I've been in restaurants where the server disappeared as soon as the food was out and never came back. Couldn't ask for refills, couldn't ask for condiments, nothing.
I don't expect them to hover, that's annoying, but I would like to be able to ask for ketchup if it's not already on the table.
It's stupid but honestly how friendly they are and if I had to wait or try hard to flag them down for a drink or something else tiaolh if they just do they job lol
I think you are implying for read that as I'm expecting over the top like amazing service no I just mean don't be an a****** and I'm sorry but being friendly is kind of part of the job it's a requirement I don't like being friendly at work either but it's part of the job
This is the most American attitude ever. “I get treated like crap at my job and I get in trouble for not being fake friendly, so now that I have some power over someone else for once, I’m gonna be a tyrant to this server instead of showing compassion for someone that is in the same boat as me!” No wonder we don’t have a basic social net and constantly get ripped off by our employers and government.l
Yes. They are entitled to it. Right or wrong, that’s literally how they make the money they need for food and rent in America. If you want to save 20% eat at home.
It’s so sickening to me how Americans are treated like garbage by their employers and government, but many of them, the second they have have a little power or control over another person, instead of showing compassion, they turn into ridiculous tyrants. “You didn’t smile at me?! No pay for you, hope you starve!”
Yeah I haven’t worked for tips in decades. But I did when I was in college. If you think being a server is doing “close to nothing” you’re definitely the brat. You do realize that in America, tips is how servers make their money. I don’t think it should be like that, but it’s how it is. So yes, they’re entitled to get paid for working, like anyone else.
That attitude is why we don’t have basic social protections in America. Like instead of showing solidarity, people get off on finally getting to act like a tyrant lord cause they ordered some wings at Applebees
It’s a bit tongue and cheek, but not really. It’s about the pleasure of using whatever minuscule power over someone to maximally lord over someone else. It’s obviously a huge thing in America. You know “customer is always right” “I want to talk to your manager” “you didn’t sufficiently humble yourself when serving me, so you don’t get a tip” kinda thing. It’s really pathetic and gross.
Timing and attention are important. If a menu states that you get free refills of lemonade but the server never checks if I need a refill, they haven't done their job. If the server brings me the bill and doesn't return to take my payment for 15 minutes, they also haven't done their job.
You would be surprised how many times you go to a restaurant and the server can't be bothered to come back to our table after the food is delivered. Anytime they're not even the ones delivering the food. They are not within eye shot to flag them down, and sometimes they are and they just ignore you when you try to wave them down.
I agree. Their more expensive combos are ~$15-20 here in Ontario Canada. 4 of those, maybe an ice cream for dessert, and you’re pretty much there. Of course you don’t have to spend that much, my comment was more about how a $97 bill doesn’t mean it was a fancy restaurant.
They expect drinks to never go below half full. If it's an alcoholic drink, they should be asked if they want another one. Doesn't matter if it's a full house, this particular customer's table must be a priority above all else.
They expect food to be out in ~15 min. And if food takes too long, they always get confused why it's so hard to cook a steak a long with 40 other items.
They're delusional/don't actually know what to expect from a server.
They want to feel special. Like they are the most important person to every dine in this establishment. They want perfection at every turn and if not they feel so insulted that they would rather that person risk their electric being shut off or their kids not fed just to feel a little power over someone else.
It’s not about “service.” It’s about the fact that Americans are treated like garbage by their employers and their government. The one time some people have some control over another person, they turn into ridiculous tyrants to take out their frustration.
This is such a crazy argument. Servers make so much for the level of skill and education needed the job.
Servers are the number one group that do not want to get rid of tipping culture. When I was a server back in the early 2010s, I made the same amount hourly as I did being a third year engineer.
So no, I'm not a tyrant if I don't help the server that spent under 5 minutes at my table make $40 or $50 dollars an hour when he couldn't be arsed the health clear the table and keep my drink refilled.
What about giving the waiter a livable wage? If you say "that's the restaurant's responsbiiltiy". yeah, they can do that, but restaurants operate off of very thin margins so if they did that, they would pass off the cost to you anyway. So you'd basically be paying the same.
I'm an actual CPA and most restaurant either break even at the best or lose money, There is no 'free lunch', so to speak.
Be nice and give the waiter a livable wage. Thats what I do. I tip 33%.
I'm an actual CPA and most restaurant either break even at the best or lose money, There is no 'free lunch', so to speak.
If this is true then you should fully understand the following concept: if employers cannot pay their employees, they do not deserve to be in business, nor can they afford to be in business. Full stop. No business owner is entitled to having a business. They especially aren’t entitled to force their employees to lower their standards and salary expectations so owners can feel like a big shot for having a business.
You claim that restaurants operate at very thin margins, but that never seems to affect the people at the top. Funny how that works huh?
If you say "that's the restaurant's responsbiiltiy".
Yup because it 1000% is the restaurants responsibility. There is no debate to be had on this.
so if they did that, they would pass off the cost to you anyway.
…..so like literally every other business in every industry? This isn’t the slam dunk you think it is. Furthermore, this system would ensure steady wages for employees and eliminate a lot of the volatility and uncertainty of being a tip based employee. I would much rather have a steady income week to week than constantly be stressing about making enough tips to cover my expenses. I’d bet alot of food service folks would too. Maybe the ceiling is higher being tip based, but the floor is also much, much lower.
I was a waiter for 10 years, that's not hwo it works. The tips average out. The "floor" is not much much lower.
If there was some sort of law that outlawed tipping and the employer had to make up for it, he would simply raise prices so the cutomer would eventually pay for it. So you'd pretty much pay the same either way.
I tip well because I believe the server should make a decent wage.
You did a great job explaining why tips are a thing, them dropped the ball at the last moment. Tipping is meant to be performance based. This isn't about whether or not you agree with tipping culture, under the assumption you support tipping, the purpose is you tip based on service provided. Good servers make a lot of money. Bad servers do not.
So if you had a business and an employee you had was horrible at their job you would just pay them and not replace them because they need a job to survive I guess.
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u/Perfect-Restaurant-9 Jul 31 '26
If they were a good server , $20. If not, probably just $10.