Waitress Not Asking if You Want Dessert

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Not an issue for me. I'm not one to order dessert anyway, but I still don't think I would be upset about it. I would actually appreciate the promptness in bringing the check.

 

[Lorelei Lee]

It's not common practice around here. It might have irked me for about half a second, but if I'd planned to order dessert I would have asked her to recalculate the check.

 

[SLCborn]

I hope my daughter who is a server never gets docked for not being able to read people's minds. Deducting for bad service, bad attitude or bad food? Sure. Deducting for something as trivial as when the check was delivered? Eh...not so much! I cannot imagine being offended over something so miniscule...and yes, being offended IS a choice.

I really feel bad for those who work hard to do a good job and STILL get docked for something so ridiculous!

 

[Spriesty]

I hope my daughter who is a server never gets docked for not being able to read people's minds. Deducting for bad service, bad attitude or bad food? Sure. Deducting for something as trivial as when the check was delivered? Eh...not so much! I cannot imagine being offended over something so miniscule...and yes, being offended IS a choice.

I really feel bad for those who work hard to do a good job and STILL get docked for something so ridiculous!

Exactly this!!!! When you deal with hundreds of people every day, all of them completely different, it's insanely hard to tell if you're going to offend someone or make them happy. What you do for one table makes them happy, yet doing the same thing for another table will get you the evil eye and a $5 tip on $92.

 

[design_mom]

We rarely order dessert, so not being asked for dessert would not have been on my radar. I generally don't mind when they bring the check early either... it beats having to hunt the waitress down to get it. And it sounds like the waitress made it obvious that she was willing to get you anything else you'd like.

There have been certain times where I felt that the timing of the check was an unspoken "hurry up and finish, then get out"... and that's kind of annoying...but I don't ever recall adjusting my tip based on that *one* incident. I'm sorry if you had that experience. But if it wasn't that kind of vibe, then it wouldn't have bothered me at all.

 

[scrapquitler]

That's been common practice around here for years, I wouldn't have batted an eye. In fact, I like it. If I don't want dessert, I don't have to wait around for the check. If I do, I just order dessert. It takes a minute to change the bill, even if they don't have a computerized ordering system.

And it's likely the restaurant's policy, I certainly wouldn't punish the server by reducing her tip.

I agree with this. I almost never order desert, so it doesn't really matter to me as far as ordering desert, but I do like them to drop the check before I'm done eating so I can look at it, put my credit card down and have them pick it up quickly. I hate sitting around the table waiting for the check, waiting for them to bring it back for me to sign, etc. I'd rather have it done quickly once I finish eating, especially if I have the kids with me.

 

[AverageDiser]

This wouldn't be a blip on my radar either. I do have to say though, great example of passive aggressive behavior.

 

[Scornelius]

We have lots of smaller locally owned places that still hand write tickets. My DD works at a pizza place and they still write out tickets and I know most of the coffee/diner places do. We go to Waffle House often and they still hand write their tickets too!

Must be a regional thing.

OP, the thing that bothers me the most is that your server specifically said she could add anything else that you wanted, and yet you still docked her tip. I think that is passive aggressive, and just a little bit mean.

 

[JDX4]

I love when the check is dropped off early. I like being able to get out of the restaurant quicker at the end. Our Cracker Barrel restaurant does this, and the couple of times we wanted to add on a coffee or dessert, it was not a problem.

It really sounds like you are offended easily. To me, the problem in your situation was that your husband was too ?shy? to order what he wanted in a restaurant, therefore causing his dad to follow suit.

You shouldn't have penalized the waitress for that. You even stated that she gave you attentive service. Bad form on your part in my opinion.

 

[LiveYourLife]

I agree with this. I almost never order desert, so it doesn't really matter to me as far as ordering desert, but I do like them to drop the check before I'm done eating so I can look at it, put my credit card down and have them pick it up quickly. I hate sitting around the table waiting for the check, waiting for them to bring it back for me to sign, etc. I'd rather have it done quickly once I finish eating, especially if I have the kids with me.

