Waitress Not Asking if You Want Dessert

[gncntry]

I recently had dinner with two girlfriends and the waiter came over with the dessert menu while my one friend was still eating! I thought that was a bit rude.

 

[2DisPrincesses]

It wasn't a restaurant where they have computerized billing.

I used to wait tables, and I just feel it's rude and "rushing" the customers to present the bill way before they're finished (unless they ask for it early) and I would always, always ask them if they wanted dessert before giving them their bill.

It just makes sense, to a waitress, to offer dessert since the bill will be larger then, and therefore your tip will probably be larger as well.

Many members of my family have/do work in the restaurant industry. Many places require the server to drop the check relatively early in the service. It's part of their system for turning tables. It doesn't matter the time of day or day of the week. Many people appreciate not having to wait for their bill. As long as your server didn't ignore you after leaving the check, I don't see why it's a big deal. Goes to show that you can't ,are everyone happy.

 

[ols386]

It was probably the end of the waitress's shift and she had to leave.

Lots of restaurants I've gone to don't even ask if you want dessert.

I don't think the waitress did anything wrong.

 

[smidgy]

I responded in another "Tipping Thread" with my own personal opinion of how hard it can be to cater to the general public, just for reasons like this.

As you see by this thread, some people are thankful to have the check delivered early. Others feel rushed by it. As your server, we don't know which type of person you are. It's one of those darned if I do, darned if I don't scenarios.

I'd also like to point out about this specific incident, that some restaurant owners/managers have a policy to do this. So even if your server doesn't want to "rush" you, they have to. Yes, they work for your tip, but if they go against the rules of the establishment, they won't have a job at all.

Secondly, since the bill is handwritten, it's obvious that this isn't a fine dining establishment. As someone else pointed out, the only places left that don't computerize things are greasy spoons (Waffle Houses, etc), pizza places, and other fast table service places. You can't expect fine dining service at a place like this.
well, gotta disagree here. I waitress at a very nice steakhouse. fine dining. we have hand written bills. It is not a chain and owner is old school.


And since I've also worked at a place in the past that hand wrote the bills, it's still extremely easy to alter. Take the circled total on the bill, add $3.50 for the Key Lime Pie, and bam -- new total. It's only 5 seconds of work to add dessert to an existing bill.

Just in case you have time and want to understand what a server has to go through in determining what type of service to give you, here's a link to what I posted in another thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3133416&page=7

EVERYONE has to click on this link and read Spreisty's post!!! is is so dead one, clearly explained, etc. etc.!!! as a server, she read my mind!!! (joke, which you'll get when you read her post)

 

[smidgy]

I think most servers would rahter err on the side of giving the check early, in my experience most people dislike having to WAIT to pay.

a server can have all the time in the world, but, sure enough, as soon as that table wants their check, 5 other things need immediate attention. better to give it to them when you know you have the time. we have handwritten checks, but Ihave worked where they are computerized. either one is no problem to add on to. often it's not dessert, but they want an after dinner drink, or want to buy a cocktail for the table that just walked in (I live in a small town).

and I have never worked at a restaurant where the server's "shift ended". you take a table, you stay until they are gone. your shift end is coming up, you give that table to some one else, or you stay.

 

[Art 1]

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.

 

[Jennasis]

The more I think about this thread, the angrier I get..for the waitress.

 

[MIGrandma]

Goodness! We just got home (car shopping, bought a new car today ) and I see all the responses. Thank you to the ones who answered nicely and to those who didn't....well, just bless your hearts is all I've got to say to you. You know, we all have our annoyances. Those who said it wouldn't be a blip on their radar, well fine....glad to hear it....but I'm sure other things annoy you that wouldn't annoy me. And to those who brought up things in the past, good grief. Let. It. Go. You must be the type to bring things up from years ago in arguments with your spouses too, right? Whatever.

Just so you all know the bill came to $78 before tax (no alcohol, FIL and step MIL don't drink, so we chose not to as well out of respect for their beliefs about it) and we tipped $15, roughly 15%. Is that acceptable to all you who were beating me over the head with a stick because we chose to reduce the tip?

I have grown quite a thick skin from this message board, but good grief some of you just make it a lot less fun than it used to be. I can understand why so many new people stay away from here. Pretty sad when grown adults here have to put other posters down just to make themselves feel better. I hope you're proud of yourselves. And I'm not talking to everyone here, there are some who can answer a question nicely but the ones I'm talking about, you know who you are. I feel sorry for you, I really do. Pretty pathetic.

 

[BigAlsGal]

I would start ordering my dessert with dinner. No new cyphering to do. One fell swoop.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I did ask right away if anyone at the table wanted dessert.

Why would you do that? You knew your party was only about halfway through the meal; why would you impel them to make a decision on dessert solely because the check was alreadyade available?

Thank you to the ones who answered nicely and to those who didn't....well, just bless your hearts is all I've got to say to you. You know, we all have our annoyances. Those who said it wouldn't be a blip on their radar, well fine....glad to hear it....but I'm sure other things annoy you that wouldn't annoy me.

Having a different outlook isn't 'not answering nicely'.

And to those who brought up things in the past, good grief. Let. It. Go. You must be the type to bring things up from years ago in arguments with your spouses too, right? Whatever.

