A few tips on how to earn a good tip
In response to letter writer Patti Rankin (“Servers need the tips,” July 16), I have a few corrections and thoughts.
Most servers earn at least $4 an hour or more. Health care is offered at a reasonable cost after working for 60 to 90 days.
Now to the meat of the story. I don’t know where Rankin works, but if the utensils have paper napkins wrapped around them, there is a good chance you aren’t going to see a 20 percent tip no matter what you do.
If a server thinks he or she can just slap a plate of road kill on the table, walk away and wait for the big tipper to pay for college, he or she must be dreaming.
Servers are the middlemen between the kitchen, bussers, food runners and even dishwashers.
Ever had dirty utensils, glasses or rotting condiment bottles on the table?
Thought so.
If an order is wrong, it is the server’s job to fix it ASAP.
Servers control their own destinies and tips.
Bring it fast, hot, good, made to order, smile, get over it and then we will consider a 20 percent tip.
Just a few tips to help out.
Darin Garrett, Highlands Ranch
we can't forget all of those wonderful kids who great us at the door to seat us.
My lady and I went to a Salt Grass steak house, and stood in front of the 3 kids who were taking names and seating customers, to give it a try. After a few minutes one of the girls looked at us, becasue we were disrupting her conversation with the other 2 girls, and said, 'WHAT'?
As polite as I could say it, I just smiled and said we would go somewhere else as they were busy.
sorry to say but a waitperson lost a tip becasue of the door girls.
Getting $4.00 an hour and health benefits is for the chain restaurants, and then only some times.
Your local mom/pop restaurant does`t even come close to that.
Instead of listening to bitching customers, ask a server, in a small place you go to, they will often tell you the grim facts.
Served road kill, well stay home if that is how you think about dinning out.
In fact Darin, it is often men with that " I want my way attitude" who write these letters.
Posted by Sharon B. on July 31, 2007 09:59 AMIt's easy. All she has to do is to put her hand on my shoulder and smile sweetly. Of course, it helps if she heeds my request to bring me plenty of fresh strawberries for my strawberry crepes.
Posted by Truth on July 31, 2007 10:46 AMI tip even better if the server doesn't ask "Are you still working on that?". It makes it sound like you are at some task rather than enjoying a meal.
Posted by truthy on July 31, 2007 12:03 PMMr. Garrett.
I'm not sure what restaurants you think offer health care after 60-90 days. My wife has been in the restaurant biz for over 20 years, and has NEVER been offered ANY bennies.
Posted by RickyLee on July 31, 2007 12:13 PMToo many men get waited on at home, mom, wife, daughter etc. So it must come as quite a shock when the server, whom they usually refer to as her, girl, baby etc. don`t quite measure up.
Bring it fast, hot, good and made to order, oh I thought you were talking about food.
Daren did say he/she but that pubs him in the minority.
And remember men, your women usually carry extra tip money to make up for you. My father-in-law never knew that mom tipped all the girls he stiffed.
At least he died happy.
Posted by Sharon B. on July 31, 2007 12:27 PMI tip 20% as a rule regardless of the price point of the restaurant. I tip more in college towns (did you work your way thru college? I did.) and I tip more if the response to "Thank you" is "You're welcome". If I get a "No problem" the tip goes down.
Posted by on July 31, 2007 12:59 PMHey Sharon B.,
Don't you have a NOW meeting to go to?
Good "Goddess"!
I have served tables for 28yrs and I am sorry to say Darin, you haven't got a clue! First of all people forget that their servers are people who are trying to earn a living just like they are, 2nd you forget they have feelings and stresses and everything else that you do. 3rd of all anyone who has waited on tables knows that it is one of the hardest jobs out there. I have left the serving jobs and worked in other jobs also so I do have a clue. The biggest thing of all is the majority of "food" servers earn (now after 9 yrs) 3.83 per hour. Also depending on what restaurant they work for they have to claim anywhere from 10 to 100% of their tips. The checks average every 2 weeks about 70.00. Then if you are lucky enough to work for someone who has "supliments" such as health care your check is gone and then you have to mail them money to cover the rest. The company I work for it's 2 yrs of fulltime before you can get insurance.
Then on top of all that you have to deal with jerks a lot of the time and smile through the process. You run your arce off and it is the most thank-less job out there. The people that are nice really make your day! There are some that do and I do appreciate them! As far as being responsible for everything from the host to the kitchen, that is absurd! When you have idiots for Managers and the corp. office there is only so much you can control. When they are forcing the food out of the kitchen from cooks that don't care and getting oversat by hosts that slam you without realizing it and you are only one person and can only please so many tables at once there is not much you can do but smile and do your best!
On top of everything else, we don't get breaks like you do and we do this pretty much non-stop for 6-9 hrs! And we have to scrub all the time and make sure that the health dept. codes are up to par. Oh and one more thing I forgot, we have to tip out our bussers and if applicable our bartenders too! People like me who stay in the business is because we like people and are good at it! I have people all the time tell me what a wonderful server I am and still leave 2 or 3 bucks! I do it coz I know it and coz of the flexible hours. So before you judge something you know nothing about you should go and try it first and then we will see what you have to say. I am not talking about the ones that you only get 3 or 4 tables, I am talking about the ones that you have 10-11 tables everyday. I would love to see you run your arce off and get a few bucks per table!
One last thought, You want the world! You want it perfect or else you don't tip or your cheep. Remember restaurant workers are people and they aren't perfect and most of the time they do do their best. People take pride in what they do for work no matter what it is and you should appreciate when someone waits on you and have to put up with your jerk attitude. Think about the person who is trying to give you what you want and maybe it will change your mind.
Posted by Lisa on August 1, 2007 07:45 AM