ok, so i started waiting tables this weekend

[CT2TXtech]

for the first time. Ive never been a servant before. So to get a little extra money for my wedding, I accepted a waiter position at PapaDeaux in Duncanville, TX. First day on the floor, I spilled some beer all over this lady I was trying to serve
Luckily she wasnt mad, just kinda laughed. But I was super embarrassed. I hope that never happens again. But i have a new respect for waiters, they are super busy and the ones i work with seem to be real emotional, well at least the chicks. My first two days were this weekend and I already seen like 3 or 4 waitresses cry. Dayum, is a waiter position that stressful?
Any other waiters here.
BTW, I dont think Ill last. Ill give it a few months though

 

[TheAudit]

How is the place? Are you making a good amount in tips?

 

[CT2TXtech]

Originally posted by: TheAudit
How is the place? Are you making a good amount in tips?

Place is cool. Havent made anything yet because Im still training, but I plan to

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: CT2TXtech

My first two days were this weekend and I already seen like 3 or 4 waitresses cry. Dayum, is a waiter position that stressful?
Any other waiters here.
BTW, I dont think Ill last. Ill give it a few months though

You should get a bouncer to take care of the jerks.

"You have 7 people at your table and only tipping 2 bucks"
Slaps slap.
"What's a matta U?"

 

[Goosemaster]

1) somehow..SOMEHOW...SOMEHOW....SOMEHOW..EVERYONE drops SOMEHTING on SOMEONE their first day


<--water on lady



I hated waiting

 

[BigJ]

Waitering is good, fast, easy money. That is as long as you can remain cool under pressure and have at least some social skills. I waiter at a smaller restaurant where we get paid $4 an hour off the books and get to keep all our tips(no bus boy on the nights I work). We have enough room for about 40-50 people at any given time.

On a busy night, you're looking at about $60-80 in tips for 5 hours per waiter. If you work a party in the morning, your looking at anywhere from $60-120 in tips for 5 hours. In 8 hours of work yesterday, I made $140 in tips, plus my 4$ an hour pay, to come to about $21.50 an hour. Pretty damn good money for a 17 year old.

 

[Jetblade]

Maybe I should head over there and give you a hard time. :evil:

 

[UglyCasanova]

I wait tables at Cracker Barrel. A friend of mine also started there but only lasted about 2 weeks. I never realized just how stressful it was, but yeah I've seen some people break down. In the 3 months that I've been there I have seen 6 people quit, 2 of which simply walked out due to stress (they were new though). I've dropped a pitcher of water on a lady, and my roommate dropped an ashtray on the floor and a shard of glass flew across the dining room and cut a little 10 year old girl in a wheelchair in the arm. Any who, just a reminder to everyone out there: Always tip well!!!!!

 

[royaldank]

Any who, just a reminder to everyone out there: Always tip well!!!!!

Just a reminder for waiters....your tip isn't guaranteed when I sit at your table. Do your part, I'll do mine.

 

[oniq]

Thats super narly dooooooOooo0d

 

[Mermaidman]

Mmmm---Pappadeaux

My favorite waiters are the ones who are genuine. I don't fake attitudes.

BTW: Are you wearing at least 39 flairs?

 

[royaldank]

BTW, you picked a fine restaurant to work at. I only get to eat there once or twice a year, but it seems to always be top notch.

 

[CT2TXtech]

Originally posted by: Mermaidman
Mmmm---Pappadeaux

My favorite waiters are the ones who are genuine. I don't fake attitudes.

BTW: Are you wearing at least 39 flairs?

hehe, i guess i have a geniuine one. I will try, its a pretty nice place. Lets see what happens

 

[daveymark]

for all you tippers out there, if you get bad service, it's the restaurant's fault, not the server's. Never shaft the server. Call the restaurant the next day and let them know if you recieve service that's not up to par. I can't tell you how many times I see servers get screwed because the food took a little too long.

 

[Encryptic]

Originally posted by: Mermaidman
Mmmm---Pappadeaux

My favorite waiters are the ones who are genuine. I don't fake attitudes.

BTW: Are you wearing at least 39 flairs?

"The Nazis had pieces of flair that they made the Jews wear!"

 

[labgeek]

Originally posted by: CT2TXtech
My first two days were this weekend and I already seen like 3 or 4 waitresses cry.

