Okay, we’ve all worked with people before.
And you have to admit, tips or no tips, serving in a café or a restaurant has its downsides. I don’t know if I should start from the never-ending shifts, the frustrating and rude customers, the insane number of people, the nervous and impatient coworkers, the arrogant owners or the all-day marathon around the tables.
All in all, it’s a challenging job that requires a special set of people skills in order for you to survive the greedy vultures.
So, in case you haven’t been reminded, here’s a short reminder about the things you should stop doing at restaurants and the essential things you should start paying more attention to while talking to the staff.
POLITENESS COSTS NOTHING
It’s basic human decency. You simply don’t underrate someone because they serve you your food. In order for people to be nice to you, you need to be nice to them first.
Just because you are paying to get your meal all cooked up and served in front of you, that doesn’t mean that you should treat the staff as your servants. They are people who work for a living just the way you do.
Good manners are everything. Be respectful.
STOP TWEAKING THE RECIPES
Can you imagine how long the chef and his team worked to make the menu a perfect combination of food, culture, and style? A very long time.
So, please if you don’t like a particular ingredient in the mean you’re about to order, don’t order it. By the time you swap the onion with extra tomatoes and make your meal vegan-friendly, you’ve not only created a whole new dish, but you’ve also wasted the staff precious time that could have been used on another customer.
GIVE YOUR FEEDBACK – YOUR OPINION MATTERS
Whatever you work, it’s always nice to listen that you’ve done a good job. Compliments boost our motivation to work even harder, especially when they’re coming from someone very picky with a sharp and well-defined taste.
Don’t forget to share your experience. Whether it’s good or bad, it’s what the companies build their existence on.
A WAITER IS NOT SOMEONE YOU ACCIDENTALLY TAKE YOUR FRUSTRATION OUT ON
No one is obliged to put up with your frustration. And guess what? Not even the staff at your favorite restaurant. These people are tax-paying, law-abiding citizens who work their jobs to get their decent salaries. Don’t make them sorry they were born.
Learn to behave.
STOP STACKING THE PLATES
I know that you sometimes want to help them, but it’s better to let them do their job. No matter how polite and helpful you think you are, by stacking the plates you are only making it harder for them to work. Waiters usually have their own well-established, functional system, so try not to mess with it.
It’s easier for them to stack the dishes the way they know than have the whole pile picked up with their fingers.
DON’T SNAP YOUR FINGERS AT A WAITER – IT’S RUDE
You’d be surprised how common this actually is, but yeah, people actually snap at waiters. I’m not sure though, what’s their main logic behind it, but I’m guessing that they believe their check will be there sooner if they do the “magic” snap.
No, seriously, it is rude and it’s disrespectful. Stop being a douchebag.
