100 Things Restaurant Staffers Should Never Do- Page 3

[Q]

Posted: 11/6/09 at 2:00pm

"I love nothing more than a wonderful meal shared with interesting company in a restaurant when everything goes smoothly..."

With cheese

[Craww]

Posted: 11/6/09 at 7:31pm

I asked my mom if she minded my empty plates being cleared while she was still working on hers. She does not. I don't think she was aware that it was considered gauche, either. It's pretty standard these days. I honestly don't care enough either way that it would affect how I tip, so it (like most of the things on the list) is inconsequential to me.

I don't mind introductions or recommendations. I don't mind people saying "no problem". It's not the most proper and polite way of saying it, but if said with a sincere tone then it's conversationally polite enough.

But I'm an easy to please diner and a generous tipper 99% of the time. I've never DEMANDED something free when there's been a problem, even when there are one or two times I probably should have. This kind of list isn't geared towards me as a prospective diner.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/7/09 at 11:59am

Twice in the last two weeks, my family was seated for dinner at a table for which there was no server. (Two different chain restaurants.) Both times, I had to seek out help and neither time did the hostess herself apologize.

I did not hold it against the waiter that did serve us, however, because in both cases each waiter took great care of us...one being sure to alert the manager to the error.

I never expect free food when something is wrong. But I do expect SOMEONE to actually apologize for it and make it right.

This is my waiter pet peeves which are all about making change for the bill:

1 Waiters that don't bother to bring you your coin change. The bill is 35.45 and I put down forty bucks, I expect to see 4.55, not just 4 dollars. Is 55 cents a big deal? No, but it's MY 55 cents.

2 Waiters that don't bring you singles with your change to make tipping them easier. I MIGHT want to leave you a fiver or even a full 10 bucks.....but don't assume that is the case.

3. Waiters ASKING if NEED/WANT my change. Unless I tell you it's all set, then it's my money. I don't mind hearing, "I'll get your change" which allows ME to tell them that that is unnessary.

4. If I have to ASK you to bring the bill, chances are I am getting ready to leave. Don't put it down and then disappear for twenty minutes.

I assume that a starting tip for my family is 15% with the possibilities of that going up OR down based on service.

Updated On: 11/7/09 at 11:59 AM

[Jane2]

Posted: 11/7/09 at 2:00pm

Nightmare scenario - at French Roast, west village, NYC. 11th st. and 6th ave.

I, and two friends, am seated. We wait about 20 minutes for any attention at all. Finally we all order coffee. No coffee comes, even after asking a second time (when we were lucky enough to spot our waiter). After 30 minutes, I approach a man sitting at the bar, who is the manager. I explain that we've been there almost one hour with nothing done whatsoever. He then deigns to serve us coffee himself.

I don't know how long it was until we ordered. I guess about 20 minutes or so later we asked for more coffee. Again I had to ask the manager for the more coffee.

When the food came, one of the orders was wrong. We waited about 15 minutes to spot our waiter, and told him the order was wrong. We told him what it should have been.

About another 20 minutes later we decided to forget the wrong order, cancel it, and we wanted to leave. We got the waiter, and he asked "What did you order?" My friend said to cancel it if it hadn't been ordered, but it had, and it finally came.

I don't have to tell you we had to wait a loooong time for the check. My friend was paying with her credit card, and in the space for the tip, she wrote "you must be kidding."

We were charged for everything, including $2.75 for the refill of coffee. No one apologized for anything.

I really wish there was something I could have done, but clearly the manager wasn't going to help us out.

Updated On: 11/7/09 at 02:00 PM

[juan2]

Posted: 11/8/09 at 3:20pm

19. Offer guests butter and/or olive oil with their bread.

and if the restaurant doesn't offer olive oil for the bread...carry your own bottle!
Updated On: 11/8/09 at 03:20 PM