General Discussion

merrily

(45,251 posts)

131. Server is one of the hardest jobs there is. News flash: Servers don't cook your food.

Wed Aug 26, 2015, 10:13 AM

Aug 2015

Unless it arrived at the table cold and congealed or obviously re-heated, it was the fault of the kitchen, not the server. Given the server apologized for the kitchen, it's pretty clear the server did not fall down on the job. If the kitchen is understaffed, that's not the server's fault either.

The wait should have been taken up with the manager or owner, who probably would have comp-ed part of the check or given free wine or dessert or something. It not, take your business elsewhere next time. But taking it out on the server is out of place.

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Unhappy diners leave waitress a �Lol� instead of a tip on $112 bill [View all] Liberal_in_LA Aug 2015 OP

How does one respond to shitty service, then? villager Aug 2015 #1

This is why you ask for the manager Blue_Adept Aug 2015 #2

Do we know if they did, or did not, ask for the manager? villager Aug 2015 #5

Who do we know if it was or was not shitty service? LanternWaste Aug 2015 #47

An hour wait for food is definitely shitty service. The cause/remedies seem to be the loci villager Aug 2015 #50

Not necessarily FBaggins Aug 2015 #57

What? villager Aug 2015 #62

An hour wait for food at a bar & grill is unacceptable, imo. LonePirate Aug 2015 #72

Customers always exaggerate time Reter Aug 2015 #126

Even at 51 minutes, that wait is unacceptable. LonePirate Aug 2015 #132

Yes, but GummyBearz Aug 2015 #91

I've never worked where the kitchen splits tips. Glassunion Aug 2015 #97

This message was self-deleted by its author PotatoChip Aug 2015 #139

Thank You tech3149 Aug 2015 #14

^^This^^ best answer. nt jonno99 Aug 2015 #133

If service is bad, I tip 10% hifiguy Aug 2015 #6

I have generally done that, as well. villager Aug 2015 #7

I waited tables for years whathehell Aug 2015 #38

I agree. That's their livelihood. I never would stiff wait staff Hoyt Aug 2015 #41

after reading Nickel & Dimed 6chars Aug 2015 #82

That's what my Dad taught me was the correct tip for poor service. Mister Ed Aug 2015 #103

That isn't the OP topic. It is why punish the server for THE KITCHEN STAFF'S GETTING IN THE WEEDS? WinkyDink Aug 2015 #16

And the question is: What recourses are left to customers? villager Aug 2015 #35

Did you read the article? Glassunion Aug 2015 #73

Did you read the thread? villager Aug 2015 #105

One does not "respond" to shitty service with an "LOL" in the tip line. Glassunion Aug 2015 #107

I never said that. And you are free to not care if it takes an hour to get your food, next time. villager Aug 2015 #108

If the server is doing a bad job there is always a manager to talk to. Glassunion Aug 2015 #109

If they were apprised it could actually be a full hour, and not merely "slow," then yeah villager Aug 2015 #110

Based on the "LOL" in the tip line alone. Glassunion Aug 2015 #111

Well, then you missed your calling as a detective, I reckon. villager Aug 2015 #112

Nope. 20+ years in food service and customer service. Glassunion Aug 2015 #113

Out of curiosity, what would you do in a situation where customers are waiting an hour or more villager Aug 2015 #114

I would have explained it outright and the customers would choose. Glassunion Aug 2015 #115

Fair enough, as long as they were given a true sense of the "slowness" villager Aug 2015 #116

Well, first of all, McScrooge, you don't know it'll be an hour until it IS. And it STILL isn't the WinkyDink Aug 2015 #123

Not McScroogey. Also not necessarily willing to subsidize understaffing by restaurant owners villager Aug 2015 #141

Because tips are usually split between the sever and the kitchen staff. GummyBearz Aug 2015 #92

Sez WHO?? WinkyDink Aug 2015 #124

Is it the customer's job to fix the business? BlueStreak Aug 2015 #129

Having worked as a server, I'll tell you ... 1StrongBlackMan Aug 2015 #43

Sure -- what's the server's role when that happens, though? villager Aug 2015 #48

