Sharing in restaurants~

[jwsqrdplus2]

DH and I do that all the time with DDs. We generally order 2 adult meals and share them with our DDs (5 and 2). Portions are huge, and I am not a fan of leftovers (EXCEPT for Thanksgiving leftovers!! ). So we have a nice meal with appetizers and salad and drinks. We rarely run into problems and if there is an extra plate fee, we pay it. That waitress would have had little to no tip from me as well as a report to the manager.

On the flip side, I have requested to speak to a manager for outstanding service too. It is always funny to see the look on both the server's and manager's face when you request to speak with the manager. And then when you sing praises, they are sooo relieved and happy.

 

[MeanLaureen]

I do think that you should tip at a higher percentage, though, if you do that, IF service is good. It would be just like using a coupon -- the waiters shouldn't get stiffed just because you have a coupon or want to split your food. You should tip as if you had paid full price for two meals.

Why would anyone feel the need to tip at a higher than normal percentage UNLESS there was excellent service?

Just because you shared a dish doesn't mean you have to tip more than the usual percent to bill. The waitress isn't working any harder for 2 people sharing a plate than 1 person dining alone and getting the same thing

Besides, the one dish they ordered might even add up to more than two people coming in and just ordering a salad or something.

 

[katerkat]

I've been called cheap just for ordering water, not even sharing a meal! (The waiter thought he was out of earshot, I guess. ) I don't think there's anything wrong with what you did - however, I would have complained about what the waitresses said!

 

[shortbun]

I definitely think the waitress was out of line and should have
been redressed. That said, what type of restaurant was it?
Linen tablecloths, real silverware, stems? In that case, I
would never share a meal. In anything less than that, share
away! I'd probably add a couple dollars for the wait staff(unless they were rude like this one) as they do work extra waiting on
two people rather than one and for the price of one meal.
I've waited tables-for those of you who have 2 children-the difference is much the same. A single diner is much less needy than a couple. FYI, it is common these days for people to
drink water only, especially in better establishments. A waiter
who misses the opportunity to sell designer water has missed
the boat.

 

[dancergirl]

My sister and I (21 and 16) have always shared plates! If we are anywhere besides a burger place almost we will share. Most of the time we both have leftovers too! Some times my parents share too. They really do serve a ton of food now!!! When Steph went away to college, I had the biggest problem trying to find something to eat for myself!! I hated spending so much money for something I'm barely going to eat half of!!!
I would be very upset if I heard a waiter say something like that! I would make sure to leave a very very small tip,(seems much better to leave a $0.02 or $0.05 than nothing ) and/or talk to a manager!

 

[Disney Debbie]

I'd tell her, "You're right - I am cheap - and you just saved me 20%"

I get water almost all the time in restaraunts - and you know why??? Because I'm cheap! I'm proud of it!!! When they charge over $2 for a iced tea - that's $6 bucks for the three of us - that's an appetizer for heavens sake! If I'm going to pay that much, I'd just as well go ahead and get a REAL drink!

We rarely share, but only because we love to have left overs. We almost always have at least 1/2 our meal to take home and I can make 2 lunches out of that. I hate to have to come home at lunch and fix anything. I figure it saves me money in the long run to just heat up a leftover meal then to go out to lunch.

 

[IloveDMB]

As a person who waitresses, the only thing I can say for the waitresses defense is that she was probably mad that people were taking up her tables who were sharing a meal. She might have been thinking that another couple or family would come in and spend more on the meal, therefore equaling a higher tip.

That being said, what she said was wrong. She never should have said that and if she really needed to get that out, she should have gone in the back. (What goes on in the kitchen is very, very interesting!!)

We had a very big problem with this at the restaurant I work at, so this summer we instituted a $6 food minimum per person. Worked out great!

 

[Dee & Greg]

At our favorite restaurant, DH and I usually share one sandwich.. the waitress doesn't bring an extra empty plate, but our sandwich is already cut in half, along with fries, on a plate for each of us. Although, we usually have a cocktail. It's a neighborhood bar...appropriately named "The Friendly Tavern".

And it is!

 

[Chattyaholic]

I've been a waitress nearly 8 years, and that waitress never should have made the comment she made. It isn't any of her business what people order, or do not order.

What bugs me is the "extra plate charge", geez....I can hardly believe some restaurants do that!!

The restaurant where I work has a daily (lunch and dinner) buffet, but we have a full menu as well and we do get a few people who share a meal, no problem. They're paying the bill, it's their food, their decision. I just ask the cook to put the order on two plates, no problem.

One thing I have stopped doing though, we have a hot roast beef sandwich (with mashed potatoes, gravy and cole slaw) for $6.25. A half-order is $5.25. When a couple comes in and one orders a half-order and the other person orders the same I used to mention they could get a full one, split it, and save money. But the last time I did that, the people got angry at me, so I stopped doing it. I decided that if the people want to split one, they will tell me so. It just doesn't make much sense to me, to order two halves and pay $10.50 when you could order one and pay just $6.25.....oh well....the customer's always right, right?

 

[FreshTressa]

Originally posted by Chattyaholic
I've been a waitress nearly 8 years, and that waitress never should have made the comment she made. It isn't any of her business what people order, or do not order.

What bugs me is the "extra plate charge", geez....I can hardly believe some restaurants do that!!

The restaurant where I work has a daily (lunch and dinner) buffet, but we have a full menu as well and we do get a few people who share a meal, no problem. They're paying the bill, it's their food, their decision. I just ask the cook to put the order on two plates, no problem.

One thing I have stopped doing though, we have a hot roast beef sandwich (with mashed potatoes, gravy and cole slaw) for $6.25. A half-order is $5.25. When a couple comes in and one orders a half-order and the other person orders the same I used to mention they could get a full one, split it, and save money. But the last time I did that, the people got angry at me, so I stopped doing it. I decided that if the people want to split one, they will tell me so. It just doesn't make much sense to me, to order two halves and pay $10.50 when you could order one and pay just $6.25.....oh well....the customer's always right, right?

Some people!!! That is too funny.

I don't mind the extra plate fee, but I probably wouldn't go to a restaurant that charged a $6 minimum food purchase.

I just hope there isn't someone in the back spittin in my half a sandwich!!

 

[WDWAurora]

I'm shocked at IloveDMB's comment that her restaurant has a $6 minimum per person. My family would probably never eat there, simply because of me. There are many times when I can't really eat due to some stomach issues, so I get a small bowl of soup or maybe a side salad for my entree. I wouldn't want either of those things to cost $6, that's just not quite fair, and I'm not going to order more, so that it can sit on the table and make me ill...I just find that odd, maybe it's just me.