It was 30 minutes before we closed and we had a table of 4 that had finished their food and had their table cleared over an hour prior that were still sitting at their table chatting away. I went to ask them if they'd like to order any coffees or sweets, and after I took their order I informed them that we would be closing in about 30 minutes, as i didnt want to bring them their coffees and then tell them as it would give them less time to finish their coffees, pay at the till, etc. We try to inform customers about 30 minutes before closing as the closing process is quite lengthy and we can't actually start until there's no more customers in the building. We also stop getting paid 15 mins after closing time but obviously im not going to tell customers that lol. This was how the conversation went:

Me: "No problem, I'll get those started now, also just letting you know we will be closing in about 30 minutes"

Customer: "Oh do you want us to come and pay you now? We don't have to get coffees if you're closing soon"

Me: "No no, you're fine, just pay at the till whenever you're all finished. I just thought i'd let you know sooner than later. It takes a while to close you see so we try to let customers know so we can all get out a decent time"

Customer: "No, you know what we'll go somewhere else. We don't be somewhere where the staff don't want us"

Then they cancelled the order, the guys wife paid up and they all left. Mind you they had already been sitting there for nearly 2 and a half hours, it was 3:30pm on a Sunday, and there's literally no where else open in my town at that time which I did tell them when he said he wanted to go somewhere else but the guy didn't want a bar of it - he was also the only one that really seemed to have a problem with it as the others were sort of telling him it's fine.

What I want to know is - am I a dick for that? Could have I worded it differently? Was I being too honest? The customer service in me leaves my body the closer we get to closing time.

Just wondering if anyone else has a major MH diagnosis and also supports themselves with server work. My symptoms are well-managed now thanks to meds and treatment, but I definitely have bad days. Mainly that looks like me not being able to fake the funk at times. There have been moments where I gave a customer attitude, both deservingly and undeservingly. For anyone with BPD and or MDD (borderline personality disorder and major depressive disorder), I would welcome advice about how to level up in terms of affect control/presentation especially under stress.

Ultimately I know I am too moody to be waiting on customers. But here I am. Working at getting to BOH, that is my goal. Meanwhile I am improving every day in one way or another, in terms of people skills. However there are days where all customers seem evil and I can't stand the sight of them lol! For days such as these I would welcome tips and techniques for soothing my inner tiger. Thanks everyone, happy serving.

I am in Texas and I’m curious if anyone knows the answer to this. In my almost decade of being a server I’ve never owed in taxes until this past year. Recently the restaurant I’ve been working at tried to switch over to an app that revealed how they claim all of our tips, even credit card, as cash tips. We ended up not even using that app and switching back. This seems so suspicious to me and I’m definitely not the only one of my coworkers that thinks so

I like being a server. Also, I like serving the way I like to be served. Golden rule and all that.

I enjoy helping people come in and relax, enjoying their leisure time. I like making people feel they made a good choice spending their money here.

I FUCKING HATE selling stuff people don't want.

"Did you know we have gift cards?" No fucking shit the customer knows we have gift cards. It's 2024 in America. Everyone has gift cards. It's more unusual to NOT have gift cards. I'm sure my veteranarian has gift cards.

"Gift cards make the perfect gift for...." No they don't. They make an "okay" gift for some people. No one is collapsing crying into a loved ones arms because they got a gift card to a casual place.

"Have you thought about gift cards?" Yes. Everybody has. All media is bombarding them with reminders for Christmas gifts. I'm getting spam texts to places I've never heard of pitching gift cards. For places I'm not within a hundred miles of.

Why do we have to invade one of the last public places people can go in December to not be harassed to buy something?

And the looks they give us at the end of the meal? The sour looks of annoyance? RIGHT BEFORE they leave us a tip?

Sigh....just another reason service workers start to dread the holiday season. I can't watch Hallmark Christmas movies without a borderline panic attack anymore

(Rant over)

Ive been at my job longer than anyone and the gm recently hired her boyfriend and now he gets all the best shifts and parties. I have had my hours cut and do not get any of the busy shifts friday/saturday night. Shes so far up corporates ass idk if they will do anything. I love my job and dont wanna quit but idk what to do.

I need to find the best Non-slip, waterproof, No lace, slip on work shoe. On that won’t break within the first two days. Please help.

