Ten Things Everyone Should Know Before Eating Out
I don't know who needs to hear this, but Imma share some wisdom with you inspired by one of my dreams last night (a nightmare, really).
I worked in the service industry for 10 years, and I grew up in a restaurant my parents and grandparents owned for 40 years. Even though I haven't worked in a restaurant for a number of years, I have a recurring nightmare about the service industry: I'm running late, the restaurant is full when I arrive, my section is completely full, and there's a new menu that I somehow didn't know about. Talk about a panic -> if you know, you know!
So here are the top ten things I think everyone needs to know before they go out to eat (in a non-pandemic climate for some of these):
Unless the service was awful, tip 18-20% at a minimum. Seriously. A server's hourly wage is often as low as $2.13/hour because the job position is designed so that WITH TIPS, that server makes at least minimum wage. They aren't making minimum wage before you grace them with your presence and leave a $.50 tip on a $20 bill, Karen.
If you have a coupon, gift card, etc., you should be tipping on the bill amount BEFORE the coupon, gift card, etc. was applied. You don't need to tip on sales tax.
ASK your server if you can push tables together, move things around, etc. There are lots of systems behind the scenes at a restaurant, like servers have certain tables in their section that they take care of, or table are set aside for reservations. Your server can assist you with this.
If you're coming in with a group of 6 or more, it's common courtesy to notify the restaurant ahead of time and make sure they have room. Many places will take a reservation for a group that size and will hold a table for you.
On that note, if you're coming in to a restaurant with a large group and you DON'T notify the restaurant, don't be surprised if your service is a bit slower, or they run out of items, etc. CALL AHEAD PEOPLE. At one of my past jobs, there was this large group of adults (I'm talking 30-50 people) that would come in after a function once a year, but we never knew when it was. They'd come in at 8:30/9pm, after we'd let servers leave for the evening because it was slow up to that point, and let's just say it was a nightmare and there was a lot of cursing under our breath.
Be kind. I'm shocked I have to say this one, but if you aren't looking to be taken care of and have a nice time when you go out to eat, then why are you out? As a server, I believed it was my job to take care of people, greet them with a warm demeanor, give menu suggestions about what the chef had created, etc. The number of times I would walk up to a table and greet them with a sunny smile and a welcome, and then they were just downright rude...sheesh. I'm sorry you're going through something, but don't take it out on your server. They're human, too.
That being said, if there's something truly wrong with your drink/meal/service, don't be afraid to say something. Often times, a situation can be fixed. If something REALLY sucks, talk to a manager. If it's an awful, unbelievable experience, leave a review.
On that note, leave reviews when you have GREAT experiences too, especially if it's a place you go all the time! Reviews are crucial for businesses, and people often only leave a review when they have a bad experience.
Don't put your gum under the table, under your chair, on the edge of your glass, etc. Ask for a damn napkin, ya heathens.
Times are hard right now–in the first six months of the pandemic, 100,000 restaurants closed in the US. Things like Doordash and Uber Eats are convenient, but they charge restaurants a gross amount of fees. Order takeout directly from a restaurant when you can. Share their posts on social media. Buy gift cards for Christmas gifts or to use at a later date. Write a review for a place you love, even if you haven't been in in a while. Send them an email letting them know you love their food and miss dining with them. Whatever it may be, restaurants need us now more than ever.
Are you a service industry vet or current worker with another nugget of wisdom you’d like to share? Leave it in the comments so everyone can learn from you! Want to trade industry war stories? Follow me on Instagram or Facebook and send me a message, I would love to connect!
Cheers
Kate McFadzen-Lindsay