Me or the waiter

[South Texan]

Perhaps I was an SC. If so, well then too damn bad.

Last Friday night my wife wanted to try a new restaurant that opened in an historic district or our city. She loves new places, and I love that district’s architecture, so we hired a sitter for the kids and went to try it.

Turns out it is a new, trendy type of place, so I geared myself for something like sushi with radishes. Neither I nor my wife look anything coming close to “hip” (and did not fit in with the style of clothing other patrons were wearing even though we were dressed nicely), but our waiter approached us with a look that I could only take to mean he was not looking forward to serving us. I asked a lot of questions about what was on the menu and how it was prepared. Truthfully, I did not recognize many of the listed elements of some of the offerings and wanted to know what I was ordering before it was delivered. The waiter sighed, rolled his eyes a few times and spoke very condescendingly to me. I did not respond to his attitude only because I wanted to have a pleasant dinner with my wife - though she picked up on the waiter’s attitude as well.

The waiter delivered our drinks and our food. He then went over to some other tables and chatted with the more “hip” people sitting at them. He never once came back to ask us how our dinners were or whether we needed drink refills. Finally, he walked up to us, put the check down on the table and picked up our plates while saying he would be our cashier. I put down cash and when he saw it, he asked if I wanted change. (Showing a very rude assumption in my opinion that he was getting a tip.) Of course I told him I did want change. He sighed again and said he would be back. The bill was just under sixty dollars and I left six $1 bills on the table for his tip. In my opinion, he did not deserve even that much, but I have been a waiter and know how little they actually are paid by the restaurant.

As we were about to walk out the door, the waiter came up to us with the six bills in his hand and in a loud, very snotty voice told me I had left some change on the table. I turned, smiled, quickly snapped the bills from his hand, thanked him, pocketed the bills and told him how impressed I was with his honesty. My wife leaned over to me and half whispered that he was telling me his tip was not enough. I turned to her and with a lot of bravado said that that could not be true as the waiter had to have known that he was rude to us, ignored us, gave us terrible service and was not deserving of even a ten percent tip. I then said that this must be his way of returning the tip without coming right out and admitting how poorly he behaved. I next said that I thought I really should let the manager know of how honest this waiter was about his performance. The waiter’s dumbfounded look was priceless. I simply opened the door for my wife and we left.

She still is mortified that I did that. I think I pointed out my feelings rather well.

[Becks]

You wife was right, but...

Damn, you rock!!!!!!! :yourock:

I feel so conflicted...

[ToasterQueen]

No matter which end you're on, waiterside or customerside, being treated rudely is not something you deserve.

Bravo, sir. Bravo.

[Jester]

As a member of the food service industry for the last 20 years, let me say this: that waiter sucked great big donkey balls. Pardon my French, but that was terrible service, and I frankly thought you were merely reacting to his suckiness, not yourself being an SC.

And that story reminds me so much of my awesome Uncle Harry. Great guy. The kind of guy that would walk around in pants and an undershirt.....outside....in the snow. You know the type. Anyway, Uncle Harry only ever left 10% or 20%. No middle of the road for him. One day, after some bad service from a waiter, he left 10% on the table. As he was leaving, the waiter came up to him yelling "What's this?" Harry looked at him coolly, took the money from his hand, and asked calmly, "You don't think that that is enough of a tip?" The waiter said he did not. "Then you get nothing." And with that Harry pocketed the money and walked the hell out.

You sir absolutely rock! :D

[MystyGlyttyr]

:D Mysty approves!

It would have been one thing if it was still a nice waiter who seemed more scatterbrained than actually rude...I can forgive (and sympathize with) scatterbrained. Rude is an irritant. I'm afraid if I were treated like that, he might have gotten that tip, but treated to the old tip-in-an-upside-down-glass-of-water trick.

I don't know if I would have gone to the manager either. No real reason other than laziness there, though.

[wagegoth]

One day a group of us took a friend to lunch at a really nice restaurant. It was her 50th birthday, so we wanted something really special. We went to a fairly new restaurant that was supposed to do some really special food.

It was a very California restaurant. Very nice design. All the wait staff wore white shirts, ties, and jeans. Like I said, California. The food was (I felt) a bit over the top for lunch. It was more what I would expect from a fancier restaurant for dinner. I ended up ordering an appetizer for my entree as nothing else sounded appealing. So did one other person in the group.

