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Nothing teaches empathy better than working at a restaurant. Only after you separate a mile-long check in the middle of the dinner rush do you start fully appreciating the way others serve you. Sure, you may like working with people, but everyone has their limit of bullsh*t they can take before they admit themselves to a mental hospital. Bored Panda has compiled a list of brutally honest memes that prove only the strongest can survive working in the kitchen. Scroll down to check out the struggles everyone who works in the industry go through way too often and upvote your favorites!
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#14
Jessica Gunn 7 years ago
When your hands are full and the customer asks if you forgot their plate....
#18
Nicole Rosandich 7 years ago
A table of women - no thank you. I will help anyone else. I can already see the order. I want the sandwich with soup, but instead of soup I would like a salad with vinaigrette on the side, a water with a lemon wedge and can you get that so there are no seeds that fall into the water. I would also like this to be on separate checks, but if my friends order a drink I will pick that up for them.
#19
Kayla Welch 7 years ago
This one should be higher upvoted. This is spot on. Like, you know how I'm doing so don't ask me just to show a front that you care.
#21
Rama Llama 7 years ago
Ugh, I do maybe five to ten shifts a year for this one bar where I worked full time five years ago and the owner still thinks that I should remember without asking what all the "usuals" are, who wants what drink without the ice or in a different glass or with a straw and who the hell even are these people
#24
Michael John Aragon 7 years ago
I think it's better if anyone would just learn how to be a decent human being with compassion and humbleness in and out of work... then the world would be a much better place
#25
Bored Office Girl 7 years ago
I was at my local pizza place once, getting ready to leave. Clearly they were getting ready to close for the night (sweeping up, etc). This rude couple comes in right then (it's after 10pm) and sits down. I saw the waitress die a little inside, lol. And it is not a quick in-and-out pizza place. I'm sure the couple was there 45 min to an hour.
#26
#29
#33
Maria Ofar 7 years ago
most retail jobs, really haha. i remember being so understaffed for a nightfill shift once, there was literally less than a 3rd of the normal headcount - 2 young women and a young training guy. that night we did not bust our balls. "want more stock put out? put on more people"
#36
#37
#40
athornedrose 7 years ago
bobs burgers is honestly probably the perfect show for a thread like this
#41
#48
Amanda Patterson 7 years ago
I actually hate it when servers don't write down my order. Usually (not often, but enough) it comes back wrong. I've worked retail. I know it speeds things up, but take the time to write it down; it reduces errors.
#50
Ryan-Michele Eagleton 7 years ago
One time I was stuck in line behind this obnoxious customer who would not stop bitching and berating the cashier - and the issue wasn't even his fault or anything he had any control over. She was being seriously rude and I wanted so badly to say something; I regret that I didn't. Next time I'm in that situation, I'm for sure speaking up.
#52
#58
Samantha Robinson 7 years ago
I would stop, drop and roll but table five needs their bread sticks ASAP!
#62
#65
Full Name 7 years ago
This is why I prefer tablets. Sorry. This is way worse at the end of the meal. You get good service until you are well into your meal, then you say you want your food packed up and they come back but without the bill and then quickly take off and then take another 15 minutes to come round to ask if you want your bill. No, I just wanted to sit here with my polystyrene box like an a*****e. I can't tell you how many servers have had a great tip turn to f**k-all because I can't leave the damn place and often have to get up and track them down to pay.
#69
#72
Carlos Camacho 7 years ago
DAMN. There is a special energy on dirty tables. People pick them all time.
#73
Ryan-Michele Eagleton 7 years ago
It seemed like every table I ever had liked to make passive aggressive jokes about the tip. It's really not that funny when you depend on those tips to pay your bills.
#75
Procrastinating Panda 7 years ago
I used to work during all the holidays for 5 years, although it is not a big deal, but still makes you feel kinda sad to see people celebrating and enjoying, without having the possibility to do the same. Sometimes it is not worth the extra cash.
