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| Steve Martin : The Absent-Minded Waiter http://youtu.be/Fsh47iNVRkM |
Yeh, it's pretty snarky when guests at a table say "Did you forget about us?" when you come by. There's a number of reasons they could get that feeling, both rightly and wrongly. Of course there's the possibility that the server in question could just be an awful server, or were perhaps even off smoking somewhere at an inappropriate time, against policy. But occasions like that are probably in the minority.
More than likely, it's just that they were overwhelmed, got stuck at a table that just wouldn't stop talking to them, or were perhaps dealing with some major emergency - like a guest walking out without paying, or someone arguing with their server from intoxication, or a "big top" suddenly announces that they want to pay - like right now - AND they all need separate checks. That's going to take awhile to make happen.
In cases like that, we servers generally have each others' backs. We all run into these situations almost every day, so we're quite inclined to help each other, knowing it's us who's going to need the exact same type of help 5 minutes or 5 days from now. It's quite normal to just grab the nearest co-worker and say "Hey! I got xyz going on. Can you please check on Table 17 for me? Or at least walk by in a minute? I think they'll need water."
or
"Hey! I'm dealing with 8 separate checks and they just now told me. Here's my card/number (to log in to the computer, that is). Could you print a check for 35 / Cash out 110 / pre-bus 409 / show deserts to ..." You get the picture...
In fact, as rude, crude and socially acceptable as it may seem to share here (unsubscribe anytime...) a couple of months ago, I actually received a text from "Wheelie" (not his real name) that read "Taking a dump. Can you check on 41?"
After checking on table 41, I forwarded it to half the staff, adding "Best Work Text Ever!"
But then there are *other times* ...
Heh. Yeh... every now and then we really do forget about you. For me, this will most likely happen when there's just a few waiters on, and we are all being seated "in rotation" rather than "in sections." Hopefully that's self-explanatory, but if not - there's a list at the host/hostess stand with our names on it, and we take new tables in turns, wherever they wind up sitting. This is both fair in the sense that the potential income of a slow shift might be distributed as evenly as possible - and, industry-wide - so that you, the customer, don't wind up getting lousy service from one waiter who has 5 or 6 tables in a popular section (the patio, by the "fish tank," wherever..) when there's three more waiters who may not otherwise lift a finger to help you, because they're all bitter that they're not making money today.
So for example, our place is pretty spread out, kind of like The Prime Cut was when I worked there in Nashville (I would have to RUN sometimes on busy shifts to get from A to B!).
Aside from our "main dining room" there's a lounge area, a banquet room, and an outdoor patio on the far side of the building. The farthest corner of the patio is about 65 steps from the kitchen (I've counted), and then back. "Up-hill, both ways." So if I bring you your food and you need anything else to go with it, I'm 125 or more really fast steps away from getting it back to you. Hopefully, either you will ask for - or I will anticipate - all of your needs the first time, because 2 trips at that pace and distance are going to take about 5 minutes - especially if I stop and check on my other table or tables elsewhere in the restaurant while en route, as I most definitely should.
All that is to say, when I have tables on the patio, one or two in the dining room, and someone in the lounge all at the same time.. well .. occasionally I kinda do lose one in the shuffle. Not for long I mean, but it happens. It's kind of a funny feeling to be walking by a couple dining while on your way to somewhere else, and only when they glance up at you do you remember "Oh yeah! That's MY table! I really should say hi!" Sometimes it's when I'm on the computer, and the screen shows I have more active tables currently open than I currently have on my mind. At that moment I let out a big "D'OH!" and head straight to the table I haven't been paying attention to a lot recently.
Really, no matter the restaurant (over the years) or the lay-out, every server I ever ask the question to about "Have you ever (walked by/logged in) and realized you've forgotten about a table?" says "Oh yes..!" Gosh, I feel almost bad confessing it here, but what can I say...? Completely forgetting about a table we're waiting on occasionally does happen.