He was an older gentleman, came in, got drinks, paid with cash, nothing unusual. Then he asked if we had any 50 cent pieces. Nope! He pursed his lips and asked if he could buy our quarter rolls. Also nope.

He stood there for a moment, his expression an odd mix of amusement and disappointment, like we shared an amusing secret I was refusing to acknowledge.

Seeing as he still didn't walk away, I told him the bank was literally the next building on the block. He chuckled, said he didn't need the coins that bad, and left.

Edit: spelling.

For parents who’ve bought iPads for their kids, do they show genuine gratitude for having one? Or do they quickly take it for granted? I’m curious about others’ experiences with kids and how they react to getting something as cool as an iPad.

Tmm will be one of the busiest days at the restaraunt I work in, it’s a busy tourist part of the city I live in and I expect things to be crazy. I might walk out tmm during service

People why on earth do you order something you know you can't afford?

Earlier tonight one of my regulars came in and I realized that they are my longest consistent regulars at 10 years across 3 different restaurants!

So I post the question to the forum!!

Edit: While I’m loving the stories of long term guests in these restaurants… what I’m specifically asking is this.

“As a server what is your longest personal regular, who came in and requested you serve them every time they came in?”

I just started working at a restaurant and I can’t believe how fast everyone works. There gets points in the dinner rush where everyone is sprinting everywhere and yet the team is expected to execute.

I’m the type of person to get stressed very easy and am not really someone who typically “moves fast” I like to take my time and work at my own pace. Does this skill come over time or are restaurant workers just built different?

I'm going to try to keep this short and sweet. There's this guy that comes in to my work. Older man. He comes in with his girlfriend and proceeds to walk up to the bar and hit on the bartenders. He's not terrible, and only got slightly creepy with me once when I was there on my day off. He complimented my cheeks and nose or something. I don't care. He tips fine so I'm one of the few people there that will serve him.

Anyways, hosts always ask when he comes in. "Bingo is here. It's your turn. Do you want to serve him?" Sure. I'm one of the older servers so I don't want him creeping on a youngin.

But now we're doing this Christmas thing. I was an elf the other day and my hat had bells on it. So Bingo came in and complimented my outfit. I went to say "Thanks, I jingle!"

The words that came out of my mouth were "Thanks, I jiggle!" And I'm pretty sure I jumped to emphasize my jingling. I awkwardly tried to correct myself and I ran into the kitchen, where I remained the rest of the night unless I was needed on the floor.

And that's my story. Feel free to share yours because I know I'm not the only one that accidentally says dumb shit.

i had to deal with a table that made me uncomfortable straight from the start. it was a group of men and the way they treated me made me feel like they were seeing who could get at me first. which, getting harassed is expected and i would normally ignore it but one of the guys made a comment that ruined my night. as i turned my back to walk away i could hear him say “i’d eat her a**” and so i told my manager. she said she handle it but she only handed my table to someone else. i’m disappointed that she didn’t ban them from coming back because i don’t want to see them again. should i bring this up to her or let it go? i dont want to overreact

So I work in a restaurant at a resort that brings in a lot of tourists. I get that tourists can be exhausted from traveling or being trapped in a car with their kids all day, but damn, there comes a point where there are no excuses for you anymore and you are just a stupid person.

So basically the main entrance of the restaurant is connected to the front desk for the resort. Everyone checks In there and is given info about the property, including the fact that right through those doors to your left is the restaurant, simple enough.

Yet I will watch someone with the most confused look on their face, as If they just landed on an alien planet that has flying pigs and people with 3 eyes and an extra finger.

And these people will stumble their way in to the restaurant, which upon entering, you will see me, wearing my work uniform, In front of a giant screen with a menu on it, in front of a register, and right behind me you can see people cooking and running food out.

I will watch these bewildered people make there way up to the register, and a few servers will walk past them with a pizza or a burger and these people will watch them walk by with the food.

And then they come up to me and ask "do you know where I can find the restaurant?"

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!?! ARE YOU BLIND??? WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK THIS PLACE IS? A FUCKING HOT TUB OR SOMETHING?

And then I have to compose myself without laughing and tell them "why you are standing in the restaurant right now"

And then they look at me, the same guy standing in front of a menu and a register and ask "where do I order?"