The waiter was a complete jerk. You would have thought I'd killed fine cuisine with my order. Same thing as South Texan's waiter. Rude, condescending, unhelpful.

I didn't make a scene or complain in any way because it was my friend's party and I was part of the group. But I swore I'd never go back, and I haven't, even though I now work only 1 block away.

A month or so later I saw a review of the restaurant and the reviewer had the exact same opinion as I had of the food and the waitstaff.

[ditchdj]

I was actually getting pissed when I started reading the post. Not because the tip wasnt big enough, but the fact you even left a tip at all. I actually felt better when I got to the end. :D

To me, as a customer, the BIGGEST factor toward a waiter/waitress getting a decent tip is the attitude. If they make a mistake and forget an item on the order no big deal, just as long as they're gracious about it and work fast to fix it and make it good. It's all in the attitude and how I'm treated are the things that mean the most to me.

[Captain Trips]

You know, this site is called "customerssuck." Not "employeessuck." .... which is too bad, because you definitely found one sucky employee!

Tip? Yeah, I'd have left a tip, too. But not as much as you -- I'd only have left two cents. But your comments after he returned it made up for the difference! Remember, a tip isn't for doing a job, it's for doing a job better than required. Good service gets a good tip. Ordinary, plain service gets no tip. Bad service gets a noticeably bad tip.

[Rapscallion]

Surely it should have been obvious that you were new to the food's genre and therefore in need of assistance.

Actually, it would have gone nicely in 'sightings', which is more reserved for matters such as this - fancy it being moved?

Rapscallion

[PW_Elle]

TIPS used to stand for "To Insure Prompt Service." The basic idea was that at the beginning you'd have a certain amount of money on the table, say six dollars (probably less back in the day, but work with me). As the night went on, if you were dissatisfied with any part of the service, you could remove part of that money. The waiter would see this, recognize something was up, and work harder for your table. If you were satisfied with the recourse the waiter took you could add the money back. At the end of the night, whatever was left was what he got.

Kind of cool. I wish they still did that.

Elle

[Rapscallion]

Some people still do. I suspect that died out when a standard percentage come into effect in the US, since the cost of the meal wouldn't be apparent until the bill was presented.

Rapscallion

[wagegoth]

I read once that in the 19th century waiters often were not paid at all by the restaurant, tips were their sole source of income.

Nowadays in the U.S. many states allow waiters to only be paid a little over $2 an hour (not California, everyone gets minimum wage, which is higher than federal) and they obviously depend heavily on their tips to make up the difference. I think it's called minimum wage for a reason, and everyone should be getting at least that amount, but that's the way it is.

Not tipping your waiter because they give you "average" service is wrong. Tip them 10%. And try to take into consideration what is their fault and what isn't when something goes wrong. Don't short their tip because the kitchen screwed up. That's something to take up with the management.

The restaurant being short-staffed is not the waiter's fault either. If service is taking some time, look around and see how many waiters are working. If they're obviously having to handle a lot of tables, then cut them some slack.

However, rude, short-tempered, condescending, failing to check in even once during the meal, etc. is definitely grounds for a tiny tip, even the two cent one if things are bad enough.

[myswtghst]

Good points all around. I'm generally a VERY good tipper, as I worked as a server in a bar and know just how poorly you can be treated, and how little $$ you can make. At the same time, I know how easy it is to treat your customers well. I'll tip the guy who delivers my pizza $3 if he's nice, even though I don't have to.

When we were in FL on a family vacation, we went to Hard Rock Cafe. No doubt this is a restaurant that should be used to tourists, and families with kids. Our waitress began the whole ordeal by giving my father attitude, and acting impatient with us. She then delivered us the wrong drinks, and when this was realized, tried to just switch them. Thanks, but I don't want the drink someone else has already been drinking out of. She got continually more foul-tempered, and in the end, got only 2 pennies as her tip. Just enough to make a point. Made me happy.

Go you. I do not think you were a SC, I think you made your point quite appropriately, given the way you were treated. :)

[BlaqueKatt]

TIPS used to stand for "To Insure Prompt Service."



sorry this bugs me-no it did not!!!!!!!

URBAN LEGEND (http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/tip.htm)

Claim: "Tip" is an acronym for "To Insure Promptness" or "To Insure Prompt Service."

