Sunday nights are usually very long, annoying shifts. The one I had yesterday was no different. To start things off, I get a 13 person party. The manager, off the bat, gives them three free appetizers. When managers do that, it’s like taking money right out of the server’s pocket. When there is a party of 8 people (or more), I can add an 18% gratuity. This 18% is before tax. I still tip out 3% to the house, so let’s call it 15% before tax. The total of these appetizers, before tax, is about $35.00. 15% of $35.00 is $6.30. That’s $6.30 right out of my pocket.
The time is 3:45 PM. Even though I hate waiting on big parties, This isn’t a bad way to start off the shift. I’m guaranteed a nice little chunk of change during a time when the restaurant has slowed down. I’m working a 4 table section and this table is taking up 3 of them. I’m trying to “turn and burn” my other table, but it’s hard because all my time is consumed by the demands of the large party. If any of you are wondering, yes, the party is black. Fortunately, this isn’t a party full of ghetto people. They’re all really, really nice. Well, almost all of them are nice. The one, fat, 13ish year old is annoying as hell. Of course, he’s guzzling down strawberry lemonades and pulling me to the side to ask me the stupidest fucking questions. Parents, your kid is fat as shit. Why are you letting him guzzle down buckets of sugar? I hope you enjoy the costs associated with having a kid with diabetes. Poor kid. I feel bad for him.
The appetizers are being eaten. The drinks are full. They tell me they’re ready to order. I know this isn’t going to go smoothly. By my estimations, these 13 people took approximately 15 minutes to order. Why oh why do people say they’re ready to order when they have absolutely no idea what’s even on the menu? The whole time I’m looking at my other table, with their empty glasses and patience growing thin, hoping I spot another server who can help me take care of them.
Here are a few highlights from my big top ordering. Keep in mind, this party is comprised of about 6, elderly people, 4, middle-aged people, 1, fat, talkative 13 year old, a dude who looks like he’s about 21, and the couple whom the wife is celebrating the birthday.
- “Can I get thick catfish?”
- “What’s good?”
- “Can I substitute (a really expensive item for a cheap side item)?”
- “Are refills free?”
- “Why is there all this stuff at the bottom of my Strawberry Lemonade?”
- “Do you have Pink Lemonade?”
- “What’s your seasonal iced tea?”
Fast forward about 1 hour and everyone is ready to box up their food. My gratuity is at around $52.00. I figure, “$52.00 for 2 hours of work? That’s not bad.” That’s when the sneak attack uppercuts me right in the wallet. “We’re ready for the cake”. Fuck me. They have a cake. Now, not only is the mess going to be even bigger, I’m about to run out 13 side plates, 13 spoons, find a knife suitable for cutting and serving cake, and walking out with a cake and lit candles. Oh, did I mention that I’m about to do all of this for free?
Fast forward another hour, and these people are ready to leave. My section is a mess. I hand the birthday girl’s husband the bill. He smiles, tells me I did a great job, shakes my hand, and throws me a few compliments. I don’t give a shit about verbal compliments. All you’re doing is holding me up and forcing me to fake smile when you compliment me. If you want to compliment me, give me money. Verbal tips don’t pay the bills.
After everyone leaves, and I collect the check, I get no extra gratuity, a comment card, and a huge mess. People, when you bring a birthday cake to a restaurant, you should be a decent human being and give a little extra to your server. It’s pretty messed up you think you can get someone to wait on your for an hour (usually how long it takes for people to slice up cake, eat it, give out presents, etc.) and this it’s okay to not pay them. They didn’t even offer me a slice of cake.
This is why I hate waiting on big parties.,
I am glad I read this. I always make an effort to show gratitude towards wait staff and give a decent tip. However, it never occurred to me before to offer a piece of birthday cake before or leave them part of the cake that is left. I will remember next time.
Try working at a restaurant where they don’t do gratuity EVER! I no longer work this job thankfully and am no longer a server. Imagine have a party this large, running you to death and getting stiffed and/or a 15% or lower tip.
People are so rude these days! I was serving a table the other day and one very annoying dude said, “Do you have anything that tastes good?” Well, duh, we are a restuarant, of course we have something that is good. Later that day, the annoying guy came up to me and said that he did not like his meal! He chose it! I didn’t say pick that! He went and chose that most spiciest thing that had 4 peppers next to it saying it was hot. Grrr…people……..
