Whats the meanest thing you as a waiter/waitress have done to a customer?

Question

I have been a waiter since I was 15, almost 27 years now. I know that the customer is not always right, that in fact they are responcible for 85% of all mistakes. Many customers, granted the minority, just feel that blaming the server, loudly, makes them right.

I saw a waitress in such a situation, spit on the replacement meal, and as I consider myself a decent employee, stopped the meal from being served, and had the employee fired on the spot.

But this got me to wonder, what is the worst thing other servers have done?

Answer 1

Although I have never, never, never, ever, never, ever done anything to a customers food I have seen other employees do some things. The worst was at a pizza place I worked at. A woman complained about a pizza that she wanted specially made her way. Then after it was made her way she realized she did not like it that way and wanted another one for free. When her new pizza was made the dough was dropped on the floor and kicked around. The sauce was spit in. And the toppings were all taken off of other half eaten pizzas. I felt bad for the lady and her family but I never said anything to her. Besides she seemed to enjoy the pizza so who am I to ruin her happiness.

Answer 2

I've been a server and bartender for a long time, and I've never done anything like the legends have it ... no spitting in food etc. But I do wait on a lot of tourists and Canadians and bitchy condo poodles, so I have no problem playing hard ball at the table. It's not like they're going to tip anyway ...

here are some fun examples:

1. One guy ordered a bottle of Miller Lite but after his friend ordered a bottle of Bass, he decided to trade his bottle in for a Bass as well. I left the Miller on the table and did not take it off the check. When he objected I said "This isn't a used car lot. It's right there, don't waste it."

2. When clearing a table between courses a guest sniped "now I don't have any silverware." I sniped back, "you don't have any food, either. Where's the problem?"

3. A drunk orders a round for himself and some floozie he's trying to pick up: "I'll have a cosmo and she'll have the girliest drink you got." Response:"Two cosmos, got it."

Also: If you don't specify, you're getting top shelf, not the rail. If you change tables after I put in your order, you're on your own. If you snap your fingers at me, I'll ignore you. If you interrupt me while I'm at another table, I'll ignore you. If you're dumb enough to let me know you're Canadian or British I'll take your order, bring you a round of drinks, and drop off the check when you're done eating. You get what you pay for.

Buy the way, since this is the internet and people from all over the world see this, here's a TIP: an appropriate tip is 15 to 18 percent of your bill. That's your TOTAL bill, not just the result after you give me a wad of coupons. In this country, not leaving a tip is the moral equivalent of stealing. I STRONGLY urge you to learn the customs of the places you travel to, especially if you want to be taken seriously when you're bitching about how it's the Americans who go around expecting everyone to tolerate THEIR quirks.

Barring that, all you have to do is be decent. You don't even have to be all that nice. Just pretend to be civilized for one hour out of your day and I'll I'll do handstands if it will make you happy. That's my job: using food to make you happy. But be an asshole and I'll drop you in the bin, because believe me: I've got plenty to do, and plenty of other people who ARE worth the effort.

Thanks for asking this question! I feel better now, like I just took a poo and washed my face!

Answer 3

Good for you for not allowing that spit-on meal to be served !!
I have been a server for almost 20 years and have never seen, or known of, any server messing with someone's food like that.
I would never condone that either.
I take pride in what I do, and so do my co-workers, and I hope that is the norm.
I feel that if a customer is a rude jerk, then I do have the power to manipulate things the way I want.
Small, subtle things that you learn with experience !!!!
Ways of saying things to people in a very nice way, but making them feel like crap.
All the while being so nice that I have NEVER been "tattled-on" by a customer.
I won't tell all of my secrets here.

Answer 4

I've been a server for over 10 years. There was this couple in once with their 2 or 3 year old kid who was way out of hand, crawling under other peoples' table, pulling tablecloths, screaming for fun and running up and down the restaurant. The parents were oblivious to all this. I had told them he was causing a disruption, very politely. They ignored me. While I was filling water glasses at the waitress station, the kid came running by screaming. I stuck my foot out a little and tripped the kid. I immediately acted all concerned and his parents finally put down their bar drinks and came to see what happened. I said I didn't see him there! They immediately made him sit down and be quiet the rest of the night.

I hate parents who let their kids do stuff like that. By the way, the kid was fine, he just had a bruised ego.

Answer 5

I was a waitress for a short period of time and I never did anything or saw anyone do anything bad to anyone's food. The only thing I can remember was that someone bent a straw so that it broke a little bit and was hard to sip out of. The customer was a regular who complained every time so that she'd get a comp'ed meal or a free desert, etc.

Answer 6

I hear you. And excellent decision on your part to stop the meal from being served. Good on ya!

I work in a coffee shop and the worst I've ever done is pour decaf shots in someones beverage instead of regular, if they've been really rude to myself or a colleague. Or another time I do it is when someone comes through our drive-thru on their cellphone the entire time with out saying one word to me the entire transaction.

Hehe! So be nice to your baristas in the morning! ;-)

But honestly, I do take pride in my work, and believe in the best quality I can provide, even when it's "accidently" decaf it's still a quality drink. I'd never "contaminate" a product we offer like in your story above.

Answer 7

not on purpose, but when I was a newbie and thought I had the tray thing down...I found out I needed a bit more practice, when I dumped a glass of Coke all over a lady with her husband & kids, all dressed up and obviously starting their evening out. I rushed for manager, but by time we got back to table to apologize, they were out the door and getting in their car. I felt bad! but my colleagues all told me they had done similar.....

Answer 8

I work at a pizza shop and not only do we wait on the customer but we make their food. They had ordered a pizza with Jalapenos. I put a few extras on as well as some of the juice. They couldn't eat a bite without taking a drink. It was nothing that hurt them, it already had them on there i just doubled it.

Answer 9

I once had a manger who took employess on top of the roof of the buliding and spit all over the guys car when he came in

Answer 10

I saw a girl at Friendly's swish a mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cup around in her mouth before setting it on top of the ice cream dessert of a girl she hated.