Status: False. (acronyms did not exist until the 20th century!!!!!!!!!)

there were no 'TIPS'-labelled boxes into which thirsty pub patrons of centuries past stuffed their offerings in efforts to keep the libations flowing -- 'tip' entered our lexicon in much more mundane fashion. We've yet to find an acronym that predates the 20th century, and 'tip' (used in the sense of a gratuity) is much older than that.

[Cthulhu]

TIPS used to stand for "To Insure Prompt Service."

This is actually an urban legend...

http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/tip.htm

[KuzcoLlama]

And may I gently (in that prison way) remind everyone that it will not turn into a debate about tipping and how much--EVERY SINGLE THREAD on tipping has gone down in flames. Not reading my warning is no excuse to continue.

Keep it about the sucky employee. That is all.

[nick1091]

To me, as a customer, the BIGGEST factor toward a waiter/waitress getting a decent tip is the attitude. If they make a mistake and forget an item on the order no big deal, just as long as they're gracious about it and work fast to fix it and make it good. It's all in the attitude and how I'm treated are the things that mean the most to me.

Agredd 100%. I'm probably an overtipper by nature (my sister and some of my friends have been waitresses, so I probably overcompensate) and I'm pretty forgiving when it comes to how many times they refill my drink, as if everything's ok, etc. I usually just chalk it up to them being busy, having a lot of ground to cover, etc.

However, if my server is rude, condescending, et al, I have no other conclusion to draw than they're just being a dick, and I tip accordingly.

[BusBus]

Wow, ST, that was certainly a sucky experience. I was surprised that you tipped at all (glad to hear that you got it back). When I am having a bad day, I do everything that I can to keep it to myself. I may vent to a listening colleague, but I never, ever take it out on anyone that I deal with. That's not cool. That guy should have left his chip at home instead of leaving it on his shoulder.

[Anakah]

It's their job to be nice and explain things to you. I have to explain how slot machine work (put the money in the slot) and I do it with a nice smile and let them know it's okay that it's their first time.

Making the customer feel like they're stupid is just unacceptable. It was his job to explain things to you and make sure you're doing good. That was very rude of him to indicate that his tip was not enough. You handled that very well. I think you're awesome. I can't believe he still has a job there. I would've asked to see his manager.

I think it sucks your night was probably ruined because he was too lazy to do his job. You sure enlightened him :)

[Lace Neil Singer]

I would have given him nothing, and would have definitely made a complaint. I am usually a good tipper, but as far as I'm concerned, any waiter/waitress who's rude, condescending and nasty will get nothing, not even a minimum tip.

[Mongo Skruddgemire]

You wife was right, but...

Damn, you rock!!!!!!! :yourock:

I feel so conflicted...

No conflict. A tip was left, a tip was returned. The waiter made the first move by returning the tip to the diner therefore he was saying by his actions that did not want the tip.

I try to tip as well as I can given the circumstances and as dictated by the level of service and when I leave a 10% tip I usually pen a little note explaining why I am being such a cheapskate.

Three examples.

1. Good service, broke as heck - Came in and found out that I had forgotten my debit card. Wife and I checked and found that we had enough for dinner and a small tip. Left note saying that we were happy with the service, just very short on cash and we would get her next time. Next time we asked for her table, got the same level of service and gave her 20% for the previous visit, and the current visit. Next time we came in the service from her was worthy of a 25% tip...which we gave.

2. Manalapin Diner - NJ, Poor service - Came in with our entire SCA group (30 people) and had our monthly after meeting dinner/social get together. Server was rude, snotty, inept, slow and when asked what was taking so long for some things we got him rolling his eyes, giving this great world weary sigh and "I only have two hands" with enough drama in his voice to make William Shatner proud. Bill came to $450 and he got $45 tip and a note explaining why we stiffed him.

3. Same place - next month - Came in again with the same 30 people. Waiter stayed past his shift, looked tired, busted his ass, didn't just bring hot tea but 2 caraffe's of hot water and a plate stacked with tea bags, was cheerful, made a few mistakes but was quick to fix them, laughed with us, joked with us and in general did a wonderful job. 30 people with an average bill of $15 each just tossed down $20 bills and said "Let him keep the change." Total bill was $450, his tip was $150. He even thanked us warmly as he was leaving (we were still chatting in the parking lot).

Never saw that waiter again sadly, he was only working there over the summer while waiting for college to start.

