In praise of great restaurant service
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Date: 2025-05-10
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Comments and reviews: 20
OrigamiMarie
I have a restaurant service memory. There was nothing remarkable at all about it, and that was the great thing about it.
I had had a miserable night with family drama. I don't think I had slept, and I had spent way too many hours with a couple of problematic people who insisted that I be around for the drama. They had finally crashed out, and I needed food.
So I went to the nearby IHOP (long since closed. I brought a light, easy book, and I read. The waitress was just. .. normal. She behaved like a regular human being who wasn't trying to be a drama factory. It was such a relief to just be near and interact with mundane people in a mundane setting.
I interacted a normal amount, ate my food while reading a book (I was a college student and the book was for young teens -- nobody remarked on this, paid & tipped, and left. It was like taking a shower in normalcy, to wash off the troubles of the night.
Sometimes you want to go where absolutely nobody knows your name.
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I have a restaurant service memory. There was nothing remarkable at all about it, and that was the great thing about it.
I had had a miserable night with family drama. I don't think I had slept, and I had spent way too many hours with a couple of problematic people who insisted that I be around for the drama. They had finally crashed out, and I needed food.
So I went to the nearby IHOP (long since closed. I brought a light, easy book, and I read. The waitress was just. .. normal. She behaved like a regular human being who wasn't trying to be a drama factory. It was such a relief to just be near and interact with mundane people in a mundane setting.
I interacted a normal amount, ate my food while reading a book (I was a college student and the book was for young teens -- nobody remarked on this, paid & tipped, and left. It was like taking a shower in normalcy, to wash off the troubles of the night.
Sometimes you want to go where absolutely nobody knows your name.
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livehockey09
Restaurant service, when it’s working, when labour practices are fair and equitable, when it’s good, it’s real good. And Adam when exactly are labour practices fair and equitable Last time I checked you live in USA. Your entire monologue goes to shit the second you bring this up. Are yall really justifying servers deserving equal to or more tip than the cooks and chefs toiling away in the back sweating their balls off making the actual food You know, literally the entire reason people are there This is akin to saying the ushers or coat checkers should be making the same as stage performers. Yall are seriously out of touch. If you actually cared about servers, you should be advocating for the end of toxic tipping culture instead of servers needing to depend on a random act of kindness from your generous tip to make ends meet.
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Restaurant service, when it’s working, when labour practices are fair and equitable, when it’s good, it’s real good. And Adam when exactly are labour practices fair and equitable Last time I checked you live in USA. Your entire monologue goes to shit the second you bring this up. Are yall really justifying servers deserving equal to or more tip than the cooks and chefs toiling away in the back sweating their balls off making the actual food You know, literally the entire reason people are there This is akin to saying the ushers or coat checkers should be making the same as stage performers. Yall are seriously out of touch. If you actually cared about servers, you should be advocating for the end of toxic tipping culture instead of servers needing to depend on a random act of kindness from your generous tip to make ends meet.
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zephranarx2172
As someone who works in food business: A lot is wrong and unenjoyable. Tipping Culture is but one of many things that I really hate.
Would also love if people would. Yknow. Stop showing up last minute and staying a whole entire hour. :/ Closed is closed, but I've definitely had some people treat it as Oh Okay, so we can hang out however long we want. And corporate locations don't want to do anything about it, yet still get on us for having an hour of overtime each day.
And I'm a Dishwasher. The cooks are out really early (Despite wanting to help, but womp womp, corporate says tough luck); I'm still there an hour or two later cleaning up the rest. It's painful to be working a 9-10 hour shift when I'm supposed to be working 8.
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As someone who works in food business: A lot is wrong and unenjoyable. Tipping Culture is but one of many things that I really hate.
Would also love if people would. Yknow. Stop showing up last minute and staying a whole entire hour. :/ Closed is closed, but I've definitely had some people treat it as Oh Okay, so we can hang out however long we want. And corporate locations don't want to do anything about it, yet still get on us for having an hour of overtime each day.
And I'm a Dishwasher. The cooks are out really early (Despite wanting to help, but womp womp, corporate says tough luck); I'm still there an hour or two later cleaning up the rest. It's painful to be working a 9-10 hour shift when I'm supposed to be working 8.
