"Um, well, a happy birthday to you, then!"
What do they expect?
You guys ever get that from guests? They come up to you thinking that just because it's a birthday they're entitled to something; a free dinner? A free dessert? They expect you to run over to the mall and buy them a present?
It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it's kind of embarrassing for everyone involved. Most just expect you and some of the staff to sing to them (which I abhor), but others want to milk the restaurant for everything they can get. How sad and pathetic!
Any thoughts or stories from you waitstaff past or present?
2006-10-02 07:32:58 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Dining Out ➔ Other - Dining Out
Actually it's your more family-oriented and kid-friendly restaurants that have the birthday stuff, not your nicer, high-end restaurants with a different ambience altogether.
I think adults that come up to waitstaff expecting some sort of freebie on their birthday (the actual birthday people, NOT family/friends/co-workers) should not have this entitlement mentality. It's a business, not a charity.
2006-10-02 07:46:11 · update #1
I truly dislike that. Even more so when someone in the group says " you order first it's YOUR birthday" and then look at me. I don't make policy in our cafe, and we don't do anything for birthdays ect. Thank goodness I might add.
And I don't want to sing to you, or take your picture. I am a server, I bring your food and bev. in a timely manner.
After years of coroprate songs still ringing in my ears. and clapping for people that I don't know, while my other tables are dropping the percent of my tip for slow service.
I can honestly say that I hope I don't ever have to sing a song in a group again.
p.s. Neil McCoy came into the olive garden that I worked in and celebrated his birthday, as all the young kids sang their hearts out to this home town hero for his birthday, he says.... if you will work on it a bit, it might be okay.
so sad!
oh, and one other time, I worked in a Vietnamese rest. and was told to come sing Happy Birthday. I told the co workers I didn't know the song. (as a joke) much to my surprise,the mostly french and asian staff said oh, we had to learn it too we will teach you later.
2006-10-03 17:36:43 · answer #1 · answered by 2ndchhapteracts 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well then they were rude to say it that way. Just happen to mention to the server that you're out for a birthday dinner. Zing, I'm in the kitchen making up a simple sundae. Or an anniversary. I've been to higher end restaurants where if I mentioned I was out for my birthday, we both got free dessert. It's part of customer service. If someone mentioned an anniversary while booking the reservation, I'd run out and buy a little cake! Gotta keep the customers happy. But for brats who think they're entitled or something, I just smile and wish them a happy birthday!
2006-10-02 15:01:26 · answer #2 · answered by chefgrille 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Never had to deal with this as wait staff but as a customer I really do not like it when everyone in the restaurant has to buzz around the birthday boy - or girl - and sing some schmaltzy song. Alright already - do we Have to do that? As for the free cake or sundae - I don't think that's necessary and no one over the age of 12 ought be looking for it. Besides, the desserts you actually pay for are better anyhow. Respect - and nothing but - for all of the wait staff dealing with this kind of stuff day in and out.
2006-10-02 17:21:05 · answer #3 · answered by Pam 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I only know of one resturant in my area that doesn't do something special for birthdays. As a child birthdays are a big deal and you always got a sunday or something at the resturant. That carries with you into adulthood because your birthday aren't as big as they used to be. Most places just do a piece of cake or a small sunday. The only reason people ask is because they want to suprise their friends or they want to actually feel like they did when they were a kid on their birthday.
2006-10-02 14:35:59 · answer #4 · answered by Just Me 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Omgosh! Too Funny! We had a girl at work who would get the whole restaurant to sing (if she found out there was a b'day in her section) !! I was thinking all the time this was happening that, my people feel like crap. What if there was a b'day in my section? Did I not do my job ? omgosh! Did I not know this? Should I sing????? Then I have to go around & get everyone's help agaaaaiiiiinn! Ya! That's what they want, is to be interupted 20 times while trying to have a nice time out, to sing "happy b'day" to someone they couldn't give a crap about.
2006-10-03 01:57:59 · answer #5 · answered by hey you 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh, I hate that!! It's one thing if the family does it so the person who has the birthday isn't sitting right there, or if they let the hostess know it's a birthday. But yes, I JUST HATE when you're giving someone their food and they look at you and say "it's my birthday today, do i get something"??! I just want to slap them. We give a dish of ice cream, but we don't sing. I wish we didn't even give ice cream to people who feel the need to tell me it's their own birthday.
2006-10-03 05:53:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ugh I agree! It's one thing when its a kid. I hate when some forty year old woman that I've never met expects me to jump up and down cause it's her birthday. Mostly cause you know on the days when I'm inclined to be easily excited I might do a dessert or whatever, or they brought their own and I get everyone to sing but they are never the good tippers. Grow up already and get friends that are taking you out for your b-day, their treat,,,, dessert and all.
I say "You'll get NOTHING and LIKE it!"
2006-10-02 23:05:41 · answer #7 · answered by leviathia 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is one Huge reason i'm soo happy i dont have to work in the Food service ind. anymore .. Lord i hated that .. Even when it was clear that it was not there Birthday they were just High an wanted something sweet .. i still gave it to them .. it was easier that way !!
I have Tons an tons of respect for waitstaff an the s.h.i.t. they deal with from people today.
2006-10-02 14:41:49 · answer #8 · answered by lilredhead 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hate, hate, hate the birthday song and trying to get your co-workers to sing it with you is like pulling teeth. Sometimes when people come in and they want free stuff for their birthday, we will bring them a peice of cake, but just to be evil, we make them do all sorts of stupid stuff in front of the whole place. Like stand in a chair and swing a towel while we sing. It is sooo funny. And from the looks of everyone else around them, I promise NONE OF THEM are going to want to tell us when it is their birthday.
2006-10-02 17:20:38 · answer #9 · answered by katybeth212001 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Joes Crab Shack was the best place to work when people had birthdays. I got to pay them back by embarassing the **** out of them!!! My favorite was a snotty little brats 16th birthday. She wanted us to sing, she wanted free stuff etc.. guess what she got?? She got to stand on a chair with her *** facing the restaurant. she got to sing happy birthday to herself over the PA system and she got to write happy birthday in the air with her ***!!! ahhhh the revenge!!!
2006-10-04 00:55:02 · answer #10 · answered by ApRiL 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