M

[BookstoreEscapee]

Hey, Manalapan Diner...I haven't been there in years...but I pass it almost every day :lol: We went there after my senior prom...and we used to go for breakfast when we did inventory and got out at 5 in the morning :)

[tollbaby]

It is not up to the waiter to decide that you don't "fit in" with his usual clientele. When I worked in the restaurant, I was always happy to see people attempting to broaden their horizons by trying new things, and was only too happy to explain the more esoteric points of lebanese cuisine with new clients (no, I'm not lebanese, but I did learn a lot working there!). I figured that if they liked the food, and I was nice to them, they'd come back!

All this butt-monkey managed to do was ensure that you'd never return, and that his restaurant would get a bit of bad word-of-mouth publicity. None of the restaurants I've ever eaten in (except maybe one) would ever tolerate that sort of behavior from their staff. Maybe that's because I live in Canada, but I doubt it.

(btw, here, there are two "minimum" wages... one for people who receive gratuities as part of their work, and one for everybody else)

[friendofjimmyk]

This reminds me of two stories of my own experience. I was a server myself at the time of both of these...

The first one - my ex-hubby and I went out to eat to a really, REALLY nice French bistro for Valentine's Day. We were nicely dressed, it was Texas - so I had on a summery type dress with spaghetti straps - I have two large tattoos on either shoulder that were exposed. Not sure if that meant anything, but that was my deduction for the rudeness of our server - he probably thought "White trash". My hubby, no tats and dressed very conservatively got much better treatment then I did and we were at the same table. My ex was also very well versed in wine and spirits and would talk a mean game with any wine stewart or bartender.

Anyway, the way the waiter would address me and then would address my hubby, I swear, he made me feel as if I were some prostitute rented for the evening! My ex didn't pick up on this - as he usually didn't notice much when it came to me hence the ex husband status - and chatted away with the server as if I wasn't even there. I made a few fine dining mistakes - not knowing which utensil to use or which side to put my bread plate when I was finished - the waiter very curtly corrected me both times. I swear I saw him roll his eyes and curl his nose on a couple occasions in my direction = then turn back to the hubby with a look as if to say, "these poor ladies of the night, pity pity!"

The other story - this time we went to lunch - my ex, a friend and I. We took this coupon - it was out of one of those entertainment books - for $6.00 of your lunch ticket. This was a nice Italian place. Awesome food. We rolled up in the place not looking like the normal patrons. My ex and our friend were fresh from a lunch shift themselves and still in their work uniforms - white shirts, black pants. I was sick and shouldn't have been out at all.

Anyway, we roll up into this place for "lunch". It was around 1:30 - 2:00ish and we were one of two tables in the place. The waiter was not rude, but you could tell he had his doubts in our abilities to take care of servers. We were slightly obnoxious - after all we drank 3 bottles of wine, before lunch drinks and after lunch cocktails - plus I was still smokin' weed at that time and was pretty glassy eyed and HUNGRY! Our lunch consisted of the drinks already mentioned - four appetizers, three entrees, three desserts - we were big eaters and drinkers at this time!!!

Anyway, our lunch bill - $275!!!! :eek: Then the ex whips out the $6 off coupon and our friend and I were like, "NO - DON'T DO IT!" But he gave it to the server. The poor server, the look on his face was priceless. I am sure he thought he was going to get screwed. He never really was that rude, just had a look that suggested he was very weirded out by us. We tipped 25%. However, we left it in the book. On the table, we left one dollar and one penny. Our friend convinced us that the way the penny and dollar were laid out was customary allowing the server to know they did an excellent job. However, that's all the server saw first. He didn't get the book until we left.

Anyway...sorry for the hijack.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Our friend convinced us that the way the penny and dollar were laid out was customary allowing the server to know they did an excellent job.

Sounds like he wanted to play a bit of a mean joke on the waiter, by making him think he'd been stiffed. There is no secret code about leaving small bills and pennies on the table. ;)

And I can't believe the waiter corrected you on using utensils and whatnot. I think had that been me, I would have been sorely temped to use the fork on his butt when he turned around. :devil: Correcting someone's manners is considered TERRIBLY bad manners.:rolleyes:

[Lace Neil Singer]

I would have just acted like a stereotypical white trash bitch, personally, just to annoy him further. Cuz I'm like that.

