Top 10 Things To Avoid as a Restaurant Customer

If you've been keeping up with our posts (shame on you if you haven’t) then you know our last post listed several things restaurant staffers may not have realized are upsetting or annoying their customers. In the spirit of equality, it is only fair to share a few things customers should avoid doing (at all costs) when dining out.  

As it stands, roughly 50% of today’s work force has worked in a restaurant at some point in their lives. If you are among these 50% then you probably feel that it should be mandatory that everyone work in a restaurant at some point. While I do not currently possess the tyrannical authority to make that happen (yet...unfortunately), I believe I can shed a little light on those of you who have never known the exquisite pleasures to be had while working back to back doubles on a holiday weekend.

It’s Valentine’s Day, you’re 9 hours deep in your 12 hour double shift, two of your tables are waiting on the chocolate turtle cheesecake that’s still frozen, the bussers haven’t cleaned your dirty tables yet, and the hostess just double sat you. You’re wearing the house dressing on your shirt, your only “meal” was comprised of 3 crackers from the salad bar, and you've needed the restroom for at least an eternity!

As you streak past on your way to the restroom, one of your oh so very patient patrons whistles and snaps his fingers at you. You restrain yourself and fight the urge to verbally assault him (who says you don’t have will power, Ha!) and instead, even with steam jetting from your ears, you flash him your best Kool-aid grin and ask how you can assist him. How are you able to contain yourself in the face of such rudeness?! Well, because you’re a server, it’s part of the job….and because you know it wasn't meant to be personal (and because you know exactly how much longer his food will sit under the heat lamp now, Muahahaha). However, in an effort to spare you this extreme test of willpower in the future, Hilton's has compiled a list of do's and don't's, starting with:

No. 1: Exercise patience when signaling your server for assistance. Snapping your fingers, whistling, flailing about like a crazy person, making that obnoxious “slurp an empty drink with a straw” noise, or yelling your server’s name are all examples of how not to call your server. When they aren't currently with another table a simple "excuse me," should suffice. Interrupting them while they’re with another table is disrespectful to them and the other tables.

No. 2: Be respectful and attentive when your server at your table. That means avoiding things like talking on the phone while the server is taking your order, ignoring them when they come to the table, treating them like a second class citizen, or acting like you should be their first priority. Look at it this way, servers actually ARE paid by the hour… you pay them for the hour they spend serving you, their other tables pay them for the hour they serve them.  Consider the fact that at any point in their shift they have 8 different bosses, all telling them to do different things and each boss expects their task to be the first one accomplished. A polite and courteous guest might just make that server's day.

No. 3: Remember it is not always the servers fault. A server’s tip should be based solely on the service they provided. While they will sympathize with you if your meal wasn't as tasty as you'd hoped, or the thermostat is set to "Arctic," these things are not in their power to control.

No. 4: TIP!!!! Always, every time! You should always leave a tip, even if the service was sub par. Their entire earnings are based on tips, the hourly wages they earn typically aren't even enough to cover their taxes.  A server's tips are their "customer feedback card" if you don't leave one they won't know if you were displeased with their service, whereas a 10% tip will show you were dissatisfied. On the other hand, if you received exemplary service don't shy away from dishing out an extra dollar or two, they will be much obliged. 

No. 5: Avoid making your server uncomfortable. This means do not touch them, make fun of them, excessively flirt with them, or ask them “what’s good here?” This is the same thing as saying “what do you have that doesn't taste like garbage” it's awkward for the server, it puts them in a difficult situation and there is no correct answer. There is nothing wrong with asking for their suggestions just make sure you aren't asking them to bad mouth their establishment. 

No. 6: If you have a food allergy tell your server. Do not try and piece a meal together yourself, The server is aware of what menu items are available that are suitable for certain allergies, they can save you a lot of time in choosing.  Let the server help you avoid an uncomfortable night or worse, a trip to the emergency room.

No. 7: Be aware of the hours of operation. If the restaurant closes at 11:00p.m. don’t stroll in at 10:45. The kitchen has already started closing down, the servers are attending to their closing duties, and honestly, you are not going to have the same experience as you would if you came at a decent hour. If you've seen the movie “Waiting” then you have some idea of how restaurant staffers feel about “late nighters” (of course that movie is an extreme dramatization).

No. 8: Limit your order to items that are on the menu, especially if you see the place is packed. Yes, they have bread, cheese, and butter so they technically have all the ingredients for grilled cheese sandwiches, but it’s not a menu item, there’s no pricing for a platter of grilled cheese’s. That being said, no one will have a problem making your toddler a bowl of buttered noodles.

No. 9: Avoid lingering after you've taken care of the check. Sure, enjoy that last glass of wine or take your time finishing dessert. Just don’t be that group that takes up a table for an hour and a half without ordering anything. Most restaurants have a bar area or patio available for those customers who aren't ready to call it a night yet.

No. 10: Keep it clean by taking your dirty tissues or other unsanitary leavings with you. They’re servers, they’re not there to pick up hazardous materials. It's not a very comforting thought that the person handling your food just cleaned up eleven napkins that were used to stem the tide of various bodily fluids leaking from a baby’s face.

Some other things to try and avoid include: spending 20 minutes taking pictures of the entrée  for Instagram and sending it back because it’s cold, sitting at a table that hasn't been cleaned yet, sending back the entrée after eating half of it. Empty tables are empty for a reason, a host/hostess has to follow a rotation of sections to sit guests, or those tables could be for reservations, either way a little patience with the host/hostess may not get you seated faster, but it will surely be appreciated. On that note, if you make a reservation, stick to it, guests on the wait list are eyeing your empty table and are ready to pounce on it. 

Certainly, there is a such thing as bad service, and yes sometimes you will get a server who is generally bad at his or her job, but overall, remember the golden rule, "treat others as you would like to be treated." Yes, servers are paid to serve you, cooks are paid to cook for you, and hostess’ are paid to frustrate you (Ha!... not really), but that doesn't mean they are servants. It is a fact (though don’t ask me to find the science showing it) that if you’re polite and courteous to restaurant staffers, they will be much happier serving you, making you happier in return. Now go peasants, and dine to your heart’s content (trying out the tyrant thing again… no?)