College Times

Issue date: 1/10/08 Section: Daily Buzz

Media Credit: MCT

From the point of view of someone who generally classifies a "good job" as something that pays the bills and allows you to keep some sense of sanity and humility, being a food server can be both the best and worst job. First the positives: quick money, flexible hours and a great way to meet people. Then, of course, the rather depressing negatives: the prevalent rude customer, bad tips, even worse hourly pay and sore feet.

Now honestly I'm not one to complain, I've been making my way through college waitressing for almost four years now and it's paid the rent and then some, but nights like my most recent dinner shift make me rethink my usual praise of the restaurant industry.

I went through my typical pre-shift ritual of mentally preparing myself for the night ahead - which starts with me telling myself that tonight might be different than the last few weeks when I have made only $20 or so each shift - I was feeling pretty great and hopeful when I had a really nice couple come in for dinner.

After asking to switch tables because there was a draft from the nearby door, they settled in and all was well. I made the usual small talk and decided I actually really liked these customers; they were friendly, considerate and polite and that is all I could ever ask for.

After racking up a fairly impressive check of $160 between the two of them, they asked me to bring dessert and coffee along with the check. After dropping it all off, I turned my back for no more than a minute to take care of another table and just like that - they were gone. No cash left on the table, no credit card, no gift certificate, just an empty lonely looking check presenter.

What I wish those people could have understood was that the lovely dinner and drinks they enjoyed so much were not simply dismissed by the restaurant as a loss. Rather, I was given the option of paying the full amount of their check from my empty pockets or lose my job. The choice, though not terribly intriguing, was pretty obvious.

The point of this whole story is not to bitch about all restaurant patrons, but rather to open the eyes of those who either have no idea how the food industry works or who have never experienced it first-hand.

Here are a few very basic things to keep in mind when going out to dinner that will get you great service and also make your server feel appreciated:

1. Though a server's main job is in fact, as the name implies, to serve you, keep in mind that they are only human. If the restaurant is packed, try to understand that while you are high on the priority list so are all the other customers. Chances are your server is trying his or her hardest to get you everything you need, but you might have to wait just a few extra minutes to get your drink or dinner order placed.

Continued...

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