These are sure fire ways to decrease or lose a tip.
Correct sequence when serving courses. Drinks……appetizer……salads…..main course……dessert. Don't bring me an appetizer and salad at the same time. Who wants their appetizer to get cold while they eat their salad or salad to get hot while they eat their appetizer? I don't! I especially don't want my salad, appetizer and main course all served at the same time or within 3 minutes of each other.
Proper etiquette, not to mention common sense, dictates that when someone is finished eating a dish they will move the plate to the side. If a plate is still in front of me, then don't ask if you can take it. Not all of us inhale our food. Some of us enjoy savoring our food, chewing it up, and periodically pausing for conversation, etc.
If someone raises a finger, hand, or arm at you, that means they need your attention. It is not a wave goodbye or friendly gesture. So, don't wave back, just come see what I need.
When serving dishes and drinks, don't put your fingers inside my glass or plate. When I see a waitress pick up all four glasses at the table and carry them with her fingers inside the glass my yuck meter goes haywire. Not only is that spreading germs and completely not acceptable, but how in the world are you going to keep up with whose glass goes where if everyone is drinking the same thing?
Don't ask me if I want dessert when I am not even half way through my meal. How do I know if I want dessert if I am still not sure how much of my meal I am going to eat. I may be too full for dessert. Wait until someone asks for a to go box, pushes their plate to side ( remember this signals someone is finished eating,) or asks for a dessert menu.
If you see my glass is empty and I am engaged in conversation, please don't interrupt me to ask: “Do you want some more drink?” Just fill up the glass.
For some reason most servers fit into one of two categories. Either they come by every 2 minutes and ask if everything is good, refill, etc. OR they set your entrée down and you never see them until the bill comes. It is so easy to make yourself seen and accessible, without worrying someone to death.
Don't clean the windows or sweep the carpet next to my table while I am eating. I once had a waitress who sprayed Windex all over the window that was literally two feet from my table. The spray went all over my food and arm. Who wants to eat that? I also don't want to eat dust from the floor being swept around me.
I really can not stand to see a server clean a table, which includes taking their hand and raking crumbs etc.. up, and then come directly over to my table with the germs from the other table. Wash your hands! I don't want someone else's half ate crumbs stuck to my glass that you are about to pick up and refill.
You put the bill on the table and you see me digging through my purse for correct change, don't come stand over me. My purse and wallet are none of your business. When the bill is ready for your attention it will be pushed to the side of the table or handed to you.
Once you get the bill, don't ask if I need change. Just go pay the bill. If I do get change, then bring it to me. This is my biggest pet peeve and I can not tell you how many times I was going to leave my server 20-30% tip, but instead answered: “No, I don't need change anymore” and the server only got the dollar or two left over from the bill.
