of a wife was there to save my clumsy ass and said "I'll go out and talk to them dear. Don't you worry." One lecture from my boss later and I head back out with the two fixed burgers, and I comp them off the check. No further complaints from them, but they never actually spoke to me again. I swung by a few more times to see if they need refills only to be blatantly ignored. Left a 10 dollar tip for a 140 dollar order, so I wasn't exactly swooning but 10 bucks was a pretty good tip. Never saw them again, and I quit the job two weeks later after the verbal harassment from my boss became too much.
TL;DR : Massive family comes in and orders a ton of food, I jack up two burgers and their dad yells at me for joking with his kids and calling one "dude", threatens to walk on the check. Ended up being one of the reasons I quit two weeks later.
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(Sorry it's long)
I used to be a hostess at a Hibachi restaurant franchise. ALL the time I got trashy customers not tipping our servers (to give insight, I'm the only white person working there, the rest of the workers are immigrants (servers and managers are Indonesian, sushi chef and owners are Chinese) and we live in a VERY redneck town. So you can imagine the bigotry (and language barrier lol).
I worked there for six months and cried on the job all the time, at this time I wasn't taking my meds regularly and that makes me more emotional. Christmas Day was the most hectic for me, though. We were the only restaurant open on Christmas, as you can imagine it was PACKED. I worked Christmas Eve and Day, all day (9h shift) My manager kept coming over to the host book and changing things, but not telling me, to "keep me on my toes" When it's packed like that I can't concentrate on small things,still she kept rearranging the waiting list,and then not tell me. I had a system and she was messing with it. In any case I didn't pay enough attention to the changes and called a waiting party too soon, and sat them down. (Its hard to explain but the hibachi tables had to be timed right). Bitchy Wife (BW) asks how long the wait would be. I was confused because they told me they were sitting at the bar, and there they were, sitting at the bar, food and drink in hand... Turns out they wanted to be moved to a hibachi table as soon as possible on a packed day "to enjoy the show", they weren't going to order hibachi though. My manager sneaks up behind me and listens to the complaining. She takes over the conversation to smooth things over. BH comes over and BW fills him in. He starts insulting me to my face at this point it's not an inside voice and he's quite loud, and most guests around it are watching (small space filled with about 20 waiting people) . I walk off because I had tables to seat and getting insulted was not a priority. As I was walking back by to seat a table I overhear my Manager saying how bad I am at my job and she's tired of me too (" Welcome to the bad club we are in"-bitch manager) I tried my best not to break down in tears right there and I held it in for like 5 minutes. When I got back to my podium I started to call another table but broke down in tears. One lady told me not to let it bother me, because I'm going to go far and this isn't it. I start crying more. I suck it up and walk them back to their table, still sobbing (everyone's looking and it was so hard to maintain my dignity). As I was walking back to the front I was stopped by an onlooker (the only thing I can remember seeing is a Harley Davidson T-shirt and a gray beard.) He hands me a $20 and says merry Christmas. I had JUST stopped crying when this happened and I break down in tears again. (Thank god for the cheap Maybelline mascara that doesn't streak your face)
/TLDR/ I got a $20 tip for putting up with getting yelled at by manager and customers on a very busy Christmas Day.
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So im not a server but i totally believe in being respectful to all servers and most people in general. I also subscribe to this sub and observed a trashy family pulling some classic moves from this sub.
My husband and i were having lunch at applebees. There was a family next to us. I immediately noticed they were pretty obnoxious. Husband was being rude and snappy to his wife, kids talking loudly about their bowel movements from their visit to the bathroom. Nothing really big, honestly, but they were building up into something.
When they get their food, the husband is pissed off cause his burger had tomato on it. He loudly griped to his wife about how he TOLD THEM NO TOMATO blah blah, pretty surly guy. So they flag down the waitress and proceed to both gripe about their food. He's going on and on about the tomato (that he ended up giving to one of his kids) and she was complaining about how her charboiled burger was "way overcooked". Just totally giving this poor lady and earful.
OH AND the wife was upset because at the Bees close to their house, they were offering some kind of special on wings but the same deal was not taking place at THIS Bees. The waitress had to explain to her that the deal was only good at the restaurant it was offered, not at all. I guess they ordered wings for the kids, thinking their was a special running on them. At this point, the couple asks for the manager.
