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30 Stories Of Customers From Hell That These Servers Just Had To Vent About Online
Working in the food service industry can be just as challenging as it is rewarding. When you’re dealing with other human beings all day, every day, you soak up a lot of their emotions. It would be perfect if every customer was kind, caring, and polite. Alas! We do not live in an ideal world. Sometimes, entitlement and rudeness win the day...
We’ve collected some of the most shocking situations that people had to deal with at work, as shared on the popular r/TalesFromYourServer online community. Scroll down to read just how frustrating it can be to work as a server.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
The owner of the restaurant kicked out one of my tables for yelling at me about a receipt. It was my first day at a pizza restaurant. This place was always SLAMMED... it’s really where I learned how to be a good server, before that I worked at over staffed burger joints or Italian restaurants. Things were moving pretty fast but I was doing surprisingly well. I had about 10 tables and I was used to 3-4 table sections. I will never forget this couple that came in and sat down at table 24. They were an old couple. I’m talking both gray haired and over dressed to be at a pizza restaurant. I will say I did give them excellent service despite my frazzledness of starting a new job. I was feelin it, and felt great about handling all of my tables...until I did mess up. The man at table 24 handed me his card to close out. I’m BUSY.. like didn’t even have time to pick a wedgie if I had one, busy. I go to the computer and swipe his card. Admittedly I forgot to print out the itemized receipt, which I get can be very frustrating. Man at table 24 had every right to be upset. But instead of asking me to grab the itemized receipt, he began to LOUDLY, in a small room, with a deep and firm tone tell me how horrible I am at my job. That no wonder I only got as far in life as working at a pizza shop. He kept going on with these TERRIBLE comments and wouldn’t let me walk away when I tried. So now all of my other tables just saw me get ripped a new a**hole, and I’m in the weeds after wasting time getting yelled at by this guy. The owner of the restaurant must have come in at some point. He saw this man yelling at me, came up to the table and did the most bad ass thing I’ve ever seen. Owner: “Excuse me sir,” he says to the man at table 24, “I am the owner of this establishment. I’m not sure what the problem is here and frankly, I don’t care. What I do care about is you belittling my waitress. So I’m going to ask you and your wife to leave and not come back to my restaurant.” Man at table 24: “Fine but you’ll be losing our business.” Owner: “I really don’t care, and don’t want people like you in my restaurant anyway.” It was the coolest s**t I had ever seen. The owner STOOD THERE AND WAITED for these people to leave. It was f**king bad ass. After they left the owner came up to me and said: “F**k those people. You’re doing a great job and I wouldn’t have hired you if you didn’t show potential. If anyone else talks to you like that I want you to tell them to f**k off and get out. I don’t want their money.” Coolest. Boss. Ever.
Huntress of Artemis 1 year ago (edited)
Stand up for your staff against entitled customers.Managers and owners, take notes.
Astro 1 year ago
Hahaha a former head server I worked with, on her last shift, had a rude customer say they were never coming back. She was like “oh no?! A s****y customer who berates my staff and never tips is never coming back? Poor us!” in the most hilarious mocking voice. She was so done with that job 😂
Maartje 1 year ago
I recall this woman who was yelling at my best server for whatever reason(I don't really care) and calling her the N-word. My server, a slim Ethiopian woman, was laughing at her when I walked into this situation. I kicked the customer out and turned to my server - I was fuming . Told her "I don't give a rat's a*s what you did or didn't do but NO ONE calls you a N**r!"
Chelsea McKee 1 year ago
I mean do people not want to eat a pizza restaurant? Somebody has to serve you.
RELATED:
#2
Shot down a guy's machismo with a pithy comment. A group of riders strolled into our establishment carrying helmets and seemed to be all about themselves. They were loud and obnoxious, but overall friendly, and they immediately started with a round of coffees. This Axl Rose-looking bandana dude looks at the half-and-half on the table and goes, "Do you guys have any hazelnut or caramel-flavored creamer?" "No, just plain half-and-half, but we do have almond milk or soy milk." His face scrunches up and he gives his friends a sarcastic look, "Do I look like someone who drinks soy?" Without missing a beat, I go, "Dude, you literally just asked me if we have frou-frou creamer." The table absolutely f**kin lost it and keeled over in laughter. Axl Rose just smiled big and said, "...you got me." They ended up being really fun and tipped fat. I know everyone prefers trainwreck stories, but sometimes the good moments are just as entertaining.
Luke Branwen 1 year ago (edited)
Kudos to that dude for being a good sport about it. Most men like this would just double down on their a$$holery. EDIT: By "men like this", I don't mean bikers, I mean those who mock drinking soy milk.
JB 1 year ago
As a long standing member of a back patch MC who knows literally hundreds of bikers on both sides of “the pond”, the vast majority would react just like Axl Rose dude. Bikers get a bad rep for wearing (mostly) black leather, having tattoos and looking tough. As a woman, if I felt uncomfortable because some d-bag was harassing/following me, given the choice between a clean cut “guy next door” type and an obvious biker, I’d ask the biker for help.
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Nannychachi 1 year ago
We were outside at a funeral home with lots of other people. My young granddaughter was blowing bubbles from a bottle with a wand. They were going everywhere and her mom told her to stop because she was afraid she was bothering others. I said, "Oh, she's okay. Everybody loves bubbles!" Biker guy walks past, grabbing at a few, "Yep! Even the bad guys!"
#3
Jerk gets exactly what he asked for. Last night I worked a 14 top. They were all terrible people, douchiest people I have ever come in contact with. The royal family of Douchland. One guy sits down and orders a beer. He says, “Every time you come to the table I want you to have a beer for me.” I thought he was probably just joking, so I leave and come back and he says, “Where is my beer? Did you really forget what I told you like 2 minutes ago? Wow.” So I said, “OH! I am so sorry it won’t happen again.” So, for the next 2 hours, no matter what. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I approached the table I left a beer. After about 45 minutes the beer began to pile up. A friend of King Doucherbottom tried to take one that I put down, but I grabbed it and said, “Sorry sir, this is your friends beer I would be happy to get one for you if you like.” Long story short he ended up buying 25 beers at 8 dollars a pop with a 20% mandatory auto-grat on the table. He maybe drank 4. I have never felt so good in my life. It doesn’t pay to be an arrogant ass folks!
BlackestDawn 1 year ago
14 people using a single table or a group of tables pushed together. Seems to be a restaurant specific term.
Load More Replies...No matter what restaurant or cafe you work at, sooner or later you’ll have to handle a rude or entitled customer. Dealing with problems and miscommunication is part and parcel of the job description!
However, these sorts of emotionally unpleasant situations can make new employees feel incredibly awkward. It’s not a lot of fun when you have to talk to someone who’s disappointed, angry, or actively trying to embarrass you.
This is why having the right training and mentorship at work can make such a huge difference. If your managers and coworkers can walk you through some common situations with rude customers, you’ll be better prepared when they happen. Roleplay is invaluable in keeping servers’ skills sharp.
#4
A group of customers left me no tip tonight and told me why. I’ve been a server for various points throughout my life since I was 16, and I am 29 now. Usually I would serve or host as a part time job, but currently my only job is being a server. I had 3 guys come in that looked about my age. When they sat down, I greeted them and then asked them how many shots they were going to be buying tonight. They were fairly loud and seemed in a good mood, and I said that mostly to be funny. The first couple of guys told me they didn’t want shots, but they would be ordering beers. Then the last guy told me he would need a few shots if I was going to be his server. I chuckled, I thought we were joking and went and got their drinks. They ordered their food, a few more beers, there weren’t any major issues, and they said it would all be one check tonight. I went to pick up their credit card receipt, and there was 0 in the tip line. Ok, maybe they’ll leave cash-no big deal. But as I am thanking them for coming in, one of the guys interrupts me. He tells me that I probably noticed he didn’t tip me. I am honestly kind of embarrassed to be having this conversation, and I was flustered, so I just replied with something like “oh, that’s okay, have a nice night.” He then proceeded to tell me; “I didn’t really feel like shelling out an extra 20 bucks for you, because no offense, but you could step it up a bit. All the other waitresses in here are very cute and earn their tips, try putting on more make up, or going to a gym. I am just being honest with you, if a guy wanted to f**ck you-he’d tip you better.” I was so mortified I didn’t even say anything. I could feel my face turning red, while every guy at that table stared at me. Nobody said anything. I work very hard, and I take so much pride in my work. I try to look nice and put together every night, because it can speak to how much pride you do take in it. I am friendly and outgoing, because I love working with people and I love my job. I wish I would’ve had something to say back to him, but I just walked away instead. I’ve worked double shifts all week, and closed each night. I’ve been stiffed a couple times almost every day this week- but I don’t take it personal and I try to still always hold my head up-but that really hurt. Sorry for the wall of text. Needed to get this rant out.
