This Table Is Reserved!

April 30, 2009

in Server Stories

My wife and I love dining out and especially at Italian restaurants. So, we go to a local place in South Florida with no rez but decide to wait at the bar and have a drink. We notice that the bar seating area is first come first serve and doesn’t require a rez. Soon a table leaves and we ask the manager if we can be seated there. He replies “Yes, no problem, just let the busser clean it off.” We wait and then approach the table after it’s cleaned and re-set. As I’m about to sit a hand grasps my arm firmly and a rough female voice says “This table is reserved!” I spin around, rip my arm away, and say “Your manager offered us this table.” She grumbles back ” It’s reserved!” By this time I’m fuming so I go to the manager and explain the deal while my wife stays at the table. After a few minutes of conversation we are “allowed” to be seated there. I did ask to have a different server but because of server station logistics it wasn’t possible. Whatever. We agreed to try and have a pleasant time anyway.

The same server approaches us to take a drink order. We order a decent bottle of wine only to wait 10 full minutes to have it brought over. The waitress sets down the bottle to open it (w/o displaying it to me). She then opens it and pours two full glasses, never allowing us to taste it first. She then walks away w/o asking us if we’re ready to order, or explaining the specials, NOTHING. By the time the server came back we had decided to enjoy our wine and then go eat somewhere else. We had a deep fear of what the waitress might do to our food. We left exact change.

PS
To all people in the service industry:
You have a responsibility to both respect the customers and represent the establishment. If that is something you can’t handle then either quit, get new job in a area where you have limited exposure to humans, or go to a University and establish a career.

{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }

sean May 10, 2009 at 7:51 pm

i agree completely. servers are ther to serve, not to make the rules. i think they make shit, but instead of taking responsiblity for that terrible fact by tipping EVERYONE, i tip up to and over 100% for great servers and leave the truely terrible ones making $2.17/hr as they deserve

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MW July 13, 2009 at 4:11 pm

Oh, hey, you're right. Servers are just idiots who need to work hard for their jobs, because they've got no education.

Seriously, you're stupid.

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chefskitchenrant July 18, 2009 at 11:54 pm

Firstly, I do think that if promised the table you should be able stay at it. Due to some lack of communication they seem to be in a mess! There is no excuse and the I think you did the right thing by leaving, it sounds like it could have got a whole lot worse.

@MW I think you need to educate yourself. Just because they are servers as you call them doesn't mean that they are not educated. Who are you anyway Einstein.

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chefskitchenrant is July 27, 2009 at 4:48 pm

MW was being sarcastic as was obvious to everyone else but you.

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chefskitchenrant July 29, 2009 at 6:35 pm

Bring it on!!!!

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US Bartender August 15, 2009 at 5:28 pm

What a douche. Stay home next time.

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Kyle D September 11, 2009 at 4:15 pm

listen fudge packer… im a server and a teacher and I won my own buisness… im sick and tired of pretentious d bags such as yourself who come into my section and fell justified taking up my table and wasting my time… instead of her getting a new job you should learn how to cook… dont think your better then people inthe server industry becasue you work at an office or perhaps a 711… nothing against 711 i love your slurpies… dont be an ass clown and learn how to respect people… two more things dont ever fuck with anyone who handles your food and last eat shit and kill yourself… maybe you'll like that better… COCK

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:) November 20, 2009 at 10:30 pm

Its funny how customers always know the exact times of things they've been waiting for. "we've been waiting 10 minutes/20 minutes/45 minutes for our food" maybe if your whore wife wasnt so dull you wouldn't be counting down the seconds until you get your wine. Oh and don't cry cos the waiter didnt show you the label, that just makes you sound pretentious. It was probably just a shitty bottle of shiraz anyways. If you want to act like you were born with a silver spoon shoved up your ass, go eat somewhere 'more upmarket'. Servers probably have a higher iq than you anyways x

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Amber May 12, 2016 at 3:54 pm

Even when enjoying your companions company you can watch the time for how long it takes for things to come out. I know I have plenty of times when we had hoped to be somewhere else by a certain time.

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Mimi April 10, 2010 at 3:38 pm

Not a single smart remark that shows any brain cells here. You all just seem to be here to vent off and swear and put people down. Ever heard of constructive criticism, politeness, suggesting? Oh no, wait… this is the internetzzz… be anonymous and and an**hole, because you can, in contrast to real life, where each and everyone of you commenters is probably a sad little loser who can't get their mouth open for the life of it.

I sometimes wonder why people still post – considering that they receive nothing but bull**** as comments.

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College Kid November 2, 2010 at 1:02 pm

Mimi, it's a rant site, get over it.

This server was fail though btw, sounds like your typical female who can't swallow her pride for two seconds and admit she made a mistake and apologize.

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Cameroon April 7, 2011 at 2:37 am

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Kel R July 26, 2012 at 3:15 am

Honestly you seem like a snob.

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Katie August 22, 2014 at 10:21 pm

Terrible server, I agree, but the comment at the end was uncalled for. Having a career in service is plausible so long as you’re good at it, enjoy it, and are made out for it. And you can pursue a service degree at university.

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