Waiter Walks Away

April 12, 2015

in Diner Stories

I am a server in a Mexican restaurant. We have a night where our enchilada plates are half price, so we do not allow coupons on the enchilada dinners. I misunderstood my manager and thought that we didn’t accept them at all on that night.

I got a nine top around 9:00. I had the older lady and her husband before. When it came time for the checks, they all wanted to use a coupon. I stated that we didn’t accept coupons on that night due to the special. I tried to explain to them that I was just doing my job correctly.

The older lady interrupted me and raised her voice to me. I interrupted her stating, “I will go get my manager,” and walked away. Her grandson yelled after me wanting to know why I walked away.

I went and got my manager and explained to him what happened. I told him when the lady raised her voice to me, I did walk away. Well, she raised her voice to my manager when he got to the table. He took everything off their bills except drinks and appetizer. He told her and her husband that he didn’t appreciate their rude treatment of his staff, which happened every time they came in. He told them they were no longer welcome.

I may be a server, but if I am being polite to you, do not raise your voice at me. I do my best to do my job to make you happy, but I will not go against the rules my manager has so you can save a buck or two. If you are rude to me, I will walk away.

{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

reader May 26, 2015 at 10:01 am

Sounds like you did everything correctly, despite the customers' attitude that they're entitled to whatever they want. I'm sure the coupons had a disclaimer on them, or else the menu/restaurant notice about the special did, and the customers decided it didn't apply to them. Good for your manager on sticking up for you as well. Want to bet the pain-in-the-rear customer tries to bully his way into free dinners no matter where he dines?

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Kammy June 2, 2015 at 3:29 pm

I try to do my best, but this lady just didn't care. I was raised to respect my elders which I strive to do. I also will admit my mistake if it is my mistake and take the blame. I am happy my manager stood up for me.

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ThatOne April 3, 2016 at 3:54 am

I walked away from a table, after being yelled at because the bartender had messed up a drink. The man kept yelling at me to get back to his table. Instead, I handed another server $5 and said 'that table is all yours'.

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Amber May 9, 2016 at 11:48 am

The customer was rude, but it sounds like you weren't simply enforcing the rules in place but actually yourself mistaken on the rules about coupons.

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Takeda August 21, 2017 at 12:52 am

Great job. You did exactly what you should have done.

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