Waiter not apologizing for mistakes
Aug 26, 2015, 8:06 am
#16
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If you really want to get your point across, put in a smaller tip and write a short explanation of why you're tipping the way you are.
Maybe it'll go viral! (although maybe in the not-so-good way)
(and no, I've never actually done this)
Maybe it'll go viral! (although maybe in the not-so-good way)
(and no, I've never actually done this)
Aug 26, 2015, 10:23 am
#17
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Let's be honest here, when was the last time a verbal apology from the waiter (as opposed to a manager or chef) has made up for a mistake/wrongdoing at a restaurant? Nowadays it's usually just a formality anyway. If you're dissatisfied with the service over something as trivial as that, then simply don't return to the restaurant. Is it really worth wasting a few bytes of FlyerTalk server space to complain about this?
OP, if it's just silverware, not that big a deal.
Mike
Aug 26, 2015, 10:46 am
#18
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Getting back on track, the OP brings up a curious point. It might be very awkward standing up and taking silverware off of another table. Depending on what type of dining establishment, you may have to endure the evil eyes of other diners. So if the waiter seemed a bit too nonchalant about the faux pas, I would also be somewhat peeved.
In my opinion, it's the little things that define superior service. One may say the OP is just being picky. However this small incident may be the difference between the OP thinking "Great Service!," or leaving with the thought, "It was fine, except for..." Having the expectation of great service is not being picky. Especially when it falls in the realm of failure to provide basic service, i.e. silverware.
Now if this happened at a lower middle to lower class sit-down establishment, I would probably just ignore it. (Although a mental note would be made.) And if the rest of the service was up to par would have just tipped the waiter in full. 15% of a cheap meal isn't going to hurt the pocket book. However at a higher end restaurant, where stuff like this just isn't supposed to happen, the tip is going to be lower (or a lot lower) depending. If the overall experience was bad enough, I simply may just not return.
Aug 26, 2015, 1:00 pm
#19
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Too many threads here devolve into pointless discussions over the custom of tipping. I wish more would stay on topic.
I am still curious if the OP was specifically asked to get his utensils from the next table or made that move on his own. What sort of restaurant was this? Where was it located?
I am still curious if the OP was specifically asked to get his utensils from the next table or made that move on his own. What sort of restaurant was this? Where was it located?
This was Grimaldi's in Tampa
And responding to the question re tip: I left a normal tip. I do wonder though, because you don't really want to "punish" the waitstaff but yet would love for them to be better. How do you do that? The only way to "show" it based on tip is to leave a cent, or something obvious (stating you know it is standard to tip, but you do not want to leave a real tip because of something). And yet these people aren't in the most glamorous/desirable jobs. Does that justify their incompetence?
This is mostly only an issue in non-high end restaurants. At a high-end restaurant I have absolutely no qualms about leaving a cent as tip if there is poor service.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Aug 29, 2015 at 12:21 pm Reason: merge
Aug 26, 2015, 1:42 pm
#20
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And responding to the question re tip: I left a normal tip. I do wonder though, because you don't really want to "punish" the waitstaff but yet would love for them to be better. How do you do that? The only way to "show" it based on tip is to leave a cent, or something obvious (stating you know it is standard to tip, but you do not want to leave a real tip because of something). And yet these people aren't in the most glamorous/desirable jobs. Does that justify their incompetence?
This is mostly only an issue in non-high end restaurants. At a high-end restaurant I have absolutely no qualms about leaving a cent as tip if there is poor service.
This is mostly only an issue in non-high end restaurants. At a high-end restaurant I have absolutely no qualms about leaving a cent as tip if there is poor service.
About the only things that would reduce my tipping percentage would be hostility towards me or obviously ignoring me or a request.
In your case, I don't have high service expectations for a pizza joint so I probably wouldn't even take the time to let a manager know. And I'd probably still tip 15%.
Given the way servers wages are set up in most states - getting paid shouldn't really be discretionary. Keeping one's job, on the other hand...
Aug 26, 2015, 11:37 pm
#21
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Tampa. Pfft. Try asking for utensils with your pizza in New York. You may well get a hand signal much ruder than "Help yourself".
Aug 27, 2015, 3:06 am
#22
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And responding to the question re tip: I left a normal tip. I do wonder though, because you don't really want to "punish" the waitstaff but yet would love for them to be better. How do you do that? The only way to "show" it based on tip is to leave a cent, or something obvious (stating you know it is standard to tip, but you do not want to leave a real tip because of something). And yet these people aren't in the most glamorous/desirable jobs. Does that justify their incompetence?
As for leaving a cent, or not tipping, if it's that bad IMO (and as work2fly already said) the best approach is to ask for the manager -- ideally at the time the errors are starting to pile up, not at the end of the meal.
Aug 27, 2015, 5:35 am
#23
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Getting back on track, the OP brings up a curious point. It might be very awkward standing up and taking silverware off of another table. Depending on what type of dining establishment, you may have to endure the evil eyes of other diners. So if the waiter seemed a bit too nonchalant about the faux pas, I would also be somewhat peeved.
In my opinion, it's the little things that define superior service. One may say the OP is just being picky. However this small incident may be the difference between the OP thinking "Great Service!," or leaving with the thought, "It was fine, except for..." Having the expectation of great service is not being picky. Especially when it falls in the realm of failure to provide basic service, i.e. silverware.
Now if this happened at a lower middle to lower class sit-down establishment, I would probably just ignore it. (Although a mental note would be made.) And if the rest of the service was up to par would have just tipped the waiter in full. 15% of a cheap meal isn't going to hurt the pocket book. However at a higher end restaurant, where stuff like this just isn't supposed to happen, the tip is going to be lower (or a lot lower) depending. If the overall experience was bad enough, I simply may just not return.
The posts you're quoting and insulting are from before this thread was moved to Dining Buzz.
Aug 27, 2015, 12:49 pm
#26
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I don't see where this thread was moved from another forum as the moderator who moves the thread makes a post about doing so. Please point out where it was posted that it was moved.
Aug 27, 2015, 8:32 pm
#27
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I don't see where this thread was moved from another forum as the moderator who moves the thread makes a post about doing so. Please point out where it was posted that it was moved.
Last edited by Adam1222; Aug 27, 2015 at 8:39 pm
Aug 28, 2015, 12:51 pm
#28
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Snarky? Insulting? Adam1222, I'm not sure how you came to that conclusion. But if you have a well thought out response to the bulk of my post, which was about the OP's experience, please do share. Otherwise let's stay on topic and leave the hyperbole + personal attacks alone.