This is for all the Servers out there--Servers are people too!
The next time you're out eating at a restaurant, look at your server. Do you think they are really happy to be doing that job? The answer is no, they are not, but it's what we do, and we do it for the money so please help them out. Its a tougher job than you think and you should pay them accordingly!There are SO many people out there flooding the restaurants w/o any knowledge of how to behave or tip. Here is a short guide for the general public to follow. Feel free to print out and store in your wallet and/or purse.
1. CHILDREN "THE LITTLE DEVILS":If you have children, DO NOT let them, open and dump anything on the table (ie; salt, sugar, etc). IF YOU DO, you must leave an extra $5 for the server to clean up YOUR CHILD'S mess & to restock the now unusable wasted items. We are neither their babysitter nor their parent. The least you can do is pay us for the extra work. Also make sure you control your kids and don't let them scream or run around the restaurant. It's very distracting not to mention dangerous if they get ran over by a server with hot food in their hands.
2. "THE CAMPERS":If you feel the necessity to stay for longer than 15 minutes after you pay, its an extra $3 every 30 minutes. We make our money from the tables. If you are in one and we can't seat it, we don't make money.
3. "THE VERBAL TIP":Telling a server they are the best server they've ever had is NOT a tip. If we are good, let us know by leaving us more money. We cant pay our bills on compliments. Its not that we don't appreciate the praise, its just that if you say that and then leave a shitty tip it's an insult.
4. THE SALVATION PAMPHLETS:Prayer cards and any other religious pamphlet is NOT a tip. It is insulting that you assume we are w/o religion and must save us. Again, like ..3, we cant pay bills w/prayer cards. We'd go to church on Sundays if it wasn't mandatory to work on Sundays because EVERYONE who goes to church follows it by eating out.
5. TIPPING:It's not 1960. 18% is the MINIMUM amount of what you should be tipping your servers. We'll break it down for you....just look at the tax line and multiply by 2-3, this gives you your minimum tip amount. Remember, our companies pay us below minimum wage ($2.13/hour) And we are taxed on 10 percent of your meal automatically anyway. So if your meal is $100 and you leave $10 and we tip out $4-5 to the busser, then $4-5 to the bartender, and whoever else then we pay tax on 10 dollars and we make $5. It seems small but it adds up. How many times do you eat out per week and do this?
6. THE COMPLAINERS:If you get a discount because of your food was prepared wrong or you just feel like being an asshole, don't take it out of our tip. We didn't cook it. The cooks get paid hourly regardless if the food sucks. However, we only make what you give us.
7. THE LATE ONES:If you come into the restaurant 10 mins before closing or any time near closing hurry up and order your food and get out. No better yet....don't come in AT ALL. I'd rather not have the 5 extra dollars you're going to leave on your $60 check. Thanks anyway... Closed means closed, not social hour. What no one seems to realize is that if customers are there, we are there no matter how late they stay. We recommend 24 hour establishments such as Dennys if you wish to sit into the wee hours of the night.
8. THE GREET:When we come up to the table to greet you and we ask how you are doing please let us know. If you are in a bad mood we want to know that we are going to have to deal with your attitude the entire time. A confused stare or complete silence does not suffice as a reply to "How are you doing?". Also stop interrupting our greeting and say "I want coffee", "Can we get some bread?", or "What are the soups?" But please there is no need for life stories...we aren't telling you ours are we?
9. THOSE DAMN CELL PHONES:Seriously! Get off your phone...This is probably the rudest thing to do. If you must be on your cell, at least keep your voice down in respect for other customers. If you are on your cell phone when we walk up to greet your table we will walk away and not return until you get off your phone. All we ask is MAYBE two minutes of your time. So get off your phone. If you want to be rude to the guest with you, by all means, go right ahead.
10. THE IMPATIENT ONES:Ahh yes... If a server comes to bring out your drinks and she/he is juggling about 5 things don't ask "Are we going to get some bread???". Do you not see their hands are full, does it look like you are going to get some bread at that moment. Clearly you will get bread, but unless the server can magically make bread appear, your question is ridiculous. Some people at your table might want their drink first, so thats what I'm bringing right now.
11. THE ONES WHO RUN YOUR ASS OFF:If a server comes to your table and asks "is there anything else I can get for you?" I want you to tell me everything you need. Don't ask for one item, have me go and get it and on returning ask me for something else...and then keep doing it. Think of EVERYTHING you will need to make you happy and tell me ALL AT ONE TIME. We do have brains and can remember things... and last time we checked you aren't the only people in the restaurant, we have other tables that need us, and can't spend all night running back and forth.
12. SELF-SEATING:Once again...it is not 1960, and most restaurants are not on a "seat yourself" policy. Don't just assume that the area near the bar is a place where you can sit yourself down wherever you want. There is actually a reason hosts put you where they do. Hosts try to rotate tables, ensuring that each server gets the same amount of tables, and also so that servers do not get three tables all at once. This helps guarantee you get the best service possible. Therefore don't ask to sit somewhere else once a host has brought you to a certain table either....RUDE. If you are unsure about the restaurant's policy and there is someone standing at the door staring at you when you walk in, you can bet that's a host and they will inform you. Waffle House is the only place it is acceptable to sit at a table still left dirty from the party seated there before...and please feel free to go there.