RabidChild 1 year ago
What an absolute garbage person. What the heck kind of arrogant, nasty, hatefil, empty-souked SOB does this? Or sits by and says nothing when someone in their party pulls this c**p?
Luke Branwen 1 year ago
I suspect dude was a student of Andrew Tate's school for alpha males.
Load More Replies... Cas P 1 year ago
That is despicable behaviour. Next time respond with something like "You are very lucky we serve you. If restaurants had a rule that someone had to be handsome and f*ckable in order to eat, you would starve"
Natasha Arruda 1 year ago
"Oh! Sorry sir, I think you have me confused with the other women in your life, see, I'm actually a server, not a hooker, but I understand most women probably need to be paid to put up with you. Have a nice night!"
Bewitched One 1 year ago
This too!! lol I knew someone (or a few) would come up with the best response for the (hopefully the never coming) next time this happens
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Vinny DaPooh 1 year ago
I understand sir. You need to save your money for prostitutes because no one will do it for you for free. Have a great night
Megalodon Meg 1 year ago
Maybe if he put more effort into his appearance he'd get better service 🤔
Ms.GB 1 year ago
"Oh I apologize, you see nobody wanted to be your server because you look like you don't tip but I drew the short straw..."
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Richi Weiss 1 year ago
Don't let it get to you, it's hard I know! I also worked as a waiter so I can realte to your post! Just wanted to say "Thank You" for being a waiter because we all like to go out but only a few like to work where everyvody is partying.
Deborah B 1 year ago
Someone in my party does that, I'm telling them flat out that that is out of line, and they need to apologise right now, and everyone at the table to pull out their wallet and tip in cash. Anyone who disagreed would not be the sort of person I wanted to be friends with. Life is too short to surround yourself with toxic jackassery.
#5
A husband divorced his wife at my table.
This was in 2018, but I still think about it often and just had to share.
Had a couple come in who seemed really happy, they were having their first date night since they had a baby and wife was really excited to finally have a reason to get a sitter.
They ordered drinks, an app, and their meals. Things seemed to be going well at first but as the night progressed things seemed to take a turn. Subtle things like started off holding hands across the table but stopped by the time drinks were out. Weren’t as chatty by the time the salads were out.
By the time I brought their meals out, there was an orange envelope on the table next to the guy with his wedding ring on it. She was sobbing. He said he’d take his in a to-go box and the checks would be separate.
He left as soon as his tab was paid, and she ended up telling me he apparently had been having an affair since she got pregnant and just told her he was leaving to start a life with his new family. The envelope had the divorce paperwork in it. She said he completely blindsided her, she had no idea this was coming.
My manager ended up comping her ticket and paying for an Uber to take her home. Never saw her again, but I always think about that situation and hope her and the kid are alright.
Huntress of Artemis 1 year ago
That guy is an absolute piece of human garbage .I feel really bad for the lady :( .
Ms.GB 1 year ago
That piece of s**t even had the gall to ask for separate checks!
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Irishwoman abroad 1 year ago
How can someone be such a s**t? I had a neighbour years ago whose husband not only started an affair after their first child, but then got his wife pregnant a second time KNOWING he was going to leave afterwards! She wasn't working, was left trying to support 2 very young kids, and devastated. Luckily she got a job in another neighbour's restaurant right under our building and later met a lovely man who made her much happier than the first git.
jdtimid123 1 year ago
The guy definitely sucks. Affair aside, if you're dropping a bomb on someone you can at least pay for their dinner.
Kylie 1 year ago (edited)
What a total douche. She is better off without him. What's the bet he ran out on the next one as well?
#6
“We don’t care about reservations. We’re hungry and we’re going to eat.” So last night was probably the busiest night we’ve had for last week (I’m a waitress at an upscale steakhouse restaurant). The hostesses up front put us at an hour-long wait for walk-ins because of so many booked reservations, which is usual protocol from the GM. Well, this particular couple had me FUMING beyond belief during our peak hour of the night. The front lobby is packed with guests waiting for a table while reservations are seated as soon as possible. The hostesses have a system on an iPad to let all managers know which guest is seated where, how long they’ve stayed, etc. I’m bussing a table at my section when I overhear one of the hostesses try to speak to a pair at my section a booth over. This couple walked in to the restaurant, saw the amount of people waiting for a table, and decided to seat themselves with NO reservation. They also sat at a dirty f**king table, and here I’m thinking “are these people for real?” This is what I got between hostess and the older man sitting down with his wife(?): “Excuse me sir? You didn’t come up to the host stand in order for us to found out what reservation you had?” “We don’t have reservations. Someone needs to clean this s**t up.” pointing at the messy table “I’m sorry sir, but if you don’t have a reservation the wait is going to be an hour long. Someone has already requested this booth by the fireplace and they need to be seated.” “We don’t care about reservations. We’re hungry and we’re going to eat. Get someone to clean our damn table! I’m not asking a third time!” After that failure, the hostess looked at me pretty shaken up. She never dealt with any guests THAT rude and upfront before so it was understandable. With my Latina blood boiling, I went over to the a**holes. “This is my section, and after hearing that conversation, you both have no right to be served. There’s a family waiting for this table, and I’m going to ask you to leave. Unless you want me to get a manager to escort you out.” The couple squaked at me demanding I get them drinks while I went straight to my GM who saw what had already happened with the hostess. They were escorted out and were told they weren’t welcome back. This is the type of s**t I don’t think I’ll ever get used to. If you have to wait an hour long for a table like everyone else, then you f**king do it. If not, go to another restaurant.
Astro 1 year ago
Right?!! Can you imagine being like this?! SO grateful I’m not this kind of person.
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Alyssa Phillips 1 year ago
If someone sits at a dirty table, walk by "looks like y'all loved everything, I'll be by with your check"
Milady Blue 1 year ago
At least your GM had your back. There are WAY too many places where they bend over backwards for troglodytes like this, which is WHY we have such a problem with entitled twits.
Ken Beattie 1 year ago
Any sensible manager should realise that allowing them to get away with it does two things, it encourages people to behave that way so it'll happen again, and it'll make the people who are forced to wait pissed off and likely leave and submit bad reviews. So they're both making their own lives harder and losing decent customers if they kowtow to a******s like those.
Load More Replies... Hey! 1 year ago
We saw a whole family passing us and sit down at a dirty table. The restaurant had other dirty tables around too because they were closing off part of the dining room and taking care (clearing & cleaning) off what was opened first so the wait was less. The manager took a picture of them and escorted them out. They probably kept a book with pictures in them.
Charles McChristy 1 year ago
They are bullies. They are used to getting their way because they are used to walking all over people. I'm sure they left the restaurant a terrible review.
As ‘360 Training’ points out, being a server is far more than just about serving food. It’s all about providing a positive experience for the customers. Aside from knowing the menu back to front and working quickly on your feet, you’re also expected to have a good memory and work well in a team.
But perhaps most importantly, servers ought to be empathetic. They should be graceful and friendly and be able to put themselves in their customers’ shoes. Ideally, servers should be able to connect with their rude or entitled customers in such a way that they’re able to create a positive experience out of a negative one.
#7
“Sit me with your hottest WHITE server!” *Sits him with our only male server, a tall, black, bodybuilder*
It was a group of middle aged guys. They’re regulars, but they’re annoying as hell, and they always ask for the hottest server. As a host, i usually just sit them with whoever. The last time they came in, I sat them with D, a really sweet black girl who’s one of our best servers. They were FURIOUS. They never said anything to me or a manager, but they claimed everything was wrong. The food was too cold. The drinks were flat. She was way too slow. She was rude. They left a 25¢ tip and left not long after.
This time, they specified they wanted a hot WHITE server. I said “okay!” and with a smile, I walked them over to their table. I specifically sat them with the only male server, a tall, black, bodybuilder who towered over all of them. He’s a really cool guy, but he can be slightly intimidating to people that don’t know him just due to his stature.
They never said a word.
Tl;dr: Buncha pervs asked for a hot white girl, got a big black guy.
Riani Kivela 1 year ago
They ought to be banned. It's disgusting racism and sexism and no one should have to put up with it.
LB 1 year ago
Anyone else feels like it's not cool for the host to expose those coworkers to these people? Like, for you it's standing up to them, for the coworkers it's a s****y experience and no tip to show for it.
BarkingSpider 1 year ago
If she checked with him and he was cool with it, then ok, but if she just sprung them on him, absolutely not ok.
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Phil Vaive 1 year ago
The fact that these people are regulars and demand this every time proves there is a problem with the manager there.
Saphyre Fyre 1 year ago
Nobody looking for a hot server should be seated. This is not why the servers are there, to be looked at with lust.
Ken Beattie 1 year ago
I kinda assumed they were talking about a place like hooters where there is that kind of expectation.
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Daniela Lavanza 1 year ago
I can’t help thinking OP should have sent Terry Crews at the table of those f***ing bastards.
