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Why is Restaurant Service So BAD at times these days?

Springs1

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Many times I will go into a restaurant and the servers won't check over the food they bring you with their written orders for any OBVIOUS errors that they don't have to TOUCH the food to notice the mistake or mistakes. Also, other servers that run the food that aren't your server won't compare the ticket to the food BEFORE they bring it out.

If there are any servers out there, can you please tell me WHY you would all rather make several trips, a bad tip, a pissed off customer, etc. just to not take 30 seconds to a minute per plate to check the food? It's time consuming, but it makes the server look STUPID, like a complete IDIOT bringing you the completely wrong food or forgetting a side dish. I know they aren't idiots or stupid, but in a way they are by not thinking about where their income is coming from to not try their best.

I have had times when the servers wrote it down even and can't bring out ONE appetizer with adding a condiment or two such as 2 sides of ranch or a side of ranch. Then, you nicely remind them and they don't even say they are sorry. Why is that? They should know they would get a better tip the NICER they are, but instead they don't want to admit fault for their tip, but we already KNOW who is at fault anyway so WHY are you all hiding it?

I am just truly tired of the lazy and uncaring servers out there that don't care about WHAT they bring to your table. Sometimes it's really a real mistake, but 99% of the time that something is obvious that is wrong that is the server's fault, it's that they didn't even give it a TRY to get it right, they just brought it out instead of checking things over. I understand it's time consuming, but your money is on the line, you decide what your tip will be by CARING about what you bring to the table as far as obvious mistakes are concerned.

Also, what is it about server's AUCTIONING off drinks in a large party? Normally, I am just dining out with my husband, so I am 95% of the time just in a party of 2, but sometimes I have been in a large party. Why can't servers make an "x" chart of pretend chairs in a row on top and bottom knowing which person had what?

Example:

Party of 10

xxxxx
xxxxx

Top row: 1. c 2. dp 3. sp 4 w/lem 5. c
(c is for coke, dp is for dr. pepper, etc.)
bottom row: 1. t w/lem 2. coke 3. water, 4. margarita w/s rocks 5. Chardonnay - Kendall Jackson

There is NO REASON why servers should be asking "Who had the dr. pepper?" "Who had the coke?" if you took the order. You wrote it down, you should know and the only way you should get mixed up is if the people switched seats on you.

Servers sometimes are too lazy to write orders down even, even after telling them "It's a complicated order and a lot of things, you might want to write it down."

Some servers don't notice if you have any utensils before serving you food.

Some servers won't offer you refills even.

I don't get why some servers don't write down refill request, don't have their pad of paper ready to write down what you say when they GREET you even(have ordered lots of things at a greeting even fully ordered before), don't write down simple request like extra napkins, a to-go box, a bag, the check, etc. I understand it's time consuming, but when you all forget that stuff, MORE POINTS OFF for NOT EVEN TRYING OR CARING to REMEMBER WHAT I ASKED FOR, then you all complain on blogs about customers running you asking you all for things one at a time, when can you blame them when you all end up not getting it right when we DO consolidate all our request at once.

A good example, I asked for a refill, more bread, and some extra napkins. The waiter forgot the napkins. I understand that nobody is perfect, but if you have a bad short term memory(which I personally do), I would write down even the small stuff. You all wonder why customers run you, well that's why from experience that it doesn't help a lot of times if we do ask for many things at once. The server ends up forgetting something usually, because they CHOSE not to write it down. All servers should come with their pad and pen READY for what the customer might ask, which could be SEVERAL things at once, especially in a party of even 4 or larger even.

Why you all don't write down the small request? If I were a server, I would have to write all of that down, because I really am not good at remembering things that are just said to me such as people's names. Once someone says something, a lot of times I forget, but I have a good long term memory.

Another time, I asked for a to-go box, a to-go coke, a bag, and the check. The waitress DIDN'T write all of those 4 request down, which she forgot the bag. I am not perfect, don't expect anyone else to, but I DO expect TRYING YOUR BEST and writing it down is the way to prove that. If you at least wrote it down, then forgot, it counts LOTS MORE in the tip than if I see you were too lazy to write it down to TRY to remember it. You all don't want to make a zillion trips, write it down when customers like us ask for lots of things at once. We try, but you have to try to help yourselves. You all get mad at the people that ask for one thing at time, but then if you give a server several things without them writing it down, chances are, they aren't going to get it right.

Can you all please tell me WHY you all don't WRITE those request down when you have maybe 3, 4, or maybe even 5 other tables that need things that you aren't writing down either that you have to remember as well?