And it's so hard not to lose it at that point. I could totally put a giant neon blinking light above my head that says "THIS IS THE RESTAURANT, I AM YOUR SERVER, YOU ORDER HERE" and I would still get questions like this.

Scariest part of it all is that most of these clueless people have kids and they probably aren't getting taught too many useful things by their parents

I once worked for a semi-known chef, at a place of somewhat renown.

Fathers day weekend was happening, it was Friday, and I was at the front POS of a daytime coffee book place, and night time $50+ per person dinner. (kinda cool, kinda chic, kinda pisses the worker off)

I was the lead night time server.

I'm at the front POS, because our small room of 40 was booked all weekend, and we were at max staff, and that POS happens to look like the front of a counter... (which it is during daytime)

This guy comes up and starts chewing me out that my host couldn't seat 14 of them at a 12 top openers played Tetris with to even make work especially when the Resy was for 12.

I was also putting in a 10 tops order at the time. My manager was 2 ft behind the yelling individual trying to find a moment to interrupt, gave up, and felt it was best to let him run out of steam.

I do not give my manager shit for this decision privately, he knew I could take it, and that I was equipped for it. In public, I condone him every chance I get. Like here.

I took the tirade, finished inputting my order, looked up, and gestured to the manager behind him, after the individual finished his fireworks.

Long story short... that dude probably planned his whole weekend, wife added 2 more at the last moment and took it out on me. Probably seconds before and wasn't capable to figure out how to emotionally work with it. But that's half our job. Otherwise, we wouldn't be paid as well as we are.

Sucks to be me, sucks to be him more. He has to live with situation that creates these issues.

I have to live with the fact that as soon as I clock out, I don't have to deal with his situation.

Breath this week folks... these people don't know how to go to restaurants... and they suck even more with their families in tow.

The night before thanksgiving, a combination of these two factors, it will be a shit show. You can make some great money, but it will be a shit show, and most people will not know how to act in public.

Good Luck all, and enjoy your drinks!

ive been at said restaurant for 3 years now. serving for most of those 3 years. every year around holidays such as thanksgiving and christmas is usually amazing. customers usually watch you bust your ass and usually tip really good for it. today 11/26/24 it seems as if a bunch of assholes have popped out of the works. we did have some crazy coupons going on and i know that brings out the worst in people, but a total of 2 tables actually used these said coupons. so that really shouldn't be a excuse. first table that really made me question my existence. they had 5 people but instead of a booth that can fit up to 7 demanded to push 2 tables together and make a 8 top. because its thanksgiving week that really fucked us over later. which is fine i got over it trying to make people happy and whatever.

my next table flat up scremed at me because of something coporate decided to start doing a year ago. thats fine whatever. they also tipped me 10% because of what they ordered had a upcharge. again i dont get paid hourly and im not coporate idk what you want me to do. my last table said i was the best server they ever had. then proceed to tip $1 on a $40 tab. he also chugged 10 sweet teas in the hour he was there, yes i was counting. that's when my mental stability actually left my body. however that was my last table of the day so i left after that.

the table that actually did it for me was mid shift. they are regulars that are apparently "gluten free". however they ordered absolutely nothing gluten free. sent back there salads three times. i can say the first one was genuinely my fault and i told them that. we're all human and we mess up from time to time. second time the complaint was their roasted chicken was "too peppery". our roasted chicken is not only dry but, unseasoned it seriously tastes like dry turkey. i told her i can do it without the protein so its not peppery since you cant do non-existent seasoning. then they wanted to buy $200 worth of giftcards. no problem there we have a contest for who sells the most and it puts my name in the hat. then they tried to pay with said gift card. 10 minutes later i realized we cannot take gift card purchases with a gift card. this is my first year selling gift cards so it definitely took me on a wild goose chase. i tell them i can only do the food with said coupon. they were fine with me splitting it like that however the BOGO coupon went off that check as soon as i split it. without me or customers realizing it i ran the card through without it. which turned into another problem where i had to void the whole check and do it again. this is all happening while i have 8 other tables to take care of. anyways after the whole hour they were there and the 15 refills they got i got a 10% tip. they didn't even pay for 2 $12 salads did all that for 10% and come in all the time?

with all due respect i think people like this should not be allowed to go out, and it should be okay to be told a simple "dont come back". am i overreacting, am i crazy? or what the fuck is in the air. its not giving very thankful to me, but maybe thats why people are so petty.