Dread Pirate Roberts 1 year ago
Just pictured how scared those racist perverts must've looked lol
Jay the not okay 1 year ago
just outright gross how racist and pervy they are. what makes them think they can harass people just because its their job to remain polite?
#8
Table tried to dine and dash but I came out and did their birthday shout out right in time. My manager was a server on the floor tonight and had a large group that swallowed two of our tables. They brought their OWN cake and OWN ice cream and we kept it cool for them in our fridge. They sent her to retrieve it and she does. I grabbed our saddle and dragged it over and they were suddenly ALL standing up some people had left. It was definitely sus as s**t but whatevs. Doesn't matter. The show must go on, of course birthday person doesn't want to sit on the saddle so I do it and do the birthday song and dance. Call him out by name and just draw a large amount of attention to him. It was awkward of course. THEY STILL TRY TO LEAVE. and my manager luckily notices and gives the mom her check and doesn't leave her side. Not only were they using the cake and ice cream as a diversion to escape but the MOTHER was in on it. She tried to stall her payment hoping my manager would get busy and leave her with the bill as if we are not all aware of their intent by now. Safe to say we will probably not be seeing them again.
Keisha 1 year ago
My husband and I went to a Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner and to watch a very anticipated MMA fight. There was a table next to us with about eight men. We were all seated outside. They ordered apps,main,desserts and tons of alcohol. After the match she was inside picking up an order for another table. By the time she got back they were all gone. She was looking around frantically and then hysterically. She asked if we saw where they went. We said we don't know. She broke down in sobs saying that she would have to pay their tab and she had a young son to support. So when she was able to compose herself my husband said bring us their bill too and we will pay it. She thanked us over and over and my husband said when I met my wife she was a single mom and I saw how hard it was. We can afford it and you can't. I don't think dine and dash people know that the server likely has to pay for their disgusting behavior or they know and just don't care but anyone who has ever done this should feel u
Charles McChristy 1 year ago
POS. Every single one of them. Who, as a family, sets out to do something like this?!?
María Hermida 1 year ago
Thanks god you didn't understand it either! I read it a couple of times and I was starting to think my English was getting worse. I even looked up "saddle" to see if it had a "hidden" meaning. It didn't make sense whatsoever.
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Savage Susan 1 year ago
My son and his friends were at dinner and watched a table try do a dine and dash. While my son went to find the manager, one friend followed them out the door yelling "thief, thief’ following them to their car, while another friend made a run to his car, got it started fast enough to pull behind them and block them in. Cops called, they have no money or credit card to pay the bill so they go to jail, and their car gets towed. Normally a waitress gets screwed in a situation like this, but the manager was cool and didn’t take the bill out of her pay.
Bewitched One 1 year ago
Roadhouse does not use a saddle. Atleast not the ones I've been to for birthdays
#9
She got mad because I gave her incorrect change, so I corrected the situation.
I waited tables and tended bar for years before switching to my current career.
Table comes in, eats, drinks, pays cash. Tell them to have a great day and walk away. Taking a drink order at a new table and notice the lady standing there angrily, and I make eye contact with her husband and he looks really embarrassed.
Finish taking drink order and go over to them. "Yes? Is there a problem?"
She tells me I gave her the wrong change and was really nasty about it. I can't remember exactly what it was, but I had intended to round up to avoid pennies...you heard me right...pennies. Like their change was supposed to be $3.78 and I intended to give them $3.80. Well, I guess I made a mistake this time and gave them $3.75. Either way, she was really rude.
She showed me the receipt, and I apologized and admitted my error. Then, I pointed out I had forgotten to ring up her coffee, and that I would be right back with an updated check.
She was pissed that she ended up paying more than if she'd kept her mouth shut.
Dee Rutherford 1 year ago (edited)
I don’t now where all these horrible people come from, but I’m now sure I’ll never wait tables.
All of that being said, empathy is incredibly hard to cultivate if you feel that you’re treated unfairly and you have nobody to turn to for help. However, when servers know for a fact that their managers and coworkers have their backs no matter what, it’s easier to weather the storm.
If at any point you feel out of your depth, ask your direct supervisor or a senior colleague to step in. Meanwhile, watch how they handle the situation. They might take the time to actively listen to the customer's complaints. They might decide to replace a dish, comp the meal, or send over a free drink. Or they might see the customer stepping over the line and ask them to calm down.
#10
I’m f**king livid. We close at 8pm on sundays. 7:45pm Phone call: “hey I see it says you guys close at 8 but if we have 10-12 people could you stay open for us” Me: “I’ll have to ask the chef for you one second” I know I should have just said F**K NO but I have to run everything by the chef (owner) and he tells me to tell them yes (F**K). Me: Yeah no problem A**holes: okay we should be there around 8:30 Me: ..okay” So I put a bunch of f**king tables together and pour all their waters and put menus on their tables. 8:45 They call back and tell us they aren’t coming. FIRST OFF, WHO THE F**K CALLS A RESTAURANT AND ASKS THEM TO STAY OPEN FOE THEM. THEN YOU HAVE THE F**KING AUDACITY TO CANCEL???????!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WILL F**KING CUT YOU
rorschach-penguin 1 year ago
At least they had the "courtesy" to bother calling you and telling you they weren't coming.
Ripley 1 year ago
Ask for a credit card number for a deposit. If they say no then you can't make special allowances for them. (this would work here in Australia, but I suspect that it wouldn't fly in the US)
Bewitched One 1 year ago
Bars take ID and credit cards before they even open a tab so don't see why this would be an issue either
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The.Butterfly.Effect.530 1 year ago
It would have been much worse waiting on them. I NEVER let people try to eat at a restaurant an hour before they close. There's no reason. Everyone is cut. All are closing. There's other places to go.
Ken Beattie 1 year ago
Not everyone has nine to five jobs, and people have scenarios like arriving in town because of travel and needing food at weird hours. Why wouldn't you let people order food *BEFORE* the restaurant closes.
Load More Replies... ofcrjackson 1 year ago
That's why I believe the kitchen should always close 30-60 minutes before the restaurant. You can continue to provide service to people that get there in time and the rest can either fxck off or go to the bar.
Cyber Returns 1 year ago
Set a final booking time of 7pm. Anyone who asks if they can get a table for after that just say "Sorry, we don't have any tables available"
#11
Nightmare customer tries to build their own off-menu pasta dish then gets upset when charged full price. Being a picky eater is fine, but at minimum you have to work within the confines of what's actually available. Enter one stubborn a**hole who took the menu items not as a suggestion, but as a point of negotiation. "I'm looking at the pastas. Do you have any rotini?" "Uhh, no. Just spaghetti, rigatoni, fettucine, penne, and bowtie pasta, I believe. That page has all the available pasta dishes we serve." "Hmm, well you should carry rotini. But I'll start with fettucine base, and I'd like to add bolognese... mushrooms... basil... bell p--" "I'm sorry to cut you off sir, but we don't offer build-your-own pastas. We only offer what's listed on the menu, and I can make a couple modifications." "Well that's ridiculous. If you have the items, you should be able to make it." "It's restaurant policy. It helps the kitchen flow." He stares angrily at me. "Well then I'm gonna need a minute." (No problem, bud. I hadn't even asked if your table was ready to order before you started firing away anyway.) I talk to the kitchen manager to give him a heads up, and he doubles down on not allowing grand modifications. I return after a few, and this guy's body language tells me he's already prepared an opening statement for the courtroom. "Okay so I'm gonna start with the chicken alfredo, but instead of the cream sauce, I want bolognese, no tomatoes, I want extra mushrooms, add basil, bell peppers, no parmigiono, and instead of chicken I want the fresh cod." "Uhh sir, I can only do a couple substitutions, and our fresh cod is a separate dish entirely." "Look, please talk to your kitchen, it's what I want." This guy seemed like he was just trying to really impress his friends, who all looked pretty mortified. I find the kitchen manager again. He shakes his head and goes, "Alright, well ring in both a pasta bolognese and fresh fish of the day." $42 pasta. Bravo, buddy. The table gets their food, and this guy flashes me the most idiotic smirk like he just got one over on us. "See? That wasn't so hard. And by the way, it's delicious! You should think about adding it to your menu!" This self-satisfied piece of work... They finally get the bill, and this dude's face is priceless -- well, there definitely was a price to his expression -- about $42. "Did you really charge me for two entrees?" "Yes, I told you the cod was a separate dish." He didn't have much room to argue there. Thankfully his friend paid and left a fat tip, probably out of vicarious embarrassment.
#12
Warning: Jokes not to tell your table.
2-top. Husband and wife. Both wearing camouflage.
I walk by the table, pass them, come back and say, “Whoa. Barely even saw you two!”
I was not tipped.
Brian Droste 1 year ago
If I did that I think that would have been funny. Might have gotten a little bit bigger tip from me.
