Over the last 10 days I have seen one person after another who I wanted to punch in the throat. This entry is dedicated to all of you.
My boyfriend and I went to Threadgills a few nights ago. It's home cookin' style restaurant. It isn't fancy. You go because you want heaping helpings of meatloaf, mashed potatoes and fried okra. The food is consistantly good and most people can eat something there. They are considerate of dietary needs. The staff are pretty good. It's a staple in my family.
Table Manner # 1:
If you're too country for Threadgills, you're too country.
We were having a fine time when a server walked back to this table that was there before we were. A discussion ensued about how they didn't know they were supposed to be seated by a host. The server handled it well but my hackles raised when the woman took on an entitled attitude about it all. They witnessed more than one table being seated by a hostess, mine included. They argued with the server. They were loud and they threw something at me.
Table Manner # 2:
Don't throw things at other customers.
The first thing that came to mind is,
get your ass back to the Waffle House.
While I was in college the first time I worked at the Waffle House in Garland, TX. It is what motivated me to run like hell from Dallas. I was working with men and women I liked but who were in their thirties, making slightly more than minimum wage, driving beat up old cars that they drove into their gang-infested neighborhoods. I worked the night shift because I was told I'd make more money. LIES.
We had a full service all-you-can-eat. I would actually serve up as many plates of greasy eggs, hash browns and waffles as the customers could shove into their drunken faces. And if I was lucky for a table of four very hungry, very drunk, entitled assholes I would get $2. On a good night, after working 10 hours, I'd have $50 in tips. Even in 1993 that was pretty bad money.
I was molested by customers. I developed a hellish case of plantar fasciatis. I couldn't keep up with my school work so school became expendable. The people I worked with were strong, salt of the earth women, mostly who taught me how I was expected to work. Their teaching methods were rather barbaric at times and they left a wound or two on my heart but every single one of them told me to grow up and get out of there.
I woke up one morning after a particularly painful break up and realized they were right. I would become one of those women if I stayed. I moved to Austin a month later. There was no Waffle House in Austin at the time so I was safe. It wasn't my last food service gig and it certainly wasn't my last customer service gig, but the experience showed me a lot about how rude people can be.
A few days later my boyfriend and I went to Panera Bread. One part delicious one part filled with yuppie scum who just stand in the middle of everything. Panera Bread has a way of doing things. Sometimes it's a bit confusing if you've never been there before but they will provide you with assistance. Their staff were all lovely.
Table Manner # 3:
Do your best to follow the suggested instructions on how the restaurant manages traffic.
We were seated waiting for our food and there was
this guy. He was disgusting. He was depositing his trash on other tables. It didn't seem to bother him that on two separate occasions a member of their staff had to clean up after him.
Table Manner # 4:
No one should have to clean up after you.
When I was at the Waffle house I had to bus my tables and wash my dishes. I had to wipe down the tables and do the standard clean up. If your mess extends beyond your table, you have violated #4. Do your best with your kids. We understand kids can get messy, but it isn't the service's responsibility to sweep, mop and scrub a mess your child created.
Table Manner # 5:
Don't complicate things. There are people waiting.
Yesterday was the final straw. We went to Subway. A family of five got in ahead of us. I was about to climb over the counter I was so hungry. We agreed to eat it in the store until we saw this family. They did everything they could to slow the poor "sandwich artist" down.
Table Manner # 6:
If you can't afford to eat out, eat in.
The father announced they were to order their food in the cheapest manner possible. All three children separately went to the bathroom so we had to wait for that. We had to watch while they made two 12 - inch sandwiches into four 6 - inch sandwiches. On the outside they seemed like normal, well mannered people, but on the inside they were trashy and cheap.
I told my boyfriend, "We're getting this to go." I was not hungry enough to let any more people distract my dining experience.
My boyfriend leaned in and whispered to me, "Blog."
This is just as much about customer service as it is about being customers. In all three restaurants the staff acted appropriately. They acted as their employers would want them to act. They made a good faith effort to make these people who were complicated, rude and entitled happy. I would like to congratulate them on their good manners.
Just a few additions to the list and I will end my rant.
Table Manner # 7:
Always tip your server. 20% for good service, 15% for mediocre service and 10% for crappy service. If they give you crappy service, speak to the manager but do not stiff your server.
Table Manner # 8:
Don't harass the wait staff over things outside their control.
Table Manner # 9:
Each table is money. If you take up the table for longer than an hour when it's busy, tip accordingly.
And finally, Table Manner # 10:
Be patient. There are violators of the list who are unfortunately ahead of you.