And I agree with you! When I am done, I'm done. Nothing makes me more twitchy than waiting on my check after I've finished eating.

If I want dessert, and I've already been given my check, I ask for dessert, the check gets adjusted......NBD.

Honestly, I would never think twice about reducing a tip because of this.

 

[wvjules]

Were you at the park earlier in the day and was still upset at dinner time?

 

[disney1990]

Last night we took DH's Dad and step-Mom out to dinner for a celebration.

Staff was pleasant, server was pleasant and attentive, food was great.

Then. We were only about half through our meal when she stopped at the table and said "I'm going to leave this (bill) here, but if you need anything else we can add it." That annoys me to no end. I feel she should have waited until we were finished, or nearly finished and then asked us if anyone wanted dessert before she presented the bill.

I did ask right away if anyone at the table wanted dessert. I know DH was planning on ordering dessert and coffee and I think his Dad would have too. But they both said no. DH didn't want her to have to refigure the bill.

It was Monday night, the restaurant wasn't busy and there were lots of empty tables so it wasn't like she was trying to "hurry us along" so another group could be seated at our table so I just don't understand why she would present the bill so quickly like she did.

We did end up tipping a bit less since she did that.

So, does it bother you if the server doesn't ask if you want dessert before they give you the bill?

No big deal. If we wanted dessert, I would have just told her at that time.

 

[blana]

I actually appreciate them bringing the bill without asking if anyone wants dessert. That way we don't have to explain to DC that NO they don't need dessert.

 

[Ceila]

So, OP, you enjoyed the food and the service (right up until she dropped off the check). You chose not to order dessert. You didn't speak to the waitress so she could rectify the problem. And then you docked her tip and came here to complain.

Alex, I'll take Passive Aggressive for 300.

 

[Adipoo]

This isn't even a blip on my radar when it happens. If we want something else, we order it, easy peasy. Talk about 1st world problems, sheesh.

 

[okeydokey]

I hate waiting for the bill when I am ready to leave. I would have tipped extra.

 

[Sadie22]

Many restaurants around here put the check on the table before dessert. I am diabetic, and I am glad when dessert is not pushed on me. I don't need to see a dessert tray. I don't like waiting for the check long after we are finished. I think it's great that we can review the check at our leisure to make sure it is correct and pay at our leisure.

I think it's great when restaurants do not bolster the habit of adding unnecessary dessert calories to a likely overly-large-portioned meal. I'm all for anything that can help children learn to eat in a more healthy way than what I learned as a child. A big, sugary dessert is not a necessity.

 

[Justmeandnooneelse]

I've never wondered about something so trivial.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

Wouldn't bother me at all. It doesn't add work or inconvenience on my end, just theirs so I see no need to be miffed over it.

In fact it is much better than the issues I had to deal with at the restaurants in DTD and Universal Citywalk on my trip to DLR this month. There I had to wait 50 minutes for my food at Rainforrest cafe, wait 25 minutes after we were done eating to get our check at Bubba Gumps and deal with Earl of Sandwich forgetting 2 out of the 3 sandwiches we ordered.

A waitress getting my food and check to me in a timely manner would have been absolutely awesome IMO.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

Last night we took DH's Dad and step-Mom out to dinner for a celebration.

Staff was pleasant, server was pleasant and attentive, food was great.

Then. We were only about half through our meal when she stopped at the table and said "I'm going to leave this (bill) here, but if you need anything else we can add it." That annoys me to no end. I feel she should have waited until we were finished, or nearly finished and then asked us if anyone wanted dessert before she presented the bill.

I did ask right away if anyone at the table wanted dessert. I know DH was planning on ordering dessert and coffee and I think his Dad would have too. But they both said no. DH didn't want her to have to refigure the bill.

It was Monday night, the restaurant wasn't busy and there were lots of empty tables so it wasn't like she was trying to "hurry us along" so another group could be seated at our table so I just don't understand why she would present the bill so quickly like she did.

We did end up tipping a bit less since she did that.

So, does it bother you if the server doesn't ask if you want dessert before they give you the bill?

Seems like a pretty crappy reason for leaving less of a tip.