My husband and i are absolutely amazed at this incredibly rude family and their super obvious tactics. Along comes the manager, and they give him the same angry story. The wife is talking very loudly saying stupid things like "WELL I GUESS FROM NOW ON I'LL KNOW APPLEBEES IS NOT THE PLACE TO GO FOR WINGS" where everyone can hear.
Well you can guess what they demanded...whole meal compd. OH AND THE WIFE, with the HORRIBLY overcooked charboiled burger "i only ate the whole thing because i was so HUNGRY" both of them, cleaned off their plates, leaving nothing.
After they left and the waitress was clearing their table, my husband walked over to her and asked her if she had been that tables waitress. At first, she looked like she was on the verge of tears but she said yes. He said something to the effect of "those idiots probably didn't tip you very well i bet" and gave her $10. She seemed to be in a much better mood after that and was very thankful.
That family though...trash trash trash!!
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To go style restaurant and we have people who come in and speak caveman-neese. I understand that people have short attention spans and are too lazy too read the menu but for Gods sake PLEASE. USE. YOUR. WORDS!
Caveman 1- you have chicken?!?
Me: yes we have all sorts of chicken sandwiches which one would you like
Caveman1- I don’t know! I just want chicken!
Me:........😣😣😣😣😣😣
Me: hands her a menu tells her about some of our sandwiches but I make a mention to her to LOOK at the menu to find out more about our sandwiches
Caveman1: annoyed that she actually has to read the menu
After .2 seconds she shuts the menu
You have spicy chicken?!?!?
Me: 😒😒😑😑😑😑 yes buffalo chicken
Caveman1: Yes That!
This happens alllll the time too🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
Please use words people. We don’t have time to extract information out of you. We can’t help you if you don’t use words. We are not doing your thinking for you just because you are lazy minded.
8
So I was working on a relatively slow day, at this point I had only had 3 tables.
My first table had tipped 20%, my second table (I have had them before) tipped 10% and they always tip horribly, whatever. It was still $6 in my pocket.
The third table, when they came in treated me AWFUL. It was a little old couple. I asked the man (his wife was in the bathroom) what he would like to drink. He was facing away from me might I add, like as I talked to him, he turned his body away. He said a soda. I was like "what kind of soda, sir?" He looked at me like I was dumb and said "the normal kind of soda, coke or Pepsi or whatever".
At this point I was a little shocked from the ton of his voice but I scampered away and got his drink and brought it back. As I set it down he said "aren't you going to bring her one too?!" He didn't order one for his wife, I was going to wait until she came back so ask her. So I ran and grabbed one for her.
I waited a bit as they looked at their menus, and I came back when they sat them down. I asked for their order and the man freaked and started shaking his head, his head in his hands. The wife was nicer saying, "give us a few moments more please". So I left.
I came back, took their orders. Chicken parmesan and spaghetti and meatballs with meat sauce, easy peasy. Put their orders in let them do their thing.
When I brought their food out, the man asked if we had a vegetable soup (we have tomato soup and a soup of the day) so I told him we have a tomato soup and a mushroom soup. He looked at me appalled and said "that's not a fucking vegetable soup" I was DONE at this point. So I simply told him "no we don't".
I came back several times, refilled their drinks, brought them more bread. Was all smiles and sunshine. They LOVED their food.
Fast forward, they get their check, it's about $41 dollars. I let them do their thing, I go to grab the check.....
They left me a $2 tip.
I went home early, I was crying so hard.
13
Another server was checking up on a table (she came up from behind him) and he complained to her, "Every single time I come here, every server always talks to me when I have a bite in my mouth. You all have impeccable timing." She apologized and he stiffed her. Sorry for doing our job- we don't mean to- it happens.
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Yeah, you’d think that’d be obvious but... Yesterday, I’m working my Sunday brunch shift. We’re one of the only places in the area that start serving brunch earlier so we can get pretty slammed. I’m already in the weeds and taking another tables order and I’m sat a 7 top. Fantastic. But they’re all relatively young adults so I’m hoping they’ll be more relaxed than other parties. I go to take their drink orders and get in their food orders pretty quick. About 15 minutes go by and I’m making rounds at all my tables, and the 7 top flags me down. One of the guests asks, “hey so, my food isn’t going to be a problem with my peanut allergy, right? Because it’s pretty severe.”
I’m sorry, WHAT?! Why would you not think to mention your SEVERE peanut allergy to someone taking your food order?
