Would You do This in a Restaurant?

[Chattyaholic]

I have been a server in a great family-oriented restaurant going on 8 years. Most of the time I love my job, but there are a few customers that really annoy me....yesterday (Sunday) it was 3:00 and business had slowed down quite a bit so the owner and our hostess both went home, leaving just myself and the other waitress. We decided to try to eat something, and three tables emptied during that time. When the restaurant is slow we always leave the dirty tables to clean AFTER we finish eating.

Three people came in and it was my turn, so I went and got their water glasses and proceeded into the main dining room. Rather than choosing one of the several CLEAN tables, they chose a table that still had dirty dishes on it from the previous occupants.

Well, since there were several clean tables in the room, plus ALL clean tables in the room they had just walked through, I smiled at them and politely said, "would you mind choosing a CLEAN table please". The man said "no, this is where we want to sit."

I could NOT believe it!!! I would NEVER do that!!!

Now, if they had no choice because ALL the tables were dirty it would not have been a problem, but they had MANY clean tables to choose from.

I had to take their glasses of water back, clean the table, reset it, then go back for their water glasses.

I did make them wait a bit before I did all of that though. I had noticed one of my other tables needed coffee refills (the cups weren't empty but could use filling) so I took the pot back to their table first, then I stopped to get another pot brewing, THEN I went to clear the table. So at least I got a little "revenge."
(maybe some of you think that was wrong of me)....

but I was just wondering how many of YOU would actually CHOOSE to sit at a dirty table, rather than one of the CLEAN ones.

 

[shortbun]

People can be weird. No way would I want someone bussing
a table where I was sitting. geesh!

 

[Mermaid02]

I would only choose it if it were a fantastic table with a great view or something- I might also choose it if it were a booth and all the booths were dirty- I prefer booths over tables usually.

 

[gina2000]

Personally I wouldn't. I also find it gross to be seated next to unclean tables. I would have chosen the other dining room completely or left if I didn't like my choices.

(I gotta say, though....I wish you would clean those tables before you eat. It bothers me.)

 

[Boo'sMom]

I wouldn't either...but I have to admit. I probably wouldn't frequent a restaurant that leaves dirty dishes on the table after the customer has left.....that just doesn't project a very clean image IMHO

 

[Tigger1]

Maybe they have been in before and that was there favorite table. We waited at Beaches and cream before to get a booth. I also feel that it would be better to clean off the tables before taking breaks. You can still wash the dishes latter. If I was a customer and saw the wait staff on break while tables were not cleaned off, tip would go down.

 

[browneyes]

My SIL has done that. If there's a ceiling fan above the clean tables, she'll ask for a table regardless of if it's clean or not.

 

[DisneyObsessed]

I, too, work in a restaurant. During slow times, we clean. Deep cleaning. There was a night, I was in the dining room, on my hands and knees, scrubbing the entire booth and table. An older couple came in and came to this particular table. There were just standing there watching me. I asked, "can I help you?" They said, "yes, this is our table, we want to sit down and eat." I explained that I was doing a really deep cleaning on that booth, and it would take a little while and could they choose another table this time. I was VERY polite about it. Absolutely not. They would have nothing to do with it. This is Arbys for crying out loud. It's not as if any of our tables have a great view. Some people are just extremely set in their ways.
_____________
Dawn

 

[Sleepy]

Did they leave a tip? Those are usually the customers that leave either a quarter or nothing.

 

[vald1977]

Originally posted by DisneyObsessed
This is Arbys for crying out loud. It's not as if any of our tables have a great view. Some people are just extremely set in their ways.
_____________
Dawn

Sorry Dawn but this made LOL . That is very strange.

 

[KristaTX]

They have their own special table at Arby's? Oh my gosh . Not that there's anything wrong with Arby's, but gee. Maybe they got engaged there or something once upon a time.

Krista

 

[IloveDMB]

I work in a restaurant on the beach so during the summer we are extremely busy. We have a lot of self-seaters, which is annoying in itself. I can't tell you how many times people have walked right past the hostess and sat at a dirty table.

Now we usually have 2 busboys on and all of the servers pre bus. So we try to bus as quickly as possible but sometimes the tables get behind us. Why people would choose to sit at a dirty table is beyond me. I think it's absolutely gross.

 

[Rajah]

You might want to re-think your "eat then bus" strategy. I, too, would have either walked out or at least not returned to an establishment where the tables were left un-bussed so the servers could get a bite to eat. You may be losing a lot of customers by doing that.

As to your question -- no, I wouldn't pick a dirty table over a clean one.

 

[mudnuri]

I've worked at both chain, (Friendly's) and family style restaurants, mom and pop owned.

