what is the worst thing a server can do to make you mad? - Page 5

I kind of agree with some of your rants here guys. It's really annoying that some servers doesn't know what they are serving when it's supposed to be their job to know everything about the restaurant and the food they are serving. Also I don't like those servers as well who would come to your table more than 3 times just to ask if everything is okay while you're having  a conversation with someone. It is also annoying that some servers are not up to their feet to refill your drinks when they supposed to be doing rounds checking if there are any drinks that needs to be refilled. You would have to call them even twice to ask for a refill. 

Waitstaff interrupting a conversation I'm having with friends, whether in the middle of my sentence or a friend's, to ask something like "how does everything taste".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Free Rider 

Waitstaff interrupting a conversation I'm having with friends, whether in the middle of my sentence or a friend's, to ask something like "how does everything taste".

Oh, I really HATE that! When I worked as a waitress, I would always wait to be noticed, never just swoop in and interrupt, for any reason... that's so rude and annoying! I found that the customers would notice me right away and make a space in the conversation for me to talk without interrupting them. After all, it was to their benefit!

For me there are a couple of things that don't really make me made, but do bother me a little.  

1. Wait and cleaning staff that will stand just to the side of you or in a corner and stare at you.  There is a Mexican Restaurant I have been to a few times where even the cooks will come out into the dining area and stare at you.

2. A dining area that is kept near the same temperature as the kitchen.  The same restaurant as above, will keep the dining room at a temperature where you will start to sweat the minute you walk in.  Being in south central Texas, the last thing you want after burning up all day is to sit in a restaurant where you have to take turns fanning each other to stay cool.  If I am going somewhere casual to eat BBQ, then I don't mind sitting outside, or inside an old shed to chow down--but sometimes you want a cool place to go to eat and enjoy a good meal. 

3. Not getting my drinks filled.  I am not too demanding on having immediate service, but when you walk by and say you will be right back with some more drinks then I don't see you again for 10 minutes or more--that is a little annoying.

4. Saying you will be right back with the check after you have cleared the table, then not showing back up for 10 minutes or more, or show up after 10 or 15 minutes and say, "oh I was suppose to get your check", and you can smell fresh cigarette smoke on them where they took a break during the busiest time.  I am not against breaks, but I grew up in a restaurant family and I know there are times that you just can't take breaks, and times when you can get a quick one in.  

That's all for my dislikes.

D. Clay

Quote:

Originally Posted by madcowcutlery 

For me there are a couple of things that don't really make me made, but do bother me a little.  

1. Wait and cleaning staff that will stand just to the side of you or in a corner and stare at you. 

Oh my heck, you brought back a nightmare.

We went to the Provo Red Robin one evening, about 9:30. The place closes at 10:00. We noticed that most of the lights were off, and all the people dining were in one little area by ourselves. There were two other tables occupied when we arrived, but by the time we were served, we were the only ones there, and:

Chairs were upside down on the tables throughout the restaurant, including the ones at our elbows.

Even more lights were turned off.

There was a guy wearing an apron, sitting in a nearby booth, with his chin in his hands and his elbows on his knees, staring at us.

The server asked us about dessert when we were about halfway through dinner, which we declined.

I wrote to the manager, who was appalled. He said that the restaurant should look the same as it does in the middle of the day until the last customer walks out. He promised to follow up, and offered to buy us dinner next time. Apparently, he dropped by the place that evening at about 9:45, and the stuff hit the fan.

We have been by the Red Robin late at night since then, and it has always been bright and inviting.

Which just goes to show why complaining is important when the food and/or service isn't up to expectations.

Should never reach that point, if management is doing their job.

Being sat at a table then ignored...no menu, no waiter, not even a "I'll be with you in a sec"...it's humiliating.

Those are the places I tend not to patron.

When I was stationed in Italy...

A friend and I went to a restaurant, at a well known Hotel, to celebrate my birthday. First thing when we sat down at a nice central table, the Gentleman who seated us brought a glass of sparkling wine to each of us. We were so engrossed in our dinner (Very Good) and the bottle of wine we ordered...we lost track of time...until we noticed we were the only table there. The staff was a very discrete distance away and very patiently waiting for us to finish our wine and conversation.