Thank you for sharing your story. In my restaurant we charge for bringing your own cake. It’s $2 a plate. Why lose money, we should be selling our own desserts, priced at $9 a piece. We also charge corkage fee. I think your restaurant is poorly run, if they allow people to bring their own FOOD. That’s beyond stupid. They are using your space to eat their outside food?!? Might as well go have a picnic in the park, why dine in a restaurant?Also, I never let people order appetizers only at first, because then they have to wait a long time for their entrees, and YOU and THE KITCHEN are screwed. It’s waste of time and of course $$$.Fortunately my restaurant charges 20% on large parties and we rarely have black customers:-) One time we had such people , they were a distant family of the chef, got free apps, free desserts, run me around like a chicken without a head and then left 10% on the TOTAL. Shocking. We use this really big tea cups, so you never have to ask for more hot water. Well, guess what? Every time this lady had a sip, she yelled: excuse me, I need more hot water! Like your purpose in life is to fill a 90% full HUUUGE cup of tea. Nasty people with absurd demands , no eye contact and no clue how to dine or tip properly. I know it’s not just blacks, there is plenty of white people who do the same, I just happen to work at a fine establishment and most of our customers are great. But there is always someone asking for a black napkin, a different type of fork, chair, music etc…And then redundant questions like …where are you from, what else do you do, are you married to the chef, why do you work, do you have children to support, are you married, what was this place before( 10 years ago), are you the chef, are you the owner, did you make my dessert, or my favorite…we are friends of the owner, is he cooking tonight? Well, no, if he was your friend, I would know , and you would know he never works here, he OWNS to place, hello.
Let me guess.. It was the fatass who asked the, “are refills free” question wasn’t it? XD If it wasn’t, then it’s safe to say it was his mom. haha
Admin, let me know next time you’re in North Carolina. I’ll be happy to share some cake & ice cream with you!
Lord, I will never give a waiter cake anymore on the off-chance he’s anything like you. Complaining about a $50 tip. Get another job then.
God help you if you step foot into another restaurant with that selfish, bitchy attitude; if you were my customer, you’d be lucky to get your food (unaltered). Servers work VERY hard for ungrateful patrons like you. You clearly have never waited tables a day in your life, given your heartless response. Stay the hell home if you’re going to act like that!
what goldi was trying to say, is that was a $50 tip on 3 of his tables for 3 hours, gotta use some perspective. that’s like losing over 9 tables. probably more like 12. that should have been $100-150 if other people were sitting there. it’s not just 1 tip.
You really want some cake, don’t you? Lol!
No lie. I do. It seems like I am the only on at the restaurant who doesn’t ever, EVER get a piece. I think my record right now is 0-5. I am going to stay optimistic and hope to get a piece the next time a table rolls in and gets to slicing.
Maybe they see your arms and they’re like “no way that dude eats junk food”. Take it as a compliment?
Joking aside, I wait tables too, and have done a couple of bday parties, and the thought of them sharing a slice did cross my mind. It is a lot of extra work, esp for large groups. I’ve been a server off and on for years, and have found that most customers are self centered, whether it’s intentional or not. They mostly see us as just ‘the help’. It stinks, but that’s the way it is. However, I hope that you’ll get a non self centered group that will share with you!
Let’s face it: people who bring their own food to a restaurant-cake included- are cheap. And what type of cake would they buy? Something cheap and nasty. I have tried a few cakes( when we bring them for slicing in the kitchen) and they’ve never been worth the calories. Sugar is bad for you anyway, leads to diabetes…So you haven’t missed out much:-)
Sorry dude, truth is the general public is cheap and selfish! I’ve offered cake to server and anyone who wanted it at a resturant. And leave a fat tip. It feels good to treat people right!
You should change job..
We all have bad days at our jobs, and things we don’t like about them, this does not mean we have to keep changing jobs. You must not be a server..
i didn’t agree with the last post about the cake thing; but in this instance they really should offered you cake.
Well, thanks. I’m 0-5 or 0-6 with the cake thing. I’ve never been offered or given a piece. Other coworkers have scored as much as a half of an entire cake. I’m just looking for a slice to give my coworker upstairs who takes care of the silverware. I k eep promising him a piece, then never deliver.
the cake is a lie.