Posted: 7/20/2007 7:15:52 PM EDT
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Good food is worth paying for, and so is good service. The going rate, whatever it may be, is more than acceptable provided the price somewhat equals the product received. I'll VERY seldom gripe, return an order, or ask for a manager.... but please stop trying to enhance my "dining experience" by keeping me captive. Here's my gripe... what's the wait for? Waiting to be seated in half empty restaurants, or watching the waiter flirt with the busgirl while I'd rather be back on the road, just fucking kills me. Seat us, bring the grub, bring the check, and STFU. I realize the highlight of some intellectuals' days, is to sit around in crowds of people at coffee houses or dill pickled diners, while discussing the most abstract subject their vocabulary will allow. Cool by me... I honestly hope the ice cubes are cold enough for them... But some of us have shit to do, or have already seen/heard it. Since smoking is no longer allowed in restaurants, what's up with the 40 minute lag for the check after the last empty plate is cleared? What's up with sitting in the lobby on hold listening for our last name, while 75% of the tables are empty? I love the idea of good food, and the idea of no dishes. But my time is mine.... I'd be back more often without the dreaded "courtship"...  |
You'd think they would want to clear the seats to get more customers in, but 80% of the time its a PITA to get a check from them. I've given up waiting on them, its my time. We pack up the kids, get our own 'to-go' boxes and if they don't have a check ready we march up to the front and let them sort it out. I've also been to places with very rude wait staff (The Fat Rascals in Port Orchard is an excellent example of this) where they hover while eating and try to push you out the door as soon as possible. I'm not going back, even though the food was good. |
I do it too, (go up to the host or any waitstaff I can find, and hand them my card when I'm done & ready), but have been told it's rude to do so.  When we do go to the places that rush us, I'm refreshingly pleased, though it's obvious I'm in the minority who feel that way. Honestly, we'd go out to eat more often.... but the idea of killing 1-2 hours to do something that takes 20-30 minutes to enjoy most, really takes the fun out of it. Fast food sure has its' merits. |
You really need to stop going over to Steve's for dinner. |
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Wow, 40 minutes is madness! One thing you might try OdT is to tell your waitress, once you get a table, that you're in a hurry, and to bring the check asap. Does this happen in quality restaurants, or just chow huts? My gripe is coffee or tea refills in an empty place. It's a shame to lose the fun of dining out.  |
40 minutes is the highside, when I've been stuck with a larger group. When it's just me, or us, I have no trouble going against the flow and leaving when I'm ready.  10 minutes is too long for me.... the check could come with the meal if it were on my terms. I'd take no offense.I'll say it's worst in medium level chain restaurants like Spaghetti Factory, Olive Garden, or The Ram types. I don't frequent enough higher end restaurants anymore to really know, but it seems to go either way with the ones I do go to when traveling. |
Servers point of view in red
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Right on, thanks for the pointers. I've seen the biz from the inside a bit too. (I washed dishes and prep cooked for 5 years starting at age 12, line cooked for two more, mom was a waitress, grandma was a waitress, aunts were waitresses, step-mom cooked/waited/bartended, ex wives were both waitresses, dad had a restaurant & lounge for 11 years) Ideally, I want to enjoy the food, tip well, and then be on my merry way. Seems like it's getting harder to do that with the new corporate policies in place, never mind the unsupervised 'kids' running the shows in some cases. Guess those symptoms are also true in most retail and public service industries though. |
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I honestly think the entire crux of the poor service situation here in WA state is that servers make too much money. I make minimum wage plus tips and that is a hell of a lot better than McDonalds. In most other states in the union you make 2.15 an hour + tips so if you are a shitty server you do not last long in the business. Most people that wait tables are <25 years of age. These people are for the most part self centered assholes who have never had a real job in their lives. The money is good and there is great social interaction with peers. This has a tendency to draw a lot of people who are just there because they are likely not going to make less than 10% on top of the paycheck. I started waiting tables in Tx and went into fine dining there. The level of training to be a fine dining waiter is actually pretty intense. You have to be able to describe all the nuances of the 120 count wine list and know the ages of wines you have on hand. You must be able to recount the ingredients that the chef uses in his jerk spice mix for the daily special. With the corporations all you have to do is memorize a never changing menu and know some drinks. Most servers here cant even garnish a plate correctly!  I hate servers sometimes, sometimes I hate the asshole customers more(Mind you this is a small percentage) I cant make up my mind! so I will just go on hating them both and making money.