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Jcewazhere
There was a Star Trek Enterprise episode about eating == naughty fun time. Captain had to cut down a tree and wear dreadlocks. it was a weird show.
One waiter takes you under his 'especial' care just how special we talking Cuz that profession is old as baking.
Economy of scale is why I never make pho at home. It'd be like $40 a serving for one person, but make a big batch for the family (or a couple families) and it's $5 a serving.
12 years a wage slave, never for tips though.
Tax on tips removal is mostly a scam to give billionaires another tax cut. Just vote for higher min wages.
Fanciest restaurant I've been to is Olive Garden lol
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There was a Star Trek Enterprise episode about eating == naughty fun time. Captain had to cut down a tree and wear dreadlocks. it was a weird show.
One waiter takes you under his 'especial' care just how special we talking Cuz that profession is old as baking.
Economy of scale is why I never make pho at home. It'd be like $40 a serving for one person, but make a big batch for the family (or a couple families) and it's $5 a serving.
12 years a wage slave, never for tips though.
Tax on tips removal is mostly a scam to give billionaires another tax cut. Just vote for higher min wages.
Fanciest restaurant I've been to is Olive Garden lol
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WaltertheWalrus420
Dont forget the cooks do most of the work and get paid around 16-18 an hour even at nice restaurants while the servers complain when they dont clear 200 in a night. At the place I use to work servers would legit come and complain to me that they didnt clear 200 in a night for a 5 hour shift. While I would work 10 hours busting my ass in the kitchen and make $180. They always asked me how I did that work for such little pay. To anyone saying its not that easy or whatever, Ive been a server too! Its EASY compared to BoH and everyone knows it!
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Dont forget the cooks do most of the work and get paid around 16-18 an hour even at nice restaurants while the servers complain when they dont clear 200 in a night. At the place I use to work servers would legit come and complain to me that they didnt clear 200 in a night for a 5 hour shift. While I would work 10 hours busting my ass in the kitchen and make $180. They always asked me how I did that work for such little pay. To anyone saying its not that easy or whatever, Ive been a server too! Its EASY compared to BoH and everyone knows it!
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cynthmcgpoet
As a former server, I can attest that tipping culture is something that needs to become extinct. Only conventionally beautiful servers benefit while those not considered drop-dead gorgeous were routinely stiffed. At that time, I wasn't even considered to be 'competent' enough to work in the kitchen (where I actually wanted to work) because of my gender. I have nightmares of being swamped, which routinely happened. To this day, I will tip above and beyond 18% because I know how it feels to be stiffed.
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As a former server, I can attest that tipping culture is something that needs to become extinct. Only conventionally beautiful servers benefit while those not considered drop-dead gorgeous were routinely stiffed. At that time, I wasn't even considered to be 'competent' enough to work in the kitchen (where I actually wanted to work) because of my gender. I have nightmares of being swamped, which routinely happened. To this day, I will tip above and beyond 18% because I know how it feels to be stiffed.
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bdfathomthebowl
Completely disagree. Waiters are almost unnecessary and a burden on the customer. I'm poor by US standards, and I feel the injustice. If I could have a 3-Michelin-Star meal and pay 20% less by picking it up at the window, I would. I have asked maybe as many questions to a waiter in my life as fingers on my hand. Waiters are the punching bags of the rich and power-starved. What a waste of human labor and potential. Down with waiters. Down with tipping. Down with excessively marked-up food.
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Completely disagree. Waiters are almost unnecessary and a burden on the customer. I'm poor by US standards, and I feel the injustice. If I could have a 3-Michelin-Star meal and pay 20% less by picking it up at the window, I would. I have asked maybe as many questions to a waiter in my life as fingers on my hand. Waiters are the punching bags of the rich and power-starved. What a waste of human labor and potential. Down with waiters. Down with tipping. Down with excessively marked-up food.
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TheCman5015PLPro
I hate tipping and refuse to acknowledge it. I am only there for the food and ambience. If i could have waiters just leave me alone then i would will it. I have never felt any shame what so ever when refusing tipping, though i make it a point to stagger my eating outs especially if i go to the same place twice. Some people can't stand my not tipping. That's what it is like in the US. It's already expensive. I'm not paying any more than my food.
