Do you just eat it or send it back?

[Cardinal026]

Originally Posted by OTW

I refuse to pay $$$ for something I didn't ask for.

I send it back. I used to be a server, so I make it a point to be polite to the server regardless of whether or not my order's correct.

Ditto. I also find that if you make it sound like you don't think its their fault, everyone is happier. "Oh, I think the kitchen accidentally put alfredo on my pasta when I ordered marinara. Do you mind asking them if they could fix it for me please?" We both know the server screwed up, but if they think I'm not going to take away from their tip, they're usually super nice about it. This actually happens to me all the time, I have terrible luck with always getting my order out wrong!

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by Cardinal026

We both know the server screwed up, but if they think I'm not going to take away from their tip, they're usually super nice about it. This actually happens to me all the time, I have terrible luck with always getting my order out wrong!

This isn't always true. When I was waitressing, one of the waitresses clearly (well, she DOES have fancy writing, but I could tell the difference) wrote "Ruben" on the ticket, and the cook read it as "Ravioli" and made Ravioli for her order.

Also, I loved the guys in the kitchen, but all steaks came out well-done, no matter what you wrote on the ticket.


Amazingly enough, and knock on wood, I've never had my order screwed up - well, except when I ordered tuna salad from the restaurant I worked at and the guys in the kitchen made it chicken salad instead, just to eff with me. But don't worry - revenge was had. One of my favorite being bringing them the Pepsi they asked for in 5 shot glasses, instead of a normal cup.

[ForeverRoses]

My husband and I recently went to a nice (read really f-ing expensive) Steakhouse and when the waiter brought me my food, she asked me to cut into it and then she took out a little flashlight to shine on it. Well I had ordered it medium-rare and as soon as I cut into it, she said that it was NOT medium rare- it was medium well. So she took the plate back and had the kitchen re-make the steak. I would have just eaten it the way it was!

The manager ended up coming over to apologize and he comp'ed our appetizers.

So, no, I don't usually send it back but this time the waiter sent it back for me!

[SthrnZeta]

Originally Posted by ForeverRoses

My husband and I recently went to a nice (read really f-ing expensive) Steakhouse and when the waiter brought me my food, she asked me to cut into it and then she took out a little flashlight to shine on it. Well I had ordered it medium-rare and as soon as I cut into it, she said that it was NOT medium rare- it was medium well. So she took the plate back and had the kitchen re-make the steak. I would have just eaten it the way it was!

The manager ended up coming over to apologize and he comp'ed our appetizers.

So, no, I don't usually send it back but this time the waiter sent it back for me!

I've NEVER heard of that happening, I hope you tipped her well!

[ForeverRoses]

^^^
We did tip well- over 20% including what the appetizers would have cost. It was a great dinner, but I doubt we can afford to go back anytime soon!

[twinkle555]

Originally Posted by SthrnZeta

I've NEVER heard of that happening, I hope you tipped her well!

i have done that many times. i insist on taking a steak back if its not cooked right. the cooks at my restaurants are mostly idiots and i swear i could cook better lol.

p.s- servers really DO appreciate the "pleases", "thank yous" and 18% and up tips (unfortunatly, most of my tables that i get dont do that kind of stuff)

[twinkle555]

TIPPING for DUMMIES

The next time you're out eating at a resturant, look at your server. Do you think they are really happy to be doing that job? The answer is no, they are not, but it's what we do, and we do it for the money so please help them out. Its a tougher job than you think and you should pay them accordingly!

There are SO many people out there flooding the restaurants w/o any knowledge of how to tip. Here is a short guide for the general public to follow. Feel free to print out and store in your wallet and/or purse.

1. CHILDREN "THE LITTLE DEVILS":
If you have children, DO NOT let them, open and dump anything on the table (ie; salt, sugar, etc). IF YOU DO, you must leave an extra $5 for the server to clean up YOUR CHILD'S mess & to restock the now unusable wasted items. We are neither their babysitter nor their parent. The least you can do is pay us for the extra work. Also make sure you control your kids and don't let them scream or run around the restraunt. It's very distracting not to mention dangerous if they get ran over by a server with hot food in their hands.

2. "THE CAMPERS":
If you feel the necessity to stay for longer than 15 minutes after you pay, its an extra $3 every 30 minutes. We make our money from the tables. If you are in one and we can't seat it, we don't make money.

3. COMPLIMENTS:
Telling a server they are the best server they've ever had is not a tip. If we are good, let us know by leaving us more money. We cant pay our bills on compliments. Its not that we don't appreciate the praise, its just that if you say that and then leave 10% it's an insult.


4. THE SALVATION PAMPHLETS:
Prayer cards and any other religious pamphlet is NOT a tip. It is insulting that you assume we are w/o religion and must save us. Again, like ..3, we cant pay bills w/prayer cards. We'd go to church on Sundays if it wasn't mandatory to work on Sundays because EVERYONE who goes to church follows it by eating out.