I’m a server in CA and at my restaurant we don’t get to take our tips home at the end of each shift unless we get cash tips. We have to fill out a tip report and every two weeks when our paycheck comes, we get zelled our tips from the pay period. I already hate this system, but they never actually Zelle us our tips the day we get paid. It’s always 3-6 days after. Is this even legal? I’m quitting soon I hate this job so much

Just back from the first christmas meal as a guest at our local training college in the UK. The authorities often shove less academically minded teenagers into these courses, in the UK we have a law that everyone under 18 needs to be in school or some kind of training.

I trained in Germany about 34 years ago, and I do feel sorry for the teachers the kids they have to deal with, but after starting their course in September these kids could not carry a tray, never mind a plate or knew how to clear several plates by putting the forks at an angle, the knives underneath, and carry more than one plate in each hand.

I just quit a kitchen job and doordash was a determining factor. I've done research on this since it effected my life so much, and what I gather from the discourse is a lot of misunderstanding on both ends, dashers and cooks and a lot of misplaced anger on both parts.

1. I don't think a dasher should tip out of their own pocket, they are also underpaid and get treated poorly

2. Dashers should expect that kitchen employees are going to prioritize in house orders, because that's where tips come from and it is human nature to do what pays you more

3. Employees often cannot just turn off delivery apps, they risk getting fired or reprimanded for that

I was a kitchen employee at a place with a skeleton crew (most restaurants do this) because my boss is greedy and expects to make money without spending any. The restaurant was almost always steady to busy with in-house orders alone. Delivery app orders made it unmanageable at times because there wasn't enough staff or capacity to handle the influx of orders. I sometimes had a midshifter, I was a closer, and the boss based how busy the restaurant was on the sales report which didn't account for delivery app orders and would often demand I send my coworker home, even if the delivery app orders justified keeping my coworker on the clock. She and her simp manager believed that those orders didn't count when taking into account how busy the restaurant was. My mindset was, if it doesn't count, then I shouldn't have to cook it, but again I risked getting canned if I said that or turned off their stupid fucking tablets.

As a closer, I noticed that Doordash basically decided if I had to stay an hour late or three hours late. My boss (and I'm sure a lot of cooks have unethical bosses that do this or similar tactics) only paid for an hour after the restaurant closed with the expectation that it should take an hour to close. That being said, I'd often have no coworker, couldn't get anything done until we locked the doors and often got Doordash orders in the last 15 minutes, which is also reflective of people being shitty customers, knowing the joint is about to close but placing an order anyway. So, I often worked three hours unpaid to close the place, and a major contributing factor was Doordash orders. I hate the company and it's business model, I don't hate the dashers and I never took it out on them. I know that the app would send dashers early, which made me feel like I was being rushed by a ghost boss that doesn't pay.

This is often why employees hate Doordash. Sketchy bosses that cut corners and try to get twice the work out of one person so they only have to write one paycheck when they should be writing two or three. The Doordash incoming order ding haunts me even after I quit. As someone who believes in worker solidarity, I will NEVER use one of these apps as it is the bane of every cooks existence. I believe that these companies should have to pay a mandatory gratuity directly to the employee cooking their food, and not to the restaurant, because the greedy boss would probably try to steal it. Employees like me feel like we have a second boss that doesn't pay and rightfully so.

Doordash is unfair to everyone. The Doordashers, the restaurant cooks, the customers, etc. Fuck Doordash and all those delivery apps, and to the customers who use it, touch grass. I saw another post about this that said delivery is for Pizza and Chinese food. I agree. Doordash has turned every restaurant that wasn't delivery capable into a delivery restaurant because of the greedy bosses who don't give a fuck about their employees and only care about their bottom line.

TW: suicide/ ideations

I used to have this regular. I used to work 6 days a week, so I saw a lot of people come and go. But this one was different.

