Waiter...Check Please

How patient are you? How long will you wait in line until you start the "Huff-n-Puff", crossing your arms to show discomfort sighing, coughing hoping the person will notice you.  How long will you wait in a restaurant on a waiter who is doing his/her job poorly before you leave?

My wife and I went to a well known steak house for a meal.  We had dropped our kids of at my mother's and thought that we would have a nice meal alone before I left on a business trip.  We were seated and the waiting game began. 

The waiter, a 20th century Jesus look-a-like...that is if Jesus was a white male in his mid 20's, was struggling with his duties.  He was pleasant when he interacted with us or the 3 other tables in his section but his having difficulties trying to keep all the dishes spinning, so to speak ; drink refills, this isn't what I ordered, can I have more rolls please, I need some A1 when you get a chance and the other long list of requests his patrons had were overwhelming this young man. 

One table a "well to do" couple (labeled by their apparel), ordered their food and hadn't been waiting THAT long had enough and got up and left.  My wife and I thought that maybe they just came for the fountain sodas and rolls but this apparently wasn't why they left.  Not two minutes after their departure the frazzled waiter came with their meals, saw the empty table and embarrassed had to turn and walk past his other tables in the horrible "walk of shame." 

So, what do you do?  What do you do when service is less than you want or expect?  In our society we are lead to believe that only OUR desires matter. In a world where a million things can go wrong sometimes 90% happen in one day.  Are we compassionate and understanding when we see a situation that where someone is having a difficult time?

I'm reminded of a story a friend told me happened to him and a friend of his.  They were at an IHOP and the waitress was having a HORRIBLE day and apparently decided to take it out on he and his friend.  The service was horrendous.  She was rude, mean, hateful. When it came time for the bill they waited and waited, finally asking she made a big "to do" about it.  My friend reached for the bill but the other man stopped him.  He said to my friend, "I have this one. You won't tip correctly." My friend was shocked when he tipped the lady $100 bill.  They turned and left the establishment.  They didn't make it far when the woman came out saying that he forgot his change.  The man turned around and said that there was no change, that was her tip.  The distraught woman didn't know what to say. She was crying and said, "no I don't deserve this. Why are you giving this to me! I don't deserve this"  The man replied, "I know. I want to give it to you. I don't know what has happened to make your day so deplorable but I hope that this will turn it around.

I would like to tell you that I tipped my waiter that much. I didn't. But i did tip him better than I normally would because I don't know the struggles he was having that particular day. 

Been gone awhile

I've been away for a while and looking forward to getting back to this whole blog thing...but until then, I thought I would share another interesting and insightful blog.  Enjoy!

http://tentpegs.patrickmead.net/?p=1682