# Non-waiter bringing out your food. Anyone else annoyed by this? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 28, 2019, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-waiter-bringing-out-your-food-anyone-else-annoyed-by-this/830344 "2019-02-28T16:40:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-waiter-bringing-out-your-food-anyone-else-annoyed-by-this/830344/21 "2019-02-28T18:06:46Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > I am quite surprised at the number of posters who have not encountered this. It seems to have been the norm for at least the last 15 years in my travels. > > But let me say, I agree with the OP. And to **Kolak of Twilo** , I just want to let you know that a if this doesn’t work perfectly, a common reaction to this practice is anxiety and confusion. > > In my experience: > > One person seats us - fine, I get that. > A second person greets us, and takes a drink order (are they my server, or just taking my drink order? Time will tell!) > A third person delivers the drinks (Something is wrong? I tell them.) > A fourth person appears, our server, to take our food order! (So, do I also tell them about the something wrong with the drink order? No? Only the drink order taker?) > Eventually, a fifth person appears with our food (Maybe something else to report? Could we have a side of mayo? WHO DO I TELL?!?! Still waiting on the drink?!?!?) > A few minutes later the primary server returns… > > OK, efficiency and all that, but this system is causing chaos IMHO. In theory…every person you’ve encountered should be able to help you with any problem you have or relate it to someone who will fix this for you. In theory…but I admit getting annoyed with people whom I’ve left alone for a grand 60 seconds tell me, “Oh i asked someone for another glass of wine.” “You did? You forgot I just asked you if you were doing ok with your drinks 60 seconds ago and you asked some random guy in a blue shirt who quite possibly doesn’t speak english?” Thats on me for getting annoyed though. (No sarcasm) ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-waiter-bringing-out-your-food-anyone-else-annoyed-by-this/830344/22 "2019-02-28T18:11:04Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > …As for the American tipping system qua minimum wage, if the person is an order-taker and not a waiter, surely they take the higher minimum wage? In my experience years ago as a server and in my years at management level the system has always been one where the server has to share certain percentages of their tips with the busser/server assistant, bartender and food runner. The typical breakdown I’ve seen has been something like 20% of total tips to the busser, 7% to the bar and 7% to the runner. If the server wants to give any of these people more than the minimum they can do so. Everyone getting tips is paid at a reduced minimum wage. In the City of Chicago (where I work) the minimum wage is currently $6.25 an hour. The server has responsibilities that go far beyond just being an “order-taker”. They are expected to be fully knowledgeable about all items on the menu concerning ingredients and how they are prepared, to possess full knowledge of the wine and cocktail list and able to accommodate special requests guests may have. They are also responsible for timing the firing of each course going to each table so there is no excessive time between courses. I could go on from here with many other things they are responsible for during the meal but those are the main ones. Any server who is just an order taker would not last long at most restaurants I have worked in or managed. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-waiter-bringing-out-your-food-anyone-else-annoyed-by-this/830344/23 "2019-02-28T18:26:20Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > In my experience years ago as a server and in my years at management level the system has always been one where the server has to share certain percentages of their tips with the busser/server assistant, bartender and food runner. The typical breakdown I’ve seen has been something like 20% of total tips to the busser, 7% to the bar and 7% to the runner. If the server wants to give any of these people more than the minimum they can do so. > > Everyone getting tips is paid at a reduced minimum wage. In the City of Chicago (where I work) the minimum wage is currently $6.25 an hour. > > The server has responsibilities that go far beyond just being an “order-taker”. They are expected to be fully knowledgeable about all items on the menu concerning ingredients and how they are prepared, to possess full knowledge of the wine and cocktail list and able to accommodate special requests guests may have. They are also responsible for timing the firing of each course going to each table so there is no excessive time between courses. I could go on from here with many other things they are responsible for during the meal but those are the main ones. Any server who is just an order taker would not last long at most restaurants I have worked in or managed. And people who say “Should I tip on the wine??” need to be smacked in the head. Nah. Not if you go to the bartender, get your own bottle and pour it yourself. Oh that didn’t happen?? You got full wine service? Then yes, you tip on the wine. