Question For Waiters or Bussers

[Sableonblonde]

Wasn't quite sure where to put this? It's a question for those who work in restaurants - I'm pretty sure I already know the answer (at least I THINK I know the answer) but I just want to make sure I'm not crazy. :confused:

I go out to dinner every now and then with this good friend of mine. The problem is that after we are done eating, he won't clean his crumbs off the table and actually scolds me when I attempt to clean the table off. HE (who has never worked in a restaurant btw) claims that the waitstaff and/or busser hate it when customers clean their own tables off. According to him "There is a certain way they like to clean the tables and they don't like it when you clean them off yourself."

I'm like, WTF? Why would your waiter/busser PREFER you to leave your crumbs all over the table? I mean, he actually gets upset about this and literally WON'T LET ME wipe the crumbs off his side of the table. He literally leans forward over his half of the table and blocks it with his arms so that I can't wipe up the crumbs. I end up feeling like such an asshole, walking out with half of our table covered in crumbs.

I mean, this isn't true right? People who clear off the tables don't actually PREFER that you not make an effort to wipe up your crumbs? :rolleyes:

[Peppergirl]

When I was a server, I actually appreciated when people attempted to clean up their messes, but I've also known other servers who'd rather they didn't.

Either way, your friend sounds kinda weird. :lol:

[BookstoreEscapee]

I don't work in food, but I try to put all my trash on my plate when I'm done (sugar packets, straw wrappers, bits that may have fallen off the plate, etc.).

[Rahmota]

I'm with bookstore. Having kids and all sometimes I wind up having to do a bit of a job to make sure that things are at least not a disaster area. It always makes me a bit uncomfortable to just get up and leave a mess as it makes me look like I'm not fit for civilized society.

[Evil Queen]

I dunno, I think your friend is weird.

When I was a waitress, I adored when my customers would do their best to help clean up. It made it a hell of a lot easier on me and generally got their table cleared away faster -- Where I worked it was okay to stay for several hours after your meal, talking to the waitstaff, friends who would come in, whatever. But, then again, it was also a 24 hour diner. *shrugs*

[tropicsgoddess]

I'm siding with Evil Queen and everyone else with your friend being weird. during my Hostess days, there were times I helped clean up tables and also I know this because my MIL has been in the restaurant biz since the 70's and my fiancé worked in the biz as well. Servers and bussers appreciate when customers clean up after themselves. It's so much quicker and easier to clean up and have a table ready for the next patron, especially on a busy night.

[Andara Bledin]

Ok, that just sounds weird to me.

I always try to leave my table pretty mess-free. I don't get upset if I can't, however, because it is part of the busser's job to clean them, but I prefer to put all the trash on a side plate, and I've even been known to stack my plates, with all the silverware on the top one.

I say you should ask a busser sometime when he's pulling that and lay the whole issue to rest right there.

^-.-^

[XXDarrienX]

Yes it definitely sucked cleaning up after kids during the Kids Eat Free days at Dennys when I worked there. It was just horrible how lazy these parents were and then I find no tip what so ever. It jaded me

[Jester]

21 years in the business, professional server and bartender weighing in here. And lord knows I am not lacking when it comes to the opinion department.

Your friend is both right and wrong.

First of all, his attitude makes him sound like an elitist ass to me.

That being said, he is technically correct. As a server, it is my job to bus your table. I often give my patrons a little grief when they DO clean up. "Stop doing my job. You're on vacation, I'm working. I've got it." Of course, I am a smartass, and of course, I DO appreciate when people do that, but I don't want ANYONE sitting in my station to feel that they NEED to or HAVE to do that. I take a lot of pride in being damn good at my job, and in taking fantastic care of my patrons.

So my answer is your friend is an ass, and he is right, and he is wrong.

There is no "way" servers like to clean their tables, but he is right, it IS our job. If he doesn't want to clean up after himself, that is fine. If you want to clean up after yourself, that is fine too. I understand that many people have better things to do than clean up after their meal, and that is one reason they may be dining out. Hell, they may be taking care of their kids or some business, and so they may not be able to do so....and to reiterate, it isn't their job to do so.

What servers HATE is people who make a mess, don't clean up after themselves or their messy children, and then turn around and leave us a lame tip. I know tipping is a bit of a sore subject on this site, but the fact remains: if you really want to show your appreciation to your server, tip them well, especially if you have made a huge mess. We don't mind cleaning up after you, but we are doing a tipped job. Remember that.

[ShinyGreenApple]

Jester put it very nicely :)

Yes, it is the employee's job to do this, but who doesn't like things to be able to go faster, all because someone was thoughtful? I used to think my Dad was weird because he'd always sweep up the crumbs on restaurant tables, but then I waited them myself for a little bit. Now when we eat out, the plates are stacked, with any leftovers on the topmost one, silverware grouped together. I'm tempted to put them in a glass, but I know some places frown upon this, and I wouldn't wait my waiter/waitress to get in trouble.

Just a note though, if you blow your nose on anything/wipe boogers from your kid's face, please, PLEASE wrap that in another napkin or dispose of it yourself. Blergh.

[JLRodgers]

While not a restaurant (but a pizza place, where there were no tables) I was frequently shocked about how people messed up the entry way with paper and who knows what else. Every so often when a pizza left crumbs or something behind (like a topping that fell out of the vent hole), sometimes a customer would pick it up, other times not. But in the end it really didn't matter -- we still had to clean it after they did (sanitize/etc).

I've seen similar happen in restaurants in my town. Clean the table or not - it only saves the person cleaning up a little hassle of having to make sure crumbs don't hit the floor. One place even had a sweeper, sanitizing solution (an entire cart worth of stuff) and had to clean the chairs. The few extra seconds you do to clean up probably isn't entirely noticed in the end -- although I'm sure if you don't leave the table with so much crap on it that it looks like a bus load of school kids ate there is appreciated.

[Chattyaholic]

I've been a waitress for almost 12 years and I have to say I really appreciate my customers who clean up a bit after themselves, and especially their messy children. Now, I don't expect all the plates to be stacked with the silverware on top (although we do have a few nice folks that do that), but please, don't leave your chicken bones (we are known for our broasted chicken) strewn all over the table, or your butter cups and the tops just laying there, or other bits of food all over. I hate picking up people's chicken bones and stuff.

And if your children make an absolute disaster of the table, please do a little picking up before you leave. Or else leave us a better tip because we have to deal with their messes.

As a customer I always pick up any stray bits of this or that, put my silverware on my plate, fold up the placemat (if paper) and put that and my napkin on the plate as well. And if there are crumbs I brush them into my hand and deposit those on the plate too. :)

[unclejampuff]

If a customer would like to take the time to organize their mess(plates stacked neatly, trash collected in a pile, etc), then that's sweet. I do not ever expect or ask them them to. I think the only time this sort of thing annoys me is when they stick a wad of napkins onto a sticky plate. I hate having to peel all that off before I can wash it.

I super hate it when a customer tries to "help" me clear off a table by loading dishes in my arms. Only I know what I can and cannot carry, please don't put 20 wobbly stacks of dishes all over me. Especially the dripping sauce ones. You ruin my shirt, I ruin your face.

The post Denny's Kids Eat Free mess can DIAF. If your kid likes to throw food, don't bring him/her to a restaurant.