About 3 weeks ago, I started a waitressing job. I did this, because for the last year and a half I've been working my ass off in a full-time job I didn't like and going to school full-time to get my Master's degree. I'm exhausted. Contrary to what my new coworkers and the young'uns I meet on Glenwood South think, I am not in my early twenties anymore. I can no longer go to sleep at 3 in the morning and be up and ready to be at work at 6 AM. Those days are long behind me. I needs my sleep! Plus, I hadn't exactly figured out what I wanted to do with my life (I have since then but let's stay on topic here...). In the past, I've always settled for the first job to come along because I needed the money and always ended up hating it. The point of getting a Master's degree was so that I would enjoy my career. So in an effort to not commit the same mistakes of the past, I took a waitressing job (which I do enjoy). I held this position 12 years ago and a lot has changed about the business. They've streamlined it. It has also come to my attention that people have lost the manners required to eat in a restaurant.
Manners? Etiquette? That's needed in order to eat in a restaurant? Why, yes it is! And my job would be a lot easier if people were required to take lessons in order to learn the proper way to eat in a restaurant. And this list is just based on the stuff that I've witnessed in the 2 short weeks I've actually been on the floor.
1. READ THE MENU! Do you know how many times I've had to send something back to the kitchen because YOU don't eat bacon and you should have known that that particular dish had bacon on it because it says so right in the menu? Even the friggin' picture in the menu shows you it has bacon on it. If you would still like the meal, by all means still order it. Just tell me to put the bacon on the side and we'll gladly take care of that for you. But if you do not eat pork products, shouldn't you be reading the descriptions a little bit closer? There are starving people in some third world country that could use that piece of chicken you sent back... Honestly, part of my training is that I need to know all the ingredients of our dishes so that when someone orders a particular item, I have to ask them if they want all the ingredients that come with that item. I can't just say: "Excellent choice, sir!" I have to say: "Now that cheesy chicken has cheese and bacon on it, is all of that okay with you?" I've also had to send back loaded baked potato soup because the guest didn't eat pork but didn't bother to read the part about that on the menu.
2. PLEASE ACCOMPANY YOUR CHILDREN TO THE BATHROOM. I have a limited window of opportunity to use the restroom when I'm on the floor. If your daughters are sent to the bathroom alone to play around in the four stalls and splash up the sinks, I can't go to the bathroom. And who knows when I'll get another chance. How did you not notice that they were gone for 20 minutes?
3. PLEASE REVIEW YOUR MEAL AND MAKE NOTE OF EVERYTHING YOU WILL NEED FOR YOUR MEAL. We're on our feet all day. They hurt. They hurt like a mo-fo some days. When I deliver your food and ask: "May I get you anything else?" please make a list of everything right then and there so that I can make one trip. The other day, I served a man sitting in the bar his hamburger. He asked for a side of ranch dressing. I ran all the way to the other side of the restaurant to get said ranch dressing, then ran all the way back to deliver it. He then announces that he would like some ketchup for his burger. Seriously?? You didn't realize that you needed the ketchup before? I should have just said: "Your bartender will get that for you" and walked away...but of course I cannot do this. It isn't right.
4. PLEASE DON'T PUNISH WAITRESSES FOR RESTAURANT POLICY. Common sense tells you that when a restaurant is having an all-you-can-stuff-in-your-craw special of some sort, it means that you cannot share and you will not be given a to-go container. So when we inform you that we're not putting in a reorder of food because you're sharing with someone else, you can be upset if you want to. But to walk away on a $50+ ticket without leaving a tip, especially when we have to clean up after your messy children, is just mean.
5. REMEMBER WHAT YOU ORDERED. In my restaurant, we have people who take your order, refill your drinks, etc and then another person brings you your food from the kitchen. It makes getting your food faster, and frees up the waiters and waitresses to serve more people. It also makes our jobs less stressful. I've actually placed food down in front of people and have had them say: "Ummmmm...did I order this?" Then their companion says: "Yes, that's what you ordered." Clueless person: "I did?" Companion: "Yes, you did." This whole time, I'm standing there waiting for someone to come to a conclusion so I can either set the plate down and go back to pick up more food that is waiting in the window (other people need to eat too) or take the food back and correct the order. How do you forget what you ordered?? I always remember what I ordered and often times, clap when the food arrives. LOL
6. WHEN A SERVER APPEARS, STOP TALKING. We don't like to interrupt your conversation. It actually makes us feel rude. But we need to communicate with you to make sure you have what you need. So please don't ignore us. Just pause in your conversation, let us ask whatever question we need to ask, then you can go back to the convo.
Okay, so those are some etiquette lessons to start y'all off. Shouldn't have to be said, but apparently it does! All in a day's work and I'm really thankful I have a job. :)
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