Hellobee Boards Topic: Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?

Hellobee Boards Topic: Have you ever been a waiter or waitress? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:16:00 +0000 DisneyBee on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-571235 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 16:14:56 +0000 DisneyBee 571235@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I was a hostess at Disneyland, which I really enjoyed, It was fun meeting people from around the world. Then I became a waitress at a sushi restaurant for a few months. All in all, it was fun, but the worst was when a customer would ask what kind of sashimi was on his plate. I would answer, and then he would say that I was wrong. What do I say to that? blackbird on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-571174 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 15:23:30 +0000 blackbird 571174@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @mrs jacks, definitely. They would sneak food off the salad bar for their kids and they definitely did not compensate for the mess. It was a casual chain restaurant though, in a tourust town. I would generally make about 10% off those tables. lomom on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-571074 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 13:27:49 +0000 lomom 571074@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I haven't but it seems like a very demanding job. I try to be a cordial patron and tip well, unless they're just truly awful at their job. I was out to lunch with coworkers and our waitress would turn her head when she walked past our table. She never refilled our drinks, never came by to see if we needed anything (like ketchup for fries or whatever) and the place wasn't even busy. She was hanging out, flirting with another waiter the whole time! Maysprout on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-571067 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 13:20:29 +0000 Maysprout 571067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I was a waitress at a chain steakhouse. I was surprised sometimes at how some people were just so miserable and grouchy, not necessarily to me, but I'd walk over to the table and it looked like the couple or family were just giving each other death glares. I didn't know why they would bother going out to dinner if they loathed each other so much. It always made it awkward. And the guys who purposefully tried to make you feel awkward by saying inappropriate things. I worked in Food service at a retirement home and golf club too. I cried the first day after the retirement home because it was soooo much work and my hands kept getting scalded from the dishwasher. It was by far the least pay but I ended up really enjoying it (especially after I figured out how to better work and get out of dishwasher duty). And I got to talk to all the residents and they were really funny, lovely people. The golf club was the most money for hardly any work so I liked that a lot. Anagram on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570900 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 10:47:18 +0000 Anagram 570900@https://boards.hellobee.com/ OMG yes. I worked in 3 different restaurants in HS and college: Outback steakhouse, Olive Garden, and a place called the Jekyll and Hyde club (still exists in NYC and gets abysmal reviews--no wonder!). The worst job was hands down, Olive Garden. I can't tell you how many times I had huge families come in and the parents would inform me that the kids "weren't hungry" and wouldn't be eating. So then the parents would order soup and salad, and feed the kids off their plates, make me run back and forth for millions of breadsticks, taking up all my time for 1-2 hours. And walk out with a $12 check. I literally had families with 4 'kids', ranging up to 14 years of age, who "weren't hungry". These kids were starving and would eat 15 breadstick each. And keep me running for the free waters, too. Worst. job. ever. Mrs. Oatmeal on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570895 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 10:43:36 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 570895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I was a baker in a small cafe/bakery, but once the baking was done, I was a server as well. For me, the toughest customers were the tourists. We lived in a tiny touristy town, and people drove up from the cities and expected us to cater to their every whim. People would order their lunches with every possible alteration and exception, get mad when we didn't have the same coffee-based drinks as Starbucks, and then not leave a tip because we "weren't a restaurant". It was tough to be friendly to those people. apis on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570871 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 10:04:42 +0000 apis 570871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I worked in a pub when in university and the most annoying situation is where someone comes up to the bar to order a single drink, then just as you've given it to them, they order one other thing, and then as you give them that, they order another solitary drink, and so it goes on! This was in the UK and so the whole tipping thing wasn't even an issue. Mrs. Jacks on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570868 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 10:01:58 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 570868@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @blackbird: Really? I think parents are generally apologetic and pay up through tips for their mess. Maybe that's just my crowd though. After being a waitress, my base tip starts at 18-20%. blackbird on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570850 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 09:55:36 +0000 blackbird 570850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ People with kids were generally the worst! They tipped poorly and their kids made giant, giant messes. A large majority also had no manners., They'd shake their drink at you to refill it, that kind of stuff. Trailmix on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570836 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 09:44:13 +0000 Trailmix 570836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yup, every summer during college. I made decent money but I hated it bc I would always finish covered in food and so tired! I think the worst customers were the cheap tippers, especially if I did a good job! matador84 on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570784 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 08:31:33 +0000 matador84 570784@https://boards.hellobee.com/ All through college. The Sunday church crowd on all you can eat Sunday was the worst!! Dandelion on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570757 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 07:37:48 +0000 Dandelion 570757@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I did, up until I had ds. I liked the money, and for the most part the general public was ok, but yeah, there were those people that can ruin a night. Now, I'm a great tipper and really aware of