obnoxious servers

It was really weird.

I was cleaning out my desk drawer, and I had this little bowl thingamajig that holds paper clips, and I set it atop this other little thingamajig, and it really annoyed me because the metal clips on the underside, in the second thingamajig, kept jumping up and attaching to the bottom part of the holder, because guess what: It's a magnet!

Which explains my whole obnoxious paper clip situation.

What were we talking about?

[Robin Garr]

Which explains my whole obnoxious paper clip situation.

Quite a sense of entitlement you're showing there, guy ...

Wife and I had the opposite situation recently.

We were eating at a CHAIN restaurant (yeah, so shoot me !!!), and the server took our order and turned it into the kitchen, and then NEVER ONCE returned to check on how things were going. We had different wait-staff members serve us our salad, refill our drinks, and bring our main order.

As I said, NEVER ONCE, did our original server return to check on us, and we were seated at his contiguous tables. Only upon completion of our meal, did he return with the check. And no, the restaurant was NOT busy.

I paid for our meal with plastic, and tipped him TWO CENTS in cash , while the wife sought out the management to advise on the lack of service by the original server; management apologized profusely, and then comped us gift certs for deserts.

BTW, the other wait staff individual who did bring us our main meal, and who refilled our drinks, got the $10 cash tip.

Lack of attentive service can be just as bad as overly-attentive service.

I practice guerrilla warfare when it comes to inadequate service.

Maybe he wasn't meant to do more than take your order. Why else would another server bring your food out and refill your drinks?

Wife and I had the opposite situation recently.

We were eating at a CHAIN restaurant (yeah, so shoot me !!!), and the server took our order and turned it into the kitchen, and then NEVER ONCE returned to check on how things were going. We had different wait-staff members serve us our salad, refill our drinks, and bring our main order.

As I said, NEVER ONCE, did our original server return to check on us, and we were seated at his contiguous tables. Only upon completion of our meal, did he return with the check. And no, the restaurant was NOT busy.

I paid for our meal with plastic, and tipped him TWO CENTS in cash , while the wife sought out the management to advise on the lack of service by the original server; management apologized profusely, and then comped us gift certs for deserts.

BTW, the other wait staff individual who did bring us our main meal, and who refilled our drinks, got the $10 cash tip.

Lack of attentive service can be just as bad as overly-attentive service.

I practice guerrilla warfare when it comes to inadequate service.

Maybe he wasn't meant to do more than take your order. Why else would another server bring your food out and refill your drinks?

]

Actually, I've seen this a lot in chains (and yes, I eat at them too!). Usually the 1st available server will bring out your food.

Nope, I'm not buying that at all. Wife & I have eaten at that restaurant many times before, and ALWAYS the original server has in the past checked on how things were going (i.e. was the meal correctly prepared, refill drinks, bring extra bread when asked, etc.).

He introduced himself as our server (wrote his name on the paper table covering with the crayon--can you guess which CHAIN this was; it's been mentioned recently in other postings !!!!) and said he would be serving us. As I said, we were seated at his contiguous table, and he waited on those in the PROPER manner that we were expecting.

He got the tip that he deserved for LOUSY service !!!!

aside from from 'professional' and 'knowledgable', the third word in the server trifecta is 'INOBTRUSIVE'
...if you wanna gamble, you can box 'personable' in the super, but if youve got those three down, I dont care if youre nice or not.... I'll still tip 30%

I loathe overly eager, saccharin friendly service. I do NOT want to try any extreme fajitas, shrimp poppers, or pizza shooters.


also, I WILL consult, train, and improve any service staff that wants it. Doesnt matter if youre 5 Diamond or if you sell PB & J and pudding cups. Some things are universal

Roger, why do you have to be so antagonistic? Grow up.

We ate at the Old Chicago (Springhurst) last weekend...and experienced a bit of what the OP is talking about. I wouldn't call it obnoxious, as I usually associate intent with obnoxiousness. I'm not sure these folks realize how ridiculous they sound going over the script. I almost, alllllmost said something snarky to the hostess...it was like she was listening to an earpiece tell her what to say.

The service was attentive, that's for sure.

(It's responses like Roger's that make me very hesitant to post here....kinda mean, no?)

Eating in a chain is like doing the Hokey-Pokey, and thats what its all about..

Matt, I wish I could afford to go out to eat and tip 30%. If I tipped that amount then I would be eating at Macdonalds lol. I find it hard enough to tip 15-20 on top of the drinks and food. I am not a cheapskate, just skint!!! Don't let anyone tell you that running your own business is the way to get rich!

aside from from 'professional' and 'knowledgable', the third word in the server trifecta is 'INOBTRUSIVE'
...if you wanna gamble, you can box 'personable' in the super, but if youve got those three down, I dont care if youre nice or not.... I'll still tip 30%

I loathe overly eager, saccharin friendly service. I do NOT want to try any extreme fajitas, shrimp poppers, or pizza shooters.


also, I WILL consult, train, and improve any service staff that wants it. Doesnt matter if youre 5 Diamond or if you sell PB & J and pudding cups. Some things are universal

Matt, I wish I could afford to go out to eat and tip 30%. If I tipped that amount then I would be eating at Macdonalds lol. I find it hard enough to tip 15-20 on top of the drinks and food. I am not a cheapskate, just skint!!! Don't let anyone tell you that running your own business is the way to get rich!

aside from from 'professional' and 'knowledgable', the third word in the server trifecta is 'INOBTRUSIVE'
...if you wanna gamble, you can box 'personable' in the super, but if youve got those three down, I dont care if youre nice or not.... I'll still tip 30%

I loathe overly eager, saccharin friendly service. I do NOT want to try any extreme fajitas, shrimp poppers, or pizza shooters.


also, I WILL consult, train, and improve any service staff that wants it. Doesnt matter if youre 5 Diamond or if you sell PB & J and pudding cups. Some things are universal

i understand what you mean. and i do NOT have a lot of money or anything like that. Im just very aware of how and where to spend my money that allows me the best (imo) combination of quality, variety, and value. i see ALL the invisible things that most diners dont even know exist when they go out, front and back of house, and for that reason I am very particular about who gets my repeat business.and i make sure that their efforts are rewarded from my end. also, if i cant tip, i dont go out... plain and simple.
i hear WAY too many people that make many times more dollars than i do talk about not tipping well or even properly.
Learn to cook or dont go out as much! Im not going to punish my server (if they did a fine job) because I dont have enough money to go out on.
but bad service... thats a whole different animal

edit: let me point out, Alison, that my current rant is not directed at you. Its simply a jab at 'those people', whoever 'they' may be

[Robin Garr]

(It's responses like Roger's that make me very hesitant to post here....kinda mean, no?)

Don't worry, Shannon ... post on! We'll cover for you, with the Invisible Anti-Meanness Shield.

I am usually fine with most servers and give them remarkable leeway. Two things that will tend to irritate me is using the word "folks" at the beginning or end of every sentence as though they trained in telephone sales and never lost that gift. The other thing is if they like to sit, or lean on a table to talk with me. Stand up straight and smile for heavens sake. Be confident in your delivery; it makes me more confident in the establishment.

". . . PB & J and pudding cups . . . ."

I just had a genius idea for a whole chain of concept restaurants!!