[BuhMule]

Every Saturday for about a year, I would pop into a local Chain-Diner for breakfast. After nearly 8 mos. of Saturdays, there was a new server for my section. The hostess put me at my usual table, and the young lady brought me coffee right away; since I was ready, she took my order too.

After a while, my coffee was empty. Didn't see my server anywhere. Since I'd been going there a while, I got up & grabbed the caraffe and poured a new cup. I sat at the table drinking, and just as my cup was nearing empty again the food arrived, sans toast.

I don't like cold eggs, so I started eating right away. The cup remained empty, the toast remained MIA. When I finally got up & went to the cashier I explained very frankly:

"If your server is bitchy about not getting a tip, and decides to complain to you; lemme tell ya why." [full description]

The hostess, knowing that I was a very regular customer then offered my next Saturday's breakfast on-the-house. I took her up on it, and the next Saturday that particular server was (for some reason) not on shift!

[NightAngel]

There is no secret code about leaving small bills and pennies on the table. ;)

One of the first things I learned when I first started waitressing was that a single penny left on a table can mean a lot.

Heads Up: Indicates the service was good and that the patron would like to have tipped you but could not afford it.

Tales Up: The service sucked and I wouldn't have left you a tip for anything.

[Jester]

Bill came to $450 and he got $45 tip and a note explaining why we stiffed him.

In waiter parlance, getting "stiffed" means not getting any tip at all. 10%, which is what you left, is not getting "stiffed." Just saying.

(btw, here, there are two "minimum" wages... one for people who receive gratuities as part of their work, and one for everybody else)

It is the same in the U.S. When states have higher minimum wages for people than the federal one, the minimum wage for tipped employees is accordingly higher as well.

Our friend convinced us that the way the penny and dollar were laid out was customary allowing the server to know they did an excellent job.

One of the first things I learned when I first started waitressing was that a single penny left on a table can mean a lot.

Heads Up: Indicates the service was good and that the patron would like to have tipped you but could not afford it.

Tales Up: The service sucked and I wouldn't have left you a tip for anything.

I have never heard of the heads up/tails up thing, but I have heard from many people that a single penny left in addition to the tip indicates very good service. I have found that people who do do this tend to tip very well, and the single added penny is just to say "you rocked."

I also know that leaving just a single penny, with no other tip, is basically telling your server, "you sucked, and we wanted you to know that we didn't forget to tip you, but that we thought you sucked so badly that we should let you know the lack of a tip was intentional."

Frankly, the whole penny thing is nice, but if you really want to let a server know that you thought he/she rocked....just leave them a very healthy tip. They WILL get the message!

A side note here: telling the server verbally that they did a great job and then being cheap with the tip? Not cool. In the industry, we refer to that as a "verbal tip." Because we've learned that chances are people who go on and on about it verbally ain't leaving you much financially. And while we all enjoy hearing that we rock, we MUCH prefer the money, to be honest.

:D

[Brighid45]

ST, imo you did exactly the right thing.

In my experience it's often hard to know what sort of reception you'll get at a new or hot dining spot until you walk in the door. Hereabouts it is (sadly) not uncommon to get the sort of wait staff you describe. However, it is also not uncommon to get great service. You just never know. I think you handled it well.

[South Texan]

A side note here: telling the server verbally that they did a great job and then being cheap with the tip? Not cool. In the industry, we refer to that as a "verbal tip." Because we've learned that chances are people who go on and on about it verbally ain't leaving you much financially. And while we all enjoy hearing that we rock, we MUCH prefer the money, to be honest.
Man, did that burn me when I was waiting tables. I would get some joker who would come over to me to shake my hand and tell me what a great evening it had been and how much he and his wife/date had enjoyed my service. Then he would slip two dollars into my palm on a fifty dollar tab.

I rarely was able to return his smile.

[Jester]

I 've always been able to return their smile.

Partly because I was enjoying the thought of how pleasurable it would be to disembowel them with a butter knife.

Amazing the things you must do to remain professional. :devil:

[friendofjimmyk]

Sounds like he wanted to play a bit of a mean joke on the waiter, by making him think he'd been stiffed. There is no secret code about leaving small bills and pennies on the table.

