A rare sight indeed

[TinyWaitress]

Now, as anyone who has ever waitressed knows, generally going over to a table and saying "Can I clear those up for you" (while pointing to almost empty glasses) generally means "Get your arse out of the seat, pay, and leave. I need your table". Sadly, this is usually responded to with "No" and the SC proceeds to SIT THERE for 3 more years with the same cup of tea.

However, I just happened to go to a table the other day, not too busy, and asked if the ladies were done with their drinks. Then they said "No, oh did you need us to pay up".

I was flabbergasted, I almost wanted to hug them both. I told them no , it was fine, and they could take as long as they liked

[R3unbreakable]

Entitlement

i think you have forgot what working and running a restaurant is all about...

CUSTOMERS CUSTOMERS CUSTOMERS. They are paying, they are eating and it is YOUR job to please them, good covers means word of mouth advertising and repeated visits.

What gives you the right to gripe about needing a table? The customer is enjoying the food and atmosphere of the restaurant and the small amount of time they get to eat a meal and have a conversation with a friend/colleague/business prospect.

Customers may suck sometimes but in truth you are serving THEM and they are paying for that service.

[Rapscallion]

i think you have forgot what working and running a restaurant is all about...

I don't think you have worked out how this bit of the board works. The site is for venting about those memorable customers who suck mightily. We accept that most customers don't suck, and there are in fact a few who are really nice people. Those are the people for whom this section is dedicated.

Why is it someone's right to gripe about customers hogging a table? Well, the minimum wage for servers is a little over $2 in the US, since they are expected to have their wage supplemented with tips to make it up to (hopefully above) the minimum for everyone else. If a customer hogs a table for several hours after finishing their meal, it could easily mean that the member of staff - your fellow forumer - is working for below the minimum wage of anyone else.

It depends on what is reasonable.

Rapscallion

[hinakiba777]

Well that was nice of those ladies. I think it's important that customers can pick up on their servers cues.

I hope you get more nice people in your serving section.

[TinyWaitress]

Yeah, I love it when I get ladies like that Makes my day!

Wow though, I didn't know US servers made so little! I'm Canadian, and I make about 6 sometihng an hour, which is still well under minimum but

It just bothers me when people "hog" a table like that. Especially when there's a lineup waiting for tables, or you're just sitting there, and EVERYTHING (down to dirty napkins) has been cleared. Yes I understand that you're enjoying time with your friend/date/whatever, but you come into a restaurant to EAT not hog my tables. If you've still got food, go ahead. But if things are clear, move it along please and thanks :P

[RayvenQ]

Having worked in a restaurant myself, I tend to end up stacking everyone's plates etc etc just to make it a bit easier for the people working there, haven't half had a few odd looks from doing that though.

[TinyWaitress]

Having worked in a restaurant myself, I tend to end up stacking everyone's plates etc etc just to make it a bit easier for the people working there, haven't half had a few odd looks from doing that though.

And here I thought I was the only one who did that! I fold all the menus and everything!!

[RayvenQ]

And here I thought I was the only one who did that! I fold all the menus and everything!!

Everyone thinks I'm nuts when I do it, I don't even think about it, I just do, once or twice I've had to be slightly restrained to be reminded that I don't work there and so taking them back into the kitchen isn't something I could do.

[GingerBiscuit]

We do that when we're eating out. When we're finished, we'll stack plates, after scraping any left-over food (rare) onto the top plate, and stack glasses, and leave them at an easily accessible place. We will then fuck off as soon as we have paid the bill and had a couple of minutes to digest.

[TinyWaitress]

You are officially my new hero I wish there were more poeple like that!

[SportinGoods]

I've never worked as a waitress, nor have I known anyone who did, and I still stack plates, glasses, and try to put any leftovers or trash into one bowl or dish. I just thought it was common courtesy, trying to make it easier for the person who had to clean up. I am glad to hear it's appreciated though

[karath]

Sweet! I'm not the only one! <3 you guys!
For me, after years of getting manners pounded into me (almost literally at times ) its instinct now for me to help. If I'm at a friends house for dinner, I always volunteer to help with clean up. When I'm at a restaurant, I always fold the menus, make sure to look the waiter/waitress in the eye and thank them for their service (I feel kind of funny when I thank them for my fifth refill, but always do anyways ) and try to stack plates/give the table a quick once-over before I finally leave. I always thought it was common courtesy, but you can just insert "courtesy" in place of "sense" in my quote up there for how much we can count on THAT.

[iradney]

On the rare occasions that TTO and I have finished our meals and still sit jawing, we always order more drinks and leave a fat tip. If the restaurant is busy, we don't do that, but if it's relatively quiet, then we'll sit for about half an hour (with our coffee/soda) and chat.

It's ok to do that right?

[princess4life]

I also stack my plates, fold and stack menus, stack drink cups, pick up spilled noodles or crumbs from my kids and leave a tip.

I was alwasy told to clean up after myself, my DS thinks I am crazy and that I am doing the bus boys job, but I like to think it helps out a little bit.

[AdminAssistant]

If you're done with the meal and still want to chat....go take a walk! Sit on a park bench, go to a cafe or a bookstore. There's lots of possibilities, and you're doing the wait staff a favor.

(I could never ever ever ever work in food. Ever.)