Back when I was in high school, I worked the "food service industry" at a cafeteria chain. It pretty much sucked. Within a month they made me a supervisor and moved me from department to department depending on which one was having problems. I used to make waitresses cry all the time. They'd either listen to what I had to say, or they went home (for the day). Many of them didn't like taking directions from a "kid". But they learned pretty quick, that if I was in thier area, it's because THEY weren't doing thier jobs and I had to fix it. Even had to fire one... that was fun. Refused to listen to direction, and put a dishwasher in the ER with thier hand sliced wide open. Don't remember the number of stitches, it I remember thinking at the time how large a number it was. Fired her on the spot. She complained about my not being her boss and went running for the manager. He simply looked at her and asked "If he fired you, why are you still here?"

I'd never go back into food service or retail industries again. I'll stay at my little lab and be happy... now if I could just fire some of the "brilliant" doctors and nurses...

 

[labgeek]

Originally posted by: daveymark
for all you tippers out there, if you get bad service, it's the restaurant's fault, not the server's. Never shaft the server. Call the restaurant the next day and let them know if you recieve service that's not up to par. I can't tell you how many times I see servers get screwed because the food took a little too long.

Often it's the restaurant's fault but not always. I think we've all seen some pretty poor servers out there. I know I have.

 

[UglyCasanova]

Originally posted by: labgeek

Originally posted by: daveymark
for all you tippers out there, if you get bad service, it's the restaurant's fault, not the server's. Never shaft the server. Call the restaurant the next day and let them know if you recieve service that's not up to par. I can't tell you how many times I see servers get screwed because the food took a little too long.

Often it's the restaurant's fault but not always. I think we've all seen some pretty poor servers out there. I know I have.

Yup. There are several not so hot servers at the Cracker Barrel I work at, but many times it really is the grill cooks taking too long or we just get bogged down with too many people. Sh!t happens, and my managers have told me the only way to stay and be a server is to learn to not worry when it does.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: daveymark
for all you tippers out there, if you get bad service, it's the restaurant's fault, not the server's. Never shaft the server. Call the restaurant the next day and let them know if you recieve service that's not up to par. I can't tell you how many times I see servers get screwed because the food took a little too long.

not always true

but if the server is on top of refilling my drinks, tips++

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: BigJ
Waitering is good, fast, easy money. That is as long as you can remain cool under pressure and have at least some social skills. I waiter at a smaller restaurant where we get paid $4 an hour off the books and get to keep all our tips(no bus boy on the nights I work). We have enough room for about 40-50 people at any given time.

On a busy night, you're looking at about $60-80 in tips for 5 hours per waiter. If you work a party in the morning, your looking at anywhere from $60-120 in tips for 5 hours. In 8 hours of work yesterday, I made $140 in tips, plus my 4$ an hour pay, to come to about $21.50 an hour. Pretty damn good money for a 17 year old.

all w/ no taxes too.. that's damn good.

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: NeuroSynapsis

Originally posted by: daveymark
for all you tippers out there, if you get bad service, it's the restaurant's fault, not the server's. Never shaft the server. Call the restaurant the next day and let them know if you recieve service that's not up to par. I can't tell you how many times I see servers get screwed because the food took a little too long.

not always true

but if the server is on top of refilling my drinks, tips++

my viewpoint depends on things. Last time I ate at friday's, the food took forever.. because the waiter forgot to put it in. On top of that, my drink was empty 50% of the time. He got like 5 maybe 10%. I usually tip a good 35-40% for good service.

 

[Ornery]

How much leeway does a server have in giving away extra food?

 

[UglyCasanova]

Originally posted by: Ornery
How much leeway does a server have in giving away extra food?

I can bring you out extra biscuits and cornbread.

 

[Ornery]

Yeah, that's what I mean. I was wondering if they can take it upon themselves to make a customer happy, after something runs awry.

 

[jjessico]

Here's how I'd rank the factors in the final tip:
#1 Drink filled before it becomes a concern, spare full drinks dropped off to shore up a drink in quick decline is a major plus. Also, if my cup goes away to get refilled instead of a new one being brought, its got to be quick.
#2 Friendly person
#3 Don't bug me and the people I'm with too much. One stop in to make sure everything is cool (besides drinks) is just fine
#4 Don't pressure me or my party to quickly if its not busy. I like to sit after eating.

Tips aren't automatic, but I'd never stiff someone who did a good job.