I was an early twenties female (I still am) working at a sports bar. He was about 10 years older than me, and so kind off the bat. Every time I saw him, he was the happiest guy in the room, even when it was super slow and nothing was going on and he was the only guy in the room. He was never creepy like some of the other ones, and I grew to see him as a friend. When we went out, he was the guy that watched the girls’ drinks when we went to the bathroom and held their purses proudly. He walked us to our cars and made sure we got home safely.

He was a lonely guy though. No family to speak of, no girlfriend, I don’t think he ever brought a friend to the bar. A couple times he had a few (awful) dates at our bar and we’d laugh and talk about dating woes. He had just brought in a stray cat, in one of those unlikely duo situations. He swore it was a stray but the cat came inside every night and had a bed and cat tower and a litter box and everything. I felt like it was coming though. He’d just quit his job with no backup plan, and he was a veteran but NEVER spoke about his time overseas.

He took his own life around this time last year.

He always played my favorite band on TouchTunes. I’ll admit my taste is not that great, so it was no one’s favorite band and he’d play it when he was nearing the bar, so I knew he was coming.

I randomly started playing “Favorite Band Essentials” on Apple Music yesterday and it all came rushing back. My partner was in the car, and I got to tell him what a great guy my regular was.

I’m crying as I write this. I hope he knows someone thinks of him and misses him terribly. And if you or someone you know is experiencing depression and dark thoughts, please reach out for help. You never know what someone’s thinking, and you never know who will miss you.

Does anyone else not care much for their colleagues? Like nothing against them, but I don’t have any interest in them as people. I just want to get in, get out, and be done with my shift. I’ve tried getting to know them, but I’m not really interested in them, and I doubt they are interested in me.

Can anyone else relate? How do you manage ?

I work for a Chinese restaurant and the way they do shifts is there’s a lunch shift from 12-4, then a dinner shift from 5-9. The managers usually schedule some evening and morning shifts but if you want a full 8 hours you have to work both lunch and dinner rush, which is essentially working doubles. At my last restaurant if you clocked in for lunch you’d have your eight hours from 10 - 5 from that and if you clocked in for dinner you’d work from 3:30-10:00

I'm a full time student part time worker at this restaurant and have school mon-thurs. My availability for work is everyday except Thurs and Friday. This new manager scheduled me this Black Friday and the same day the schedule is posted I texted him letting him know I can't make it Friday's because it's out of my availability, and also because I had something planned that day. He says "So the Friday is actually blocked off for our busy day and with availability it wouldn't matter" and that it is my job to find someone to cover. I think that's bullshit I haven't responded. I don't know what to do I am probably thinking of not showing up, and also I've read the employee handbook and I don't see anything about "blocked off" days but also nothing about when a situation about this happens.

I want to talk to my manager in person about this, but I don't know how to approach him. Also weeks before I requested the sat and sun following and if I had known I was scheduled outside my availability I would have requested off that day too. Plz help thanks

The place where I work has no bilingual people working there but I wish we would hire at least one person who knew Spanish. Instead we mostly hire teenagers and hillbillies, but I dont see why considering that the language barrier is a frequent occurrence that I can count on happening every couple of days. Now, personally I dont understand why someone from lets say France would go to Japan and not know ANY Japanese, but I like to think of my work place as a cool vibe, a break from the very real world outside, so I work with them the best I can. Usually they point at the menu, and with some gestures I can figure out what they want. However sometimes it's more challenging, and it's becoming an issue where nonenglish speakers will sit down with their families, and not tip me. At times it seems they assume I will assume that no one tips in their homelands but I know better. This started bothering me so much that I started learning some Spanish, just a few phrases, related to my performance as a server. Just to ease the pressure off them and to make them feel a little more comfortable. I fear that I come off as cold and difficult to them, if you don't speak my language, you may find my strong personality a little scary. So a nice couple came in, the language barrier become apparent, but we did ok. I give them their food, their drinks, but this time I start dropping a cute amount of Spanish just to show them that they are welcomed. "tu bebes?" if their drink was running low, or "necissito mas?" if I wanted to know if they wanted anything else. They smiled at me, seemed to appreciate it, which is always a good sign. They got up to leave, paid for their food, as usual they head for the door without tipping me. However, I guess they liked me, because they stopped, ,caught me, and gave me a few 5 dollars. A resounding success.

Long story short, I'm really guessing how to use the Spanish language here, but would appreciate any helpful phrases or cultural context to help me better communicate with nonenglish speakers.

