Customers Completely Ignored by Server

December 26, 2015

in Server Stories

My boyfriend and I attempted to eat at a restaurant we used to frequent when we first started dating. We went for lunch. They were pretty slow; just an elderly couple, a family with a baby, and another couple who came in with us. When we went in we were told to sit wherever we wanted, so we sat in full view of the staff.

Ten minutes in and we had watched our waitress chat with the elderly couple and play with the baby. At the 15 minute mark we saw her look at us while trying to flag her down, then turn on her heels and go into the kitchen. At 20 minutes we watch her walk out of the restaurant while on her cell phone. The other waitress went as far as to ignore us as we called out to her just so we could get our drinks.

So after a half hour my boyfriend and I decide we’ve waited long enough and got up to leave. As we’re walking out the cashier stops us and tells us that we need to pay, to which I pointed out we didn’t get anything. I’m then told that they heard me ask for drinks. I told them if I had even gotten that then they’d have my patronage.

{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }

mensa58 December 28, 2015 at 9:48 am

I'm just wondering why you waited 1/2 hour. 15 minutes with no attention would have been enough for me to go to the manager/host and tell them I hadn't been waited on.

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ashley January 3, 2016 at 2:34 pm

i was wondering the same thing hahaa

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nmexmatt December 30, 2015 at 1:24 pm

my question, was that real time or angry restaurant customer waiting time? Five minutes is always 30 on the latter!

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Patientdiner December 30, 2015 at 2:26 pm

Hi, I'm the poster. We waited so long because we really liked that restaurant and we always give the benefit of the doubt. As for time, we got there at about 11:50, and stormed out at 12:30, so yea, over a half hour.

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Jim G December 31, 2015 at 9:11 am

As a restaurant owner, that situation is appalling. 5 min MAX anyone should be waiting for service. That starts with the first drink/food going down. And engagement from staff.

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Patientdiner December 31, 2015 at 9:38 am

We wound up speaking to the manager, who told us the girl was new, then actually asked us to at least leave her a tip so she didn't get discouraged, then offered us 25% any breakfast item (it was after 12). We obviously haven't been there since.

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mensa58 December 31, 2015 at 5:25 pm

Unbelievable gall on the part of the manager — wanting you to leave a tip for no service. Is this restaurant a chain so that you could notify corporate management? Sometimes that's a wakeup call the restaurants need.

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Brysn January 6, 2016 at 4:34 am

Lol, this story is bullshit! The manager did not ask you to leave her a tip :p

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Patientdiner January 6, 2016 at 7:31 am

No, its not, the manager legitimately thought it was fine because she was new. Either that or they're friends.

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Patientdiner December 31, 2015 at 7:12 pm

Sadly it's not, its just the local diner, but my friends, boyfriend and I refuse to go there anymore

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Raj July 1, 2017 at 3:48 pm

This happened to my partner and I as well; hit a chain restaurant in Winnipeg a few years ago – the name rhymes with 'pearls' and were seated by a completely disinterested waitress in a quiet booth away from the main room (very odd layout)… the restaurant was decidedly NOT busy. 20 minutes later without so much as water, I got up and asked the hostess if our server would be coming; I was assured they were. Another 15 minutes later and we got up and left; we saw our hostess rushing toward us and calling for us to wait, but didn't even stop. To hell with that.

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