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I hate tipping and refuse to acknowledge it. I am only there for the food and ambience. If i could have waiters just leave me alone then i would will it. I have never felt any shame what so ever when refusing tipping, though i make it a point to stagger my eating outs especially if i go to the same place twice. Some people can't stand my not tipping. That's what it is like in the US. It's already expensive. I'm not paying any more than my food.
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geraldgreen123
Weird - didn’t see a single comment pointing out that in many average’ restaurants here servers are students. Also weird that no one suggested not doing a job you hate and doesn’t pay what you wanted. Finding good employees at any level is an issue, so step out and get the job you want the pay for. Oh, yes you may have to use your brain for the latter, and maybe go to school Perhaps worth a try rather than lambasting the system.
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Weird - didn’t see a single comment pointing out that in many average’ restaurants here servers are students. Also weird that no one suggested not doing a job you hate and doesn’t pay what you wanted. Finding good employees at any level is an issue, so step out and get the job you want the pay for. Oh, yes you may have to use your brain for the latter, and maybe go to school Perhaps worth a try rather than lambasting the system.
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LaceNWhisky
Hey Adam, I'm frequently in your comments criticizing you for the way you sometimes humblebrag about your wealth. I wanted to say that I appreciate actually how you leave big tips even when your service is poor. I've witnessed too many people come into money and suddenly people in the service industry aren't dancing enough to be deserving of their generosity, and it's refreshing to hear that you're not one of those people.
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Hey Adam, I'm frequently in your comments criticizing you for the way you sometimes humblebrag about your wealth. I wanted to say that I appreciate actually how you leave big tips even when your service is poor. I've witnessed too many people come into money and suddenly people in the service industry aren't dancing enough to be deserving of their generosity, and it's refreshing to hear that you're not one of those people.
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roamingthereal4060
You can't be a servant for people and expect to live a higher class of life than the people you serve. And lets stop pretending servers make $2 an hour; ask chat. gpt which jobs in a restaurant take home the most money; it lists Owner, Manager, Bartender, and Server not only in the top 4; but also in relative tiers of wages. While cooks, hosts, lower managers, etc have multiple tiers below of crappier wages.
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You can't be a servant for people and expect to live a higher class of life than the people you serve. And lets stop pretending servers make $2 an hour; ask chat. gpt which jobs in a restaurant take home the most money; it lists Owner, Manager, Bartender, and Server not only in the top 4; but also in relative tiers of wages. While cooks, hosts, lower managers, etc have multiple tiers below of crappier wages.
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rosselliot8971
Let's grow up a bit. I'm a New Zealander and I can tell you that service in NZ versus the US is poor. Any incentive you can provide to the server to serve better is a big plus. In NZ min wage is about $23 an hour. Ask yourself if a server at $23 an hour has much of an incentive to do much more than the minimum effort. Then ask yourself what could incentivise a server to do better. Ah, yes, it's called a tip.
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Let's grow up a bit. I'm a New Zealander and I can tell you that service in NZ versus the US is poor. Any incentive you can provide to the server to serve better is a big plus. In NZ min wage is about $23 an hour. Ask yourself if a server at $23 an hour has much of an incentive to do much more than the minimum effort. Then ask yourself what could incentivise a server to do better. Ah, yes, it's called a tip.
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publicacct5626
Tipping culture needs to end. The amount someone earns each day should not be determined by how generous their tables happen to be. And people should not get a 20% discount on their meals because their willing to bear a little stigma. Tipping is entirely ridiculous, very few countries have this nonsense. Plus the service in most countries (See: Asia) is actually much better than in the US. Time to stop it!
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Tipping culture needs to end. The amount someone earns each day should not be determined by how generous their tables happen to be. And people should not get a 20% discount on their meals because their willing to bear a little stigma. Tipping is entirely ridiculous, very few countries have this nonsense. Plus the service in most countries (See: Asia) is actually much better than in the US. Time to stop it!
