Hands up, everyone who has ever eaten in a restaurant! Okay, that’s most of you, I suspect. As someone who has done her share of time as a server, here are a few tips to make sure that your next dining-out experience is a good one for everyone involved.
No camping: Restaurants depend on turning over tables—ensuring that tables are occupied by several groups of people over the course of a shift—to make a profit. You have not paid rent, so do not become a camper, nursing that post-meal coffee for an hour.
No tipping? Opinion is sharply divided on the subject of tipping. If you are someone who does not believe in tipping, or comes from a country where tipping is not prevalent, it’s probably best not to announce your “I don’t tip!” stance loudly and proudly as you are being handed the menu. I always took it in stride; other servers might not be so, um, accommodating.
Listen up: Please do pay attention when your server describes today’s specials, because repeating them over and over for the same table gets very tired, very fast. The same goes for when the first person at your table to order asks what the salad dressings are. By the time the server gets to the fourth person who needs to hear all the salad dressing options—again—it’s very tempting to scream loudly.
Separate bills: On the subject of large parties, if you are a part of one, ask for separate bills, unless one person at the table loves crunching numbers. This will also avoid the syndrome of everyone chipping in what they think is enough, but failing to take into account that second beer or the tax, invariably leaving the last person at the table to dip into their own pocket (or more likely the tip money) to cover the tab.
How many more miles? If you arrive at a restaurant where there is clearly a wait time, try to refrain from asking how long it will be until you get a table. These things are sometimes impossible to judge; several tables could leave at once in the next few minutes, or you could be waiting for the better part of an hour (or more) if you mis-timed your visit (and if there are several campers in the restaurant; see above).
In fact, not asking about wait times could work in your favour. A number of years ago I was in line at a packed restaurant in Madison, Wisconsin behind four parties who all asked how long the wait time for a table would be. When I spoke with the hostess, I said “I’m a former server, so I’m not going to ask how long the wait will be; it is what it is.” Imagine my surprise when, within 10 minutes (and ahead of the parties in front of us) our party got seated, by a hostess who came up to me and said “You’re the one who used to be a server? I’ll take you to your table.”
Kids’ zone: I believe it is important for children to learn how to behave (and how not to behave) in restaurants. That said, parents: please do not let your little ones roam free, especially in a busy, crowded restaurant. A server carrying a pot of coffee, or several plates, is intent on what they are doing, not looking out for a toddler to wander into the way.
Bon appétit!