Very civilized way to enjoy an evening. (and no I did not tell them it was my birthday)

* Asking my order and request twice.

* Bringing my food not the way I ordered it.

* And also, as what Pete said, acting like the customer is wrong.

:(

THE WORST:    when one orders a bottle of wine, and they bring the bottle to your table already open.

I come to USA ocasionally on visit to relatives, and when one visits a restaurant waiters have no courtesy at all when they are taking  the order, they speak soooooo fast it is hard to understand what they say even when I speak english,   they leave the menu and want to take the order in seconds, not giving customers a chance to go thru the menu and take a decision.

 kill that waiter that opens the bottle of wine.   ja ja ja ja.

Spot on Titomike.  Keep the woman happy, she'll keep her man happy

This is OT, but I dislike bank managers/ car salespeople etc etc that, when you are sitting down talking a deal - they will mostly look at and speak mostly to the man and virtually ignore the woman.  It really annoys me - it's just plain rude.  The ones that win points with me speak equally to us both.  A sign of respect is what I look for.

And as far as some car mechanics and some tradespeople go, they assume the woman knows nothing and will treat you like a child, and more than likely add to the price over when they are talking to a male.  I apologise for this comment to the honest ones out there - you do exist, and you'll get return trade always over someone else.  It's just the bad apples that gives the others a bad reputation.

Oh, and when you hold a door open at a shop etc for someone and they don't say thanks....grrrr.

Rant over - just having one of those days

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agchief 

When I was stationed in Italy...

A friend and I went to a restaurant, at a well known Hotel, to celebrate my birthday. First thing when we sat down at a nice central table, the Gentleman who seated us brought a glass of sparkling wine to each of us. We were so engrossed in our dinner (Very Good) and the bottle of wine we ordered...we lost track of time...until we noticed we were the only table there. The staff was a very discrete distance away and very patiently waiting for us to finish our wine and conversation.

Very civilized way to enjoy an evening. (and no I did not tell them it was my birthday)

My wife and I went out for a special evening on our anniversary to a local restaurant called Mulboon's. It came highly recommended. We chose a Monday night, as Monday nights are slow in Utah restaurants, and shared the restaurant with one other couple.

The food was wonderful, the ambience was beautiful, and the waiter seduced us into having a nice dessert. We realized at one point that it was very quiet, and that it was past closing time. We finished up and left, apologizing for having kept everybody late. And it really was everybody; the kitchen and wait staff, all still in uniform, were all waiting around the corner, in case we wanted something else. The Guy In Charge, an incredible fellow named Yanni, made profuse and sincere assurances that we had been no problem at all, that they were very happy to have us, and that we were welcome to stay as long as we like whenever we dine there. The others smiled agreement with him. 

I absolutely love places like that.
 

I have been a server in the past--had my bottom grabbed, been called multiple inappropriate pet names, etc. etc. etc. I have also been the ignored customer and left when not greeted promptly. As a server, greet time was within 1 minute of seating, drink time within 2 minutes, food time within 12 minutes. Anything that went wrong was considered an "opportunity" by the restaurant. The most hilarious "opportunity?" Someone substituted blue cheese for cream cheese in the cheesecake! hahahahaha fortunately it was for a regular, and they comped the meal. 

The worst thing?  When they act annoyed that they have to be at work and it's obvious they don't want to be working, in other words serious attitude.

Or... clear the table before I'm done eating.  I'm a slower eater than my husband and it happens all the time.  It makes me totally feel rushed.  This happened once at a business meeting and it was very uncomfortable - they had barely finished their own meals! 

The worst thing a server can do? Why, fail to boot of course!

But that would be because I spend part of my time working for the IT department

I can't stand it when a server sits down at the table to take your order.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BCycler 

The worst thing a server can do? Why, fail to boot of course!

But that would be because I spend part of my time working for the IT department

Oh, man, you got me on that one. 

