Reply #79: In a town of 900, where I grew up

[Qanisqineq]

the wait-staff knew your name because basically everyone knew everyone else. If you were a daily regular, they might know what you liked to eat and drink. That was in a town of 900 and only if you showed up pretty regularly and ordered the same drink or food all the time. BUT, even in a town that size I didn't expect someone to know my favorite drink and have it on the way to my table as I was sitting down. Even if I went to a restaurant with my best friend waiting on me, I didn't expect her to automatically know what I want to drink or to stand around gabbing.

I worked at a fast food place in college, much bigger city, and we had people that came in several times a week at the same time and order the same thing. If it wasn't busy we might talk to them about more than just the taco they were ordering but rarely. Some of these regulars seemed to think I should remember what they wanted every time they came in and how they wanted it prepared. Give me a break. Or come to the drive-thru and say, "hey, it's so-and-so, the usual" and then drive forward? I hated those people. I'm doing ten different things and serving 50 people in a lunch rush hour and you want me to automatically ring up your order by just looking at you? Those people that expected us to "know" them -- we were nice to them in person but after they left we would roll our eyes.

I never could have actually waited tables. People can be obnoxious enough when they get their drink and tables themselves. If they recognize my face I am pleasantly surprised but I don't expect it.