Michelle my Belle. 1 year ago
I am a 49 year old woman (that fact may or may not be relevant) and a "not seeing someone when they wear camo" joke is always funny. Always.
eric p 1 year ago (edited)
Unfortunately couples who wear matching camo are also often ignorant nutjobs
Load More Replies... Huntress of Artemis 1 year ago
That joke was hilarious.If anything you should have gotten a slightly bigger tip.
The Other Guest 1 year ago
Sure, it's funny. However, it's possible that they've heard that joke so often that it's gone from funny to not funny to just damn annoying. Signed, a former cashier who heard "if it doesn't scan that means it's free, right?" about 4 million times too many.
K 1 year ago
You were at your job and held hostage to those jokes; they can change wearing camo. I don’t think the two compare.
Load More Replies... María Hermida 1 year ago
Except if it's part of a uniform, 99% of the times camo gear barely hides the wearer assholeness.
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Uncle Schmickle 1 year ago
Huh ? I think that's very amusing. They obviously didn't have a sense of humour.
Working in the food service industry means constantly balancing between being professional in the face of criticism and (politely) demanding to be treated with respect. Knowing when to do what comes down to experience and each unique situation.
Have you ever worked as a server, dear Pandas? What's the strangest work story you can remember? What was your go-to approach to handling entitled customers? Share your thoughts in the comments.
#13
I'm making children suffer. This isn't your traditional server story, as I make pizzas, but it's still a frustrating story from the food industry. I work at a chain pizza place, and like most pizza places our busiest day is Friday during the dinner rush. Almost all the staff is on hand and everything is on fire. It really didn't help that we had a 40 pizza order that day due at 6:00 pm. This all happened last Friday. A lady calls in (by the way please order from the web) and orders 4 pizzas for delivery. 3 of them were double pepperoni pizzas which take way longer than you would think. I tell her that it will take about 1 1/2 - 2 hours for delivery. This lady starts asking what the f**k is up with that wait time, and I explain what I said before about dinner rush. She goes into a rampage telling me that she's been at work all day and she does not want to cook, "My family is starving, my kids are crying, and you're just making them suffer more with that f**king wait time!" Being the shy timid college girl I am, all I could do is apologize and apologize as this lady is grilling me. Also, the wait time is only getting longer as orders are coming in, she hasn't put in her order, and I can't help make anything as I'm on the phone. My manager knows this. He comes over to the phone, takes it from me. Asks the problem and says "Here, your wait time will be nothing and you won't have to spend any more money!" Slams the phone down, ignores her order, and continues on with his work. Thank you, manager!
Astro 1 year ago
Did she think the pizza place was making her wait time extra long on purpose just to be big old meanies to her or something?
Sonja 1 year ago
No she thought she could bully her way at the front of the line and they'd make her order first if she was annoying enough. Sadly that strategy works far too often.
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Tempest 1 year ago (edited)
Once my family decided to order pizza for dinner because it was some big game day in our country and there was a really great offer from Pizza Hut or Domino’s (can’t remember which one now). I guess they must have had way too many orders that day cause they did mention in the app that the delivery time will be extended that day. Problem is it was nearly 3 hours later that we eventually got the pizzas delivered. It was frustrating and we were so hungry. When we called and asked them a few times it was the same apology message saying that they’re dealing with an overwhelming number of orders that day. We should have gotten some sort of compensation but we didn’t and we also didn’t want to go bothering them. And when the delivery driver, a young kid, did finally get there he looked so exhausted that we just felt too bad to press on (it’s not the driver’s problem, I know). That day we learnt to not order on days when half the country might be ordering the same thing or at least to order super early on such a day (we didn’t place our order late that day, just during our usual dinner time).
#14
A woman asked me: 'Did a dog roll your silverware?' and demanded an answer. I asked what she was talking about, and she pointed to her linen. It had one or two fuzzies on them due to the wash, and she thought one was a hair (I think she was trying to get a free meal). So, I did what anyone else would do and got her a new roll-up, but that wasn’t good enough. 'I asked you a question' — I made her repeat the question so she could hear how weird she sounded. I said: 'I don’t know any dogs who can roll silverware' and just walked away. She said she was never coming back, but three hours later, she came back in with her daughter and was assigned to my section. You can’t make this s**t up.
Laura Williams 1 year ago
Just for you I had one of the guys get their dog to roll over it. Is that to your liking?
#15
There was a man who made a reservation for two people, but wrote in the notes the reservation was actually for six people and a baby. I contacted him and let him know that wasn’t possible during the evening, and offered alternative times for the party of six. He never responded. Cut to an hour before service, and this man called the restaurant to let me know his party was now going to be eight people and that they were 10 minutes away. I nicely explained we weren’t opened yet and couldn’t accommodate his party. He kept asking if I could 'do' anything for him, but he wouldn’t accept no for an answer. Now, it's 20 minutes before we open, and he showed up with his entourage and demanded that I sit them upstairs (I had already said NO). He kept saying: 'Can’t you do anything for me? It’s my nephew's baptism' or whatever the F. Then, he tried to threaten me they'd go somewhere else to eat, so I politely advised them where to go nearby. This didn’t work, and he tried again to get me to 'do something' for him. I explained that seating his party would require that I cancel other reservations, and I wasn’t willing to do that. So, we went back and forth like this a few times, and he eventually left in a huff. I don't understand why people behave this way. Why the hell would you make a reservation for two because that’s 'the only party size that was available?!'
Rayne OfSalt 1 year ago
Short answer: yes. Long answer: yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssssssssssssss
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Latchkey 1 year ago
The restaurant I host at doesn't take reservations and is waitlist or call-ahead only (call to make a "reservation" and we try and get you seated as close to your time as we can). The number of people that put themselves on the waitlist online for 6 people (or less) and come in and say "hey, yeah it's actually 10 but it only let me put a maximum of 6 online, haha!" absolutely KILLS me. It says UNDER THE SELECTION BOX to "call the restaurant for parties over 6" because we DO NOT have single tables that seat over 8 people. CAN YOU READ??
Jay Cee 1 year ago (edited)
We had it the other way around. MILs 60th birthday. Took her to see a musical in the West End (London theatreland) where, surprise surprise! 12 of her sisters and BILs (Irish family) are waiting for us and then to a restaurant. Arrived at the restaurant - a well regarded Italian place to be told that there was only seating available for 12. But we reserved places for 15 TWO months ago. Yes, but we only have spaces for 12 . . . . My wife is in tears, myself and two of the husbands looked at each other and agree to go off to the pub leaving the rest to eat in peace. We came back two and a half hours later to be greeted with "Ah! we cans seat you NOW!" Seriously? Take your chianti bottle and shove it! Ruined what should have been a memorable evening.
Philly Bob Squires 1 year ago
When they do the opposite. We are a small family owned Italian restaraunt. We hve a casual downstairs with a full bar etc. and fine dining upstairs. We were told we had 2 reservations. Two 15 tops. Brought in a few extra servers. Well, the first 15 top came down to an 8 and the second went from 15 to a 2. Reason for the last? They thought if they booked for 15 they'd get the upstairs automatically as they thought we wouldn't open the upstairs for 2 people! It's open all the time! Just ask! If you want to sit up stairs by the fireplace with a can of flipping Spaghetti-Os you can! Instead, you just made the staff go into overdrive for nothing. (The first 15 got down to 8 as it was a corporate thing and only so many showed.)
kath morgan 1 year ago
Just recently I had someone try to bring a group of 8 to our open crafting session, she clearly knew it wasn’t for groups and brought them anyway, deciding she should be able to bully her way in. I don’t know what is with these people.
#16
This took place a few years ago in the heat of the pandemic. I worked at a popular pub in a big town, and we were careful to space out everything, sanitize heavily, and wear masks. Enter the guests: It was a man, his wife, and his daughter. They took their seats, and I approached them with my typical greetings. They ordered some drinks, and I asked the daughter for her ID — she sank a little and said: 'I forgot it at home' (which was code for 'I'm a minor'). I apologized and said that I couldn't serve her, and the parents were aghast. 'Really?! She’s with her parents! She can’t have a drink? I can vouch that she’s of age.' 'I’m sorry, folks — I legally can’t serve her without proof.' The man scoffed and smirked at me while reaching for his wallet. He asked: 'This mean anything to you?' while flashing his cop badge.
This guy really tried to extort me for a beer for his underage daughter. 'No, that doesn’t mean anything to me,' I replied. 'Really? Nothing? Pull down that mask and let me see your face.' 'I’m sorry, sir — we’re in a pandemic with a mask mandate, and we take that seriously here.' 'Jesus, you got a manager I can talk to?'
I walked away and told my boss what happened. I watched from afar as the man waved his hands around, his wife sat in disbelief, and the daughter was red of embarrassment.