79
Not a server, but a host. I think you'll all relate to this one, though. It was a slow hour Sunday, so I was able to keep an eye on a lot of things happening in the restaurant, including a kid peeing on a bench outside but that's a whole other story... In short, I accidentally let my customer service facade slip and said what's in the title.
So what happened is a table rather close to me had two ladies. They had finished their meal and decided to go to the bathroom. When they came back they did not stop at their table (where their bill was in clear view waiting for them) and instead marched right up to my host stand. Some hosts may have registers for to-go or something, but we do not. All I've got is an ancient iPad for our call ahead app and a phone. So, lady walks up.
Lady: "Can I have my bill?"
Me: confused "Excuse me ma'am? Which table were you at?" (mostly to make sure I'm not mistaken)
Lady points
Me: "It's on the table ma'am"
She then sees this, rolls her eyes and says "Well, I'd like to cash out"
Me: "Okay, who was your server? I can grab them for you"
Lady: "I don't know, shouldn't you know???"
Me: "We've changed the sections since you've sat down and I'm sorry but I don't remember who had that table when you sat down. Do you know what she looks like?"
Lady: "She had a pony tail"
Me: "Pony tails are part of our uniform, do you remember any thing else?"
Lady: "Ugh this is ridiculous"
Me: "Your servers name is likely on the bill, actually" Which she still hadn't touched, and I'm really not supposed to touch the black books or anything money related, hence why I hadn't grabbed it.
So she grabs it and practically throws it at me. Along with her credit card.
Me: "What do you expect me to do with that?" Oh shit, that slipped out. "Ma'am, I cannot touch your credit card or your bill. I can go and get your server now that I know who they are, but they are the only one who can cash you out. I don't even have a register or the passcode for one."
Lady: "Ugh, this is fucking stupid"
What's stupid is if you had just sat back down at your table instead of coming up here your server would have already cashed you out, but instead she has no idea where you are and we just wasted ten minutes, but whatever.
Me: "I'll go get her"
I grab her, fill her in, she handles it.
I definitely lost my cool and I have no justification for it.
4
The restaurant I work at is very casual and I get to have a lot of freedom with how I interact with my customers. I can use the same spiel every time, but it gets old!
I know the ropes and usually have a smart ass remark in store for just about everything... but people who jokingly won’t accept the bill have me stumped. HOW DO I RESPOND? They’ll jokingly say “oh no I don’t want that!” or “give it to the next guy” and I have no response other than an awkward finger guns “welp someone’s gotta pay it and it’s not gonna be me!”
How do you respond to this particular interaction? I need more variety because it happens a LOT.
6
I had a 9 top seat themselves. It's a corporate place with buzzers and all. It was a busy Sunday and the hosts had been busting their ass to get an 8 sat there that had been waiting 20ish. They actually ended up being a decent table but, who does that?
29
I could come up with a million stories. But here’s one of my favorites. (I’m on mobile so will try my best to format it somewhat well)
So I took on a summer job as a hostess at a restaurant to make some extra cash before going back to university. And if you’ve ever worked as a hostess, people seem to think you can magically change wait times if they keep badgering you. Well I’m working a Friday night shift and this restaurant is always packed on the weekends. We’re talking about 2+ hour waits.
Luckily we’re located right next to a mall (we’re connected to the mall but don’t have mall entrance from the restaurant.) We give people a buzzer, warn them it won’t work as soon as they enter the mall but that they can check back in whenever to see the status of their wait time. Most people would come back halfway through their wait time and we were able to update everyone fairly easily. If we buzz someone and don’t hear from them, we assume they are in the mall, and buzz the next person.
This was standard at the restaurant and it always worked out well for us. If we missed someone because they were in the mall, we would bump them up first in line when they came to check in. But as all technology is, it’s not perfect and sometimes there are hiccups.
It was a standard Friday night. Long wait times, people hungry, people complaining. We hand off a buzzer to a man and we go on our merry way. With the number of people we have coming in, it’s hard for us to remember what name goes with each person. We buzzed the man but heard no response so we assumed he was in the mall. No problem. We move on to the next people and get everyone seated as soon as possible. Then this conversation happens. (Me will be Me. Angry man will be AM)
AM: EXCUSE ME. WHY HAVE YOU NOT SEATED ME.
Me: sorry about that sir. Could you give me your name and I will see where you are on the list.