#81
bruce westfall 7 years ago
A cup of coffee costs pennies. If I am paying 10x that, why is it wrong to ask for fresh coffee when one cup more than pays for the whole pot? Old coffee is nasty. Instant is worse. I will not eat out when I can have a better experience at home. And yes, I have done food service work and I made sure my customers were happy. Management upset a bit, but I cared - genuinely - about the customer..
#83
#85
Sleep Meister 7 years ago
we notice, we are just to polite to say anything or cant be arsed waiting for a fresh dish. If its nice 9/10 wont complain.
#88
Ellis 7 years ago
Only in the US. In many countries leaving a tip is considered rude, as if you expect the boss to not take good care of their employees’ wages.
Zanthe 7 years ago
Yeah, I said it once in another post, but if you leave money on the table here in Brazil, the servers will go after you and say "hey, you forgot this".
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PickleRick 7 years ago
The fact a tip is expected in US is absurd, you earn a tip with exceptional service, not for doing the job you get paid for anyway.
Ellis 7 years ago
Correct: not for doing the job you OUGHT to get paid for
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Lilly 7 years ago
while i try to be compassionate to my servers when dining out & usually tip a minimum 20%, this 'rule' about tipping them 20% all the time is ridiculous! if you absolutely suck as a server, i'm sorry, but you aren't getting 20%. i've done the job before, so i know what it's like. i also know that if everyone had tipped me the 'mandatory' 20%, i might've stuck with it rather than realize that i wasn't cut out for it.
Anne 7 years ago
I can think of a lot more reasons to not tip a server 20%.. like when a server is rude, gratuity is added as a line item already (yeah, I've been chased by a waiter for not tipping, while gratuity was added automatically to the bill and the complete amount was paid), food arrives cold etc. Each error is a deduction. And each unexpected extra is added on. Simple.
Full Name 7 years ago
Don't b***h at the customers. If you think it's mandatory, then tell the restaurant to put it in the price and be done with the charade. Tipping if the worst. The guy at the shoe store who goes out of his way to be excellent isn't expecting a tip. Makes no sense.
First Name 7 years ago
The guy at the shoe store likely makes commission. My brother in law made 60K selling shoes at Nordstrom. You think he'd rather have a flat $12 an hour wage? Heck no. Servers should always make faaarrr more in tips than they would if given a standard wage.
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Bored Office Girl 7 years ago
I always calculate for 20% cuz it's an easy number to do math with. Then I adjust it accordingly. If the server was great, I'll put in an extra dollar or two. If they sucked, I'll take off a couple dollars.
Ann Abdelzaher 7 years ago
we tip in other countries because the servers do a great job. we always feel bad if we don't have change to leave a tip! sometimes we frequent a certain restaurant and it pays off giving the tips because we sometimes get a little better service or some "extras" Also for the record tips are not mandatory in the US but it is considered rude NOT to leave a tip.
Lex Ellyss 7 years ago
Just FYI - servers in Canada (and likely the US) make less than minimum wage because tips are considered part of their total earnings. Servers are supposed to claim tips on their income taxes. Tips aren't a treat for doing a good job; they're part of your server's livelihood.
RJ BERG 7 years ago
Here is the thing, Anyone and I mean ANYONE who thinks that they should determine that the person who is waiting on you is getting paid to begin with doesn't deserve a tip, and a decent one at that, has NEVER worked in the service industry. You do Realize that waiter is not the one cooking your food, making your drink( unless it's water, tea, coffee, soda) and they are only there to get you what you ordered and to be polite and timely as possible, that's it!!And this apples to restaurants, hair salons, nail salons and ANY service industry that is tip worthy. These people are not just bringing you prepared food, they are Not your slaves, they are there to make up for the minimum wage that they are making by putting up with your stupid behind....tip accordingly but TIP.
James Butterworth 7 years ago
I'd have killed for 20%... around here the accepted standard is 10%
Nyree Huh 7 years ago
This BS is only in the US. I don't get it, when you go to other places, eg retail stores, do you also have to tip? Imagine tipping a retail worker. Pretty stupid right, same s**t with this, the employer has to pay, im already paying for everything so why am I paying you to do your job at your own workplace. Better off not going out to eat, don't miss out on anything and save money.
