My boyfriend and I went to Cody's Restaurant and after eating our appetizers our dinner wasn't still ready so we decided to have a cigarette...we told our waitress we.d be right back...,..she then demanded car keys or something....right in front of everyone....I was sooo embarrassed because I never heard of such a thing...but gave them to her because everyone was staring...I felt totally insulted.....we didn't even have our dinner yet....when our dinner was ready we asked for to-go cartons because we were too embarrassed to stay because we were sooo insulted and felt soo uncomfortable....people kept staring at us because of the scene we made...NOTHING like that has ever happened to me...is that normal?
2006-06-21 04:57:05 · 17 answers · asked by vickififi 4 in Dining Out ➔ United States ➔ Other - US Dining Out
Actually she mad the scene....and we only told her we wanted to have a cigarette...
2006-06-21 04:58:58 · update #1
there are NO smoking sections in FL....everyone goes outside to smoke....
2006-06-21 05:03:44 · update #2
I meant actually she Made the scene...sorry missed a key...
2006-06-21 05:08:34 · update #3
That is in no way normal behavior for a waitress. Under NO condition should she have even insinuated that you would skip out on your tab. I have many friends in the restaurant industry and they do worry about people skipping out on tabs but under no circumstance would they ever ask for some kind of evidence that you would be returning to pay your tab after your cigarette.
It's a shame that some people do skip out on tabs and think it is a joke but it is a part of the business and a restaurant can not demand that you leave something behind to ensure you come right back. It is disrespectful to the customers to insinuate that they can not pay a tab.
Some restaurants do take the bill out of the waiters checks but most restaurants have comp tabs and spill tabs to cover these instances so the waiter is not left paying for a check.
Anyway, regardless of whether she was having a bad day or not, she should not have asked for your keys. I would call the manager, complain, and if the manager says it is the restaurant policy I would tell him/her that its a shame they dont trust their customers and due to that you will not be returning or recommending their restaurant to anyone.
2006-06-21 05:48:25 · answer #1 · answered by jdscorrupted 5 · 7⤊ 1⤋
Well she shouldn't have made a scene, but she could have explained why she was asking you for "collateral". Like has been mentioned if you book ,she pays for your meal and there are people out there who do this it's called "dine and dash". You can be arrested for this too, because it's stealing.
I would have asked for the restaurant manager if that were me though...especially if there had been a scene like you say. I can also understand whey the waitress reacted the way she did, not that I agree...but it really sucks being screwed over by patrons. Maybe next time just take turns going out to have a cigarette??
2006-06-21 14:57:46 · answer #2 · answered by dixi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She could have been nicer about it that's for sure. Usu sally if there is something uncomfortable going on (for her or you) the waitress gets a manager to do it; such as dealing with a drunk customer, customer cannot pay for some reason, etc. I know that some places take the full retail price of the food that customers "walk out" on (leave w/o paying) out of the waitress' tips at the end of the night, maybe that's what she thought would happen if you went outside. It is pretty weird of her, I'll give you that. I would talk w/ a manager next time anything happens, its their reputation she is representing.
2006-06-21 12:05:58 · answer #3 · answered by ~jeweler babe~ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the situation was handled poorly and maybe more 'normal' than you would think. Often times, when all parties at a table leave at the same time, they never return and the waitress is stuck with the bill. Considering how much they make, it is understandable that she would want some type of 'collateral' that you would return. It was wrong of her to cause a scene and that is what I would call and complain to the manager about. No one should be embarrassed especially if you are the customer!
2006-06-21 12:11:23 · answer #4 · answered by kalmered0415 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is just rude! You where just having a cigarette. I would have just said NO you can not have my keys! And for making me all embarrassed in front of everyone I want my dinner free! Or i would have asked for her manager! And then i probably would have just left, said I don't want your food if you are going to be like that. Because I dint think it is illegal to leave if you haven't even gotten your food yet. I know that if you didn't like something you can refuse it and get it taken off the bill so why not!? That would have made me angry! lol
2006-06-21 12:03:45 · answer #5 · answered by Sabrina P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As both a smoker and a waitress I'll say this is a bit weird. You told her you were stepping outside, and most places I've been, thats good enough. While I'm sure you won't be going back to that restaurant, in the future, you could go smoke separately. although that is a bit awkward if there are only two of you.
2006-06-22 11:31:05 · answer #6 · answered by haj 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've never experienced that, but ill-manners among food servers and restauraunt owners is becoming too common. I understand the waitresses point of view; nobody wants to get stiffed with a check. However, the risk involved in that line of work goes with the territory. Good servers usually visit your table frequently with updates on when your meal will be served & they often keep you in bread & drink until your food is ready. Anything less than this is just not good service.
You should (have) lodged a complaint with management and/or the owners.
2006-06-21 13:11:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not normal but understandable. As you have just ate the appetizer, and yet were going to go out for a smoke, I'm sure you were going to take your purse and he his wallet. She didn't want you to skip out on paying for the meal. I would have had one of you stay while the other went out and vice versa... I know I have a hard time if it is just my girls and me taking them to the bathroom, as the place would be left empty. What she should have done is in a quiet voice, made the suggestion of leaving the keys so as to ensure your return
2006-06-21 12:08:02 · answer #8 · answered by shortymaciam 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Boy, I'm glad I don't live in Florida. I have never heard of such a thing. This must have happened to her a few times before since this stupid law had been past. Still she definately overreacted. She could have just ASKED if you were leaving and offer you your check, then you could have told her what you were doing and that should have been that.
2006-06-21 15:14:49 · answer #9 · answered by bobo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is HORRIBLE!!! You should call and complain to the owner and tell them how humiliated you were. If your dinner would have been ready or if they had a place for smokers it could have all been avoided. Tell them how deeply insulted you were and that they need to talk with the waitress, maybe if she "has to" do that again she can learn a little discretion.
2006-06-21 12:02:41 · answer #10 · answered by iluvmyduckies05 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