Poor Waitress

[Lizmo]

So on New Years Eve my boyfriend and I went out to eat a one of those chain sports bar and grill restaurants.  I couldn't help but notice the table that was on the other side of my boyfriend.  They were ridiculously loud and obnoxious, and I'm pretty sure they were between 16-20 years old. Their server seemed really sweet, she was quick with their refills.  She had a smile on her face the whole time.  I remember this because I was thinking to myself I'm not sure I could be that nice to them.  So after she brings them their change, they are joking about not giving her tip, or just leaving her a quarter.  Then they get up and leave, bumping into other people having dinner as they leave.  I looked on their table and they didn't even leave the poor girl ANYTHING for a tip.  I think that is horrible!  They knew better than that, b/c they were JOKING about not leaving her anything.  I felt so bad I threw five dollars down on the table.  GRRR!

She later came up to me and told me thank you, she'd had a really bad day and it meant a lot to her.  So I felt happy.  But still, I wish those people hadn't been so rude. 

[melodrama]

Comfort yourself with the thought that one day those rude, obnoxious kids may have to work as servers, too.  Karma will certainly remember them...

[hobish]

Lizmo, that was really nice of you.

I've been in that poor girl's shoes many a time, and someone like you would have restored my faith in people for a while.

[fklwmn]

ugh, they are the reason that waitresses HATE to wait on a table of teenagers. Even the ones who know better don't really understand why a proper tip is so important.

[Lunadiana75]

My friends and I have over tipped a waitress to compensate for bad tippers before.  I'll never forget a New Years many moons ago, my friends and I were at a 24 hour placed after midnight and it was PACKED to the gills.  Our poor waitress ran her ever loving behind off and still kept a big smile on her face through the entire ordeal.  The kitchen got backed up (naturally) and our waitress apologized to all the tables for the delay.  My friends and I weren't worried, we knew stuff like that was out of her control, and it was only to be expected on crazy nights like this.  Instead she kept those coffee refills coming, and kept us posted on the wait.  Well, we over heard the table next to us decide to stiff the poor thing on her tip because, yep you guessed it, the food took too long!!!!  Might I add it was a table of well dressed adults who should have been more mature!

My friend's boyfriend and myself had to hold my friend back from unleashing seven demons on the table (she was a waitress at the time).  Instead we all reached into our pockets (a bunch of poor college students who worked retail) and pitched in an extra tip to compensate for the table.  I'll never forget how much that woman appreciated what we did.  We were absolutely livid on her behalf. 

[thebadchemist]

If I had a kid who behaved like that, I'd be ashamed of myself as a parent. If your kids don't understand tipping at restaurants, then don't let them eat out on their own.

Kudos to the waitress for not blowing her top at them (I would have ). I've seen servers who would be far less kind about that situation.

[Clara Bow]

I used to wonder which god I had offended when I saw tables of teenagers coming....they are the bane of a waitress's existence. They are rude, they don't tip and they do their best to run your legs off. I never had a teenage customer that I didn't want to throttle.
I did have a table sitting near a bunch of little hellions who were throwing food and generally making a nuisance of themselves turn around and berate them loudly. Those kids were freeked out, let me tell you. One of the people at that table was the vice principal at their high school....

[cheyne]

Bless you Lizmo.  As a former waitress, I can empathize with that waitresses feelings.  I am sure you made her day, and she has already told several people about your kind gesture.  Karma kudos to you.

[Bijou]

So on New Years Eve my boyfriend and I went out to eat a one of those chain sports bar and grill restaurants.  I couldn't help but notice the table that was on the other side of my boyfriend.  They were ridiculously loud and obnoxious, and I'm pretty sure they were between 16-20 years old. Their server seemed really sweet, she was quick with their refills.  She had a smile on her face the whole time.  I remember this because I was thinking to myself I'm not sure I could be that nice to them.  So after she brings them their change, they are joking about not giving her tip, or just leaving her a quarter.  Then they get up and leave, bumping into other people having dinner as they leave.  I looked on their table and they didn't even leave the poor girl ANYTHING for a tip.  I think that is horrible!  They knew better than that, b/c they were JOKING about not leaving her anything.  I felt so bad I threw five dollars down on the table.  GRRR!

She later came up to me and told me thank you, she'd had a really bad day and it meant a lot to her.  So I felt happy.  But still, I wish those people hadn't been so rude. 

Good for you for making that girl's day a little better.  They sound immature and annoying, to say the least.  I do have a "however", though. 
Some people write the tip into the check, as my dh and I always do, or go up and get change and leave the tip at the register, so appearances can be deceiving. 

[heathert]

Good for you for making that girl's day a little better.  They sound immature and annoying, to say the least.  I do have a "however", though. 
Some people write the tip into the check, as my dh and I always do, or go up and get change and leave the tip at the register, so appearances can be deceiving. 

Well, I doubt if that was the case here, especially since the waitress was so grateful about it, but I know that is true.

Heather

[Rose2Bear]

Wow, the nerve of those kids... and on New Years, none the less. What a great way to ring in the new year...

But kudos to you, and while I know you didn't do it for recognition, yay for the waitress realizing it was you and not the brats!

[Lizmo]

This will probably send me into Etiquette Hell myself, but I was pretty sure that they paid with cash, so I checked their reciept.  It was just a receipt, not a credit card receipt.  I didn't include that in my first post because I thought that my action there was kind of tacky...

[Rose2Bear]

This will probably send me into Etiquette Hell myself, but I was pretty sure that they paid with cash, so I checked their reciept.  It was just a receipt, not a credit card receipt.  I didn't include that in my first post because I thought that my action there was kind of tacky...

No thats good cuz you never know maybe they might have left a credit card chaged tip. You were just making sure, so no biggie.

[duhrich]

Wow - that is horrible behavior. Good for you on making the server's night.

When my son (now 17) started going to restaurants with his friends, I made sure he knew what behavior was expected of him and how to tip, etc. I'm sure as a group of 8 or so teens, they get a little loud. However, before they even order, they pool their money, figure out what they can afford to order and make sure to keep the tip included in that pool so they don't spend all their money on their food.

[Suze]

Wow - that is horrible behavior. Good for you on making the server's night.

When my son (now 17) started going to restaurants with his friends, I made sure he knew what behavior was expected of him and how to tip, etc. I'm sure as a group of 8 or so teens, they get a little loud. However, before they even order, they pool their money, figure out what they can afford to order and make sure to keep the tip included in that pool so they don't spend all their money on their food.

YES MOM.  (doing little happy dance at the thought of a teen leaving a tip, instead of a big mess.)