In most cases, the Server has NO role ... 1StrongBlackMan Aug 2015 #54

Well, they are the interface with the restaurant, rightly or wrongly, so there's *some* role villager Aug 2015 #56

Okay. n/t 1StrongBlackMan Aug 2015 #58

I'd like to know the names of those restaurants riderinthestorm Aug 2015 #71

Blush ice bar in San Diego is one GummyBearz Aug 2015 #93

How do you know? The server presumably walked away with your order riderinthestorm Aug 2015 #99

Because he never left the table GummyBearz Aug 2015 #100

Then I'd presume he'd already had a table of disappointed guests prior riderinthestorm Aug 2015 #101

I have never been a server GummyBearz Aug 2015 #122

I have never heard of a restaurant comping because they were out of something Reter Aug 2015 #127

Re-read the whole piece GummyBearz Aug 2015 #128

A good manager will make it right. DawgHouse Aug 2015 #65

Very true ... 1StrongBlackMan Aug 2015 #68

Yet, the tips are shared with those whose fault it is. n/t lumberjack_jeff Aug 2015 #67

I've never worked in a place where ... 1StrongBlackMan Aug 2015 #69

Same here... Glassunion Aug 2015 #74

I only did two years; then, I took a more prestigious gig ... 1StrongBlackMan Aug 2015 #79

I got into I.T. Glassunion Aug 2015 #81

LOL ... 1StrongBlackMan Aug 2015 #86

Not sure where you worked, but it's really bad in North Philly. Glassunion Aug 2015 #87

This was a college town in Ohio ... 1StrongBlackMan Aug 2015 #88

I only go back for mom. Glassunion Aug 2015 #89

Yeah, have the manager tip the server! TransitJohn Aug 2015 #94

Is that what anywhere near what I said? n/t 1StrongBlackMan Aug 2015 #98

I know olddots Aug 2015 #59

With a 10% tip instead of 18-20% Reter Aug 2015 #125

Enough with that nonsense already. Act_of_Reparation Aug 2015 #135

The situation could have been handled better bigwillq Aug 2015 #3

Jesus U. Christ on a straw every little fucking slight is now news and spread on the intertubes snooper2 Aug 2015 #4

Saved me the time Bonx Aug 2015 #8

And that kind of rudeness needs to be exposed no matter what you think. hobbit709 Aug 2015 #17

So you'd keep mum about getting stiffed of a $17 tip, as a college student? WinkyDink Aug 2015 #18

The person was an asshole. No issue with this being posted. nt Logical Aug 2015 #20

Yep. Just a peon working for shit, getting more shit... Eleanors38 Aug 2015 #25

agreed! nt steve2470 Aug 2015 #39

Fight back? Really? Fight back against what? snooper2 Aug 2015 #121

Maybe they don't know where to fight back, or how... Eleanors38 Aug 2015 #140

unless that server was a complete jackhole, a zero tip or LOL note is horrible steve2470 Aug 2015 #9

That's right. madaboutharry Aug 2015 #21

You used to leave a penny. BKH70041 Aug 2015 #10

The article says that they were notified SheilaT Aug 2015 #11

Actually that's the claim of the waitress. BKH70041 Aug 2015 #23

So you want to... tonedevil Aug 2015 #40

You seem to think I'm involved in this more than I am. BKH70041 Aug 2015 #45

What is or isn't of interest to you is of no interest to me. tonedevil Aug 2015 #55

What is or isn't a "legitimate practice" is not up to you. BKH70041 Aug 2015 #63

If you find legitimacy... tonedevil Aug 2015 #80

+1 Hassin Bin Sober Aug 2015 #77

Exactly. Wait staff must depend on the kitchen. n/t whathehell Aug 2015 #42

Real problem here is with the $2.50/hr wage. . . DinahMoeHum Aug 2015 #12

The other NRA Yavin4 Aug 2015 #46

You mean sub-minimum wage. Glassunion Aug 2015 #76

I'm against tip culture daredtowork Aug 2015 #13

Right. But until there they live on tips so why take it on the lowest rang question everything Aug 2015 #22