One thing that REALLY bothers me is to walk into a restaurant and see a dirty table. NEVER in my life would I sit down and eat if I was working when a table was dirty...But, then again as I was serving, I would bus a table as I went, so when they got up to leave, all that was left was the cups, and possibly desert plates.

If I walk into a restaurant and there is nobody there, and 3 dirty tables, you bet I'll sit a dirty one....and if your rude and ask me to sit somewhere else, you wont find even a penny on the table. I am NOT the type of person who tips just because a waiter relies on tips. NOT IN THE LEAST! If your service is crappy, so is your tip. I have walked out of many restaraunts without leaving a tip, and I've also walked out of many with a $30.00 bill, and left $10.00 if the server was great.

When working at Friendly's one thing we had was customers who would come in and be paid by friendly's to eat at our store. One of the things they would check is dirty tables, time it took to be cleaned etc...

I do have 1 question, why were you BOTH eating at the same time, seems to be that 1 of you would take a break, and the other would be working.

After all the floors in any restaraunt could ALWAYS need a quick sweep with the carpet sweeper, one of you could have cleaned the tables, the other sweep etc...

Sorry I feel this way, just urks me I guess

Brandy

 

[luv2nascar]

I really thought is was proper etiquette to wait to bring the bill until after the plates have been cleared. Ask about dessert then bring the bill.
It is a pet peeve of mine when they ask if you want dessert when children are still eating. They here dessert and they are done regardless.

My DH is a big guy 6'3" etc. He will not fit in some smaller booths. I also have issues with busy restaurants and tables in high traffic area. We have a baby in high chair and I don't want anything spilled on her. I would wait for a table I wanted to be bussed vs. sitting at a table I wouldn't be happy with.

Leaving others peoples dirty dishes on the tables while you take a break is not really good for the restaurant and I'm surprised the manager doesn't say something about it.

We may be picky but we till well compared to most others we've eated out with. We also tip at least 20%+ for excellent service but on the other hand bad service will get what they deserve 10% or less.

I did formerly work in a restaurant and know it is very hard work. However you still have to try to please your customers. Customers sitting at there favorite table will probably tip much better than if you make them sit somewhere else.

 

[Blondie]

I personally wouldn't pick a dirty table over a clean one.

Some people are just set in their ways. A year or so ago my MIL took us out to dinner at a little italian restaurant. Very small place with few tables. When we arrived she was disappointed that "her table" was taken. I'm thinking to myself what freakin' difference does it make, all the tables were the same (no booths) and the only view is of the street outside!

Some people insist on certain tables.

 

[Disneymommie]

Ok, I am sure I am going to get yelled at for this however....

If this poor women was working her tail off all morning with a constant stream of people and has been on her feet with no break, I believe she deserves to be able to sit down and have some food herself. Yes since there were 2 of them maybe one could have cleared while the other ate and switched off like that. But we all seem to be forgetting that as an employee she has the right to a break. From what it seems from her post it was a matter of maybe 3 tables out of the whole resurant that were not bused yet. And it does not seem like it is an an upscale place(no offense). We are all human and need breaks to eat!

 

[Poohnatic]

If you've never worked in the restaurant business, you probably don't realize that SERVERS DO NOT GET BREAKS!!! I grew up with everyone in my family working in the biz, and I did for a couple of years after DS#2 was born.

It was not uncommon to go in for a shift at 1pm and not get a minute to eat until Midnight...every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I'm sure it's just as busy at that family restaurant as it was at the Steakhouse I worked for.

Granted, I cleared all the dishes when dropping a check at a table, but I've been in the OP's shoes and don't fault her for leaving three tables in the whole restaurant.

I worked at two places that didn't have a view (except of the parking lot) and some people had preferences of booth over table, under the a/c, under the speaker, under a hanging lamp, etc. Some people have quirks and want something just because they want to see their table being cleaned.

Suzanne

 

[mudnuri]

well, then obviously someone your working for doenst know the labor laws!

At every rest. I have worked at you get a break! Federal Law REQUIRES this!

We go out to eat a lot, 1x a week, to applbee's, 99 steak house, outback etc.. and I tell you what, THEY ALL GET BREAKS! Ask them, they'll tell ya.

It must have been slow enough at this establishment for quite awhile for the owner and the hostess to leave...you dont just jump and leave 2 minutes after the place empties out.

I stand by my comments

Brandy

 

[DisneyObsessed]

Sure, there are laws. But every state is different. In Mass if you work 6 hours in a restaurant, you get 30 minutes. In Conn, it's 7.5 hours to get 30 minutes. There are alot of shifts, that cover normal eating hours. People do tend to get hungry at different times. I don't know about you, but if I go to work at 8am, I'm definitely hungry earlier than 3:30, which is *legal* break time. We grab a quick bite between customers. The break laws are much different for restaurants, than other retail establishments.
________________
Dawn