And I can't believe the waiter corrected you on using utensils and whatnot. I think had that been me, I would have been sorely temped to use the fork on his butt when he turned around. :devil: Correcting someone's manners is considered TERRIBLY bad manners.:rolleyes:

I agree - the friend was kind of a dick at times and I too believe he wanted the waiter to think he got stiffed - but I didn't argue with him - I was too full from the food and wine. The waiter was all nice about everything though too - even when he thought he only got $1.01 as a tip. To me, that's the important part - he never once lost the smile on his face. He had a few moments where he looked weirded out - but was still smiling.

Then the whole manners thing - on top of him correcting me - I still remember the smug, swarmy look on his face!

A side note here: telling the server verbally that they did a great job and then being cheap with the tip? Not cool. In the industry, we refer to that as a "verbal tip." Because we've learned that chances are people who go on and on about it verbally ain't leaving you much financially. And while we all enjoy hearing that we rock, we MUCH prefer the money, to be honest.

:D


Ahh, the verbal tip. Lovely little item. As soon as the raving starts, one can almost guarantee a minimal tip. Not always, but most of the time.

Partly because I was enjoying the thought of how pleasurable it would be to disembowel them with a butter knife.

Amazing the things you must do to remain professional. :devil:

Been there, done that! Amazing the torture by crumber or butter knife that your mind can imagine during times of high stress!

After running me ragged, sending me to get something every single time I get to the table, speaking to me poorly - I can smile and say "No, of course I don't mind getting you another steak knife!" Smiling all while knowing where I'd like to stick that knife!

[Lace Neil Singer]

I tend to tip a couple of pounds, which may not seem like a lot but I don't have a lot of cash to throw around so to me, that's a lot. That's also what I will add to the plate if out with mates; last time, there was a veritable shower of gold as everyone who was there (6, if you wanted to know) threw in 2 or 3 pound coins.

I once did tell a manager I was leaving cuz this snotty waitress was ignoring me in favour of a large party; he offered to comp my drinks if I stayed and gave me a nice waiter to serve me instead. I stayed, the waiter was very attentive and got tipped well, and I made sure I praised him to the skies as well as trashing the waitress who ignored me. I can only hope the large party stiffed her to put the icing on the cake of her getting a huge telling off from the manager for her rudeness.

[tollbaby]

the ex reminded me last night of our own "out of our element" dining experience :) I had won a gift certificate to a new Asian fusion place downtown.... we're more the Wendy's or Swiss Chalet type of people and rarely eat out at "real" restaurants. We invited a friend along with us, and although we immediately felt out of place when we walked in (it was a hip 20-something type of place where everybody was shiny and beautiful), our server was very welcoming and polite, and the food was fantastic! (and relatively cheap). I've recommended the place to all our out-of-town execs and contractors, and I've brought almost all my visiting friends there since :)

[Rapscallion]

I tend to tip a couple of pounds, which may not seem like a lot but I don't have a lot of cash to throw around so to me, that's a lot.

There's also the slight matter that the UK doesn't have as great a tipping culture as the UK. Our minimum wage applies to servers as well, and I seem to remember it starts at £5.15 - about ten dollars at current exchange rates. Cost of living is higher as well, though, so it's not all milk and honey...

Rapscallion

[RailroadMonster]

I'll tip the guy who delivers my pizza $3 if he's nice, even though I don't have to.


I always give my pizza guy a giant tip. I usually order from Dominoes and they seem to have very conscientious delivery men.

[Titi]

My first reaction to the OP was is the waiter stupid or something?

I've asked some friends who are bartenders their response and it's generally the same. If someone forgets their change you put it to the side incase they come back for it, if not then you just got an extra tip.

I guess he knew that he didn't deserve any tip for his bad service huh?

On a side note though, most places like that ask if you need any change to avoid getting the change and coming back to the table and the patrons have already left. I get asked that at Friendly's, Applebees, pretty much anywhere you pay the server and not a cashier. I've been told it saves time.

[Pinkie]

My hubby delivers pizzas for a living, 40-50+ hrs a week. It's a well known fact at his pizza joint, that if you stiff the driver, next time, you'll be the last one on the list to get your pizza, but if you tip good, you'll be the first and your pizza will still be hot. We live in a college town, and the cheapest students are the ones who use mommy and daddy's credit card and drive a new bmw. The owner of the pizza place keeps begging my hubby to take over as the manager there, but as manager, you can't get two guarenteed days off each week, and the pay would be less than he makes as a delivery driver. And they wonder why he just drives!:lol:

[DesignFox]

Ha. I noticed both Mongo and BookStoreExcapee mentioned the Manalapan Diner in NJ.