AM: NO. I HAVE SEEN YOU SIT THREE DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT HAVE COME IN AFTER ME.
Me: i apologize for that sir. I will work on getting you seated as soon as I can.
AM: IS THIS A FUCKING JOKE? I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU HAVE SEEN ME SITTING HERE FOR THE PAST 90 MINUTES SEATING PEOPLE AFTER ME.
Me: I really do apologize for that. Let me get a manager so we can figure it all out.
My amazing manager then swoops in out of nowhere hearing this man screaming at us.
Manager: Sir, are you cussing in my restaurant?
AM: I WANT MY FUCKING TABLE. I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR SO LONG!
Manager: If you continue using this kind of language in my restaurant, I’m going to have to ask you to leave immediately.
AM: oh...um...I’m so sorry. I just want a table
The manager and I both look at his buzzer and it happened to just die out while he was waiting. We explained that to him and he literally just said Oh. My manager took him to the next available table and the man didn’t even once apologize for yelling at us.
Although, bless my manager for telling that man he can’t talk to us that way. Best restaurant I ever worked for due to awesome management. Still dealt with some dickwads but they always came in to our defense.
2.3k
Sitting here at a burger joint. I'm the customer, not the server. There's a large table next to me, seated is very, very "well fed" family of six. The server comes to the table to ask about the food. The very large sized mother says, "well, our burgers were medium well done, not well done like we ordered. All of them." Server says, "good to know for next time! Sorry about that." Note:all of the burgers have been happily ingested. The woman repeats her complaint, her plate empty in front of her. The server repeats her piece and walks off. Lol. I wonder how many times a day people try to complain about that at a restaurant that cooks meat?
Edit: I believe there is now a complaint about the bill...
Edit 2: she got a fucking discount.
2.3k
66
So some backstory, my Mother used to be married to this arrogant asshole who was pretty abusive too. He’d recently moved from England to here (Australia) and basically used his past wife and my mum to attempt to gain permanent residency more easily via being married, anyway I will start to digress further. So his mum who lived in England used to be a manager at KFC (and still probably does) so he used to get KFC a lot. He also used to have that sort of annoying attitude or aurora where you kind of feel forced to laugh at his jokes unwillingly. But he had this joke that pissed me off and clearly made cashier’s eye’s roll; when they’d ask “hi, how may I help you today” or their general greeting, he’d reply “ All the money in the til please” and would be in hysterics, every time, even if it was the same person that he recognised. Everyone knew him as the ‘annoying fuck’
Very recently I got a job for a newly opening KFC and I’m going to be working front i.e. serving customers and some lighter cooking like chips and nuggets. Because they can’t train me at the one I’m being employed at, they have made me train at another different local-ish KFC store, which I’m still training at when I am posting this. Yesterday I had my second training shift where I was learning the cash register and just general human skills so I can be more inviting. That is when I had the biggest panic moment of my life. I think I could’ve shat myself inside out.
It had been a few 3 years since I’d seen him and I noticed his face as soon as he walked straight through the door. I hadn’t told anyone really about him. So I didn’t really know what was right to todo to try to avoid him, so I just decided to serve him anyway, even though I felt like I was about to have a panic attack. My trainer whispered in my ear ‘good luck’, which only made me want to disappear immediately, which made me want to know why they knew about it, and how, my mind was tracing all over the place.
“Hi, welcome to KFC, what would you like today?” “All the money in the til’ please” and he roared into hysterics, I was just happy he hadn’t noticed me yet though.
He then proceeded and it was all normal in his eyes, he didn’t even realise it was me. Mind you, my uniform I wear a hat and I almost never wear a hat so he wouldn’t recognise that, and ever since the divorce, my old 14 year old body has changed to a more different form aswell as my face.
Everyone at the cash registers working were all asking me what was wrong and if I’m OK when I started shaking more ferociously once he had left. They were all very friendly and supportive to me. I told my trainer and the manager the situation. The manager even offered for me if I wanted to leave and I’d still get the pay, which I didn’t want to take because that’s just my way of me somehow feeling bad after it. I was then told about their nickname for him that the workers call him, and apparently sometimes they even place bets if he’ll come in that day. That made me cheer up.
I’m lucky that I will only be working there for 2 more weeks so hopefully he won’t be there now and I’m being trained in the back of the store so cooking and breading the chicken so I don’t even see him and he won’t see me either.