Actually, failing to boot 1% of the time would probably be worse... 
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chichi 

THE WORST:    when one orders a bottle of wine, and they bring the bottle to your table already open.

 

Worser: when one orders a bottle of wine, and they bring the bottle to your table already open, with too much wine missing...
 

Once my husband and I had champagne brunch at a restaurant in Sacramento. The waitress brought a bottle of champagne to the table and opened it (incorrectly) and it started overflowing the bottle.....her response, put her mouth over the bottle! She actually wanted to pour us from the same bottle. We didn't stay.

Another time, we went to a recommended sushi place in San Fransico. We sat at the sushi bar, as usual. The waitress asked if we would like some edamame, so we said 'sure'. I was shocked when the bill came and they charged us $10 for that! If it was an additional cost it should have been pointed out upfront. I will never go back. (btw- the sushi was low grade).

One more (repeated) experience that I MUST mention is when the waitress CLEARLY flirts with the male (obviously thinking a bigger tip is in her future). I handle the finances in our household, so I make a point of letting her know she has been mistaken by taking the bill from her as she hands it to my husband, and deducting from her tip based on her actual service minus how flirtatious she was. Mind you, I have left $100 tips for fabulous service on our anniversary, etc... I tip according to attentiveness. I am a server, and I appreciate great service. I also have been known to speak to the manager about dreadful service. I give credit and criticism for anything outside of average.

That is one of the most humorous -- and gross -- things I've ever heard!  I'd have left, too....talk about killing an appetite!  

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beecher 

Once my husband and I had champagne brunch at a restaurant in Sacramento. The waitress brought a bottle of champagne to the table and opened it (incorrectly) and it started overflowing the bottle.....her response, put her mouth over the bottle! She actually wanted to pour us from the same bottle. We didn't stay.

 

Not directly a service thing as such, but I'm with you: I HATE finding that someone is serving something both dirt-cheap and so easy to prepare that a monkey could do it -- like edamame in the #1 soybean-producing nation in the world -- and charging a fortune for it. Edamame is annoying, but what about hiyayakko? I've seen that for $12 in one sushi place in Boston. You know what it is? Cold tofu cut in cubes and drizzled with a little soy, bonito flakes, and maybe grated ginger. At that price, I assumed they were making their own tofu -- I asked, and of course the server looked at me like I was a maniac. She clearly didn't even know you could make tofu in a restaurant. I almost asked her why it was so stinking expensive, then, but decided I didn't want to know.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisLehrer 

Not directly a service thing as such, but I'm with you: I HATE finding that someone is serving something both dirt-cheap and so easy to prepare that a monkey could do it -- like edamame in the #1 soybean-producing nation in the world -- and charging a fortune for it. Edamame is annoying, but what about hiyayakko? I've seen that for $12 in one sushi place in Boston. You know what it is? Cold tofu cut in cubes and drizzled with a little soy, bonito flakes, and maybe grated ginger. At that price, I assumed they were making their own tofu -- I asked, and of course the server looked at me like I was a maniac. She clearly didn't even know you could make tofu in a restaurant. I almost asked her why it was so stinking expensive, then, but decided I didn't want to know.
 

How about getting charged for things that should come with the plate? Ordered a hot pastrami sandwich, when it came I asked for some mustard, when the bill came I found I was charged .75 cents for a ramiken of mustard. its not that 75 cents is going to break my bank account but who charges for a side of mustard?

I once purchased a garden burger at Whole Foods - the lettuce inside the burger wasn't properly rinsed and full of dirt - I pointed it out to the guy that made it who responded "dude, what do you think "organic" means?".

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisLehrer 

Not directly a service thing as such, but I'm with you: I HATE finding that someone is serving something both dirt-cheap and so easy to prepare that a monkey could do it -- like edamame in the #1 soybean-producing nation in the world -- and charging a fortune for it. Edamame is annoying, but what about hiyayakko? I've seen that for $12 in one sushi place in Boston. You know what it is? Cold tofu cut in cubes and drizzled with a little soy, bonito flakes, and maybe grated ginger. At that price, I assumed they were making their own tofu -- I asked, and of course the server looked at me like I was a maniac. She clearly didn't even know you could make tofu in a restaurant. I almost asked her why it was so stinking expensive, then, but decided I didn't want to know.
 