Sky 7 years ago
Again not only in the US. And servers are VERY underpaid.
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KT Trondsen 7 years ago
Uh no, I will always tip 10%, maybe 15% if the service/food is good. 20% is rediculous and greedy.
Ben 7 years ago
Your minimum tip should be 15% for sub par/average service, 18% for normal/good service, and 20% or more for great service. The standard tip was 15% 20 years ago. The transition was made around 18 years ago from 15 to 18% minimum. Recently within the past few years 20% became more popular because it was easy to figure out math wise but also to adjust for inflation and cost of living. It hasn't been 10% since like the 60's.
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Anthony Talak 7 years ago
No. 15%. It's not cheap, it's normal. And no BS about inflation -> Inflation increased the cost of the meal so 15% of a larger whole is a correspondingly increased tip.
Ben 7 years ago
Servers get less than 3 dollars an hour and are taxed as if they were paid over 4 dollars an hour that means they often get paychecks with the phrase "this is not a check" printed on them. Tips have adjusted for inflation over the years and but no other industry has adjusted the wages to meet the changes so when you go out to eat and see the standard tip amount has gone up it's a shock. You wouldn't even question it if your own job had adjusted for inflation and you earned more money as the years have gone on.
Load More Replies... Bored Office Girl 7 years ago
Tipping is one of those things I have mixed feelings about. I get that they're doing a service. But isn't everyone in every job technically doing a service for someone, somewhere? Sometimes I think servers and bartenders should get paid a normal wage like everyone else, and no tips. My sister bar tends. She'll make $400 a night in tips, just for herself. I work equally hard at my office job, and she makes as much in a night as I do in 3 whole days. Ugh, it's just a little disheartening. And recently at work, I was asked to take a package into the city. Took me hours. I was crying, thinking I'd get in trouble for not making it in time, even though it wasn't my fault. Plus I had to do some walking, and had huge, burning blisters on my feet from wearing heels. It was a hot day as well. But I got the job done well, and in time. No tip for me! Sheesh.
#89
Ruth Neighbor 7 years ago
Omg I know those mannequins! They’re the ones that the devil uses, right? The ones to scare THE LIVING HELL OUT OF US?!
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What do you think ?
Notsoswift 7 years ago
As an ex Chef all I can say to servers is.................Your food is dying in the window!!!!!
Full Name 7 years ago
So the customer gets cold food and then complains like you prepared it cold.
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Calypso poet 7 years ago
This was one of the better posts I’ve seen. Funny and informative from either perspective. And some great comments! I don’t think I’ve liked so many comments in one post before!
Vonskippy 7 years ago
You ever wonder why you're "how come they get the good tables or they get the good clients or they get the good tips" and you're stuck giggling at stupid customer demeaning server memes? It's because you think these meme's are funny or justified. You get out of serving what you put into it. The good servers treat EVERY client as their best and the poor servers are upset when their work calendar with one extra shift in two weeks comes out. If you don't like being a server - get the f**k out - there are 8 wanna be's for every position - so move along now.
Valereee 7 years ago
Both of my adult children & one grandchild all work at restaurants or bars...I understand all of these...I always taught them to take pride in whatever they do! As a result they ( for the most part ), enjoy what they do & always keep their customers in mind...except for the unruly or disrespectful !
Kayla Welch 7 years ago
I can't believe they didn't have a meme on when someone you hate sits in your section.
Blue Cicada 7 years ago
I ask for the manager and let him/her know the name (if possible) of the wait staff and bussers who are calm, professional, helpful etc. with a difficult customer. Saw 3 19/20 year olds stay polite and smiling to a nasty, loud rude asshat in 3 separate encounters one evening. As waitress calmly walked him through sliding his own credit card through the on-table card reader, she explained that it was asking what % tip he wanted to add to the bill. None, he said, because the government already takes too much of his money. She smiled and asked him to sign the bill. I pointed out to the manager that the stereotype is that youth are lazy and rude, but his young staff were awesome. Also, the waitress was owed a tip for the $75 bill.
