Waitress Not Asking if You Want Dessert

[mikehn]

I hate waiting around for my check, so I am happy if the check comes out early. If I decide I want to order something else, I will, and a new check will come out. No big deal. I've never associated getting an early check to being rushed.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Most of the everyday places that we go to eat, I do believe it is policy. And, they seem to tell the staff to say something to the effect "I'm going to go ahead and leave this... no rush.. I'll be back to see if you need anything else..." Which is what the waitress in this instance seemed to do.

9 out of 10, I think most guest are not looking for that drawn out dining experience... They have other things to move on to...

I really am still not even seeing why this is an issue, at all, that one would want stress enough and come post about.

I am with those who are ususally glad to have the check...
We went to a fairly nice (not polished-service) type of restaurant earlier this summer. And quite the opposite happened... It seemed that every little thing... every little step of the meal took that 5-10 extra minutes that left us feeling like we were 'waiting'.

Now that started to bother us.
The check coming a few minutes early...


(NOTE: we didn't complain and we left a tip... I think it was a younger newer waiter... and I didn't take the time to come here on the DIS and post about it.)

 

[aprilgail2]

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)

You don't tip on the taxed amount-you tip on the amount before tax is added in.

 

[FayeW]

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.

Don't feel too sorry for her, she still got a tip that was over 19%.

I was a waitress for a long time, during university and as a second job when we were starting out. I was an assistant manager and the restaurant manager as well. As a former waitress, I get where MIGrandma is coming from. It's just simple courtesy for the server to ask if you would like something else before delivering the bill. Simply dropping off the bill before they've even finished their main course can be off putting to those of us who have done the job. It's like they aren't closing out the service properly.

We usually don't order dessert but the server doesn't know that unless they ask. Depending on the mood I was in at the restaurant, and how the rest of the meal went, the server making an assumption that I didn't want something else might irritate me. I'd still tip whatever I was going to anyway if the rest of the service was alright.

 

[S. C.]

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.

 

[Tikitoi]

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

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%.

$78 bill and they don't even have computerized billing...Okayyyy...

 

[pixiewings71]

I wouldn't have thought twice about it either, if we wanted dessert we would have added it. I don't like waiting around for a check so I prefer the server bringing it earlier and I certainly wouldn't be upset or dock the tip based on that. I prefer to base my tip on actual service and IMO bringing the check earlier in the meal and not making me wait is good service.
Although, you did tip about 19% OP so I too wonder what you would have tipped if you hadn't docked her for bringing the check early?

 

[Jennasis]

I kind of LIKE that my waitress refills my drink or brings me more napkins without asking my permission to do so. I guess some people don't. And this is why being a waitress must suck...having to be friggin' mind reader.

 

[Allison]

I kind of LIKE that my waitress refills my drink or brings me more napkins without asking my permission to do so. I guess some people don't. And this is why being a waitress must suck...having to be friggin' mind reader.

Now you ruined it by making sense.

 

[old lady]

They probably forgot, or very busy, but it is annoying.

 

[Jennasis]

Soooooooo...how 'bout those, er uh...Red Sox? Cracking good ball club. And the price of tea lately? Outlandish!

 

[Becky2005]

I kind of LIKE that my waitress refills my drink or brings me more napkins without asking my permission to do so. I guess some people don't. And this is why being a waitress must suck...having to be friggin' mind reader.

That's what I was thinking...now trust me, I LIKE Control (husband says I have control issues) but if I wanted THAT much control when eating out -- I would be doing the waitress' job!! I shouldn't *have* to tell the server to -- bring me something to drink, bring me silverware, bring me sugar, don't bring me anything unless I ask for it.

Based on what I have read so far -- since the customer should have complete control, when they walk in the table should be completely empty and the customer should ask for every single item they want & when they want it, there should be no assumptions going on whatsoever by the waitstaff. No assumption that silverware is needed, no assumption that a napkin would be needed, nothing...I have gone into plenty of places and you automatically get a glass of water! It usually isn't even the server specifically that brings it.

I also don't consider a tip = salary...I assume the server is going to get paid an hourly wage of some sort even if I get up and walk out without ordering a single thing. I'm pretty sure none of them are on 100% commission.

 

[BCmomma]

It wouldn't bother us. 9 times out of 10 we won't order dessert anyway. If we wanted to and that happened, we'd call her over and order it and they'd have to change the bill. I don't see what the fuss is about.

 

[PizzieDuster]

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.

Just bring my wine and I'll be fine

 

[Wishing on a star]

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."

And, at that point, the reply should be, "We are looking forward to dessert!"

She didn't have to ask, at that point, if you knew you were going to be doing dessert or not.
She offered to provide anything further that the OP and her party might need.

Really...
Is this thread even still here?
Some people...

 

[sam_gordon]

And, at that point, the reply should be, "We are looking forward to dessert!"

She didn't have to ask, at that point, if you knew you were going to be doing dessert or not.
She offered to provide anything further that the OP and her party might need.

Really...
Is this thread even still here?
Some people...

And you bump it to the top, then complain because the thread is hanging around?
Some people...

 

[mill4023]

It is very common to go ahead and drop the check.
As opposed to some places and cultures where one almost has to get up and go beg for it, as it is considered "rude as it might rush the guest".

This is very true. I've been traveling to Italy for work lately and have never had a bill brought to me there without asking for it. Of course, tipping there is also not normal practice, so things are pretty different.

It does feel a little rude to me when a server brings you your bill while you are still eating.

 

[PizzieDuster]

And you bump it to the top, then complain because the thread is hanging around?
Some people...

Some people never told me there are limits to the life of a thread

 

[usd2bmd]

Things look different than they did yesterday....

 

[goofinoff]

Things look different than they did yesterday....

They certainly do!!!