# Ask the waitress! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 19, 2002, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-waitress/143753 "2002-12-19T06:26:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Flowerchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/858c86/32.png) [@Flowerchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flowerchild)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-waitress/143753/1 "2002-12-19T06:26:14Z")
I know ,I know, but it just seems like there is am “Ask the…” thread for everyone,why not one for the wonderful world of minimum wage plus tips. Every now and then a customer has some kind of question for us, out of you 27,000 there should be at least one curiosity, and i’m willing to clear it up as best as I can. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-waitress/143753/2 "2002-12-19T06:34:04Z")
One time I was out on a date and the waiter complimented my date on me on being polite. I have no idea what I did in particular to warrant that compliment, but since I’ve heard women advised that a date who’s polite to the waitstaff is a good thing, I’d like to get it more often. Any tips on how? ---
**Author:** ![Flowerchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/858c86/32.png) [@Flowerchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flowerchild)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-waitress/143753/3 "2002-12-19T06:42:11Z")
Well, most of us just like a customer who remembers the please and thankyou thing, as well as considerate when it comes to ordering, like if they come to the table after your mel and say “is there anything I can do to help you?” get all your drinks and stuff at the same time so that they dont have to run back and forth every 5 seconds. That will usually be all that one needs to consider you a good customer, IMHO at least. ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tony\_Montana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Montana)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-waitress/143753/4 "2002-12-19T06:42:46Z")
How’s the hot tongue and cold shoulder?But seriously,is this a long term thing for you? ---
**Author:** ![Flowerchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/858c86/32.png) [@Flowerchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flowerchild)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-waitress/143753/5 "2002-12-19T06:46:06Z")
I like the work, I’m a people person and I dont need a lot of money to be happy. All I need is a computer, some funnyions, and a bottle of Blue pepsi. ---
**Author:** ![rostfrei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7bcc69/32.png) [@rostfrei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rostfrei)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-waitress/143753/6 "2002-12-19T06:47:45Z")
Have you ever “done something” to someones food because they were rude to you? I have heard many stories, but I don’t believe most of them. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-waitress/143753/7 "2002-12-19T06:49:39Z")
I like my egg fried with the yoke broken only after it is flipped over. And I don’t like the yoke to be completely done but I don’t like it really runny either. So how should I order my egg cooked? ---
**Author:** ![Flowerchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/858c86/32.png) [@Flowerchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flowerchild)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-waitress/143753/8 "2002-12-19T06:51:12Z")
I’m not sure about breaking the Yoke thing, but when you dont want over hard or Slimey/Runny, thats an over medium egg. ---
**Author:** ![Flowerchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/858c86/32.png) [@Flowerchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flowerchild)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-waitress/143753/9 "2002-12-19T07:11:58Z")
Actually, now that I think about it, when you pop the yoke and fry it, that would be Over hard. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-waitress/143753/10 "2002-12-19T08:45:09Z")
How long do you typically stay at one restaurant? I’ve got a friend who’s a professional waiter and he’s never stayed at any one place for more than 6 months. ---
**Author:** ![Flowerchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/858c86/32.png) [@Flowerchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flowerchild)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-waitress/143753/11 "2002-12-19T10:57:40Z")
Well, I started working when I was 17, and I stayed a Village Inn for about a year and a half, then I worked at Denny’s for like 6 months , and I’ve been at Bob Evans since then. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-waitress/143753/12 "2002-12-19T13:56:04Z")
Can I get a refill on my tea? (unsweetened) What is the biggest tip you ever got? ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-waitress/143753/13 "2002-12-19T14:09:53Z")
How often do you get hit on?, how often are guys rude about it? (rude comments/touching you). unclviny ---
**Author:** ![Morrison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Morrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morrison)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-waitress/143753/14 "2002-12-19T15:13:36Z")
Can you answer the question about spitting in rude customers’ food and other thing you do to get back at rude customers?? And what is the best way to ask you out if you are my waitress? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-waitress/143753/15 "2002-12-19T16:00:41Z")
Pet peeve: we’ve been seated, but haven’t been approached by a server yet. Clean empty tables are open, far more than enough to accomodate those still not seated (if indeed there is anyone waiting to be seated). Servers (not bus help) are cleaning tables while we’re anxious to get started. This always struck me as, well, stupid. It’s certainly aggravating. I’m not talking about a 30 second delay, I’m talking 5 minutes or more. Is there a valid reason for this that I wouldn’t know, or is it, as I suspect, a sign of poor management? ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-waitress/143753/16 "2002-12-19T16:11:42Z")
**Gary T** - IANA waitress, but it seems to me that it’s an esthetic thing to clear dirty tables ASAP. When people walk into a restaurant they don’t want to see gross tables, so they clean than quickly, as well as being prepared if a rush comes in. StG ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-waitress/143753/17 "2002-12-19T16:26:39Z")
_When people walk into a restaurant they don’t want to see gross tables…_ Well, yeah, but I’d rather be helped while looking at some gross tables than sit unattended for 5 or 10 minutes watching them get cleaned. ---
**Author:** ![merge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9f8e36/32.png) [@merge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/merge)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-waitress/143753/18 "2002-12-19T16:31:10Z")
Question. Do you remeber the people who tip well? say you have someone who comes in maybe once a month or so, and gives you a good tip everytime they come. They are not overly outgoing or anything… do you remember them, and treat them better because of it? ---
**Author:** ![Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raymond_luxury_yacht/32/4099_2.png) [@Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raymond_Luxury_Yacht)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-waitress/143753/19 "2002-12-19T16:36:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gary T \* > \*\*Pet peeve: we’ve been seated, but haven’t been approached by a server yet. Clean empty tables are open, far more than enough to accomodate those still not seated (if indeed there is anyone waiting to be seated). Servers (not bus help) are cleaning tables while we’re anxious to get started. > > This always struck me as, well, stupid. It’s certainly aggravating. I’m not talking about a 30 second delay, I’m talking 5 minutes or more. Is there a valid reason for this that I wouldn’t know, or is it, as I suspect, a sign of poor management? \*\* I would suggest that this may be due to poor management/seating policy. Invariably there are some servers who are stronger than others, and these servers will get the lions share of the customers, while their weaker bretheren (who can handle only a couple of tables) will try to stay busy by cleaning their station. I’ve seen hosts/hostesses play favorites with the waitstaff, or out of sheer incompetance, seat customers in an indiscriminate manner, basing it solely on the proximity to the front door. ---
**Author:** ![flyboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@flyboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flyboy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-waitress/143753/20 "2002-12-19T16:40:02Z")
Here are some stupid questions I’ve always sort of wondered about. I’m a generous tipper when I think it’s warranted. But I have this little meter in my head which starts ticking down whenever I’m forced to wait an inordinate amount of time for my food (without any word from the waiter) or a refill on my drink. And, of course, bigger mistakes, such as taking an order wrong or bringing the wrong meal. I’ve never _not_ left a tip, but I have left bad tips when the service has truly annoyed me. What I’m wondering is, in your experience, do waiters understand these things, or do they just associate a bad tip with stinginess? Also, if you know you’ve really screwed something up and pissed of a customer, do you go out of your way to please them for the rest of the meal, or do you sort of mentally write him/her off as a lost cause? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-waitress/143753.md?page=2)