I got some bad service at a restaurant. I complained and I think the waitress got fired! Should I feel bad?

Question

When my friend and I went into the place, we sat for a while before we were helped. It was an all you can eat place where the waiter brings you the plates. We waited for a while for our second plates. When we asked for some more she took some plates off another table where people had just left and gave us those plates. They looked clean at first glace, but were greasy looking upon second glace. Disguested, we just walked out. As we left, she ran to the door and yelled, "Have a nice day. Thanks for the tip!" I was upset that we barely had anything to eat or drink and when she said that it really got to me. I asked for the manager and told him what happened. He hinted he may be firing the woman. At first I did not care, now I am upset that I may have cost someone their job. My friend said she deserved it. But I feel maybe she did not know any better and tried her best?

DH, I am always nice to people. I was doing nothing out of the ordinary, just trying to enjoy a meal after a long busy day. Many times, I will tip 20%, especially at places I want to eat again cause I do not want to upset anyone in charge of my food.

Answer 1

As a waitress myself, I can certainly say that if I did a bad job I would want to know about it. I can also say that no manager would ever fire any employee for the incident you described if he or she had no prior complaints.

You did the right thing by standing up for yourself and letting the manager know there was a problem. If you hadn't said anything, this waitress would have continued to have the same attitude and treated other customers the way you were treated. I can understand your compassion, no one wants to be responsible for someone losing their job, but you really shouldn't feel badly.

Answer 2

As a former waitress of two years, I know that customer service is your top priority, then comes the food. Nine times out of ten if food isn't wonderful, maybe it's cold, ect. and the service is prompt and friendly and at least makes an effort the waitress/waiter can make up for what the food is lacking.

When I was trained at the restuarant that I worked at these are the things that were a MUST:

*The table should be greeted within 60 seconds. You may not be able to get their drink order right away but tell them that you'll be right with them.

*Every customer deserves your time, a clean place to eat as well as dishes.

*You offer everyone a drink, appetizer, entree, and desert. As well as any modification to the meal.

*Once you serve any part of the meal you return within a minute and a half or after the first bite is taken to make sure the food it up to the customers standards.

*Kindly thank the table and make sure that there is nothing else that they need; and if they are the type of people that want to sit and chat a while after they're finished, make sure to check on them and make sure their drinks stay full.

So; as far as I'm concerned the waitress that you had didn't do half if any of the things that I listed. I know that when I enter a restuarant I expect to get the same service that I gave when I waited tables, and I'm sure I don't make the dining experience of the others I'm around pleasant when I don't feel the service was decent.

As others have said, most of the time a manager will not fire an employee unless they've had repeated offenses. I hope nobody else got treated the way that you did, behavior like that does not belong in a service oriented place.

My Motto is simply this; if you don't like your job- then quit. Nobody deserves to not be treated with respect and courtesy.
If you give bad service, you're going to get an equally bad tip.

Answer 3

Try to think of it this way, she is there to do her job and if she can't do that job then she shouldn't be there. As a waitress service is key and hell if it is a all you can eat place she really isn't doing much but bringing you plates and sodas. If she cant to that properly then she doesn't need to be there. Time for her to find something that she is better at. Also you don't know how many people complained about this lady before you. Firing her was not your decision to have to live with it was her managers.

Answer 4

No, I would not feel bad. I use to waitress before I got injuried. Apprently this waitress was in it for the money only and not for the being a good waitress.

I had the same problem at another restuarant. The waitress was rude, improper, gave us our wrong meals, we spoke to the manager and our he wound up serving us after and we got our meals free.

However, I made damn sure he got the tip and not that girl and I told her exactly why we complained.

Her answer was that was not my table. I told her it didn't matter. i told her once she started to serve us that it was her job to serve the table in a timely manner and that perhaps this was not a in her future.

We went a couple weeks again after this needless to say the waitress had been fired, we got a new waitress this time who was a little bit less experienced but she was prompt, served well, she was a little nervous, and it was busy we just advised her to take a breath, take a minute and then ask us what we needed. Needless to say she got a really good tip

No. you should not feel bad she apprently wasn't only bad to your table but others.

Answer 5

I cant believe she said thanks for the tip.. But as a waitress once myself it can get pretty hectic and tiring. Maybe she honestly thought she was giving you a clean plate, and she was just frazzled.. When i waitressed I worked 14 hour days 5 days a week, i was always exhausted, but me personally would never ever say something like that to a customer, if she got fired she will find another job, its not like waitressing is that hard of a job to get.

Answer 6

Don't feel bad, I would've done the same thing you did.

While there are always two sides to every story, it sounds to me like she was really not doing her job. She could've been either really oblivious to what she was doing (she was a dumb blonde) and didn't know any better, or she was just plain trying to be a bee*otch to you and your friend. Then again, you didn't say if you were being rowdy and were doing things to piss her off either.

Whatever the case may be, she had no right to take plates off of another table and give them to you. That's like asking for a drink refill and she hands you a full glass off another table. It's just plain gross.

Don't feel bad if she got fired. She had it coming.

Answer 7

As a former waitress, enable me inform you your infants sharing a meal shouldn't make any difference in any admire in the provider you acquire. whilst i became right into a waitress i attempted to make it my own challenge to make each and each physique of my shoppers experience chuffed, comfortable and at abode. They have been there spending a great form of funds for a meal, so i needed to make it the basically right meal for them so they felt as though they have been given their funds's well worth. specific, i think of you will possibly desire to deliver the letter... perchance they don't even understand how undesirable their provider is? Did you take place to have a similar waitress this time as final? (if so be advantageous to point out that throughout your letter, because of the fact it ought to in basic terms be HER problem.... ) For destiny reference, the suited way of letting your waitress understand she became into awful is to circulate away ONE dollar and ONE penny... don't understand why yet it quite is the type you inform you had poor provider. don't experience undesirable approximately doing it... it is the waitress' accountability to furnish you sturdy provider and preserve you. it quite is her activity and if she would not decide for to try this she has no business enterprise being a waitress in the 1st place. it is not a job basically each and every guy or woman can do... you will possibly be able to desire to have the the basically right option "in wonderful condition" for it. That mentioned, it isn't the waitress/waiter's fault in case you ever get undesirable foodstuff at a cafe. She/he would not do the cooking and that's a count number that should be referred to with a supervisor because of the fact someplace alongside the line the chefs have tousled, and he or she has no administration over that, particularly whilst it is something you won't be in a position to tell by utilising finding at it. i wish your adventure is greater perfect next time. If the eating place has any challenge for shopper help in any respect, i'm advantageous there will be a next time because of the fact they are going to probable deliver you a modern-day card or complementary meal fee ticket to attempt their provider back. sturdy success!!

Answer 8

I was a waitress for many years I loved it. If the service was that bad she deserved to be fired . How low to take plates off of a dirty table. I am sure she received many complaints if that is how she served her customers..

Answer 9

She did know better and you should not be feeling any guilty over her being fired. It was totally uncalled for. She should've cared enough to go to the kitchen and get you clean plates.
Plates left at a table might've been touched by others who have a cold or something catching like, hepatitis. She deserved to be fired. Its for the restaurants reputation. Taking care of their customers.

Answer 10

you should not feel bad at all, no matter how inexperienced a waitress is it is common knowledge not to use dirty plates. I garuntee you she was taking a shortcut, a very unsanitary one at that. and all restaurants tell their servers not to discuss the tip with a customer. sounds to me like she was looking to get fired. a tip is earned not expected. plus there is probably another buffet right down the street willing to hire such a person.