but the check should be delivered shortly before the entrees are finished.
100, MILLION PERCENT DISAGREE!! There are plenty of times me and my husband order dessert or even bar drinks *
AFTER* a dessert.
OPEN YOUR MOUTH IF YOU WANT YOUR CHECK THAT FAST WITHOUT DESSERT, **ASK*** FOR THAT!! OPEN YOUR MOUTH!!
If you want the check and know for a fact you definitely don't want dessert or anything else,
why not ask for the check to get it BEFORE you get your food even?
I am serious, if you are that much in a rush, you should consider not acting like " I know servers aren't mind readers" as you said, well they can't read your mind that you won't be getting a dessert or coffee or a bar drink.
While I COMPLETELY AGREE a million percent once I want the check, we definitely shouldn't wait longer than 5 minutes to get the check and shouldn't wait 5 minutes or more to ring it up either.
The check should NOT EVER be delivered without the customer's PERMISSION!! The customer is paying the server, so it's not up to the SERVER to decide when the customers are ready to leave. If you want your check right after your
entrée speak up!! Ask for this.
A good example also, if you want a glass of water, unless you are in a fine dining restaurant, chances are there aren't water boys/girls that are just going to bring water to you that aren't your server, so in general most servers don't just bring water. You should be ORDERING what you want or ASKING for what you want. If you want lemon, ask for it, don't assume.
We have had a few times at least where we asked for a box and they brought the check without even offering a dessert, because servers assume you are full instead of that we are saving the food for leftovers so we CAN have room for dessert. Also, they don't think about after dinner drinks or coffee either that we could have ordered.
One of the worst offenses is bringing the check by and then disappearing for a half hour. You just brought my check... wtf do you think I'm doing at the table right now??? Nothing.
One time, my husband and I waited 17 minutes for the check to be brought and rung up, which obviously we left nothing. Keeping me hostage once I do want the check is not cool, but it's also not cool either to have it so early that they are making a decision that's NOT THEIRS to make by bringing the check too soon.
A couple of other times at least we waited 10 minutes to get the check rung up. We stiffed those people. They should be coming back and not holding you hostage. It's also to their ADVANTAGE so they can get more customers to have us gone faster. The servers don't think about that it was OUR TURN 8 minutes ago(2 minutes to look at the bill at least).
I don't like the assumptions. It's not my server's place to make decisions about anything in my dining experience. If I want to go earlier than normal, I will ask for the check with my food, NOT after I finished. If I don't know if I want a dessert, I may and even have asked for the check saying we may get something else, we don't know yet, but you can bring the check in case. This way, if you want to add to it, they can, but if you want to go, you can pay. I only do that sort of thing if I am in a hurry. Usually, 99% of the time, I am not, so I rather take my time.
It just really bugs me when a server brings you the check without our consent, because to me, it tells me "I'm ready for you to leave" type of thing to rush you and it also is a CONTROL issue that they think they have a RIGHT to tell you what *
THEY* want in the service **
YOU*** are
PAYING *THEM* for.