For the last few months, I’ve been serving at a local restaurant. Overall, I like serving. I like meeting new people. I like that I get a workout while I’m working. I like the other people who work at the restaurant. Most nights are good: people are friendly and generous. But then there are other nights.
If I could (and I can because this is my blog), I’d like to offer a few tips and information to the person who eats at a casual restaurant:
1. Servers make $3.12 an hour.
2. At casual restaurants, most servers bus their own tables.
3. At the end of the night, servers have to share their tips with the bartender.
4. The standard tip in the US is 18%.
When you go to a restaurant, please consider these four items. Here are a few other things to think about:
1. Servers don’t just have one table.
2. If you are needy (i.e. you have three kids under the age of six), think about that when you tip.
3. Tipping isn’t a gift you’re giving your server; it is their pay for serving you.
If you could, be nice – saying please and thank you while smiling goes a long way. Remember they are servers not slaves. Yelling at your server will not make your food come faster, and it just might make an already stressed individual break down and cry.
I hope you appreciated this little PSA.