13. ORDER TAKING:When the server comes by to take your order, don't say that you are ready if you really aren't. Although it may seem fun to keep your server standing at your table for endless amounts of time while you actually decide what you want, there are once again other tables and other things that need to be done.14. ASKING TO SEE THE MANAGER:If your food sucks and you ask to see the manager don't make us sound like incompetent assholes. We bust our asses to make you happy, we dont cook your food so please STOP taking it out on us
15. 10c SUNDAYSJust dont go out on Sundays. Seriously don't. Stay home and cook your own food. Sunday is no different then Monday-Saturday yet people love to shaft you on Sundays, why? So do us all a favor and stay home. Especially the first week of the month, we dont want a whole $2 out of your welfare check.
16. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE BARTENDERIf you're stuck on a 50 minute wait and drink 4 beers at the bar before you actually sit down, do NOT leave the bartender a $1. Look around, the bar is likely full, and they are running their ass off. Not only do they have to make the drinks from all the people "just waiting" and those who eat at the bar, they also have to make the drinks for the entire restuarant. A good rule is about $1 a drink. If it's a mixed drink, or something complicated, throw in a little more, it takes longer than popping a cap. And if you do decide to sit at the bar to eat, it doesn't mean you can stiff them. $50 bill at a table warrents about a $10 tip...why would it be any different at a bar?
17. DON'T KNOCK OFF THE TIP BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE BROUGHT YOU YOUR FOODThese days alot of restaurants have "food runners" or have other servers help bring out food when your server is busy doing something else. They're still working hard, tip them the same. They have to tip out that food runner at the end of the day/night, so please take that into consideration.
18. TAKE OUTWhatever-your-favorite-restaurant-is finally got to-go. It's a wonderful thing, we know. You can enjoy eating delicious food in front of your television without ever having to step into the kitchen, fantastic. Remember, someone spent time packing those 7 salads you ordered, getting the proper dressings, adding bread or whatever that particular restaurant serves, and double checking it all, just to make sure you will be happy. TIP THEM! I'm not saying it has to be 20%, but leave them something, a couple bucks will do, just to show your appreciate for the convenience you were provided.
19. PHONE COURTESYYou call your favorite restaurant to make a reservation/call ahead, or for the wonderful take out just mentioned. If it's busy, you will be put on hold. Sometimes, for more than a minute or two. Deal with it. No, we didn't forget about you. We're trying to find you answers, or someone to take your order, or whatever it is you're looking for. If you do think we forgot, hang up, call back in a few minutes. Don't wait on the line for us to come back, tell us its been 20 minutes and you're going somewhere else when we know damn well its been 5. Yes, you are important to us, but sometimes we need to deal with the people who actually come into our establishment to see us first.
20. WE MAKE MISTAKES TOOWe do the best we can to be perfect servers to your every need and want. But sometimes, we get caught up and forget something, like a salad. Or hit the wrong button on the stupid touch screens we have to use and you end up with the wrong dressing. We apologize, a lot, and always fix it for you. This still does not give you the right to stiff us. If we are rude, mean or drop off your food and never come back, fine. Leave 47 cents. But when we do everything we can to make things better for you, be understanding.
21. SOMETIMES YOU DO DRINK TOO MUCHSome establishments have a 3 drink maximum rule, or something similiar. If your choice in restaurant does not, they still reserve the right to shut you off after a certain point. This is for many reasons. One, so you don't drive home, hit a tree and die. We want you to come back and spend more money. Two, if you do get in an accident on the way home, WE are liable. The restaurant, and the person serving you. Is one more Grey Goose martini really worth sending a 19-year-old girl to jail with a $5,000 fine? Yes, you may be able to drink 9 beers and not feel anything. But we don't know that. And maybe you aren't driving, but that doesn't matter. We're not your college room mate, we are not allowed to get you trashed. Don't get angry, don't cause a scene, and don't leave $2 on the $100 bill you racked up because your server politely offered you an ice cold coke instead when you asked for your 5th long island ice tea or 7th glass of wine. We're only doing it to benefit everyone involved.
22. FOREIGN TIP POLICYWe do not care where you are from or how your servers are paid there. This is America. When you are in America, we are going to do things the American way. So please, just because you have an accent, or travel for a living, does not mean that you should not be well schooled in tipping in the States. Enough said, just listen to your little spiel on the flight over.If you are a server, have ever been a server, know any servers, or have ever had a server that you liked, please repost this so the word can get out, since so many people are uneducated about tips and our lives depend on this - at least for now...or refer them to the movie "Waiting"And add anything you think might help other people understand our lives. Let's make people understand