Kind of like souffles, they cost about $1 to make but restaurants charge $5+

Quote:

Originally Posted by DC Sunshine 

Spot on Titomike.  Keep the woman happy, she'll keep her man happy

 

This is OT, but I dislike bank managers/ car salespeople etc etc that, when you are sitting down talking a deal - they will mostly look at and speak mostly to the man and virtually ignore the woman.  It really annoys me - it's just plain rude.  The ones that win points with me speak equally to us both.  A sign of respect is what I look for.

 

And as far as some car mechanics and some tradespeople go, they assume the woman knows nothing and will treat you like a child, and more than likely add to the price over when they are talking to a male.  I apologise for this comment to the honest ones out there - you do exist, and you'll get return trade always over someone else.  It's just the bad apples that gives the others a bad reputation.

 

Oh, and when you hold a door open at a shop etc for someone and they don't say thanks....grrrr.

 

Rant over - just having one of those days

I have to disagree with this.  I have never experienced this but this is probably because I'm the TypeA personality and husband is TypeB.  I ask more questions, and my husband lets me take the lead most of the time whenever dealing with salespeople etc.  Funny but waiters always bring the check to me.  I must seem like a real ball buster to these folks.

My point is people's attention is directed towards the more engaging person, which has nothing to do with whether you're a man or woman.  Try it as an experiment and see what happens.  Be one of those people who when they talk people listen.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisLehrer 

Not directly a service thing as such, but I'm with you: I HATE finding that someone is serving something both dirt-cheap and so easy to prepare that a monkey could do it -- like edamame in the #1 soybean-producing nation in the world -- and charging a fortune for it. Edamame is annoying, but what about hiyayakko? I've seen that for $12 in one sushi place in Boston. You know what it is? Cold tofu cut in cubes and drizzled with a little soy, bonito flakes, and maybe grated ginger. At that price, I assumed they were making their own tofu -- I asked, and of course the server looked at me like I was a maniac. She clearly didn't even know you could make tofu in a restaurant. I almost asked her why it was so stinking expensive, then, but decided I didn't want to know.
 

Edamame - someone has to wash it, clean it, steam it, salt it, serve it, and then clean the plate afterwards.  If you don't want it don't get it, but realize that most food costs less than what they're charging you for it.  Here at a NY diner you'll pay $6 plus tip for 2 eggs, home fries and a side of toast.  For what?  I can make that at home for a dollar.  But at the restaurant at least someone else has to do the clean up.
 

In that regard, do you remember Bill Cosby's routine about food when he first did Las Vegas.

He had the restaurant menu in his hand, and was reading from it:

One egg, any style, a dollar thirty five.

A dollar thirty five! Ladies, what do you pay for eggs? 79 cents....and that's for a dozen of them. For a dollar thirty five that egg better have an act. They pick up that silver dome and the egg stands up and does a song and dance number, then lays back down, and I eat him.

But it gets worse. Under that it says,

Two eggs, any style, a dollar sixty five. Hmmmmm. One egg is a dollar thirty five, and the other is only 30 cents more.

I only wanna know one thing: What's wrong with that second egg?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koukouvagia 

 

I have to disagree with this.  I have never experienced this but this is probably because I'm the TypeA personality and husband is TypeB.  I ask more questions, and my husband lets me take the lead most of the time whenever dealing with salespeople etc.  Funny but waiters always bring the check to me.  I must seem like a real ball buster to these folks.

 

My point is people's attention is directed towards the more engaging person, which has nothing to do with whether you're a man or woman.  Try it as an experiment and see what happens.  Be one of those people who when they talk people listen.
 

Well sometimes my children like to take me out . (Which is a rarity) My daughter is 23 and my son 20 ,both have good jobs and sometimes they like to take mom out!  The bill always comes to me and I then insist on paying and well the whole point of our night or day out is out the window!

Ya ...give the bill to the old Gal ...that's it