Do waiters get upset if you don't order drinks?

Question

instead just order water and no dessert and no appetizer

(and of course order a meal - but a cheap one)

Answer 1

Well they know you are trying to get off cheap. Which in return will mean that the tip you leave them based on the total of your bill will be very little. So yes, waiters do not like it. Its the same amount of work for them, but no tip.

Waiters only make around $2/hr so they only make money off of tips from customers. Waiters are also assigned a section consisting of 4-6 tables, and if one of those tables is taken by a cheap customer, they are losing money. So it is annoying, and actually, older folks are notorious for doing this - and then leaving a fifty cent tip.

Answer 2

It depends on what type of restaurant you are at, If you are at a fine dining restaurant yes most of the time the waiter will be disappoint that you didn't order a drink. If you order a fine wine or a bar drink that ups the amount of the tab, which in turn ups the amount that they are figuring that you will tip them. See if you order water that cost $0, the tip will by 20% of $0. If you order a glass of wine that cost $8 per glass, the tip will be 20% of $8. So if you were working in a business that your pay depend on your sales it would bother you to if a person order an item that cost nothing to an item that cost something.

Answer 3

I do get kind of irritated when people do this. Especially when they do it and they are rude about it, like today I walked up to a table at my work place and the lady is like, "I need water." Um...ok fine. These people are also usually the ones that drink like 3 glasses of water so they need much more work even though it is free.

If you do go and order just water and the cheapest meal on the menu at least be nice about it, and tip well. Although that is a rule for anytime you go out to eat.

So in short, yes it is a little irritating but you are going to do it and at least show common courtesy as always.

Answer 4

My boyfriend, an ex waiter, seems to think so. When ever we go out he orders a drink. And tries to convince me to order one too but i only really drink water. The reason is because by ordering a drink it makes your bill higher and if you are a percentage tipper that will mean that their tip will be higher as well.

They also don't usually like to serve tables with a bunch of kids at it because the kids will ask for something new everytime the waiter walks by where as a group of adults usually knows and can ask for everything they need all at once.

And something i learned from friends that work at mexican food restraunts. They hate it when people keep asking for more salsa.

Answer 5

I used to be a waitress,and I didn't get upset if customers didn't order drinks.That was my favorite customers was the ones who just ordered tea,coffee,soda,or just water,and the meal not appetizers.

Answer 6

We have our own thoughts in our heads. Very little food and no drinks or apps = little tips. But a good server should still be attentive.

I've found that people who just want a "snack" usually tip more than people dropping $100 on a meal for two.

Answer 7

Yes. The less you order, the less the tip is for us....so when you just get water and say no to the app, a waiter can see their tip going down...down...down. (getting you a glass of water is the same amount of work as getting you a pepsi).

Answer 8

As a waitress, I personally don't care, order what you want. That said, my company cares, we are expected to keep our drink percentage above 85%. If we don't they actually expect us to come in early and get lectured on suggestive selling. Like most customers don't know what they want to drink when they enter. The only thing that drives me crazy are the people who bring in their own teabags and want pots of water,lemons and honey or creamers brought out to them.

Answer 9

What kind of experience do you want to have? I wouldn't go to a fine French restaurant and not experience the whole gambit from soup to nuts - which includes drinks and wine. If you are at Applebees - who cares, but if you are wanting to experience fine dining or ambiance then why go cheap.

Answer 10

Many restaurants reward servers who sell the most drinks because thats where they make most of their profits. As a server, the only reason I get upset is if I don't get a tipped for good service!