But by "forget" I simply mean that we can get distracted, or become otherwise occupied, for a few minutes. This period of "forgetting about" a table would almost never be for more than 4 or 5 minutes in 99% of the cases where it even happens, before we snap and get right back on top of things. I know that when dining out however, that period of needing something and then not seeing your server for two minutes after knowing you need it, can seem like a small eternity however, so I'm sorry to admit we all seem to do it, even semi-frequently.
In those cases, I'd like to offer the advise that you - the paying customer - should just go ahead and ask whoever walks by to get what you need. I've seen that in various points over my career that *some servers* (myself included, years and years ago now) will snap back to your request with "I'm not your waiter" or "You're not my table" perhaps. Or maybe even our favorite passive-aggressive alternative "I'll get your server."
This can happen when a) the place is very busy, b) the person you asked is very busy, or c) your actual server is known throughout the restaurant as being a slacker, and we're all just really sick and tired of waiting on his/her tables while they are off somewhere loafing. I know this happens to you occasionally and I'm sorry. For what it's worth, servers with that attitude will eventually be weeded out of better places - they'll either quit because they can't handle the demands inherent in this type of work, or they'll be dismissed for any number of reasons.
But no matter the case, I'm just saying that you - the paying customer - should always feel free to bring any need to any staff member, without apology. Many guests (relaxed, experienced diners I'd say - not wanting to be imposing maybe) tend to actually handle such situations by simply calmly asking someone "Excuse me, but could you get our server for us?" rather than even express their need. But to my thinking, when I hear that question, I know darn good and well that the only correct answer is "What do you need?" - or perhaps "Is there something I can help you with right now?"
Depending, I may simply go "get their server" or just do it for them myself to save them any further delay. And I admonish you - the paying customer - if you're used to hearing replies more like the above and less like what I just said, then you need to be looking around for better places - with higher employee standards - to spend your money.
But all that said ... Mannn-nn-nn, I really tanked it like I don't think I EVER have - not in over a decade, at least, if even. We all occasionally forget to put an order in, but THIS ONE... o very bad Guy.
Nice couple .. business travelers actually. Seated in one of those corner tables which we don't really see too easily, or often, except when already in close proximity. I took their order, rang it in promptly for the kitchen, an-n-n-nd .. Well, that's about it.
Just guessing, but about 30 minutes later I happened to walk by their table - on my way to doing something else - when what to my wandering eyes did appear? A couple who hadn't seen me for a year! Dirty plates pushed to the side for removal, and empty drink glasses that said I'd lost all approval.
Feeling awful but acting as nonchalantly as I could muster, I picked up the plates, and sheepishly asked the guy if he would "like another Diet Coke?" Nah ... the woman simply asked "Could we get our check?"
I can't buh-lieve they even tipped me, much less tipped me 20%. Wow, that's grace in action. I did bring them to-go drink re-fills anyway with their check, that they could take with them - I felt awful and it was the very least I could do. *
So it's funny. The ones who most frequently will ask you "Did you forget about us?" are almost always just being smart-alecks, and might be pretty unpleasant to wait on no matter how "on point" you really are. Then the one time it actually does happen that I forget about someone entirely, they're not even mad.
Waiting tables contains so many life lessons sometimes.. I only hope to remember and carry this story in my heart next time I'm feeling annoyed or "dissed" as a customer somewhere, and hopefully have the grace to act like my "Gallant" table, and not like the "Goofusses" of the world.
In all sincerity, in today's world these people could have gone online, mentioned me by name, said how awful I was, and written something that could have pretty much cost me my job. They didn't. Instead, I'm here writing about how awesome they were. God willing, maybe one day they'll read it.
Coming up .. It was slow last night and I made a list of topics, events and subject lines, from all those "drafts" I told you I've been "writing in my head" for the last six months. The list numbers over 30 planned blog entries already (!) so in time there should be some fun reading ahead for you. I just mention this tho to say, that I've received some pretty nice compliments and stuff over my time here of late, and if I'm going to share them, it's a good practice to also share with you my more major guffaws along the way.
So "I'll be right back" with those stories for you.
Unless I forget.
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