Annoying Wait Staff Habits

[pacz]

Are there things that annoy you about wait staff? (Granted, I know they are hard workers!) But, two of mine are:

Servers that wait till I put food in my mouth before asking if everything is ok.

Servers that let my glass stay empty.

What are yous?

 

[Andreus]

nose picking and ass scratching

oh

and an early check before im done eating

 

[G-Lexington]

I can put up with most. But if the restaurant is shortstaffed, or the food comes out really late, or something's not as it should be...say "I'm sorry". Even if you're not.

Lex

 

[josher]

Bringing two courses at one time, when I've asked them not to. Bringing me the check before I've finished eating. Disappearing for long amounts of time without checking to see if I need anything.

 

[looseliam]

Them talking to me.

I would like my glass to never empty, likewise for my coffee cup.

You will pour my wine when it reaches 1 inch from the bottom of the glass.

If there is a problem, I will tell you. If I don't say anything, assume everything is fine.

There are few restaurants I frequent that have the service I prefer.

 

[dw8038r2]

Asking me how the food tastes. If they're interested, they should try a sample in the kitchen.

 

[valis23]

OK, you've piqued my curiosity. Why does it bother you if they bring the check before you're done eating? I'm quite the opposite. It pisses me off to finish eating and then wait for the check to arrive. I no longer wait. I'll leave a tip and head toward the register (unless it's a pay-at-the-table place).

 

[Andreus]

OK, you've piqued my curiosity. Why does it bother you if they bring the check before you're done eating? I'm quite the opposite. It pisses me off to finish eating and then wait for the check to arrive. I no longer wait. I'll leave a tip and head toward the register (unless it's a pay-at-the-table place).

seems like they are trying to rush me out

 

[robbieadam]

I hate it when they hang around you, constantly hinting for a tip. I barely ever tip and I don't know why so many people feel obliged to do so.

 

[re-run]

I go to a place that sits your dinnerware down when you are seated. On hostess always touches the "eating" end of the fork and knife no matter how many times I've complained about it. I always make her get a clean set. You'd think she'd learn.

 

[Shepherd 2]

The best response I know for this,
is spend two weeks as a waiter.
You may see it differently.
Some people just love to be waited on and coddled to.
Some exploit the hardworking wait staff.
Them I lie in wait for, to hit them along side of the head.

 

[mark1111]

I totally agree with Shepard.

What I don't like is when they chase me down the street and don't stop. You'd think after 5 or ten minutes they would get tired.

 

[wanderer]

Are there things that annoy you about wait staff? (Granted, I know they are hard workers!) But, two of mine are:

Servers that wait till I put food in my mouth before asking if everything is ok.

Servers that let my glass stay empty.

What are yous?

as a past server, i find it so funny you mention the asking how things are with food in your mouth. if you think about it, you will always have food in your mouth as you eat, otherwise you will be talking to your friend, which at that moment, if the server comes by to ask how everything is, you will be annoyed again that your conversation was interrupted by the server. if the server doesnt interupt you at all, then you will complain the server never asked you how things were. did you think about this?

also know that every single person is different. when i ask, some people give me a thumbs up, other times, i see they are eating and just smile at them so they can stop me if necessary. all guests are different, and it is impossible to read their minds to know how they want to be treated.

about the glass empty thing, i would hate that too, and i dont blame you. i always made sure there was a refill there before their current drink was half way gone.

 

[wanderer]

When they try and pour the wine for you.

say "do you mind if i pour the wine?"

so you know, they are trying to make you feel classy by pouring the wine for you, because the "lifestyles of the rich and famous crowd" always have that done for them. its a service, so enjoy it, and it is their job, they dont have a choice, but you can let them out if you just request to do it yourself...cheers!

 

[wanderer]

OK, you've piqued my curiosity. Why does it bother you if they bring the check before you're done eating? I'm quite the opposite. It pisses me off to finish eating and then wait for the check to arrive. I no longer wait. I'll leave a tip and head toward the register (unless it's a pay-at-the-table place).

im glad you brought this up, most of the time i used to have people that started looking around when they were done wanting their check.

most people actually like having their check as they are finishing, not when they are completely done. they typically have somewhere else to be.

since half the people like their check before they are done eating, and the other half like it when they are done, the server will always annoy somebody.

there is even the issue of removing dirty plates. i always removed dirty plates, and i occasionally had people that would quickly keep me from clearing their table (the plates had no food on them at all), i think because they wanted to wait till the last person was done eating...which i think was a great custom. but its hard to do that to everyone because the next table would just get angry with you if you didnt take the plates away.

i hope my responses tell you all that it all comes down to communication, and telling the server how you want things right up front. i have had people do this to me and i loved it, because it took the guesswork out of my job, and i knew i would be able to make them happy. try it and tell us how it goes!!!

 

[VICTORIADON]

Not habits...

The ugly and unclean.

Thankfully here there are neither.

 

[martin6]

I'm a server and the annoying things I see my coworkers do I consciously try to avoid. Such as talking excessively to tables or hanging out in the break room when there are waters and tea to be refilled. Or not properly pre-bussing a table after the customers have finished their meal. That last one gets me especially.

 

[1gayguy]

There is an easy way to avoid these nit picking annoyances, eat at home.
Your conversations won't be interuped, you won't have to wait for a check, you can pour your own wine, you don't have to tip and you have no one to blame but yourself if your silverwear isn't clean.

These are people doing a job, not your personal butler or maid for the duration of your stay. Each resturaunt has their own set standards for how service should be rendered. If you don't like that standard find another place to eat.

Someone said they don't like the wait staff to talk to them! Please, eat at home. Because you're right in that you will rarely find the service up to your elite standards.

Lighten up people, it's dining with friends and or family, you're not critics from Zagat.

 

[chillyboi]

is a waiter
& hopes i never have to wait on a fellow jubber

 

[backpacker]

When they are too busy talking to their co-workers to actually take care of the customers. Of course, this problem isn't nearly as bad when tips are involved as with the people in retail stores. Before I get flamed, I'm not saying this applies to all waiters or other workers, but it does happen far too often.