I went to that diner once and only once! What an awful diner. The place was empty when myself and a friend stopped by, and we got slow, inattentive service. Not to mention that the waitress didn't bring half of my friend's order. And neither of us ever got drink refills. Her tip reflected our displeasure.

I will never go there again...especially hearing that we weren't the only ones to get awful service!

If you're driving north on 9 may I suggest the Peter Pank Diner? Much better service there. It's much farther up from the Manalapan Diner... and of course there are a few others along 9 anyway (north and south), but I have yet to pop in to those...

As for the OP. Bravo. I think you handled that very nicely considering how rude your waiter was!

[Jester]

On a side note though, most places like that ask if you need any change to avoid getting the change and coming back to the table and the patrons have already left. I get asked that at Friendly's, Applebees, pretty much anywhere you pay the server and not a cashier. I've been told it saves time.

I hate that. I HATE HATE HATE that. For YEARS I was a server trainer for TGI Friday's, and I would rail about that to the servers. You do NOT say, "Do you need change?" You assume they do, you bring them their change, and you go about your business like a professional. Because if, for example, their bill is $32 and they put a $100 bill in the check presenter, OF COURSE they are going to need change. It is presumptuous of waiters to ask that, and it drove me insane as a trainer and supervisor, and it drives me insane as a server, bartender, and customer. I make it very simple. "I'll be right back with that." No muss, no fuss. If they don't want change, most often they will tell you that. And if they don't need change and don't tell you that, you have still conducted yourself professionally.

I have been in "casual" eating establishments and gotten servers who know how to do it right, and I have been in fine dining establishments and actually had servers say "Do you need change?" I about fell over. So to all the servers out there, please...don't do this. It reflects poorly on you, your professionalism, and your establishment.

[/rant]

[tollbaby]

Ugh. I was trained to always say, "I'll be right back with your change", and then that gives the customer an opening to to tell you, if they so CHOOSE, to keep the change (and if they don't, never EVER be rude to them).

I love the new system we have here in Canada (I don't know if this is available in the US). Most restaurants here offer payment by debit card (bank card, not a credit card that connects to your chequing account.... we don't have those here). When you're putting your transaction through, the machine asks if you want to leave a tip. If you say yes, some of them will ask if you prefer to use a percentage or enter a dollar amount. Since the server brings your bill, but anybody can cash you out, the person cashing you out enters the bill number and tips are automatically credited to the right server.

I'm not sure if they get them same day or if it's included on their cheques though (it would really suck if they were included on their cheques, I guess).

[Mongo Skruddgemire]

Ha. I noticed both Mongo and BookStoreExcapee mentioned the Manalapan Diner in NJ.

I went to that diner once and only once! What an awful diner. The place was empty when myself and a friend stopped by, and we got slow, inattentive service. Not to mention that the waitress didn't bring half of my friend's order. And neither of us ever got drink refills. Her tip reflected our displeasure.


The question is when did you go there...before or after the remodeling they did in 2003? Before it, the service was ok...some bad but mostly good. After 2003 I couldn't tell you what it was like since I moved out of NJ (FREEEEEDOOOOOMMMM!!!!!) in October of that year.

M

[Becks]

One of the first things I learned when I first started waitressing was that a single penny left on a table can mean a lot.

Heads Up: Indicates the service was good and that the patron would like to have tipped you but could not afford it.

Tales Up: The service sucked and I wouldn't have left you a tip for anything.


I never knew that about meanings for head/tails. I knew about leaving a penny for a "tip" to let the waitperson know that they weren't meeting standards, but the heads up one? I learned something new today.

[South Texan]

I never knew that about meanings for head/tails. I knew about leaving a penny for a "tip" to let the waitperson know that they weren't meeting standards, but the heads up one? I learned something new today.
When I was waiting tables, a penny left as a tip was a penny tip. Period. The penny signified that the customer was very unhappy with the service and did not want the waiter to brush off the lack of a tip with the thought that perhaps the customer just forgot. This "heads up" aspect is, to me, something recently created to appease the insulted waiter and nullify the statement the customer made.

In my opinion, if a customer cannot afford a tip that reflects the customer's satisfaction with the service, then the customer should at least have the decency to explain that to the waiter and apologize for the low tip.

[DesignFox]

The visit was recent Mongo. ;)