4. The Split-the-Bill-After-Ordering Squad
Ah, the ol’ “Can you split the bill seven ways, and oh, Dave just had a salad, but he also drank three beers, and I think Sarah snuck a couple of my fries” situation. It’s all fine if you split the bill, provided you’re thinking ahead. Springing it on your server after an elaborate order, with the same casualness as asking for extra napkins? That’s a headache for you. All just split it afterwards.
5. The Modifier Mayhem
On a gluten-free bun, no tomatoes, with extra cheese, but vegan – on the side, lightly toasted, with a pinch of ‘I’m sorry, what’. —feel free to modify your order, within limits. But making your meal a custom car with options the chef himself didn’t know about? It’s when servers’ thoughts turn to whether they are waiting tables or playing the culinary version of Tetris.
6. The Mobile Phone Zombies
Imagine this: A server approaches a table, ready to take an order, but everyone is lost in their screens and doesn’t even notice the world around them (very common situation not only at restaurants). It is as if they have become spirits themselves and you are trying to reach the living from the other side. Like, yes, we know smartphones are addictive, but can we also remember the humans wanting to help us in the real world? That’s just very rude.
7. The Last-Minute Crowd
And then there’s the kind that comes through the door five minutes till close, expects a three-course meal. Servers have lives, families, and Netflix to keep up with as well! Coming in at the final hour not only extends their already long day but also slows down the entire closing process. Courtesy goes a long way.
I may have never been a server, but it’s pretty clear that a little empathy and kindness can go a long way, especially when dealing with the kind of customer we’ve all seen at least once. Next time I’m out to eat, I try to remember there’s someone working hard (including our friends) to bring that meal to the table. A smile or a polite word might just make their shift a little better (because being a server is to tiring) and honestly, it might even make my food taste a bit better too.
