Help w/ our research..list your peeves.....

[bubba's mom]

Hey everybody!! I'd like your help/input with a little research project we're doing for work. We are writing a new book and going to teach "customer service" classes to waiters/waitresses.

What I'd like to know is: what is your biggest pet peeves (can be more than one) about service when you go out to eat??? List as many as you'd like.....

Hopefully these ideas will make it to our book and our trainers will able to teach and train servers so that we all may have better restaurant service!!

Thanks for your input!!

 

[MinnyGranny62]

Please, Please ....after you serve our food come back and see if everything is all right. Don't wait until you give us the bill to ask. Hope this helps.

 

[almacdonald]

1- Ask if the person is done before taking their plate and stacking more dirty dishes on top of your now-wasted food. This is especially annoying for someone like myself who saves the best stuff for last!

2- when servers go on "smoke breaks" EWWWWWW! Do NOT go anywhere near my food if you smell like an ashtray.

3- If a customer complains about food quality or something, tell the manager, let them deal with it. I've gone to restaurants before where i sent the food back (uneater) because it was in-edible and they still charged me for it! The waitress has not even told the manager!

 

[laurajetter]

Here are a few things:

- speak loud enough that I can hear what you're saying. It's annoying to have to keep saying "what?" after every other thing that is said.

- stay on top of drink refills

- just because you check in once halfway through the meal and find out no one needs anything, doesn't mean they won't need anything the rest of the night. At the very least, visually check to see if drink refills are needed.

- Please don't take forever to bring the check/pick up the check. Of course it can't be immediate, but don't leave your customers sitting there twiddling their thumbs; take care of the check in a reasonable amount of time. There have been numerous occasions where I need to leave soon after finishing my meal (don't want to stay beyond my lunch break, have children who are getting cranky, need to get somewhere else).

- If more money is given than what the total bill is, don't say "Do you need change for that?" Say, "I'll be right back with your change." If the change is meant for your tip, the customer will tell you so.

 

[NCDisneyMom]

- If more money is given than what the total bill is, don't say "Do you need change for that?" Say, "I'll be right back with your change." If the change is meant for your tip, the customer will tell you so.

This is my BIGGEST peeve. Do not assume that the money I've given you includes your tip. Assume that it does not. I will tell you if it does, or perhaps I'd rather leave it on the table.

 

[luvflorida]

This seems to happen A LOT whenever we eat out. The waiter/waitress is attentive, takes our order, brings the food, checks back several times, but then when we're finished eating and waiting for the bill, the waiter/waitress has DISAPPPEARED!!!

We end up sitting and waiting and waiting and waiting... We finished eating quite some time ago and we just want to leave and get on with our lives. Sometimes, it's another eternity between the time the bill is picked up by the waitperson and the time he/she brings back the change.

Please don't leave customers sitting waiting for their bill!! Please notice that we are finished!!

 

[MouseWorshipin]

#1 Not refilling my drink promptly.

#2 Waiters and Waitresses who try to sell me drinks or dessert. I hate this!

#3 "Hi, I'm Amanda, and I'll be your waitress today."

#4 Clearing the plates of those who finish first.


That's all of 'em! I'm not counting stuff like bringing out the wrong food, or cold food.

 

[Disney Hot Mama]

Please keep my drink filled. I hate to have to find my waiter to get a refill.

When you bring me change from paying my bill please bring me some one dollar bills. I will not leave you a 5.00 tip if the amount of the bill doesn't justify it. I do tip well - at least 15% - but don't give my money away.

If you have young kids I love it when they bring crackers and/or bring the kids meals quickly. This keeps them happy.

Bring my extra napkins (especially with kids) without me asking for them. I will always need them

Have fun with your training and book.

 

[MELISAZACK]

#1- Drinks - don't make me ask to have them refilled.
#2- disappear forever and never show yourself -especially at the end of check time.
#3- Assuming the money that is there is your tip!!!! NO>..
#4- not checking back reg. throughout the meal - If I have to track you down for something I will be annoyed I just did your job!!!
#5- If I ask for something extra w/my meal say a side of mayo -make sure it is there when the food comes don't make me ask a 2nd time.
#6- Don't bring the Main meal right on top of my apps....what a pain that is..
I want to eat that food have a few and then eat a hot meal...why would you think I want the app and main meal at the same minute???????????????
#7 - don't forget to ask for desserrt or if I would like some -Unless I just say were don't and would like the check...don't assume folks don't want it...
#8 u- LITTLE KIDS!!! if we have them - get the food to them faster it makes the parents life a little easier...If the KID is HAPPY parents are!

 

[azgal81]

Keep the drink refilled some people will drink faster then others.

Don't take forever to bring the check and also don't bring it when we are in the middle of eating.

Don't vanish and forgot about us if we need to track you down then your tip is getting knocked down hardcore.

Don't assume we are going to give you a tip we are not required to we didn't come into the restaurant and sign a form saying yes we will give the waitress a tip even if the service sucked.

Extra napkins are always good to have as are utensils if the table doesn't have them bring them do not make me ask you for something to eat my meal with.

 

[jbdreamer]

Please don't leave customers sitting waiting for their bill!! Please notice that we are finished!!

My DH and I hate this too. To deter it we ask for the bill when we get the food. It works great!

My other peeves:
-Drink refills - Be on top of my empty glass, I'm thirsty. And if someone asks for a refill, it's a good assumption the entire table would like a refill.
-Say hi! - I hate when they come up all rushed and ask, "Do you know what you want?"
-Don't disappear - If I need something, I don't want to wait 10 minutes before seeing you again. If you are not around to serve me, you will not be getting much of a tip.