TL;DR My abusive ex stepfather came into kfc while I was being trained there, and I nearly had a panic attack, I’m lucky he didn’t notice me.
195
Ohhh hello server friends!
It's been a while since I've posted, but that means I have some good tales saved up for ya. Here we go:
From the moment I walked into work last night, I knew it was gonna be a rough one. I work in a Pub in the main part of downtown, with a hotel right next to us so we tend to get a lot of hotel guests plus people from whatever sporting events/ concerts/ events that are happening downtown. Weekend nights (or any evening to be honest) can be a bit weird... but tonight was a different kind of weird. It was one of those nights when you have to go into the cooler and scream, when you have to bite your lip so hard it bleeds, when you get home you can't stand in the shower long enough trying to scrub the ickyness from the night off your body. This was my night.
•Table #1 : A larger, middle aged dude sits down at a table directly behind where I stand to ring in drinks at the terminal, orders two of our winter drinks for himself, and a large food order to go. I didn't take much notice of him, expect he had a slight air of arrogance and ordered two drinks for himself right away, but he seemed fine, and it was my first table of the night at 7 pm. He closed out right away & when I brought him his to go food I went to grab the check presenter & I saw a $10 tip on a $45 to go order... that was kind! As I turned to go back to my wait station, I saw written on the check a note that said: If you're bored after work, come hang out in room #1131 in the [hotel name next door]. My stomach turned as I realized he was probably sitting behind me starting at my ass that whole time, hoping that maybe he'd get a booty call from someone 20 years his minor.
•"Customer" #2: 7:15 pm, immediately after creepy booty call dude. A guy comes in, grabs a basket of our free popcorn and posts up on our rail.
Me: Hi there, can I grab you something to drink or maybe a food menu?
Him: Mhh, no, I'm fine right now. (Continues chowing down popcorn & staring at the football game on our TV).
Five minutes later, still hasn't ordered anything from me or the bar.
Me: Do you know what you'd like to order yet?
Him: Mhhh.. no, I'm ok.
Me: ... well, you have to order something if you're going to eat our popcorn.
Him, stuttering: Oh, well uh... I was waiting to see if the game was on.
Me: Which game?
Him: Uh... um, any game...
Whaaaat the hell. It's not like we have 20 TV's all switched to football, baseball, ESPN, whatever the heck channels people want.
Me: Okeyyyy.. well, how about you order yourself a drink & we can change one of these TV's to whatever game you're looking for.
Him, putting down the popcorn basket, walking away: Bitch.
• Table #3: There younger guys (my age, early 20's) sit down, seem cool, order two beers & a Hot Apple Pie drink topped with whipped cream. I check on them & the guy with the Hot Apple Pie drink looks DIRECTLY at my chest, whips the whipped cream up on his finger, looks me right in the eye and licks it off. 7:45 pm.
• Table #4, the finale: 8:10 pm. (Still dealing with table #3 and the other tables in my section) Older lady and her teenage son sit down & right off the bat the mom was an entitled bitch (EB).
Me: Hi folks, how we doing today?
EB: Um we have 2 more coming, so I need more menus and I want a beer AND a water, with LEMON. Don't forget my water.
Me: Okeyyy, I'll be right back with that.
The other two in the party show up (a son my age and the father) and the older son orders a beer. I ask for his ID. EB rolls her eyes. I take his order, and as I turn to go tend to my other tables & the husband grabs my wrist and goes, "Hey! I want a beer too!"
Do not. Fucking grab me. Ever that's a big no no.
Despite all these shenanigans, I'm still being polite and cordial, because my job is to bite my tongue. I bring their drinks and start to take their orders. The teenage son goes eaay peasy, and then I get to EB.
EB: I want the fish sandwich.
Me: Oh, you mean the Ahi Tuna Steak sandwich?
EB: No, the fish sandwich.
You see, we have Fish & Chips on our menu, and maybe once a month we do a Fried Fish sandwich as a special, so I didn't think it would be an issue to make it but you ALWAYS double check with the kitchen about odd substitutions or things that aren't on the menu.
Me: Ok, I think I know what you're talking about, the fried fish sandwich? Normally I've only sold it as a special, but it shouldn't be an issue to make it, just let me check with the kitchen first.
EB: Well you've only had it for a million years and a day. I've been coming here for a long time.