5. TIPPING:
It is not 1960. Cost of living has gone up dramatically since then. 18% is the MINIMUM amount of what you should be tipping your servers. Just look at the tax line and multiply by 2-3, this gives you your minimum tip amount. Remember, our companies pay us minimum wage (minumum wage for servers is $6.75 in CA, $3.13 in FL, $3.09 in IA, $2.13 in TX) And we are taxed on 10 percent of your meal automatically anyway. So if your meal is $100 and you leave $10 and we tip out $4-5 to the busser, bartender, and whoever else then we pay tax on 10 dollars and we make $5. It seems small but it adds up. How many times do you eat out per week and do this? HERE'S A GOOD RULE OF THUMB: SINCE 18% IS THE MINIMUM, JUST LEAVE 20% FOR GOOD SERVICE. IT'S SIMPLE TO FIGURE OUT...LEAVE ONE DOLLAR FOR EVERY FIVE DOLLARS OF YOUR TOTAL BILL (PRE-DISCOUNT!!! AS IN, IF YOU HAD A COUPON OR VOUCHER OF SOME SORT...YOUR SERVER STILL HAS TO TIP OUT AND PAY TAX ON THE TOTAL BILL, NOT THE BILL AFTER DISCOUNTS!!) USE YOUR FINGERS TO FIGURE IT OUT IF YOU HAVE TO, JUST DON'T BE CHEAP! Your server will remember you next time and service will remain great, if not get better if he/she knows that you KNOW how to tip.

6. THE COMPLAINERS:
If you get a discount because of your food was prepared wrong or something, do not take it out of our tip. We didn't cook it. The cooks get paid hourly regardless if the food sucks. However, we only make what you give us. (Plus, remember what happens in the movie "Waiting" when you bitch and then send something back!!! Just kidding, that barely EVER happens....)

7. THE FREE STUFF:
If you happen to get anything for free and you did not have a problem with your dining experience, most of the time it is because the server thinks you will realize that they are giving it to you for free. There should be extra tip thanking the server for the free item. They could get in a lot of trouble giving away free stuff. You should give them hazard pay for it.

8. THE LATE ONES:
If you come into the restraunt 10 mins before closing or any time near closing hurry up and order your food and get out. Closed means closed, not social hour. It is so rude to sit there and take your sweet ass time. We can't leave until you leave because we have to do sidework and clean the table you are sitting at. We don't want to stand there waiting for you for an extra hour just because you don't want to go home. We recommend 24 hour establishments such as Dennys if you wish to sit into the wee hours of the night.

9. THE TABLE HOGGERS:
If you only come in for coffee or a dessert, to do paper work, or to have a meeting, don't sit there taking up our booths for hours. We are not Starbucks or a hotel restraunt. If you want to sit for hours, go there or else you better leave a good tip for us and camping fee included.

10. THE GREET:
When we come up to the table to greet you and we ask how you are doing please let us know. We honestly want to know how you are doing. If you are in a bad mood we want to know that from the beginning. A confused stare or complete silence does not suffice as a reply to "How are you doing?". Also most of us are REQUIRED to say certain things during the greeting, so please don't interrupt our greeting and say "I want coffee", "Can we get some bread?", or "What are the soups?"
& YOU MIGHT THINK THIS IS RUDE BUT WHERE I WORK WE HAVE TO GO TO THE TABLE WITHIN 30 SECONDS SO ONCE YOU SEE US APPROACH YOUR TABLE STOP YOUR CONVERSATION BITCHES & LET ME DO MY SPIEL then continue on with what you were saying.


11. THOSE DAMN CELL PHONES:
Don't ever talk on your cell phone in a restraunt. This is probably the rudest thing to do. If you must be on your cell, at least keep your voice down in respect for other customers. If you are on your cell phone when we walk up to greet your table we will walk away and not return until you get off your phone. Just show some respect and give us your attention for a couple of minutes.



!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!SERVERS READING THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please repost this so the word can get out, since so many people are uneducated about tips and our lives depend on this - at least for now......

SIGNED, YOUR FELLOW RESTAURANT EMPLOYEE

P.S. Leaving us a giftcard to our restaurant with a few dollars on it, is NOT a good tip. Granted, it will be useful since we will probably have shift meals, but sometimes we just want the dough!!

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by twinkle555

The next time you're out eating at a resturant, look at your server. Do you think they are really happy to be doing that job? The answer is no, they are not, but it's what we do, and we do it for the money so please help them out. Its a tougher job than you think and you should pay them accordingly!

Waitressing was actually one of my favorite jobs that I've ever had, and if I could make the kind of living at it that I do at accounting, I would totally do it for the rest of my life.

#8 is my pet peeve though. Showing up at 7:58 when the restaurant closes at 8:00 does not qualify as "making it in time". I remember we had a couple do that one time. The cooks had already shut down the grill and cleaned it. The couple ordered grilled cheese and chili. The chili was still hot, but the grilled cheese was achieved by placing bread in the toaster, then sticking it in the microwave to melt the cheese.