Even with all this complaining, I must say, most of my dinning experiences are very nice.

 

[Shugardrawers]

I am your customer, not your buddy. Do NOT: sit or crouch at my table, call me pet names or try to butter me up in any way. The guy at Planet Hollywood who called me "young lady" just came off as condescending and got a major shock when he got his tip. Oh, and it's none of your darn business what I'm eating. Refrain from making comments as to it's calories, fat or cholesterol. Yes, that actually happened. When I ordered a dessert the waitress exclaimed that it would make me fat! Don't try to joke with me either. We may not share the same sense of humor.

Like everyone else, I hate when the server hides when it's time for the check. I'm full and I'm ready to go home or maybe I have a movie to make or I have to go back to work. I know you are busy, so am I. Don't make me hunt you down, you won't like it when I find you, trust me.

 

[Dodie]

If I ask for water, bring it right back. Don't do 14 other things first - so you either forget or I'm dying of thirst by the time you bring it.

Make sure I'm finished eating before you grab for my plate to clear it.

Don't try to "upsell" me to the expensive booze if I don't order a specific kind of drink. If I order a Margarita - I don't want a top shelf Margarita. Just bring me a stinkin' Margarita.

 

[LukenDC]

2- when servers go on "smoke breaks" EWWWWWW! Do NOT go anywhere near my food if you smell like an ashtray.

 

[MAKmom]

I hate when the waiter at the Outback kneels/sits down to take my order. Way to close for me.

Please when we ask for water bring it. We always have to ask 2x for water.

I agree when we pay say I'll be right back with your change. We always tip 20%.

I want to be asked if I want dessert & coffee.

 

[scoutsmom99]

LOL how funny I have had 2 not so great service experiences this week! Here are mine.

1. Be prompt. I don't want to wait ten minutes before someone shows up to take a drink order.
2. Re-fills if my cup is half empty or less bring me a re-fill or ask if I want one.
3. At nicer places space out the meal some. I ate a nice steakhouse this week and the steaks were out before most of us were done with salads.
4. Do not take finished plates and other dirty table things with my food when you go to box up my leftovers. (this happend at Cheesecake factory on Tuesday not only did she take all of the dirty plates she also took my cheesecake and meal with them and was having a very hard time).

 

[chris1gill]

I hate waiting 20 or thirty minutes to get the bill after we've finished eating! Once I hit 10 minutes past eating the tip starts going lower.... This is my BIGGEST pet peave of all!

 

[inaminute]

LOL! We just came back from our Disneyland trip where we had the worst service imaginable at Rainforest Cafe. It was not busy--we got in right away at 9:30 a.m.

Our server took our order, dropped off our drinks, and brought our check. That's it. She never talked to us--never even addressed us except to ask for our order. Someone else delivered our food. Our server did next to nothing, so she was rewarded in kind.

With that experience fresh in my memory, what follows are a few suggestions. Except for #1. That's just a general complaint. It happens a lot and I find it very annoying. Our server at Rainforest didn't speak except to ask what we wanted to order.

1. Please don't use "Hi guys" when addressing the table. I'm not a guy. I resent being referred to as one. A simple "good morning" "good afternoon" or "good evening" would suffice.

2. Before leaving, please scan the table to make sure everyone has silverware and enough "condiments" (ketchup, sugar/sweetener, creamer for coffee, etc.). If something is missing, please bring it as soon as you have a minute.

3. Please check periodically to make sure everything is o.k. That will prevent us from having to steal items from other tables in order to properly set our table. See item #2.

4. If the kitchen is running slow or if there is a problem with our order, please let us know. Don't ignore us, or pretend everything is o.k. We can see everyone coming in after us is being served while we're still waiting.

If I'd had a piece of paper, I would have left our server a few "tips" that day. Luckily, we didn't let it ruin our day. But, I still remember the experience and am reluctant to try another Rainforest Cafe--no matter where it is!

 

[ceiligh1]

eta: Most of the time I don’t have a problem with our servers. Everyone is friendly without asking personal questions. I tip based on the entire experience usually at 20% and unless You seriously mess up do not downgrade. You work hard and I like to reward that. That said since you did ask for pet peeves and not for what people think about wait staff here you go:

1. write down my order, There is a waitress at one of our favorite places to eat who never writes down the order. She always gets it wrong. We ask to be reseated now if we are taken to her section.

2. Dont bother with the small talk. We can be friendly without learning all about each other. I have had a waitress ask if my sister and I were both my parents children. Why she needed/wanted to ask I have no idea.

3. know the menu if someone asks for a recommendation be able to give one.

4. let me actually taste the food before you ask if it is alright or if I need anything else

Things I like
1. when the wait staff are friendly and anticipate needs ie bringing over the highchair/ crayons/ extra napkins without asking

2. bringing extra drinks when mine is almost empty


3. If you spill or mix up an order apologize, talk to the management if you can to ask about restitution. Everyone makes mistakes as long as it is not every time.

 

[drgnfly30]

Don't disappear forever if I say I need more time to order

Don't bring the appetizer/salad/soup WITH my meal or immediately before it

Refill my drink without me asking & BEFORE I'm down to cubes

Don't disappear after serving me, we usually realize what we are missing or need after we've had a few moments to take a look at the meal

And if I do ask for some extra mayo or something, don't wait forever to bring it back.. I may need it to start my meal...

Offer us Coffee & Dessert, don't assume I want the check as soon as you serve my dinner

Clear our plates as we finish

Don't assume the change is your tip

While this doesn't apply to every customer, if service is excellent I tip well.. sometimes very well.. if service is lacking it will be reflected in the tip (or lack there of).

ETA: If you don't need to write our order down, please repeat it to me so I know you have it correct!