I've never seen her (I'd remember) and I work 6 days a week.
Me: Ok, I'm sure it won't be a problem, but let me just double check. Would you want fries or coleslaw with that?
EB: Fries. And I want only cheddar on that.
Me: Cheddar on the fries?
EB: No, on the fish sandwich.
Me: Ohh ok, I'm sorry, I just though-
EB: And I want a dinner salad, with French and Ranch, and extra croutons.
Me: Oookey, I'll let the kitchen know.
EB: And I want that out first.
Me: Alright, I'll get that for ya ma'am. Sir (turning to the son my age) what would you-
EB: And I want a side of mayo.
I finally get done talking their order, and am behind on my 7 other tables because EB took so long & kept interrupting, so I go check my other tables fast & double check with the kitchen that EB's fish sandwich is ok. They give me the go ahead, so I go ring in their order: salad B4 meal, add extra croutons, check, only cheddar on fish sandwich, check. Double, triple check I rang everything in right. As I'm playing catch up, another server runs EB's salad and I see her start to furiously wave her arms at me.
EB: I said I wanted extra croutons.
Me: Oh, I'm sorry, I told the kitchen and it looks like they gave you extra but I can get you more if you'd like.
Pettiness activated
$1 charge for extra croutons, check. And I bring her a soup bowl of croutons, "Enjoy ma'am!"
This whole time I'd been on the verge of peeing my pants, after I dropped her extra- extra croutons I snuck up to the bathroom quick. On my way back down I catch my other server (S) in the kitchen.
S: Dude, you're right. That lady at table 7 is a real bitch.
Me: Oh no, whaat happened?
S: Well I brought their food out, and she looks at her fish sandwich and snaps, "I said I wanted cheddar on that!" I brought it back to the kitchen so they can add it.
Oh, great. I rush back onto the floor and as I turn the corner to go to the kitchen window, EB is standing there, about to grab her plate from the window.
Me, a bit stern: Ma'am, you can't do that.
Her family sitting a few feet away look up from their meals and their eyes grow wide. My guess is that stuff like his happens a lot with EB. EB just stares at me, as my guys in the kitchen are standing their with jaws dropped.
EB: But it's my sandwich.
Me: You can't take food from the window. Go sit down and I'll bring it to you.
EB gives me a dirty look but sits down, and I can't help but exchange looks with my cooks. I have to go in the back, let out a few, "What the actual fuck!!!" 's & then I take her plate to her and politely ask, "Is there anything anyone else needs at the moment?"
Dead. Fuckng. Silence.
Me: Okey, welp enjoy your meal!!
The rest of the meal goes off pretty much without incident, but EB's family refuses to make eye contact with me, obviously embarrassed, and EB gives me the cold shoulder. Whatever, I counted this tip as a loss from the moment EB opened her mouth. Towards the end, I grab them a few boxes and run the husband's card and say, "Enjoy your night folks!"
I think it's over, that I'm free, but a few minutes later, in the middle of me taking another table's order who sat next to their table, EB grabs my arm and goes," Hey! I neeeeeeeeed lids for my dressings!" So. Damn. Rude.
Finally, they leave after I got her lids and on their $90 tab, I was surprised to find a $5 tip... most likely because the husband paid. Had EB paid, I'm sure I would have gotten a nasty message as a tip.
So. That was the first hour & half of my shift Saturday night, and it was as ridiculous (but not as notable) for the next 6 hours of my shift.
Oh, and I had a $80 walk out while I was in the back doing dishes.
Finally, my freedom was granted at 2 a.m. by my door guy shouting, "Ok everyone, [Pub name] is closed!!"
I need a damn vacation folks.
195
58
(I was working the drive thru at Panera so this may not count) We were in the middle of a rush with cars around the building when this one lady come up and orders a large order (btw if you do this at a drive thru go fuck your self) this lady changed her whole order at least 5 times and once we finally got her order finalized I hit the button to turn off my mic from outside so she couldent hear me and hit the button right next to it (managed to hit the wrong button so it played outside) to talk to the other person on drive with me and said “this bitch needs to learn how to order” and the next thing I hear is “I can still hear you” at this point I’m just thinking “well fuck me” the other person on drive is laughing her ass off and when she pulls around she understandably wants to talk to my manager and she does and she got the whole meal for free and my manager turns to me once she’s gone and starts laughing her ass off as well and just said don’t do it again
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