my server when I go out to eat. I don't need to add myself to the list of jerks that person has dealt with all day. Mrs. Lemon-Lime on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570755 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 07:37:07 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 570755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I was a waitress helper all of a day and a half the summer I left before college. The customers were fine, but my the owner/ manager was not. The restaurant was a breakfast-lunch place, so I guess he was a short order cook with a very short temper. The minute he yelled (really, blasted) at me the way not even my father spoke to me I knew that was not going to be the job for me. He apologized, but I did not go back. avivoca on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570754 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 07:35:21 +0000 avivoca 570754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I wasn't a waitress, I was a hostess, and honestly our worst customers were the Sunday church crowd. There were two women once who got so angry that their server was spending more time with a table of five that they left $.27 and the nastiest note about working all your tables instead of just flirting with men. honeybear on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570747 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 07:16:47 +0000 honeybear 570747@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I mostly enjoyed my waitressing stint. I am fairly type A, so I was good at it. I think the low-tippers (anything under 10%, because nothing ever went horribly wrong on my watch!) with big demands--i.e., found something wrong with everything, made a huge mess (sorry, but these people were often parents), or we're generally rude--were the low point. autumn865 on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570730 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 03:20:09 +0000 autumn865 570730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I worked at a mid priced Italian chain restaurant throughout college. Most of the time I really enjoyed my job talking to people and it was good money. The people that annoyed me were the people who were rude, snooty, and super demanding about things I couldn't change. I'm a waitress- I am not in the back cooking your food, mixing your drinks, controlling the radio, managing the thermostat, or regulating the amount of time you had to wait. Reese on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570669 Sat, 16 Feb 2013 23:47:55 +0000 Reese 570669@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I was a waitress/bartender throughout university. I loved it!! the money was great! The people I couldnt stand were the people that ordered water and a soup or side salad (low tab) but would stay for hours and were uber high maintenance. The type of customer that every time you went back to their table with something they asked for something else (another straw, more napkins, extra sauce, origami napkin folded into a swan..you get the idea) and then barely left a tip. Overall though I worked at a great place with a ton of regulars that knew I was working my way through a tough program and always treated me very nicely :) autumnlove on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570641 Sat, 16 Feb 2013 23:12:45 +0000 autumnlove 570641@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Ash: @Mrs. Jacks: so we went out to eat tonight and the restaurant wasn't busy but the people at the table next to us were really impatient...they got up to get more napkins, refill their drinks, and looked for an extra fork. The waiter looked pretty irritated...lol! anonysquire on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570640 Sat, 16 Feb 2013 23:11:03 +0000 anonysquire 570640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I don't think I could do it. I drop everything! Ash on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570639 Sat, 16 Feb 2013 23:10:06 +0000 Ash 570639@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mrs. Jacks: I still feel that way with my current job! Lol! BSB on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570638 Sat, 16 Feb 2013 23:09:34 +0000 BSB 570638@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Nope. I haven't been one. Both my sisters were, though. I don't think I would be a good one either. Mrs. Jacks on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570636 Sat, 16 Feb 2013 23:07:32 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 570636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Ash: I just remember how badly my feet hurt at the end of my shift, especially after working a double. It was exhausting! Ash on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570632 Sat, 16 Feb 2013 23:05:26 +0000 Ash 570632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mrs. Jacks: lol! I don't know why I hated waitressing so much. Money was good but I just despised it. Mrs. Jacks on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570630 Sat, 16 Feb 2013 23:03:00 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 570630@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Ash: oh no... My worst jobs were dishwasher in a cafeteria and dry cleaner person. Oh my god, I've had some bad jobs. At least as a waitress I pulled in 200-400 a night in tips :) But I'll never think of Italian dressing and sour cream going through the dish sprayer the same way. The smell was so gross! Ash on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570625 Sat, 16 Feb 2013 22:56:02 +0000 Ash 570625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mrs. Jacks: I think it's the world's most awful job. Mrs. Jacks on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570624 Sat, 16 Feb 2013 22:54:20 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 570624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Ash: good point! Ash on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570618 Sat, 16 Feb 2013 22:50:07 +0000 Ash 570618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ All of them. I hated waitressing! mynoahbear on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570608 Sat, 16 Feb 2013 22:43:33 +0000 mynoahbear 570608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I used to work at a restaurant close to Wrigley Field, so I think really drunk people after baseball games were the most annoying. Mrs. Jacks on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570603 Sat, 16 Feb 2013 22:39:33 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 570603@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Foreign tourists who don't tip. They are such interesting people and then they tend to leave you 16 cents. I worked at a very touristy restaurant for a while. I know that they had no idea that I only made $2.30/hr, but it was really hard to work so much knowing that I'd have nothing to show for that table! Smurfette on "Have you ever been a waiter or waitress?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-a-waiter-or-waitress#post-570602 Sat, 16 Feb 2013 22:35:16 +0000 Smurfette 570602@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Nope, I know I would have been horrible at it.