Whenever we go out to dinner or lunch, I am always very polite to my server/waiter/whatever. I never demand, I always ask. It's always please or thank you... i'm very polite despite my demeanor on this board. And I always overtip... I always leave like $7-10 tips. I'm just like that. These folks are doing a job that I could never pull off.

I've waitressed & bartended for about 15 years off & I on. My family owned a bar/restaurant growing up so I totally know the business from every aspect. I also worked in different types of establishments.

I'm always super friendly to the the wait staff & if we need things I will always tell the waitress to take her time or not to make a special trip.

I totally understand having a bad day but it is still your job. If I was having a bad day & forgot something...I would own up to it. There is a difference if the waitress trying. If I was in the "weeds" I would politely explain & apologize. i understand there are problems. I take all these aspects into consideration when leaving a tip. I know its not the waitresses fault when the kitchen help screws up. Waitressing is like ever other job. You can't let your personal life/problems affect your work. It does take a certain type of person to waiter or waitress. It's not a job for everyone. Hell, I am the biggest ditz/scatter-brain but its all in the personality & how you handle yourself. Everyone has bad days & or bad tables. you can't let it affect you.
As long as a your table knows you are doing the best you can do by serving them, that also makes a huge difference.

I recently went home to visit & we went to a local Pub that I worked at for 5 years. I started talking to the new owner & when I introduced myself, he said did you work here years ago? I told him I did & he said he heard good things about me & offered me a job. I haven't worked @ this Pub in over 10 years.

Hell, I dropped wing sauce on a guy & still made a $20.00 tip. It's all about how you handle the situation.

I know if I have a bad experience when going out to eat it does affect my current mood. Especially, if I'm paying $20 for a plate of food. If I have bad service I usually will not go back to that establishment. It's my money & I expect a ceratin standard when I go out to eat.


I do agree that wait staff do not make much hourly & that needs to be changed.


I had a email conversation with Sara Bellum about tipping recently. I always overtip about 30% unless I have bad service then I'll tip the usual 15%.

I'm just having a hard time knowing what to tip when I get my nails done or for haircuts & highlights. Thats a whole other thread!

On a side note, Red Robin makes a burger with a fried egg on it that is to die for.

And bottomless fries.


But that means nothing if they never get the food to you

Posted by Sinister Crayon You sat yourself at a restaurant?

no.. she sat us at the table.. and didnt come back for 15 minutes...and they always take your drink order first then your food. Well, she took the drink order and never left us with any menus...

Posted by Samurai Yesterday, I was traveling with a friend of mine and his wife and we stopped at the Friendly's off of Exit 19 in Glens Falls NY. We were seated quickly but it took 15 minutes to get our orders taken and drinks delivered, another 40 minutes for the appetizer to come out and then another 25 minutes for our meals. The food sucked and was overpriced. $8.29 for a bacon-swiss hamburger with fries? Never again. Next time, I'll just go home and eat.

you went to the one near the mall right? that one is retarded, you should have gone across from price chopper.

Posted by emck00 you went to the one near the mall right? that one is retarded, you should have gone across from price chopper.

i wasn't driving.

Red Robin...? That's where I take my son and his pals for grilled cheese, apple juice and free ice cream. Apparently, there are dozens of other parents who do the same thing.

My point: it's a family restaurant. Servers tend to serve the screaming/flailing/over-the-top kiddies before they serve anyone else. That's why people like me go to Red Robbin. We are attended to promptly, the crayons and colouring books arrive swiftly, drinks, food, dessert and bill all arrive in a timely fashion, and then I'm back in the Lay-Z-Boy pronto. It's a good thing.

Posted by Samurai Whenever we go out to dinner or lunch, I am always very polite to my server/waiter/whatever. I never demand, I always ask. It's always please or thank you... i'm very polite despite my demeanor on this board. And I always overtip... I always leave like $7-10 tips. I'm just like that. These folks are doing a job that I could never pull off.

I agree, Sam. Hell, I tipped a convenience store worker $5 for being really good at what they did. I've attempted to tip a McDonald's staffer once but they declined. I always thought that it was silly the McD's kid couldn't accept the tip but across the street at East Side Mario's they get big tips just for serving you dry crusty pasta. Doesn't seem right.

Hell, even I work in the service industry (food) and I'm a part of management and I still get tips.. but, all the tips accumulated gets divided up amongst the 40 people I work with.. so, every month, we only get $25 in tips. A year ago, they used to give tips out every 3 months. Back at that time, I'd rake in $200 every 3 months.

Posted by Iqueld www.waiterrant.net

O-h-h-h boy. Sure gives me that wonderful feeling of confidence in flying.