The rest of the meal was awkward — the parents were fuming, and the daughter seemed like she wanted nothing more than to leave. The cop asked me questions like what my name was, who my parents were, and what part of town I lived in — but I avoided answering anything personal. As expected, no tip.
RabidChild 1 year ago
A cop pressuring a server to break the law and serve his underage daughter. Nice.
𝐆𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐦-𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚 1 year ago
Who seems like she wasn't that desperate to have a drink any way.
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Donteatme666 1 year ago
Easy solution ask if that badge is really real in a scared voice and look closer and write down name's and numbers on said badge. Then report a*****e for abusing his authority
Milady Blue 1 year ago
Or, even better, call the police, and report a possible officer impersonator.
Load More Replies... rorschach-penguin 1 year ago (edited)
I would've called the police non-emergency line while he was busy eating to report the situation. D******d obviously wasn't going to give you his badge number. And how much do you want to bet that if you had served her, he was going to try to extort you into giving him his food for free because he witnessed you committing a crime?
Bob Brooce 1 year ago
"This mean anything to you?" "Yes, you shouldn't be so clueless about the law."
Bored Birgit 1 year ago
First I thought this was a test from the officer if OP follows the law. OP did right!
Nika Strokappe 1 year ago
Well, yes, this means to me that you should definitely know what the law is and reinforce that IDs are checked... Ow, not what you meant?
kath morgan 1 year ago
It does mean something to me; I now know which police station to report you to for buying alcohol for a child and breaking mask mandates.
Don Adams 1 year ago
And if the beer was served, the pub would have been fined, possibly had the liquor license threatened. Might have been a sting, but the end of the story is just an entitled scumbag with cranial rectumitis (head up his a*s)
#17
To start off I'm not a server at the moment but this happened to one of ours. The other day we had a customer go OFF on a cashier because they asked if they replaced something due to an allergy or if it was just a preference (Corporate mandates that we ask). She substituted some pasta for our gluten free rice noodles and because it's a lot more f**king work for us to deal with an allergy and a lot of people just honestly like the taste of rice noodles we want to know if we strictly need to do it as an allergy order. This lady (I'd say 50 or 60) got real close and in that P**ed Off Mom WhisperTM started lecturing him on how rude it is that he asked, how it's none of his business, how she has Never Been So InsultedTM , how we should just treat everything that COULD POSSIBLY BE GLUTEN FREE as if it was an allergy, etc, etc, etc. He replied: "okay that's great but is it an allergy or a preference" therefore cementing him in my heart as one of my favorites. As expected it was a preference.
Astro 1 year ago (edited)
People need to understand what kitchens do when we’re presented with an allergy order. EVERY TOOL we’re going to use gets cleaned and/or replaced with a clean one. The station needs to be cleaned for possible contamination risk. We have tons of food already prepped and ready to cook (which makes it easier and faster for us to get your tasty food out to you) but with allergens we often have to go to the back, get all the base ingredients out of the fridge and prep a new single order without the allergen, which takes time and puts me behind on other orders coming in. It involves trips to the dishwasher and running around grabbing needed items and can really REALLY slow things down during rushes. In my cook days I could fire an appetizer in about 3 mins but an allergy order could take me up to 12, depending. Never feel bad about this if you truly have an allergy, we always want to keep you safe and are more than happy to work a little harder to do so. But more people need to understand what happens behind-the-scenes. It’s not an innocent lie, it’s a douche move.
Knitting Panda 1 year ago
I am allergic to strawberries, so if I am ordering a dessert that is often served with them I will tell the server and ask if it can be prepared without the berries. Usually they are honest, but every now and again I will get a piece of cheesecake with most of some preladled strawberry goop scraped off. Um. No. This will make me very ill.
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Jeremy James 1 year ago
I've had so many customers proudly insist that they have a gluten intolerance or allergy rather than a preference or lifestyle choice. Then they order a beer or a cocktail made with grain spirits to go with their meal. Or they backpedal when they're not satisfied with any of the gluten-free food options.
Sonja 1 year ago
To be fair, gluten intolerance isn't the same as celiac disease. A gluten intolerant person can indeed be able to consume trace amounts of gluten without issues while a person with celiacs absolutely can't. But then, a person with celiac disease is very unlikely to eat in any restaurants that are not specialised on accomodating them, since even using knives cleaned in the same dishwasher as the others can cause severe reactions for them.
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ROSESARERED 1 year ago (edited)
I'm allergic to dairy, but there is a dairy free fad, annoying. I don't want to sit on the loo, with a bucket, for a day, and then unable to keep food in for a few more, along with jointpain and fatigue...someone thought butter was OK...God help me, some people don't even know what basic ingredients have dairy in them. I am forever grateful to the chefs who do the right thing, I do not enjoy eating out anymore, too many times I've been sick...even wine, white and red, can be processed with dairy...found that out a fun long/holiday weekend
Hey! 1 year ago
We had a business lunch to a burger joint and two of them asked for the GF buns. One was allergic and the other one was a preference. The funniest thing is that the allergy one was the boss and the other was his admin and she started eating the same because it was easier to order and she liked it better once she tasted it.
Maartje 1 year ago
I have a condition where certain types of sugars (fructose, lactose, fructans) will wreak havoc on my system. I can eat some of them in very limited quantities (if I avoid them for days after) but whenever possible I will substitute. I will order gluten free wherever possible, not because I cannot eat gluten, but because I cannot eat a lot of fructans, the sugar in wheat. So it is not a preference and it is not an allergy. Somehow this takes a lot of explaining.
#18
I work in a brewery, and the sign above the door states the name of the brewery. The sign on the glass part of the doors states the name of the brewery, and the giant metal sign that hangs behind the bar? Name of the brewery. We open at noon on Sundays, which is usually my shift, and I leave the door open when I get there. Allow me to set the scene: The lights are all off, the music is realllllly loud, and I'm counting the drawer. A woman walks in 30 minutes before we open with two small kids who are about 4 years old, and she. is. furious.
Her: 'This music is entirely too loud and not appropriate for my girls!'
Me: 'I agree — it'll be at an appropriate level and on a different station when we open at noon.'
Her: 'Can't you do that now?' You know what, fine — I can. So, I did and went back to counting the drawer.
Her: 'Excuse me? Where should we sit?'
Me: 'Anywhere you'd like, ma'am. But, I'm afraid I still have to finish opening and won't be able to get to y'all for at least 15 to 20 minutes.'
Her: 'IS THERE NO ONE ELSE HERE?' At this point, I made a snarky look around before I answered: 'It doesn't look like it.'
Her: 'Fine — just give me a coffee and two milks.'
Me: 'Ma'am, this is a brewery. I don't have any of that.'
Her: 'Fine — just let me see the menu, and I'll decide.'
I point to the draft board and tell her those are the draft selections, the chalkboard next to it with our wine selections and snacks, and tell her we have certain soft drinks in cans.
Her: 'MY KIDS AREN'T ALLOWED SUGARY SOFT DRINKS! WHERE IS THE KIDS MENU? WE WANT BREAKFAST!'
Me: 'Ma'am, this is a brewery. We don't have kids menus, milk, juice, or breakfast foods.'
The whole damn time she ignored every obvious clue and sign, and thought she was at the breakfast spot around the corner (which wasn't even open on Sundays).
MichelleDonut 1 year ago
Why was the door open 30 minutes before the place opens for business?
ninjaTrashPandaBoom 1 year ago
Yeah, that's just asking for trouble. I used to open and I would NEVER leave the front door open (or even unlocked) until opening time. We would still have customers yanking on the front door even with the opening time clearly posted on said door right above the handle they were holding.
Load More Replies... Laura Williams 1 year ago
Stupid people should not be allowed to have children. It passes onto the next generation We need less stupid people. They seem to become horrible people.
quentariel 1 year ago
It's super annoying that people barge in before opening times. I've worked in several restaurants/cafés that are situated in a mall, or in a supermarket and the shop opens earlier than we do. Usually there's people coming in every single day before we open, even if there not a single freaking lamp on anywhere except the kitchen in the back.
Kaedyn Walsh 1 year ago (edited)
In your case it can't he helped, but in case any other ppl do this at stand alone businesses, it's a GREAT way to get robbed. Doors should remain locked until opening time. Counting the till at closing and opening is the prime time for being robbed. This is like business 101. Robbers know what time any and all businesses have their drawers open and in many cases the safe open to get the drawers set up or counted down; money in bank deposit bags, etc. 99.99% of jobs dealing with cash registers will have a strict rule where doors must be locked and stay locked at closing and before opening. Failure to do so will result in immediate termination.