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RobNeeth
Servers, very, very easily, make double the amount of cooks. [In states that don't legally force fair wages. ]
In higher class restaurants, they easily make twice the amount as Chefs.
Servers are the sole reason America has such a terrible restaurant industry.
If you think someone smiling at you and walking back and forth is praise-worthy. I don't think there's any convincing you of anything.
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Servers, very, very easily, make double the amount of cooks. [In states that don't legally force fair wages. ]
In higher class restaurants, they easily make twice the amount as Chefs.
Servers are the sole reason America has such a terrible restaurant industry.
If you think someone smiling at you and walking back and forth is praise-worthy. I don't think there's any convincing you of anything.
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baldr12
Weird to start with an historical premise than immediately tie it in to the USA-centric culture of tipping (which was imported directly from aristocratic UK customs and for some reason still kept.
But I guess it makes sense since the whole topic makes sense only in the context of the USA - the idea of 'praising' an employee for doing their work is weird in the first place in the rest of the world.
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Weird to start with an historical premise than immediately tie it in to the USA-centric culture of tipping (which was imported directly from aristocratic UK customs and for some reason still kept.
But I guess it makes sense since the whole topic makes sense only in the context of the USA - the idea of 'praising' an employee for doing their work is weird in the first place in the rest of the world.
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lgolem09l
Am I only one that finds being served super weird in general Like I'm pretending temporarily that I'm some rich spoiled douchebag and deserve to be treated like something better. And then with the collective abuse of these workers through unrealistic minimum wages it's pretty much a self-fulfilling prophecy that came true. It really turns me off from wanting to go out to eat here in europe.
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Am I only one that finds being served super weird in general Like I'm pretending temporarily that I'm some rich spoiled douchebag and deserve to be treated like something better. And then with the collective abuse of these workers through unrealistic minimum wages it's pretty much a self-fulfilling prophecy that came true. It really turns me off from wanting to go out to eat here in europe.
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priceisalr1ght
I recently read the book Your Table Is Ready by Michael Azzolina. He was a Maitre D' at some of the greatest restaurants in NYC in the 80s and 90s. His stories and perspective really made me come to appreciate how important the service is to the quailty of your restaurant experience. Even beyond the quality of the food, the service experience can make or break a great restaurant.
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I recently read the book Your Table Is Ready by Michael Azzolina. He was a Maitre D' at some of the greatest restaurants in NYC in the 80s and 90s. His stories and perspective really made me come to appreciate how important the service is to the quailty of your restaurant experience. Even beyond the quality of the food, the service experience can make or break a great restaurant.
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zensuke2
Ever since I went to Korea and Japan I've wanted restaurants to adopt the call button. Give me a button to let you know that I need service and I don't want to be bothered otherwise. I hate when I'm in the middle of a conversation with friends and the waiter comes by 3 times and interupts just to ask if everything is good.
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Ever since I went to Korea and Japan I've wanted restaurants to adopt the call button. Give me a button to let you know that I need service and I don't want to be bothered otherwise. I hate when I'm in the middle of a conversation with friends and the waiter comes by 3 times and interupts just to ask if everything is good.
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SimuLord
The nice thing about tipping is that if you get a reputation as a regular and a generous tipper the waitstaff will clamor to serve you when you come in. I tip 50 percent at my favorite Italian restaurant. Is it showing off Maybe, but considering that's about 12 bucks at a place I go to weekly it's a pretty cheap flex.
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The nice thing about tipping is that if you get a reputation as a regular and a generous tipper the waitstaff will clamor to serve you when you come in. I tip 50 percent at my favorite Italian restaurant. Is it showing off Maybe, but considering that's about 12 bucks at a place I go to weekly it's a pretty cheap flex.
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jordanloux3883
During the pandemic I worked as a cashier at a bbq place. It was the place only locals went to and I loved seeing the regular customers and catching up whenever they came in. Plus it was fun to throw in a free piece of cake if someone was having a bad day give an extension on a coupon if it was like a day late.
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During the pandemic I worked as a cashier at a bbq place. It was the place only locals went to and I loved seeing the regular customers and catching up whenever they came in. Plus it was fun to throw in a free piece of cake if someone was having a bad day give an extension on a coupon if it was like a day late.
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