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-waiter-bringing-out-your-food-anyone-else-annoyed-by-this/830344/24 "2019-02-28T18:40:26Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > …In my experience: > > One person seats us - fine, I get that. > A second person greets us, and takes a drink order (are they my server, or just taking my drink order? Time will tell!) > A third person delivers the drinks (Something is wrong? I tell them.) > A fourth person appears, our server, to take our food order! (So, do I also tell them about the something wrong with the drink order? No? Only the drink order taker?) > Eventually, a fifth person appears with our food (Maybe something else to report? Could we have a side of mayo? WHO DO I TELL?!?! Still waiting on the drink?!?!?) > A few minutes later the primary server returns… > > OK, efficiency and all that, but this system is causing chaos IMHO. If the system a restaurant is using results in chaos then the system is probably a poor system. And if having multiple people interact with you at the table causes chaos and confusion then the restaurant is not executing things properly. First, you should be seated by the host or manager. Second, when the server approaches they should at some point mention their name and say something like “I will be taking care of you tonight.” Third, you will most likely have a busser/server assistant approaching your table to pour/refill water, remove plates, bring/replenish bread etc. Fourth, a food runner may be the person bringing your food if the restaurant you are dining in uses them. It is also possible that at some point during your meal the manager will stop by briefly to see how everything is going and chat you up. Since all of these people are employees of the restaurant, you should feel free to let any of them know if you need something. In fact, the last thing ALL of them should ask, including the manger, before they leave your table is if there is anything else they can get you. I realize not all restaurants follow this but that is the difference between restaurants that offer topnotch service and those that don’t. I employ a detailed set of “Steps of Service” when training new employees that lays out in detail how to make sure the guest is getting the type of service we aim to provide. In my experience this is standard practice for most restaurants from the Applebees/Olive Garden level up to high-end Michelin star level restaurants. Details will of course vary a great deal across price points. The level of service I expect varies based on the type of restaurant but I make it a point not to dine at places where the service is lousy. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-waiter-bringing-out-your-food-anyone-else-annoyed-by-this/830344/25 "2019-02-28T19:06:44Z")
> [@Royal\_Nonesutch](#): > > I don’t care for it too much either, and annoyingly, it was the set-up in a couple of my regular places back in SLC. > > If there is one person who goes out of their way to take great care of you, and they are working a shift with a coworker who is indifferent (or actually downright unfriendly) there is not a practical way to hook up the Good Cop with an extra generous tip without having it split with the lazy idiot who is too busy hitting on young college girls tripping balls on smuggled Norwegian Robitussin to ask if you want another double Harvey Wallbanger with a sambuca & sarsaparilla chaser, so you either have to reward mediocracy or ignore excellent service. Wait, you lost me there. Is it lazy idiot who is tripping balls on smuggled Norwegian Robitussin or are they the college girls who are doing that? > [@Icarus](#): > > OK, efficiency and all that, but this system is causing chaos IMHO. So far as chaos goes, though, it’s pretty minor, right? No civil unrest or hospital visits really. No like Mogadishu. ---
**Author:** ![Garak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d78d45/32.png) [@Garak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garak)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-waiter-bringing-out-your-food-anyone-else-annoyed-by-this/830344/26 "2019-02-28T19:06:58Z")
Do you tip the server and the busboy the full amount each or do you make them share one tip? ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-waiter-bringing-out-your-food-anyone-else-annoyed-by-this/830344/27 "2019-02-28T19:48:51Z")
> [@Garak](#): > > Do you tip the server and the busboy the full amount each or do you make them share one tip? You just leave one tip. See post #22 for how it is typically distributed. At a minimum it is shared by the server and busser with most of it going to the server. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-waiter-bringing-out-your-food-anyone-else-annoyed-by-this/830344.md?page=1)