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#19
My a**hole table accidentally tipped me 130%. I was serving on July 4th in a vacation town in California at an upscale German beer and brat place. Everyone was drunk mid-day, we were wildly understaffed, and absolutely slammed. I’m a really fast and sweet server even when I’m busy, but I had 10 tables and I was pretty frazzled. One of my tables was a middle-aged couple and their adult son. I can’t remember the specifics, but they were really condescending, high-maintenance, and impatient. When it came time for them to pay, I was pretty relieved for them to leave. The man payed with card, signed the receipt, crumpled the customer copy, and put away his card. We were trying to turn tables as fast as possible because we were so busy, so I picked up his signed receipt and thanked them. Then, they sat there for what felt like forever. I didn’t think much of it because I was wildly busy. When I went to clear their table after they left, I was really confused. The original itemized receipt was still on the table with a stack of cash, enough to cover the whole bill and an ok tip—BUT THEY ALREADY PAID AND TIPPED ME WITH CARD. I guess the guy was drunker than I thought, completely forgot he had already paid, and then paid again in cash and just left. It was definitely not on purpose, because the “tip” on the credit card receipt and cash “tip” on the cash payment were almost the same, and they were complete a**holes. In the middle of a hellish shift, I almost started crying with joy. It came out to a $100 “tip” for a $75 bill. A little blessing from the server gods on a hard day. Wishing drunk, accidentally generous customers on you all.
nottheactualphoto 1 year ago
If by "funny" you mean "awesome" :-) I'd eat at a place like that.
Load More Replies... MichelleDonut 1 year ago
Sometimes when my boomer mother buys us dinner and puts a 10% tip on her credit card, I leave a 20% cash tip on the table. And if I go out with my husband and he's obnoxious, as we leave I sneak cash onto the table as an apology to the server.
Uncanny 1 year ago
You degrade your own mother, who is buying you dinner with the old ‘boomer’ trope and you put up with a husband who is obnoxious to wait staff. Sounds like you need a tip. 🤷♀️
Load More Replies... Uncle Schmickle 1 year ago
Isn't this an ethical dilemma ? I would have thought to try and contact these people to let them know they paid and tipped twice. Honesty is the best policy, even though you miss out.
#20
This past Sunday morning we were slammed. I had a party of 12 that was running me into the ground, as well as a table of four, a table of three, one other small party, and then a new party of 16. I greeted the 16-top, and they wanted to put in EVERYTHING at once (they’re regulars and tip 30% every time, so I know they’re worth the extra effort). The whole order took 10 minutes max. On my way to grab their drinks, I stopped by my 12-top, and they wanted water refills. Gathering drinks for my 16-top took a few minutes, so when I returned, a woman at my 12-top was FURIOUS. She said I wasn’t moving fast enough, and my service was 'unacceptable.' This word was the final straw for me — she was a jerk the whole time, and even grabbed my attention twice by actually entering the f**king kitchen. I don’t keep my phone on me at work, I don’t take breaks, and I rarely sit during my 12+-hour days — I wasn’t going to let this comment slide. I was so calm and just said: 'You know, we’re very busy, and I’m one person. I have other tables to serve, and frankly, accommodating you has been difficult since you decided to change your order four separate times. I’m not taking the fall on your bad experience.' I dropped the 12-top's check on their table, offered no boxes, and treated the table like lava until they left.
Sara Frazer 1 year ago
Good on you!! 👏 Gracefully done! I never had such bravery in my brief tenure in bar/food service!
#21
About a week ago, I (20F) had a two-top come in for some burgers. They barely touched the food, but every time I asked if everything was okay with their food, they said yes. When they left, they tipped me $0. A few days after, we got a one-star review from these people complaining about the food, and the fact that we charged them full-price. Why couldn’t they have spoken up? I would’ve fixed it and gotten them something else — it was just so frustrating.
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 1 year ago
If that's true, it's their own fault their food didn't taste good.
Load More Replies... Sonja 1 year ago
BuT YoU sHoUlD hAvE kNoWn SoMeThInG wAs WrOnG! WhY dId ThEy HaVe To TeLl WhAt WaS WrOnG? ThEy LeFt MoSt Of It, ThAt ShOuLd HaVe BeEn EnOuGh! /s Honestly this is another symptom of the 'the-world-should-evolve-around-me' mindset. People have the rather insufferable tendency to claim they owe nothing and deserve everything. They can't be bothered to do anything, especially not when it feels uncomfortable, they feel it's too much to be expected to state preferences or need, bring any piece of proof, answer questions or say thank you. No matter how impossible it is to find out their needs otherwise. I had a disabled colleague ranting how horrible it was that people asked him if he wanted help even when he clearly struggled. He didn't want people to ask if he needed help, but he also didn't want people to just do things he didn't need them doing. How on earth is he expecting people to just magically know when he wants/needs help if they're not supposed to just help but also shouldn't ask?
Eunice Probert 1 year ago
I do wish you would realise that most of us here don't understand your jargon. What in the name of whatever is a two-top? It's not just you, others are doing it to. But it makes it more irritating.
Kylie 1 year ago
It's how many are at a table. Now you know why servers are upset when a 10 top tries to book with only 1/2 an hour left until the restaurant closes = )
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Gary Davidson 1 year ago
"Two-top" is just a quick way of noting a table seating 2 people.
Load More Replies... Spooky beck 1 year ago
Eunice, a two top is a table with two seats. A four top has four seats.
Bewitched One 1 year ago
Because they wanted free food and when they didn't get it left the review, hoping someone would offer them a free replacement meal
Kylie 1 year ago
That doesn't make sense when they didn't east what they had.
Load More Replies... #22
Them: 'We'll have a bottle of rosé.' The server: 'I'm sorry, but we just sold the last chilled bottle.' Them: 'I see some on the counter.' The server: 'Yes, but it's not chilled — it's the display bottle, and it won't taste great. May I suggest this chilled macerated white wine that'll give you a similar flavor profile, but taste much better?' Them: 'Ugh, orange wine?!? Gross. Just bring that display bottle of rosé and a bucket of ice, and it'll cool down fast enough.' The server coming to me, the owner: 'That bottle won't cool down like they think.' Me, to the server: 'You're right, but give it to them anyway...' [An hour later]: Them: 'You don't have to take it off the bill, but this rosé is terrible. It tastes like a wine cooler, and it's warm.' The server, screaming on the inside but smiling on the outside: 'I understand.' The server to me: 'I F**KING TOLD THEM.' Me to the server: 'Leave that s**t on the bill.'
Ken Beattie 1 year ago
Hey at least the customer didn't try to get them to take it off the bill either. Maybe that was their way of saying "You were right" without actually saying "You were right" :)
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#23
Cafes aren’t your personal library, or even a public library.
Customer posted on her Instagram, tagging my workplace and identifying me by name (whom she asked for from my coworker). Was upset because I had said she needed to give up her table for other customers. She had been sitting there for 2 hours, only ordered a single cup of coffee, which she requested to “top up” hot milk for.
Said she was undergoing an “urgent job interview” and that i had interrupted her, causing her to have to exit the interview abruptly.
Ain’t my fault you don’t know how to manage your life, lady. Cafes aren’t your home, and we DO have the right to ask you to leave (why are customers always surprised that we can do that?)
Ken Beattie 1 year ago
The only valid reason I could think of is that the home situation is worse. Partner is controlling and they're trying to get a job and get away from them for example. Or they're trying to get out of a s**t job and the only time they can interview is during their lunch break.
Load More Replies... Tempest 1 year ago
It’s my understanding that some cafes do have separate sections for people to sit and study/work which are usually away from the main part of the cafe so there’s more peace and quiet. But obviously it’s not in every cafe and customers don’t have a right to get mad at the cafe if it doesn’t accommodate such seating.
kath morgan 1 year ago
And it’s annoying for other customers when someone is there on their zoom meeting!!
Laura Williams 1 year ago
It's simple if you aren't buying leave. Besides who does an interview in a cafe.
Uncle Schmickle 1 year ago
Good for you ! There are too many of these entitled idiots taking up tables doing their " work " when other customers could be accommodated. Also thumbs down to your coworker, who should NOT have given out your name. That's a privacy issue.
#24
Karen tries to customize her own dish, doesn't like it, chef comes out, rips her a new one, and forces her to pay for it. (not my story, paraphrased with permission from a coworker) Karen and her family come into a family-owned local seafood eatery, and she's immediately disappointed that they don't carry her favorite seasonal dish (mango-papaya mahi mahi), which needs to be explained to her. She says it's the only reason she came and insists they make something as close to it as possible. After much haranguing and cross-communication, the chef settles on a tilapia with mango salsa as the closest compromise. After the food is delivered, Karen takes one bite and decides, "No, it just doesn't taste the same. I think I'll just have pasta instead." The server brings the plate back to the kitchen, and the chef is f**kin livid. He storms out and slams the plate back in front of her and goes off, "We bent over backwards in the kitchen to accommodate you! This is the only dish you're getting tonight, and you're paying for it!" It must have done the trick, because she just accepted her fate. She and the husband switched plates, and apparently he thought it tasted awesome. They paid out and that was that. On their way out, Karen asked when they would have the mango-papaya mahi mahi again, to which it had to be explained a third time what "seasonal" means.