Can you all tell me WHY you all don't make sure the food doesn't have any obvious mistakes on it that you don't have to TOUCH the food to notice the mistake if you are the server that took the order?
 

archetypal_yuppie

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You clearly have no idea of how they need to budget their time.

"30 seconds to a minute per plate to check the food?"

Are you nuts?
 

Springs1

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Originally Posted by archetypal_yuppie
You clearly have no idea of how they need to budget their time. "30 seconds to a minute per plate to check the food?" Are you nuts?
Are you nuts that I should tip you well if you don't CARE about my food being right as far as things in YOUR FULL CONTROL that you are BRINGING ME? It takes more time to fix those mistakes making MORE TRIPS BACK AND FORTH than it is to not to and they have too many mistakes not to check over things. If you want a good tip, it's all up to YOU to decide to not look like an idiot bringing me the wrong food or forgetting ONE side of ranch with ONE appetizer. I understand we all forget, but honestly 99% of the time a mistake like that happens, it wasn't a real mistake, it was a LACK OF EFFORT to TRY to *SERVE* the food correctly. Verifying one appetizer plate wouldn't even take 20 seconds even.
 

kwilkinson

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No offense dude, but were you really expecting exemplary service at a restaurant that serves Ranch sauce with its appetizers?
 

Springs1

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Originally Posted by kwilkinson
No offense dude, but were you really expecting exemplary service at a restaurant that serves Ranch sauce with its appetizers?

My husband and I have had bad service at FINE DINING restaurants. We were overcharged $2 on a price and the SERVER is responsible for having gotten that fixed BEFORE handing us the check since HE has a set of EYES that can READ a menu too, not just us!! At another restaurant, we have had a waiter forget ranch with bread I requested at a fine dining restaurant. That same waiter made us wait around 15 minutes for a coke and a tea, but yet, brought out wine BEFORE stuff he could have control himself.

Fine dining doesn't mean that you will get excellent service. WHY do you feel it does when it's all about if the SERVER isn't lazy and actually CARES about their customers? Where it is and the prices means NOTHING!! There have been plenty of times where we have had better service at chain restaurants like Chili's or Applebee's or Outback even.
 

fwiffo

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Yeah I'm not entirely sure where you go to eat.

But most of the better service I get are from wait staff who don't write at all. The very best will bring things to me before I even know myself to ask for it.

In general, I avoid frustration by eschewing anything that is franchised.
 

Springs1

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Originally Posted by fwiffo
Yeah I'm not entirely sure where you go to eat.

But most of the better service I get are from wait staff who don't write at all. The very best will bring things to me before I even know myself to ask for it.

In general, I avoid frustration by eschewing anything that is franchised.


You are lucky then if you have better service that way, we don't.

It depends on what things they are getting before you ask or they ask you, because sometimes servers ASSUME things such as bringing the check too soon when not ready for it or assuming you want a refill that you don't want, etc.
 

poorsod

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What do you mean by fine dining? Are we talking French Laundry (which apparently isn't what it used to be) or somewhat more mid tier? My understanding is that the largest margins are had in midtier restaurants. The margins in very high end and very low end restaurants are small because you get what you pay for.
 

Springs1

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Originally Posted by poorsod
What do you mean by fine dining? Are we talking French Laundry (which apparently isn't what it used to be) or somewhat more mid tier? My understanding is that the largest margins are had in midtier restaurants. The margins in very high end and very low end restaurants are small because you get what you pay for.

Fine dining I mean such as $35 and up per plate for example. Chili's for example will not have any food items that expensive for example.
 

redcaimen

Bigtime
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InBeforeitbeginstodawnonpeopletheOPismentallyunstable.
 

Davidko19

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Iaintreadinallthatshit.jpg
 

Springs1

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Originally Posted by Davidko19
Iaintreadinallthatshit.jpg


I am white and secondly, WHY are you here if you don't want to read? No one is making you read it.
 

Harold falcon

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Originally Posted by Springs1
Many times I will go into a restaurant and the servers won't check over the food they bring you with their written orders for any OBVIOUS errors that they don't have to TOUCH the food to notice the mistake or mistakes. Also, other servers that run the food that aren't your server won't compare the ticket to the food BEFORE they bring it out.

If there are any servers out there, can you please tell me WHY you would all rather make several trips, a bad tip, a pissed off customer, etc. just to not take 30 seconds to a minute per plate to check the food? It's time consuming, but it makes the server look STUPID, like a complete IDIOT bringing you the completely wrong food or forgetting a side dish. I know they aren't idiots or stupid, but in a way they are by not thinking about where their income is coming from to not try their best.

