The Good and the Bad

I've worked in restaurants for a while now, and last night, more than ever, I have seen the good and the bad of doing so.

2 short anecdotes for your enjoyment:

On Saturday morning I left work with one table that hadn't paid. I trusted that the server that picked me up would save the tip for me, and I could get it when I came in on Saturday night. When I arrived at work on Saturday night I asked Linda if she would get my envelope for me. I knew there was one, and could she grab it? (This table has been coming to see me every week for 6 months, and they tip well!)

I took my next tables' order, and after entering it into the computer, the cashier handed me an envelope. Upon opening the envelope I discovered that there was only $5! (side note: one of the people at the table leaves me $10 every week, so I knew there had to be more, I usually get about $20 from this table.)

Needless to say, I was a little upset. So I did the grown up thing, and asked to see my credit card tips. Maybe the rest of my tips were there? No go.

At this point my choices are: Stolen Tip, or Something Else. I like the server that picked me up, so I started to come up with "Something Else"es in my head. While I was doing this I wandered into the kitchen. There was Linda, eating her lunch. I told her the whole thing.

She looks at me and says "Did you check your charge tips?"

"Yes."

"Well, I don't think the server that picked you up is that kind of person, Are you sure they left you a tip?"

"Yes. They have left one every week for 6 months, I don't know why they wouldn't now!"

As we are having this conversation, Linda gets up and walks into the office, reaches into the safe, and pulls out another envelope. With $20.

Practical joke at any ones expense run rampant in restaurants.





The second (much shorter) anecdote for your enjoyment:

I had a table of 8 come in at about 3:30 last night. (you should know how happy that made me.) They seemed nice enough, and were willing to wait for me to get to them.

When I went to take their order they tried to tell me they all needed separate tickets. I told them I could do that, but then one guy spoke up and said "No, all on one ticket, I'm paying."

Ok, I can do that. So I put the order in, all on one ticket.

When I brought the food out, before I had even begun to pass it out the guy asked me how much the bill was. I told him it was $60. He hands me a $100 bill and says "Keep the change."

$40 tip. Largest single tip I have ever received. Wow!