How would you handle this?

Question

My wife & son went out to dinner the other night. It's a reasonably nice place and I well expected to spend $100 for the three of us. We were seated and the waiter came to our table...we could tell right away that this waiter had a little bit of an attitude...just not an overly nice person and we felt a little uncomfortable.

Question: Would it have been alright to ask for another waiter...or leave and come back...we just wondered what the right thing to do...after all it is our money?

Answer 1

You can get great food anywhere. Great service is what makes the difference in a dining experience.

As a fine-dining restaurant owner, I know that waiters can be moody. But that is not your problem. It is the manager's responsibility.

Notify the manager. Simply say that you would prefer another table or waiter. You need not explain why. The manager should assign you a new server immediately and without question. You are paying for great food and service. Leave immediately if you are not accomodated and satisfied, then find a better restaurant.
Contact the owner of the restaurant when it is convenient.
The most expensive thing in any restaurant is "an empty table".

Managing waitstaff is akin to babysitting. They can be moody, cranky, and whiny. Sometimes they forget that "server" means "servant". Our most prosperous and successful waiters always remember that. Some of them can make more in tips than I pay myself.



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Answer 2

Some one, not you, apparently had upset him before he came to your table. Unfortunately, he should have left his bad feelings at the table that made him upset but his choice was to carry the anger with him. My feeling is you had every right to ask to be seated in a different section than what you were in. Getting up and leaving and coming back, who knows, you might have got the same waiter.

Some individuals that work with the public, some times gets confused on who pays his or her wages. The public as a whole is the one ones that make their paychecks each and every week.

Now, I would have ask for a different section and I would have enjoyed my meal. But before I left, I would have went to the manager and I would have explained to him what just took place. If this waiter treated you in a manner that was unacceptable, then think about the next person that he waited on. I am sure that management would have appreciated any and all you had to say.

I am sorry that you had such a waiter and I truly hope that he did not ruin your evening.

Thanks for your question.

Answer 3

Some thing to think about ... When I go to a restaurant I think about what the bill will be and put a tip accordingly on the table when I sit down. When the waiter / waitress does something they shouldn't do I take a dollar away. Such as if I have to wait for a refill on a drink or have to ask for one they lose a dollar or two depending on how long I have to wait. So if the bill should be about $100 then I would put down 20 ones. Its up to the server to keep that 20% tip.

Answer 4

Waiters are assigned tables. In nicer places at the dinner serving, it usually 3 or 4 tables per waiter. It would be perfectly acceptable to return to the front and request a different table.
The new waiter would still have to work w/ that waiter. I think I would leave the dining area, ask to speak w/ the manager, and explain why you are going to dine elsewhere.

Answer 5

THE whole point in going out to dine is to be comfortable...and enjoy...

LOTS of waiters are just order takers...they are not Waiters...

think about it..

my feeling is that is order taker didnt want to clean up after kids....I would have gone to the Manager and asked to be seated elsewhere...

Answer 6

The customer is always right. You could have requested a change, but ideally you'd ask to move to another area of the restaurant, rather than embarass the existing waiter by having someone else come into his section to serve you.

Answer 7

I would have gone back to the front and asked if there was some place else to sit with a different waiter. The most they could have said was no, then you could have gone to another restaurant where you felt more at ease.

Answer 8

Your there to have a nice time with your family, and it is your money, i would ask to speck to a manager and ask for a different waiter, you shouldn't have to put up with someone that works there that has a bad attitude when you're there to enjoy yourselves.

Answer 9

yes it is your money and u have a right to be treated right--but think about the waiter and for 10 seconds, put yourself in his place, perhaps he was having a bad night and didn't know how to deal with it and it showed in his behavior, just like u didn't know how to deal with the situation---did u enjoy the food?, got home safe? Don't sweat the small stuff. u did okay

Answer 10

You are absolutely right. It IS your money. I have boycotted stores for being rude when I'm shopping on the very same principle. If I'm giving you my cash, be nice to me or I'll take it elsewhere. But I never thought about it in restaurants. No more rude wait staff for me!