I’m currently doing seasonal work for fun and was placed as a busser for a restaurant. I work hard, am constantly busy, and as a team, no table really is left unset for more than 5 minutes. I’ve been having issues with some of the servers. Not all, just 2-3 of them who make poor comments that “the bussers don’t do anything, the way they clean tables is unsanitary,” and complaining behind our backs. Or complain when bussing isn’t quick enough but is the one to comfortably hand you $2 as a tip. Most servers tip us under $10 for the shift each.

By nature, i’m a sensitive person and wanted to get along with everyone as well as enjoy coming to work. I’m confused at the entitlement by some of the servers. We do almost everything from greeting guests, getting drink orders (at least waters for sure), clearing plates, then resetting the tables. Also, polishing silverware, keeping servers stations filled, etc.

Why do servers complain? How do I handle it without causing tensions?

I work part time Saturday and Sunday, and I told my manager a few weeks ago that I could no longer work fridays and she said it was fine. I’m going on vacation this week so I emailed her last week asking for Saturday and Sunday off and I got it, but I checked the schedule and she has me down for Friday.

I was literally speaking to her on Saturday about me needing the weekend off before she even made the schedule and she didn’t even bother asking if I could do Friday she just put me down for it. Obviously I can’t do it because I’m not even in the country but was this my fault for not telling her I can’t do Friday either even though I never do fridays or is it her fault

I work in a all you can eat sushi restaurant when you get sat at the table there is a long plate in front of you a small soya dish behind that chopsticks and napkin on the long plate same on the other side for the other person. The food gets served on various other plates.

As soon as people sit down they push the plate in front of them to the middle (ie where you put the actual food) so they can lean on the table with their elbows. So when it’s time to bring drinks or food you have nowhere to put it and they just stare at you as you awkwardly try to shuffle everything while they are still leaning on the table WHYYYY?? The restaurant isn’t super fancy but it’s also not McDonald’s like sit up and have some manners at a table, I’d settle for more then a blank stare at this point 🫠

Just want to share, if anyone has any comments or suggestions on keeping myself sane it would be appreciated

• we are understaffed. Bad. Even for a small restaurant. 2-3 people handling a party of 25? I was cooking, prepping, running tables, pouring drinks, at the register.. all at once. Tf. Anyone else experience this? Hurts my head

• manager makes up rules all the time and is frustrated when you don’t read his mind. “Just use common sense.” Then proceeds to not do the thing and is just a hypocrite

• today a homeless man came in and wanted to exchange ones for 20s. I look at the manager, “uhh, you want to open the register… or…?” We’re all obviously uncomfortable so.. I asked. The guy was being very polite so I was like.. ok I guess?? :/ manager opens it and we’re all like ok whatever? Owner comes back and after the guy leaves we all get in trouble, but especially me because I was the one handling the cash. I told him, well.. I asked (manager) so idk I’m just going through the motions 😭😭 ALSO. When the guy left we all did a double wtf because his pants were wet, I couldnt originally see behind the counter, but the other staff could. So.. we all sanitized. Trying not to think about that, 🤷‍♀️ embarrassing for me, the manager.. and everyone else

• a doordasher twice my age hit on me. 🧍‍♀️and I have to see him all the time

• Manager hardly tells us there’s a big event until it happens. I’m often relaxing at the register or sweeping when a huge party comes in. Manager “oh you didn’t know about the party today?”

• The schedule also always came out anytime from Monday to Tuesday night. We complained and that only recently got fixed.

• soda machine broke and flooded dining room during a party / live music night

• I was tired and zoned out and flooded part of the kitchen with bubbles that same night. We closed an hour late that day

I started work at a large restaurant chain (not Darden tho) about two months ago. The managers are nice, but my God do they SUCK at scheduling. Our store is tiny, seats maybe 80 at most, and we have 14 servers for some reason. The staff was already bloated by the time I was hired, and they hired another after me, then another two came back after maternity/other leave. I was frequently get asked to come in for two hours just to be cut, and now I'm working four hours a week. Suffice it to say I'm sick of the bs. I want to ask for a transfer, as there's a location closer to my home anyways, but I don't know how to broach the subject. I think I have to email HR. Anyone have any advice/have done something similar?