Sonja 1 year ago
To counter that, here a feel good story about excellent service: I have a favourite dish that's hard to get. It's not seasonal by nature. We checked out a new restaurant online, and it was on the menu. We went there and I was all excited to finally have it again, but when I told the waiter, he apologised and said they had just gotten a new menu and didn't serve that anymore. I was cers sad but what can you do? I told gim not to worry, Id find something else. Not their fault. But guess what? They still had the ingredients and when our food came the chef had made the dish just for me! I was so happy. That was so kind. You bet kitchen and waiter hot a huge tip! But the chef was the owner and refused the tip. Stull, that is my favourite restaurant ever since. They always have that dish on their winter menu and you bet we go whenever that's on.
Lee Banks 1 year ago
As a 25 year service vet, thank you. We can always recognize the good guests, and will bend over backwards, if you're nice.
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Javelina Poppers 1 year ago
Only asked for a very minor change to a dish one time. At a seafood restaurant I asked if I could have Cajun seasoning on a grilled lobster tail and thely said no problem. Two tables next to us saw what we were having and asked for the the same. When checking out, the chef/owner said he decided to make one for himself and was adding it the menu. The meal wasn't free, but got a hefty discount.
Ken Beattie 1 year ago
I have to say that seasonal doesn't mean anything without clarification. What season? Winter, summer, is it the fish that are in season or the mangoes? When does the season start and how long does it run for? Asking when it'll be available again isn't a dumb question like the server seems to think. The rest of the story is fine though.
The Other Guest 1 year ago
Both the mango-papaya mahi mahi and the tilapia with mango salsa sound delicious.
#25
My wife and I were out to eat last night, and overheard customers at the next table harassing their server about whether he knew Jesus, and tried to get him to agree to go to church. He was non-committal, and said he never found much 'connection' with religion. But, they kept at him for a long time — inside, I bet he was screaming that he had other tables to get to. I loved his parting words, though: 'If your soup is cold by now, let me know if you'd like to order a fresh one!'
Jeremy James 1 year ago
I had a table make me sit and pray with them before they would leave me a tip. It was inappropriate and degrading, but I still have to eat. If I can fake it through Sunday school, I guess I can put up with that, but I shouldn't have to.
Lola July 1 year ago
As a Christian I apologize. I also hate those pretend money tips. Yes, being saved is an eternal gift, but should not be forced on you.
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Irishwoman abroad 1 year ago
How DARE they! Could you imagine if someone from another religion tried this on? There'd be f*****g uproar!
Papa 1 year ago (edited)
I wish people like this would realize that their actions are counter productive.
Michael Largey 1 year ago
This behavior is not about any God - it's about themselves and only themselves.
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Phil Green 1 year ago
Just wrong. I have been in the catering industry since my early twenties (65 now!) and no one has ever had the temerity to try and introduce Jesus to a devout atheist! It would be hilarious and not go well for them. The restaurant is not the place to start trying to force your waiting staff into a religion they neither know nor care about.
Sharon Attwood 1 year ago
Spread the good news, but if someone says ‘thanks, but no thanks’ let them be…you can’t shove your beliefs down someone else’s throat…that just drives them farther away from ‘organized religion’.
Uncle Schmickle 1 year ago
Bloody bible - bashing zealots. Leave your religious beliefs at home !
#26
Do people even listen to what comes out of their mouths?
A guest walks into brunch and orders our smoked salmon plate. The only dairy in this particular dish is a ramekin of cream cheese that is served on the side.
A couple minutes later I’m in the kitchen getting coffee for another table. I turn around and smoked salmon lady has followed me to the kitchen.
When I turn around and see her, I ask “Is there something you need?”
She says, “I forgot I’m not eating dairy, so can I change my order to the buttermilk pancakes?”
Confused at what I just heard, I ask “The buttermilk pancakes? There is dairy in the pancakes...”
“Well as long as it’s not a lot it’s ok.”
Lady..... it’s like the main ingredient. It’s in the name. BUTTERMILK pancakes. Do people really listen to the stupidity that comes out of their face holes??? I can’t.
Astro 1 year ago
Lady told me she had celiac. After much hemming and hawing over the menu she orders the baked macaroni and cheese with Parmesan breadcrumbs. “A little bit of gluten is ok.” Ma’am no it is not, my best friend has celiac and I had to take her to the hospital after a shot of whiskey. You’re clearly just lying.
DarkViolet 1 year ago
That's like me saying, "I'm allergic to shellfish (I am, by the way), but a little bit is okay." You need a surfboard to ride out the entitlement with some people! 🙄
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The Starsong Princess 1 year ago
Most people who are mildly lactose intolerant can handle small amounts of dairy, especially if it is cooked. I would totally eat buttermilk pancakes but would be more careful about eating a wad of cream cheese.
Bewitched One 1 year ago
She said "I forgot I'm not eating dairy" as in, I prefer not to eat dairy. Not "I forgot I'm lactose intolerant"
Load More Replies... #27
I had my first-ever dine and dash today! It was the last table of the night (a family of four — two adults and two kids). The kids spilled two drinks, and I told them I’d be sure to leave the second one off the bill because accidents happen. But then, two drinks and an entire bowl of popcorn spilled (not to mention the fries, broccoli, and mashed potatoes were left ALL over the floor, booth, and table). They knew they were leaving me with a huge mess, and that they weren’t going to pay for their meal.
The kicker is, they did hand me $28 in cash for being 'the best waitress ever' — but I had a feeling they would dine and dash. I asked my manager to go to their car with the bill because I had closing duties, but my manager said no — 'It would be rude.' They got away, and I kept the $28 — but my manager said I had to cover the whole $83 meal. I reminded him I asked him to get them and he said no, so it wasn’t on me that they got away. Unfortunately, our security cameras didn't record any of it — it just goes to show you they truly got away with it, but at least I got a nice tip?
Astro 1 year ago
Wow, I’m so glad it’s illegal in Canada to force servers to pay out of their own pocket for lost revenue.
Sue User 1 year ago
It is in USA too. People dont know the laws so employers get away with this c**p.
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Maartje 1 year ago
If this is in the US, it is legal in some states. Luckily, not in California.
jonesnori 1 year ago
Is it really? I had been told it was illegal nationally.
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Storm Rise 1 year ago
What a complete crusty boil of a manager!!! He can bloody well pay for it since he was forewarned!
jmdirks 1 year ago
Had a man walk in with his maybe four year old son. We sit them, take the order, feed them and then they guy comes up to the till and says he forgot his wallet and needed to go and get it. I just said sure. I wasn't going to make an issue in front of the kid. I new I would not be seeing them again. I would have gladly comped the meal if he had said something. I have at times used my own meal to feed people who asked. And as a manager I have comped meals for people that have asked.
#28
I had a pair come in, and I was on register, so I had the pleasure of serving them. They grabbed a menu and sat down — all was well. 'I want Eggs Benedict with sausage' she said. On our menu, we have bacon and eggs, a classic breakfast that has eggs and sausages, and an on-theme meal called Eggs Benedict. So, I asked her some questions, figured out she's talking about the on-theme meal Eggs Benedict, so we do that and add some sausage to it. She asked me to make sure it had hollandaise, so I did that. Then, she asked for another Eggs Benedict meal — awesome! I rang her up, and all was well until... The food came out, and there were two Eggs Benedict meals — apparently, she 'didn't want hollandaise on one of them,' but f**k me for not reading her mind, right? We started remaking them, but halfway through, they decided that no: They just wanted a refund because I 'specifically f**ked it up too much.' Because they couldn't be bothered reading the menu or at the very least telling me what they wanted! Anyway, at least I got a free Eggs Bene out of it, so that's cool (and they even promised they wouldn't come back — I hope they stick to it)!
Astro 1 year ago (edited)
Love it when problematic customers promise not to come back. Like yes THANK YOU that makes me feel so relieved, you taking your loser a*s out the door and never coming back is actually exactly what I want.
Seanette Blaylock 1 year ago
Too bad you can't very cheerily say something like "would you please put that in writing?"
Load More Replies... Michelle my Belle. 1 year ago
Isn't the Benedict specifically the hollandaise? Like Isn't that what makes it Benedict? Please correct me if in wrong. And don't tell me to Google. I'm not opening another tab on my phone for that.
Bob Brooce 1 year ago
I'll have the eggs benedict, and could you please make sure it comes with the sauce that eggs benedict is supposed to come with?
Phil Green 1 year ago
Eggs Benedict is poached eggs with hollandaise sauce. What else would she expect? If she had just wanted poached eggs, why didn't she just ask? Just proves that the customer is not always right.
Charles McChristy 1 year ago
Oh, they'll be back. They will think you won't remember them, but they will be back.
DarkViolet 1 year ago
Too bad you can't have a camera running when they declare that they'll never come back. Then, if they should return, just play the video for them, in front of whole restaurant if necessary.