A general mention (or two) that a poster has a history of - tactfully - complaining or being particular isn't bringing up things from the past. Anything posted on a forum remains public, and often memorable; arguments with one's spouse generally aren't public and rarely live in perpetuity online. Apples/oranges.

Just so you all know the bill came to $78 before tax (no alcohol, FIL and step MIL don't drink, so we chose not to as well out of respect for their beliefs about it) and we tipped $15, roughly 15%. Is that acceptable to all you who were beating me over the head with a stick because we chose to reduce the tip?

You might want to check your math - and at the same time remember you reported reducing the tip despite everything else being great, because the check came too soon.

I have grown quite a thick skin from this message board, but good grief some of you just make it a lot less fun than it used to be. I can understand why so many new people stay away from here.

Frequently, the tone of the responses one gets are a reflection of the tone of the original post.

 

[aprilgail2]

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.

Well shame on your husband then- he should have just put on his big boy pants and ordered something if he wanted it rather than not want to make her do something that is her job and she wouldn't have had an issue doing anyway!

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.

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

me too- I love when I get the bill early, if I want dessert then I will just have them add it-no big deal.

 

[Flrancho]

This seems to happen to us all the time, and not just in Disney. If we want dessert, its a little annoying.

However, we just say we wanted dessert and have them take the check back and redo it. They're fault for not asking.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

You may feel sorry for us but I feel sorry for the poor waitress who had her tip reduced because she did something that the majority of the population seems to appreciate. She did everything a waitress is suppose to do and it still wasn't good enough for you, which makes me think you would find something wrong no matter what she did.

 

[sam_gordon]

Just so you all know the bill came to $78 before tax (no alcohol, FIL and step MIL don't drink, so we chose not to as well out of respect for their beliefs about it) and we tipped $15, roughly 15%. Is that acceptable to all you who were beating me over the head with a stick because we chose to reduce the tip?
(

According to my calculations, that's a 19.2% tip. What would you have tipped her if she hadn't brought the check early?

 

[ilovemk76]

Goodness! We just got home (car shopping, bought a new car today ) and I see all the responses. Thank you to the ones who answered nicely and to those who didn't....well, just bless your hearts is all I've got to say to you. You know, we all have our annoyances. Those who said it wouldn't be a blip on their radar, well fine....glad to hear it....but I'm sure other things annoy you that wouldn't annoy me. And to those who brought up things in the past, good grief. Let. It. Go. You must be the type to bring things up from years ago in arguments with your spouses too, right? Whatever.

Just so you all know the bill came to $78 before tax (no alcohol, FIL and step MIL don't drink, so we chose not to as well out of respect for their beliefs about it) and we tipped $15, roughly 15%. Is that acceptable to all you who were beating me over the head with a stick because we chose to reduce the tip?

I have grown quite a thick skin from this message board, but good grief some of you just make it a lot less fun than it used to be. I can understand why so many new people stay away from here. Pretty sad when grown adults here have to put other posters down just to make themselves feel better. I hope you're proud of yourselves. And I'm not talking to everyone here, there are some who can answer a question nicely but the ones I'm talking about, you know who you are. I feel sorry for you, I really do. Pretty pathetic.

I can only imagine how that went! Poor salesman.

 

[Tomader]

I tip my server on their friendly service. If they are pleasant enough I usually give 20%. I never order dessert when we eat out. If they forgot to ask that would not even phase me. The service has to be pretty bad for me to reduce a tip. Dessert would not be one of them. I give credit to anyone who works with the public. It's a very hard job. A lot of different people out there.

 

[Deb in IA]

According to my calculations, that's a 19.2% tip. What would you have tipped her if she hadn't brought the check early?

I think she said the $78 was before tax.

When I add the 6% Michigan sales tax, I get $82.68.

15 divided by 82.68 = 18.1%, the amount of the tip, using the numbers MIGrandma gave.

(yes, I am a math nerd)

 

[sam_gordon]

I think she said the $78 was before tax.

When I add the 6% Michigan sales tax, I get $82.68.

15 divided by 82.68 = 18.1%, the amount of the tip, using the numbers MIGrandma gave.

(yes, I am a math nerd)

18% is still closer to 20% than it is 15%. Even figuring 18%, I'd like to know how much MIGrandma would have tipped if they weren't upset over the early check... $20? (25.6% based on pre-tax, 24% post tax).

Also, I thought you were supposed to base the tip% on the pre-tax amount. Kentucky has a 6% tax. Sometimes I'll triple the tax and that gives an 18% tip (then I round up).

 

[MissManda]

Well, since my family generally never gets dessert it wouldn't have bothered me at all. If on the off chance that any of us did want anything additional, I would have ordered it and thought nothing else of it. Even with non-computerized tickets it wouldn't have been that much work to reconfigure the bill. That's the chance the server takes when they give you the bill earliers.

We aren't the type that likes to linger after a meal, so once we eat we prefer to settle our bill and leave. So, we prefer to have our check before the meal is done so that we don't have to wait on it. If we have to sit and actually wait for our check, my DH starts to get a little testy. (He's the type that would reduce the tip if he felt he had to wait to long to get his check).

I think servers are just trying to find a happy medium. It seems easier to me to go ahead and present the check with the abilty to make changes if necessary rather than have people wait around for a check.

 

[snapppyd]

I would be more annoyed if I had to wait for the bill. If I wanted dessert I would have still ordered it.