Snowhoepandapro 7 years ago
Working as a kitchen manager, who has worked up to this position, I can totally relate to a lot of these! Made me laugh so much!! Some even reminded me of my shift today! Haha
Juana 7 years ago
Posts like this remind me why I avoid full service restaurants as much as possible. And I used to work as a server in college so I get the struggle. But I was never that 2-faced or passive aggressive about it. For the most part people were really nice.
Calypso poet 7 years ago
I’m not going to down vote, but I disagree with your sentiment. I don’t think the majority of these are being passive aggressive or two faced. I think it’s just a way of venting about the situation servers get put into. Yes, the majority of the people you serve are great. It’s the ones that are rude and demanding for no good reason that take your time away from properly serving your other customers who shouldn’t have to have a sub par experience. I take this as a way to vent and educate.
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Joannie Goulet 7 years ago
I never worked this field but always had the highest respect for people who do. I don't think I could last a week honestly! You (and grocery store cashiers) are the true unsung heroes.
Notsoswift 7 years ago
As an ex Chef all I can say to servers is.................Your food is dying in the window!!!!!
Full Name 7 years ago
So the customer gets cold food and then complains like you prepared it cold.
Load More Replies... Calypso poet 7 years ago
This was one of the better posts I’ve seen. Funny and informative from either perspective. And some great comments! I don’t think I’ve liked so many comments in one post before!
Vonskippy 7 years ago
You ever wonder why you're "how come they get the good tables or they get the good clients or they get the good tips" and you're stuck giggling at stupid customer demeaning server memes? It's because you think these meme's are funny or justified. You get out of serving what you put into it. The good servers treat EVERY client as their best and the poor servers are upset when their work calendar with one extra shift in two weeks comes out. If you don't like being a server - get the f**k out - there are 8 wanna be's for every position - so move along now.
Valereee 7 years ago
Both of my adult children & one grandchild all work at restaurants or bars...I understand all of these...I always taught them to take pride in whatever they do! As a result they ( for the most part ), enjoy what they do & always keep their customers in mind...except for the unruly or disrespectful !
Kayla Welch 7 years ago
I can't believe they didn't have a meme on when someone you hate sits in your section.
Blue Cicada 7 years ago
I ask for the manager and let him/her know the name (if possible) of the wait staff and bussers who are calm, professional, helpful etc. with a difficult customer. Saw 3 19/20 year olds stay polite and smiling to a nasty, loud rude asshat in 3 separate encounters one evening. As waitress calmly walked him through sliding his own credit card through the on-table card reader, she explained that it was asking what % tip he wanted to add to the bill. None, he said, because the government already takes too much of his money. She smiled and asked him to sign the bill. I pointed out to the manager that the stereotype is that youth are lazy and rude, but his young staff were awesome. Also, the waitress was owed a tip for the $75 bill.
Snowhoepandapro 7 years ago
Working as a kitchen manager, who has worked up to this position, I can totally relate to a lot of these! Made me laugh so much!! Some even reminded me of my shift today! Haha
Juana 7 years ago
Posts like this remind me why I avoid full service restaurants as much as possible. And I used to work as a server in college so I get the struggle. But I was never that 2-faced or passive aggressive about it. For the most part people were really nice.
Calypso poet 7 years ago
I’m not going to down vote, but I disagree with your sentiment. I don’t think the majority of these are being passive aggressive or two faced. I think it’s just a way of venting about the situation servers get put into. Yes, the majority of the people you serve are great. It’s the ones that are rude and demanding for no good reason that take your time away from properly serving your other customers who shouldn’t have to have a sub par experience. I take this as a way to vent and educate.
Load More Replies... Joannie Goulet 7 years ago
I never worked this field but always had the highest respect for people who do. I don't think I could last a week honestly! You (and grocery store cashiers) are the true unsung heroes.
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