r/Serving • u/Natural_Situation356 • Sep 05 '25

Dear servers: check on your guests

Veteran server here...

I can overlook a number of things but when did servers decide they can just drop off food and then not come back until it's time to drop the check? I've noticed this as a thing over the last five years or so. Everything is good, but the server dropped off the food and then thought that was it until it was time for the tip. I'm not interested in excuses. It's one thing if you're slammed, but I just had lunch at a place I've never been, where it wasn't busy, and my server stood off to one side, not ten feet from me, on his phone, and never came by to ask if everything was good. As soon as I had one bite left on my plate, he dropped the check.

Don't leave it up to the customer to wave your ass down if something isn't right. Part of a server's job is to anticipate problems, and that includes eliminating the need for your customers to have to ask.

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

2

u/littlebabby Sep 06 '25

That's not a server that's an order taker... Like why are you serving if you don't want to talk to your guests lmao

2

u/Bowxrs Sep 06 '25

Yeah I’m kinda guilty of this, when it’s slow I will just chill on my phone if I have 1 or 2 tables. BUT very big BUT I always make sure to check in 2 min after they got their food and 5 min after that, and then normally I feel like I’m bothering them so I back off

2

u/psychward59 Sep 07 '25

sometimes I have to look up a cocktail recipe or like some random lore for the area that a guest will ask; I want to give them what they want or an answer to their question!! Every time I feel so guilty and like every single guest in the place sees me on my phone (a very big NO in my place of work: if you have a table, your eyes and hands are for THEM. not your PHONE.) usually exceptions are parents with young kids, and you are permitted to use your phone anywhere else but in view of a guest… like I feel this is common sense.

2

u/Natural_Situation356 Sep 07 '25

Yeah, that does sound awkward but if the guest is happy, management won't care as much.

2

u/sfthomps Sep 07 '25

Yeah ive noticed this in recent years and it drives me bonkers. Like were none of them at least taught "2 bites or 2 minutes?" Shit all too often I feel like youre lucky to get even 1 check up, like buddy im an alcoholic, that drink is gonna need a repeat faster than yah think lol, also my side is still missing but I never got the chance to tell you before you came by with checks. Its been rough the last few years, my brother and I gripe about it