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My family really likes the Hawk's Prairie Inn. It has good portions, good preparation and good selection (even for the resident "picky eater". The last time we were there was late in the day for the dining room and the bar was into the Kareoke phase. The "talent" was clearly audible in the dining room. Frankly I'd rather listen to the sound track from a slaughter house. What used to be a popular eating choice for the family has become an inside joke. 
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 I agree all the way down the line. I was quite a few years in to working construction before I made consistent wages that topped my (x)wifes income when we were younger. Some of her stories about her (very temporary) co-workers were downright hilarious, yet tragic too. All that opportunity right in front of them, and they only saw the downsides of the job, and focused on them.
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And just why the deuce couldn't Howard Johnson's in Post Falls Idaho come up with enough extra pillows to give us each two with a two night stay? Some places gave us two without asking and one gave us extras when we asked but Howie said "they didn't have any extra". Sorry ODT, just stirring poo. BTW, I've started largely ingnoring percentages for resturant tips. That gal at Denny's who busts her butt to serve me deserves more total dollars than the slacker at the Hilton Head who let me sit and spin waiting for service. |
 www.hisuitestampa.com/facilities/simply-smart-bedding.php ETA; most major brand hotels are going to the dual pillow per person standard anymore. You can just about expect it in the future. I agree with it.... very popular idea. My guess is that the desk clerk was too lazy to go get it, but who knows, maybe they were out for some odd reason... 
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Tips should be entirely decided by service. If you get bad service then by all means leave a poor or no tip. The server will recognize the deficiency and if they dont step up the pace with service then it is time to find a new job. I dont know if you can tell but I am not a server apologist. If however you are just an ass then I think you should be beaten with spatulas. I am quite sorry if you had a poor experience last time you ate out. If you take it out on me then this experience will not be any better!(this was not pointed at Mace_Hardware but anyone who goes out with a chip on their shoulder and a sour as hell demeanor) |
Huh? The 45yo waitress busting her ass at Denny's gets $5 minimum tip even on a ten dollar ticket. (I need to know where B77 works so I can practice my sour demeanor... )I was a small tipper when I was hungry in college, but at this phase of my life I believe it is time to be more generous. How can I justify a $1.50 tip for good service at a cheap to eat place? BTW, next time I'm hungry near Hawk's Prairie, I'll eat there. As long as it is before 8pm, LOL. (ETA: Now I get it, B77 once served Grumpy water in a dirty glass. It all starts to make sense now....) |
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20 years ago, Hawks Prairie was a treat for our parents to take us to as kids. I've been there twice in the last two years. Gut-rot to the point of nausea and poor service seem to be the new standard. It HAS become a joke. Maybe next time I'm there I'll just drink. I like to enjoy my dining experience and occasionally stay long after the plates are empty, but I too would like my check with my food. If it's handwritten then there is NO EXCUSE for having to wait for the check. It's not like they can't scribble more lines on there if I order more drinks. I try to be the lowest maintenance diner I can, so I expect excelllent service the 3 or 4 times my server comes to my table. Unfortunately, tips doesn't seem to communicate with servers at a restaurant as well as they communicate with bar tenders. If I tip 60% on the first drink and 40% on the second, I can tip normal the rest of the night and bartenders practically jump over the crowd at the bar to serve me, even when I'm 5 or 6 people back in line. Why can't waitstaff remember good diners? |