Huge party over twenty people at our bar. Took awesome care of them for over 6 hours. They wanted their checks split 15 different ways. No problem. I came back with the checks and their credit cards (being held for their tabs) to confirm that everyone’s split check was okay and I had the right card with each order. One of the guys was COMPLETELY EXASPERATED that I hadn’t slid his frickin’ card through yet and he couldn’t sign his ticket and go. I apologized and explained that I just wanted to make sure I had everything right with such a big order so no one got charged for the wrong thing. He told me I was the worst waitress he had ever had. When I brought the slip for him to sign he rolls his eyes and goes ”Are you SURE I can sign this one? Sure you’re not gonna need my card again???” Even his girlfriend apologized to me…

Submitted by: J.J.

A few months back I was hired for my first serving job at a great Italian chain restaurant. It took me a while to get into a groove since it was such a fast pace job but I fell in love quickly with what I did. Around my 3rd month mark of being a server I felt comfortable in my shoes and knew what I was doing pretty much most of the time.

I have always hated getting big parties even though you get a better tip but for some reason I couldn’t connect with 8 people in the amount of time to serve them food. Anyways my section for the night was all tables which usually means big parties all night but I didn’t mind I felt good and knew I was going to have a good night.

Toward the end of the night I was sat a family of 6: 2 adults and 4 young children… so I go over and do my thing I introduce my self and start of with asking for drinks. The family looks like they are ran on strict rules because none of the children directly answer me with their choice of beverage. They look to their dad to answer for them. I end up having to get all waters which I have no problem with but I could already tell this will be a hard group to please. Once I return to the table I drop the drinks off and start asking for their food orders. Until out of the corner of my eye I see one of the kids slam their kids cup down on the table thus making the lid pop off and explode everywhere. The father yells and gives me a death glare to where he demands a new one and that I should have made sure the lid was on tightly. Not wanting to point fingers at the kid I apologize and run to get extra napkins and a fresh water. For the moment they seemed appeased. I grab their food orders and bring out their salads… now this is where things become fun.

The father looks toward me and rudely says ”Are their any other choices for salad like maybe Caesar?” I reply with ”yes sir, but it would be a slight up charge?” The man than gets angry and demands to see a manager because he was told any salad we have was unlimited. So I run to fetch a manager who goes over to the table and explains to the man that we are sorry but we do not offer any other salad than the garden for unlimited. The man than decides to pull his order and that he doesn’t want anything else. So I go about my business. By the time the food came out the the father was pissed and wanted to leave. So i brought out there check and swiped their credit card.

I admit: I was frazzled by the dinner rush and than this needy table that I swiped the wrong card and ended up charging a huge amount to their credit card. I returned their receipt to them and was about to walk away when I heard ”this better not be my tab” I turn to see that I had indeed charged wrongly and apologized profusely. It was an easy fix so I told them I would be right back.

Upon my return I saw my manager approach the table and told them she took care of their tab. The man than proceeds to stand up and get in my managers face and yell that he will not take her charity and that he can afford to pay for what they ordered. So that is what he did. No lie this man looked liked he was about to beat the crap about of my manager.
It just goes to say it was a horrible night and was glad that he left promising he would never return. It was a huge mistake on my part but he had no right to take it to that level to where I was afraid for my managers well being. I’v had some pretty bad guests after that but he was the icing to the cake.

Submitted by: Laura

I run a busy family restaurant. Once a year we would participate in a program where high school kids would come in and spend a day at local businesses to get the feel of the job and do simple tasks. Last year we had several young students,all female,come in to run food for the servers.

We were all having a great day until a middle aged, grubby looking couple came in. He was about 50, she was about 40, neither had bathed in weeks or so it seemed. Not our regular clientele. My server could handle anyone, so I turned her loose on them and she did a fine job of keeping them in check while being her wonderful self.

The trouble started when one of the 15 year old girls ran food for the table and I witnessed the man reach around the girl and firmly grab her butt. She jumped backwards and ran to the kitchen. I was ringing customers at the register and still had several others waiting to pay. I watch this creep call over the other 15 y.o. girl and ask a question,then he slides his hand across the table to try to rub her thigh. I couldn’t take it anymore. I excused myself from the register and headed for his table.

I ask if everything is alright, they smile and respond ”Oh yes, fine, you have pretty women working here.” I state that some of the girls are students helping out for a school project and I came over to their table because I saw him inappropriately touch both of the girls. He said ” Oh don’t worry about that, I’m harmless.” I said ” Yeah I’m not, the age of consent in the state is 16 years old, both of the girls you groped are 15, and if you touch anyone in this restaurant again I will call the cops and press charges, try me pal. Now eat, pay your bill, leave and don’t come back.”

I did not here a peep out of them for the 20 minutes it took them to eat. They tipped pretty well,(18%) and I haven’t seen them since.

Ladies, never tolerate a person placing their hands on you,ever! If your boss won’t step up, take matters into your own hands and privately speak to the offender. It is still sexual harassment, with laws on the books, even if it is a customer. If you can’t handle this part of the job, work in another field. By letting some jerk get away with this behavior encourages them to subject every service person to their creepiness. Stand up, be professional and explain to them, just because I serve you food, clean your teeth or cut your hair it dose not permit you to disrespect me as a person. I have used this line for 25 years, most people apologize, some have gotten pissed but stopped trying to grab my butt. Try it, it works.

Submitted by: Jaye