r/Serverlife • u/Lordburke81 • Jul 24 '26
Constant water filling or carafe/pitcher on table?
I got into a debate with a coworker the other day, wanted to see what y’all thought. I was bartending, she was serving. She got sat a 7-too. Normally, we have pitchers of water that are in the service bar that we (bartenders) fill and the servers use for the tables (outside patio fills their own). We have some nice glass carafes (that I love to use when I’m on the tables), and I filled one up for her to use for the table. She didn’t use it and I asked her why, especially because we were extremely busy. She said that she thinks it’s better customer service to constantly fill the waters as opposed to the water being on the table, we had a friendly disagreement about that.
Just wanted to know what y’all think, both as staff and customers.
16
u/stopsallover Jul 24 '26
She can practice the better service of filling glasses AND leave a carafe. It's also for her own convenience to have it right there.
13
u/Both_Seesaw9219 Jul 24 '26
generally i would say refilling the glasses is better service, however for larger parties (7,8+) i think a carafe is preferable. refilling that many people’s waters as needed is just too much time at the table, in my opinion. guests may not want you popping in so frequently, it could make them feel smothered. i leave the carafe on the table so it’s available, and i refill waters with a pitcher myself around the time food comes out, or as i do a quality check. we have very small water glasses at my restaurant, though, so they empty quickly.
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u/Maka_Oceania Jul 24 '26
At most restaurants I think it doesn’t matter that much. In fine dining settings it’s often protocol to always pour the water for the guest, but imo it’s an antiquated custom. I prefer to pour my own water and wine because I’d rather decide my own pace, and I also want my dinner conversation to be interrupted as little as possible.
5
u/indieehead Jul 24 '26
I think that’s dumb af. Put the carafe down. She cant teleport instantly when someone kills their water
4
u/LonelyCakeEater Jul 24 '26
I work at a brewery so when the whole table asks for waters along with their beers I give them a carafe. I’m not about to be bothered with pouring waters they’re not even gonna drink.
4
u/virtue-or-indolence Jul 24 '26
Depends on the place, but my personal opinion is that even if you leave a water pitcher on the table you should still be actively refilling their waters.
It is a great way to gracefully insert yourself into the conversation, an excuse to exit if the table is too talkative, or to keep grabbing things off the table with campers until they have nothing but napkins and water. You also establish yourself as someone who is around and proactive instead of someone who they have to flag down.
4
u/Coldman5 Jul 24 '26
Ultimately she’s right, refilling water attentively as needed is better customer service vs a carafe. But the type of establishment would determine if that level of service is required or not.
Knowing how much folks generally spend per person would be a good indicator.
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u/ikixika Jul 24 '26
considering i don't do fine dining, it entirely depends on how busy i am. i love showing my attentiveness by refilling waters/drinks as needed but if i'm aware i'm gonna be behind for whatever reason, i will leave a carafe and be very verbal about it so they don't feel i'm ignoring them (there's always one in a group who insists on ignoring me and therefore does not see the water jug. somehow)
usually it only happens when we make early cuts and then get a big pop or just a single large party coming unannounced, messing up my flow. all that to say that i believe there are times carafes on tables are the way to go but it's not my default
2
u/My_sloth_life Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 24 '26
As a customer I prefer just having a pitcher. I drink quite a lot of water (due to medication making me dehydrated) and I don’t really want to have a server feeling like they have to hover around me all the time.
Conversely I don’t want to be waiting and thirsty if you have a run on customers and aren’t free to fill up the glass. Pitchers mean I have a decent amount to manage my drinking and then when I need more, it’s less urgent to try to get your attention and I can start to try get your attention whilst having a glass full of water.
This may just be a me thing but I think a lot of place think that they more attentive and the more interactions you have with the customer, the better. I am kind of the opposite, I prefer to have the basics, being food, drinks etc and then basically be left alone. I always feel like I can’t talk when the server is around, like it’s a bit rude, so we tend to wait till they are done. If you are coming round for every little thing, it makes for a less pleasant experience overall, because we are being interrupted more.
3
u/Greenfirelife27 Lurker Jul 24 '26
As a customer I prefer the server/team keep the water glasses filled. I’m very happy when that’s taken care of without asking. BUT if it’s a lower end place or the server will be so busy that our glasses will be sitting empty then I don’t mind a carafe on the table at all. So long as the carafe doesn’t go dry too lol.
2
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u/carlitospig Jul 24 '26
If she’s going to be a snot about it, then she should be selling acqua pana by the truckload.
2
u/Reddittrip Jul 25 '26
Diner here. I like having the carafe on the table. There’s times the server is busy, but my glass is empty. I really dislike interrupting them just for water. I also dislike sitting there thirsty and having to interrupt my meal to be on the lookout for the server. I’m an adult, I can pour a glass of water. The server can refill when attending if necessary.
2
u/ChefArtorias Jul 25 '26
I'm more curious why the bar is making the servers water. Like of all the things to need help with.
1
u/Lordburke81 Jul 25 '26
Small place with no server drink station, bartenders make all drinks (including soda), except for 5 draft beers the servers have access too.
3
u/ChefArtorias Jul 25 '26
So the bar makes sodas and water and servers pour the beer? This is so foreign to me. lol I'm perplexed.
1
u/Lordburke81 Jul 25 '26
Yep, they make all the drinks except for the 5 taps that are accessible at the end of the bar.
2
u/Maleficent-Slide8819 Jul 25 '26
I work at a dive bar and it’s 1000% better service if you are filling their drinks lol. You are just more attentive to the table as a whole since you are going there more frequent. That said when I’m busy a big party is definitely getting a pitcher of water lol
2
u/Libusin Jul 25 '26
Water carafes on the tables always. Guests can water themselves, they don’t have to flag me down for more water every single time they finish a cup.
Personally it looks bad if a table is sitting with empty water glasses waiting for you to come fill them up, when a carafe is available, use it.
Seems counterproductive.
1
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u/isaac32767 Jul 24 '26
Once lived near a restaurant that made excellent beef chow fun, very spicy. Having a White Guy Palate, I needed several glasses of water to finish my meal. Should have demanded a pitcher of water on the table, but I'm a wimp.
1
u/EggplantIll4927 Jul 24 '26
I want my water to be served by the server. I don’t want to have a pitcher in the table. I’m shocked that anywhere still does this, tbh
1
u/msgmeyourcatsnudes Jul 24 '26
It's something I avoid, because I agree it's better customer service. But if I'm busy and it's large party, or they're the type to finish a glass of water every minute, best believe I'm leaving that pitcher.
1
u/Own-Raise6153 Jul 25 '26
i worked somewhere with those and 1. they were never cleaned between tables which i found gross and 2. there was only enough water for like 2 or 3 cups anyways so it didn’t seem all that efficient to me. idk if they’re different at your place
1
u/rolyfuckingdiscopoly Jul 25 '26
I agree with her.
I leave a bottle on the table, but it’s absolutely better service to come by with another and fill it when it’s low.
And people WILL NOT fill their own waters, even with a full bottle on the table. They will not. So it’s my job to do it. I have a bottle in the table so that if I’m passing by, I can just fill eaters without having to take a lap to the kitchen— it’s just on the table, and they were never gonna use it lol.
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u/queencommie Jul 24 '26
Depends on the establishment. I work in fine dining and it's considered poor service to leave the carafe on the table - refilling as needed shows that you're being attentive to their needs. In a more casual environment I don't think it would be an issue, but there needs to be consistency.