#29
“Please, no mayo. I’m allergic to mayonnaise.”
Between my husband and a woman at his table last night—
“Okay, ma’am, now is it the egg or the oil we need to be worried about?”
“...it’s the combination.”
“...okay. I’ll alert the kitchen.”
I love this industry so much.
Astro 1 year ago (edited)
Stop telling people you’re allergic to something if you just don’t like it!! Idk why people do this, like do you realize how much extra work you could be creating for the kitchen? As a former cook I never minded cleaning my entire station and making something from scratch on the fly for someone with a real allergy, but I was a cook when it was trendy to pretend you couldn’t eat gluten, and there were a few times I found out customers were lying to the server about their allergy because…..why?! Just say you don’t want something if you don’t want something! You don’t have to pretend that it’s going to kill you! Rant over 😮💨
Sonja 1 year ago
While I agree with this, we also have to shame restaurants for ignoring people's preferences unless it's stated they're allergic and sometimes ignoring it even then. Both sides are equally wrong and equally to blame for their own actions. I personally do not claim to be allergic to anything. But I have some strong dislikes that make me feeling sick if ignored. I got up and left without consuming the food or paying if my preferences were blatantly dismissed. And while I still firmly believe it's wrong to claim allergies if you don't have them, ignoring preferences is also contributing to all of this mess.
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Amelia Jade 1 year ago
There are several possible allergens in mayo--it isn't just oil and egg. Also, it isn't always an allergy, sometimes it's an intolerance. An intolerance isn't going to kill you, but it can cause distress on your gastrointestinal system. I have a gluten intolerance due to auto-immune disease. If I eat gluten it causes bad enough symptoms that I have joint pain, muscle aches, rapid heart rate, brain fog, and gastrointestinal distress. I've been bedridden, or in need of a nearby toilet for days after being glutened--and the muscle and joint issues can last for over a week. But I don't want to have to explain all of that to my server. If I ask for a GF bun for my burger, they ask, "Is it for an allergy or a preference." Neither? It's an intolerance but no one knows what that means. I don't want to have to explain that. So, i just say allergy. I'm tired of smug servers turning the whole allergy issue into a joke.
Maartje 1 year ago (edited)
I wonder if your issues are similar to mine. It is really hard to explain the weird things auto-immune can do to your system.
Load More Replies... Jeremiah Anderson 1 year ago (edited)
They have probably had issues with people not actually making sure there was no mayo on their food. People seem to pay more attention when it’s a food allergy than they do when it’s just a preference. I hate celery and celery seeds, the taste just messes up the whole dish for me most of the time (really the only ingredient that I really don’t like), but I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve asked for no celery or if a dish has celery or celery seeds and been told no just to find chunks of celery in my dish. I’ve honestly contemplated telling servers I’m allergic cuz they normally take better care that way. EDIT-also, for clarity purposes, if a server tells me a dish is made with celery in it, I just order something different instead of trying to get kitchen staff to pick every piece of celery out. That would be a douche bag move to make them do that
Michelle my Belle. 1 year ago (edited)
So I'm not necessarily defending this patron, but my son says mayo makes his mouth tingle. It won't kill him obviously. But he has no issue with all the ingredients separately. But he won't eat it. Stuff isn't supposed to make your mouth buzz.
The Starsong Princess 1 year ago
Could be a preservative unless they are making their mayo from scratch.
Charles McChristy 1 year ago
I can't mix seafood and dairy without vomiting for hours on end. Sometimes it IS the combination.
Laura Williams 1 year ago
Nope one or the other not both you daffy, dull witted Karen just say I don't like mayo. I tell them that. I don't get mayo. Add please servers love when you treat them like the human they are.
Shelby Moonheart 1 year ago
I worked with a lady who was allergic to mayo. She had to skip lunch meetings if the sandwiches had mayo already on them.
#30
I had my restaurant booked out for a private sports event for 150 people. This didn't happen often, and it's only the second private event I've worked (I was hoping it'd be smoother this time around). We were working with the info the organizers gave us, which we were led to believe had been communicated to the guests. If guests had a pink lanyard, they were paying for drinks as they went — and if they had a gray lanyard, it meant they had a pre-paid package and got free refills on beer, wine, and soft drinks. What's important to note is that they did NOT get spirits included. The organizers told us to stop serving drinks at 1:15 p.m., get their checks paid, and get everyone ready to depart to the game. This is where things started getting interesting... A table with gray lanyards got confused when I brought over their bill. One guy asked: 'What the f**k is this?' The refills of beer they'd had were included in their package, so they only had to pay for the double vodkas they ordered. 'Since when?' and I told him that was the original plan. He yelled at me about how he ordered the premium package, wasn't supposed to have to pay, and that this was a f**king disgrace. After gently explaining to him we followed the organizers' orders, he demanded I go get someone in charge. I got the main organizer — he spoke to them, then spoke to my manager. I have no idea what happened, but somehow, the guy didn't end up paying for the spirits, and they were put on the organizers' tab instead. I understand if the guy thought he was getting everything included, but bro: I am not the person to yell at. And, in my opinion, it's a lack of organization and clarity on the organizers' part — not ours.
rorschach-penguin 1 year ago
I think it's fair that the people in the grey lanyards expected the staff to notify them that spirits aren't covered and ask if they still wanted the vodka. What's not fair is yelling at staff members.
Laura Williams 1 year ago
They are only doing what they were told Ken or what ever they call male Karens
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DC 1 year ago
People lying about allergies sucks. OTOH, if you asked if something was used in a specific product - not even demanding it being made without - and their answers changes once you claim an allergy, you kind of get the reason, huh... Some do. Most don't, I like and try to believe.
Ken Beattie 1 year ago
Just a point about allergies here since some people seem to believe that the only valid allergy is one that causes anaphylactic shock and potential death. That's not the case. Allergies range from mild to severe. And the symptoms can vary depending on the allergen. I have an allergy to a spice, or maybe a certain type of cooking oil. I haven't identified exactly what it is because my reaction is pretty mild. When I eat it my nose starts running slightly (bit like having a cold) and within about 10 minutes of finishing the meal it goes away. Only happens with a few foods and only at restaurants. I can make the same meal myself at home and have no symptoms. IF I knew exactly what it was triggering the allergy I might ask if they could not use it. But it's not the same as a life threatening allergy so I'm not too worried about cross contamination and its likely that it needs to hit a certain volume before it even causes a problem. However, it IS still an allergy.
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kath morgan 1 year ago
We get a lot of people who do not google us to see what our donation policy/hours are. They’ll just decide to drive an hour on a random day with a car full of stuff and it’s MY PERSONAL FAULT if the store was closed or we were otherwise unable to accommodate them. I’m sorry I don’t control your decisions?
Kimberly Fisanick 1 year ago
When my mini me, got her first job, at fast food chain. A lady came in, started yelling at her and saying my daughter was the one who took her order (she didn’t take her order). She was just in her sight. She told my daughter, ‘your mom should’ve swallowed you.’ My daughter just laughed at her. I’m sure that really angered her.
Mike F 1 year ago
Some of them read like a biography, especially in length.
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DC 1 year ago
People lying about allergies sucks. OTOH, if you asked if something was used in a specific product - not even demanding it being made without - and their answers changes once you claim an allergy, you kind of get the reason, huh... Some do. Most don't, I like and try to believe.
Ken Beattie 1 year ago
Just a point about allergies here since some people seem to believe that the only valid allergy is one that causes anaphylactic shock and potential death. That's not the case. Allergies range from mild to severe. And the symptoms can vary depending on the allergen. I have an allergy to a spice, or maybe a certain type of cooking oil. I haven't identified exactly what it is because my reaction is pretty mild. When I eat it my nose starts running slightly (bit like having a cold) and within about 10 minutes of finishing the meal it goes away. Only happens with a few foods and only at restaurants. I can make the same meal myself at home and have no symptoms. IF I knew exactly what it was triggering the allergy I might ask if they could not use it. But it's not the same as a life threatening allergy so I'm not too worried about cross contamination and its likely that it needs to hit a certain volume before it even causes a problem. However, it IS still an allergy.
Load More Replies... kath morgan 1 year ago
We get a lot of people who do not google us to see what our donation policy/hours are. They’ll just decide to drive an hour on a random day with a car full of stuff and it’s MY PERSONAL FAULT if the store was closed or we were otherwise unable to accommodate them. I’m sorry I don’t control your decisions?
Kimberly Fisanick 1 year ago
When my mini me, got her first job, at fast food chain. A lady came in, started yelling at her and saying my daughter was the one who took her order (she didn’t take her order). She was just in her sight. She told my daughter, ‘your mom should’ve swallowed you.’ My daughter just laughed at her. I’m sure that really angered her.
Mike F 1 year ago
Some of them read like a biography, especially in length.
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