I have had times when the servers wrote it down even and can't bring out ONE appetizer with adding a condiment or two such as 2 sides of ranch or a side of ranch. Then, you nicely remind them and they don't even say they are sorry. Why is that? They should know they would get a better tip the NICER they are, but instead they don't want to admit fault for their tip, but we already KNOW who is at fault anyway so WHY are you all hiding it?

I am just truly tired of the lazy and uncaring servers out there that don't care about WHAT they bring to your table. Sometimes it's really a real mistake, but 99% of the time that something is obvious that is wrong that is the server's fault, it's that they didn't even give it a TRY to get it right, they just brought it out instead of checking things over. I understand it's time consuming, but your money is on the line, you decide what your tip will be by CARING about what you bring to the table as far as obvious mistakes are concerned.

Also, what is it about server's AUCTIONING off drinks in a large party? Normally, I am just dining out with my husband, so I am 95% of the time just in a party of 2, but sometimes I have been in a large party. Why can't servers make an "x" chart of pretend chairs in a row on top and bottom knowing which person had what?

Example:

Party of 10

xxxxx
xxxxx

Top row: 1. c 2. dp 3. sp 4 w/lem 5. c
(c is for coke, dp is for dr. pepper, etc.)
bottom row: 1. t w/lem 2. coke 3. water, 4. margarita w/s rocks 5. Chardonnay - Kendall Jackson

There is NO REASON why servers should be asking "Who had the dr. pepper?" "Who had the coke?" if you took the order. You wrote it down, you should know and the only way you should get mixed up is if the people switched seats on you.

Servers sometimes are too lazy to write orders down even, even after telling them "It's a complicated order and a lot of things, you might want to write it down."

Some servers don't notice if you have any utensils before serving you food.

Some servers won't offer you refills even.

I don't get why some servers don't write down refill request, don't have their pad of paper ready to write down what you say when they GREET you even(have ordered lots of things at a greeting even fully ordered before), don't write down simple request like extra napkins, a to-go box, a bag, the check, etc. I understand it's time consuming, but when you all forget that stuff, MORE POINTS OFF for NOT EVEN TRYING OR CARING to REMEMBER WHAT I ASKED FOR, then you all complain on blogs about customers running you asking you all for things one at a time, when can you blame them when you all end up not getting it right when we DO consolidate all our request at once.

A good example, I asked for a refill, more bread, and some extra napkins. The waiter forgot the napkins. I understand that nobody is perfect, but if you have a bad short term memory(which I personally do), I would write down even the small stuff. You all wonder why customers run you, well that's why from experience that it doesn't help a lot of times if we do ask for many things at once. The server ends up forgetting something usually, because they CHOSE not to write it down. All servers should come with their pad and pen READY for what the customer might ask, which could be SEVERAL things at once, especially in a party of even 4 or larger even.

Why you all don't write down the small request? If I were a server, I would have to write all of that down, because I really am not good at remembering things that are just said to me such as people's names. Once someone says something, a lot of times I forget, but I have a good long term memory.

Another time, I asked for a to-go box, a to-go coke, a bag, and the check. The waitress DIDN'T write all of those 4 request down, which she forgot the bag. I am not perfect, don't expect anyone else to, but I DO expect TRYING YOUR BEST and writing it down is the way to prove that. If you at least wrote it down, then forgot, it counts LOTS MORE in the tip than if I see you were too lazy to write it down to TRY to remember it. You all don't want to make a zillion trips, write it down when customers like us ask for lots of things at once. We try, but you have to try to help yourselves. You all get mad at the people that ask for one thing at time, but then if you give a server several things without them writing it down, chances are, they aren't going to get it right.

Can you all please tell me WHY you all don't WRITE those request down when you have maybe 3, 4, or maybe even 5 other tables that need things that you aren't writing down either that you have to remember as well?

Can you all tell me WHY you all don't make sure the food doesn't have any obvious mistakes on it that you don't have to TOUCH the food to notice the mistake if you are the server that took the order?


Dear OP,

You are a spoiled, entitled douche. Your waiters and/or waitresses pick up on this. They don't like you. That is why you get bad service.

Hugs and kisses,

Harvey
 

Springs1

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Originally Posted by harvey_birdman
Dear OP,

You are a spoiled, entitled douche. Your waiters and/or waitresses pick up on this. They don't like you. That is why you get bad service.

Hugs and kisses,

Harvey


The servers feel they are "ENTITLED" to that tip instead of EARNING it, which is why they get LAZY and don't care, THAT is why I get bad service.

Being spoiled has NOTHING to do with getting what you PAY FOR by paying for the QUALITY of SERVICE YOU RECEIVE.

They don't pick up on it, the ones that are bad are LAZY no matter WHO they serve and you KNOW that is the GOD'S TRUTH!!
 

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