by Sophie

Created on: April 06, 2007   Last Updated: May 04, 2007

How to treat waiters and waitresses properly

Eating out is a treat for many people. But the experience can be marred if service is slow or poor. Many people would not hesitate to complain if they found the service to be bad. However, what about waiters and waitresses? How should customers treat them? The old saying "the customer is always right" has been so deeply ingrained into people's minds that many people really do believe it. They will quite happily demand their rights and not hesitate to rudely voice their opinions if something is not quite right with their meal. Rather than fall into this trap yourself, it is better to try and turn this attitude around and think of the waiters/waitresses and how your actions could impact them.

1. Be patient

When you first arrive at a restaurant, it will not always be possible for you to be seated immediately. If you have made a reservation, then this should not even be an issue. But if you have just turned up on a Friday night when the restaurant is at its busiest, then it is important to exercise patience while you wait for a table to become available. Do not take it out on the staff. This is not the best way to start off your evening, nor is it displaying the proper courtesy to waiters and waitresses.

2. Wrong food order

From time to time, a waiter/waitress will bring you an order that is not yours. It is easily done, especially if they are serving more than one table at once. Do not raise your voice and cause a scene. Let your waiter/waitress know of the mistake in a quiet, pleasant tone and explain what you ordered. This will avoid needless embarrassment and discomfort to the staff and it will also keep everyone else's attention away from you.

3. Under/overcooked food

If your food arrives and it is under or overcooked then you will need to mention this in the same manner as you would if you were given the wrong order. If your food was under or overcooked the waiter/waitress were not responsible for this, the chef was. So bear this in mind. It should help you to keep calm when talking to your waiter/waitress about your complaint.

4. Complaining

If you have genuine cause for complaint, then follow the correct channels. Do not start shouting at waiters/waitresses in front of other customers, with the intention of humiliating them. This will certainly not endear you to them and they are not likely to want to help you resolve the problem if you verbally abuse them. Make sure you collect your thoughts and talk to the manager if your waiter/waitress is unable to solve the problem for you. Be specific when making your complaint and remain respectful at all times. Customers who do this are much more likely to get what they want.

5. Tipping

The issue of tipping is a hotly debated one. The amount varies from place to place. But in some places, between 10-15% constitutes a reasonable tip. When tipping, consider how well your waiter/waitress served you during your meal and then tip higher if they have done an exceptional job, but lower if service has been mediocre. They will soon realize how well they did in your books as soon as they see how much money you have left. Try not to be stingy about tipping. Many waiters/waitresses do not receive an adequate wage for their work, so they can rely quite heavily on tips to help make ends meet.

In conclusion, a meal out in a restaurant can be a much more pleasant experience if you are mindful of the way you treat waiters and waitresses. Waiters and waitresses provide a higher quality service to pleasant customers. You will enjoy your meal much more if you treat others with respect and dignity.

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