I don't mind tipping in a restaurant or bar 1939 Aug 2015 #75

We don't have a tip credit in California - regardless of tips, all employees must petronius Aug 2015 #96

I usually just leave a prayer tract. AngryAmish Aug 2015 #15

I hope you're joking. yardwork Aug 2015 #24

Of course. Haven't you seen the tipping wars around here? AngryAmish Aug 2015 #29

Missed them! yardwork Aug 2015 #31

Well, Jesus will bless you with good bones and calcium next time they start AngryAmish Aug 2015 #33

I think you might change your mind Blus4u Aug 2015 #27

Jesus loves you, too. AngryAmish Aug 2015 #30

Hope you don't ever eat at the same restaurant twice. abelenkpe Aug 2015 #34

Guess who else loves Jesus? AngryAmish Aug 2015 #37

Most places add a 15 to 20 % gratuity Blus4u Aug 2015 #19

A party of eight should have had a 15% tip added to their check question everything Aug 2015 #26

This is why the restaurant industry is fucked up. If the meal goes bad, it is the employees that get madinmaryland Aug 2015 #28

That's a very good point. yardwork Aug 2015 #32

Yes, it comes down to the minimum wage exemptions for states davidpdx Aug 2015 #119

Hourly wages instead of tips Matariki Aug 2015 #36

Misplaced: Customers take their frustration out... WhaTHellsgoingonhere Aug 2015 #44

I've seen these before where its faked Travis_0004 Aug 2015 #49

Waiting an hour to eat is unacceptable UNLESS MicaelS Aug 2015 #51

Hope she doesn't end up getting fired for sharing it on social media. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Aug 2015 #52

15% is the lowest I leave... and that's only if the service is dramatically horrible. LanternWaste Aug 2015 #53

The easy answer to this is just do away with tipping nichomachus Aug 2015 #60

It's crap. Agschmid Aug 2015 #61

Was at a restaurant the other day. The food took a very long time to arrive The Velveteen Ocelot Aug 2015 #64

8 into 112 $ for food ? olddots Aug 2015 #66

If you are supposed to leave 20% tip no matter what... davidn3600 Aug 2015 #70

I was in Lake Arrowhead with a friend not long ago... cherokeeprogressive Aug 2015 #78

good for you. the "doctor" should be ashamed of himself Liberal_in_LA Aug 2015 #104

My husband (when we were dating) used to leave $1 tips, and I was mortified ScreamingMeemie Aug 2015 #136

The way I saw it... cherokeeprogressive Aug 2015 #138

And this is another fine example of why the customer is not always right. Glassunion Aug 2015 #83

That's right ...screw the person on the bottom. I had the exact SAME thing happen and would have.. BlueJazz Aug 2015 #84

Is tipping really about reward and punishment? Syzygy321 Aug 2015 #85

I have worked as waitstaff. littlewolf Aug 2015 #90

Table of 8 should have had a mandatory "tip" Ilsa Aug 2015 #95

A friend of mine experienced this quite recently. Habibi Aug 2015 #120

Damn. That's cold-blooded. Ilsa Aug 2015 #142

If the wait staff was not rude - this is out of line Generic Brad Aug 2015 #102

Here's the thing: Spider Jerusalem Aug 2015 #106

Yep. It shouldnt be the customer's responsibility to make sure wait staff is paid well davidn3600 Aug 2015 #118

If you love New Jersey, I'm going to just go ahead and say I'm sorry. Glassunion Aug 2015 #117

In many restaurants, a party that size would have a MADem Aug 2015 #130

Server is one of the hardest jobs there is. News flash: Servers don't cook your food. merrily Aug 2015 #131

Maggots eat alot; they don't usually tip. lonestarnot Aug 2015 #134

I always leave a tip, but I do it reluctantly. I feel the restaurant owner B Calm Aug 2015 #137

I've been to D'Jais Dorian Gray Aug 2015 #143