Today we went to lunch with Brian's mom, brian's stepbrother Gib, his wife and two kids and his wife's parents (did you get all that?). We had the baby with us so it's always a race to the finish to see if we can get out of there before he can't take anymore and starts to fuss. We ordered our food, salads, appetizers, drinks, all at once. Our server disappeared and we literlly did not see him again for about 20 minutes. He had one other table that had finished eating shortly after we sat down.
Okay, let me back up. I worked in a restaurant for a very long time. I know how things should work and I know when they are going horribly wrong. I hate excuses for long food times, bad service, cold food and no drink refills. Nothing makes me angrier than a bad dining experience. I don't get to go out very often and I just expect to be taken care of, not catered to, when I do go.
So back to lunch. OUr server literally disappeared. No one had drinks, our appetizers never came and he never came to check on us. We had seperate checks at the table and told him that as we ordered. Well the first thing to hit the table was my mother-in-laws lunch. No salad, just her food. It was brought by a different server who didn't stay long enough to ask for a refill on my tea (I hate being thirsty). Twenty more minutes before anyone else came back. Madeleine was still the only one with any food! I was about to blow a gasket when the manager came by with some more food. Still no appetizers or salads. She smiled and asked if we needed anything and that was it for me. There were 3 out of the 9 of us that were eating, no one had drinks. I just told her that we were very unhappy with the service and told her what we needed. Anyway, long story not quite as long, we were there for 3 hours. When the server brought the checks, they had all been discounted by half, except for mine. Mine was free. When I told the server there was a mistake on my check he said, "no, yours is free because you were so angry". I realized that I had become "that customer", the one all servers hate, the one you can't please, the one you hate to see coming. I felt really badly but then wondered if I should. I am paying for a service. The server started telling us that he had only been working there for 3 days (which is another pet peeve of mine that servers do), but he didn't have any other tables but ours! The reality of it is that he was probably out drinking last night and just couldn't quite get his crap together today. The restaurant was not busy, at all. Ask for help if you are "in the weeds", but don't make excuses for not knowing how to do your job. I know that I am probably a little harder to wait on than the average patron but I am also an excellent tipper and appreciate a job well done.
I have decided that I may be that customer but I think that I am okay with it. I will just have to go to a different restaurant every time we eat out so that no one will know me as "that customer". I am getting awefully cranky in my old age!
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OMG- I would have blown a gasket. There's really no excuse- it's not that hard. Take drink orders, go get drinks. When you bring the drinks, get appetizers/salad/food orders. Put them in, bring the apps/salads, refill drinks. Pick up salad/app plates and return with food. As long as the kitchen knows what they're doing, the waiter really is just a mail man. I can't stand it.
I waited tables for a while and I know that you can get in the weeds, but with 2 tables, you should never let the glass get even half empty.
I miss you.
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