People who see a waiter walk by with a pitcher of tea and feel the need to inhale...

[Kori Ellis]

Iced Tea in restaurants sucks anyway as it's never sweetened. You have to put sugar in it yourself which is difficult since it won't dissolve worth in cold tea with ice in it. I'll stick with my Mr. Coffee Iced Tea maker.

They serve sweet tea here.

In L.A. they don't, but here in San Antonio a lot of places serve the tea already sweetened as an option.

[Marklar MM]

Does anyone like that artificial sweetener stuff they put on tables?

[atxrocker]

They serve sweet tea here.

In L.A. they don't, but here in San Antonio a lot of places serve the tea already sweetened as an option.

most places i eat at here in austin don't. and it sucks. my worst resturaunt pet peeve ever. i don't want to put my own ing sugar. .

anyways, i am the type to get multiple refills of whatever i am drinking in a sitting. i expect my need to be addressed as soon as it is necessary. i tip very well for good service. i really want some pepsi now.

[Kori Ellis]

What causes you to panic and suck down over half that glass down in 5 seconds, and frantically waive down that wiater with a pitcher for more? You look greedy.

I'll agree with most people in this thread, that if someone does this, it's because they know the restaurant has a rep of rarely coming by and filling your glass. So they are trying to get some when they can.

But if the customer, does that and then doesn't even drink it after that .. then yes they are just being greedy and annoying.

And I also agree that you shouldn't have to ASK a waiter for a refill. He should be able to see that your glass is getting empty.

[atxrocker]

Does anyone like that artificial sweetener stuff they put on tables?

i hate that fake .

[Kori Ellis]

Does anyone like that artificial sweetener stuff they put on tables?

If the tea isn't sweet, I use Splenda that's on the table. It dissolves and tastes like sugar.

[CharlieMac]

And, I'm telling you you don't have a clue why people do the things you claim they are doing...speaking from a customer's perspective and it makes perfect sense if you want to understand me. I tip very well (usually 30-35%) when I have a good intuitive waiter - I tipped $10 on a $20.25 bill just yesterday to my regular waiter who does get the customer-server relationship. I request to sit at one of his tables when I go to this particular restaurant and he welcomes us because he knows how to get good tips and how to behave as a waiter. When I get one with at ude, I leave one (1) quarter as a message. On the opposite side of the coin of yesterday's lunch experience, on Friday night I left a young man at Chili's NO TIP and reported him to the manager; I was not the only one - someone at every table surrounding us had to chase this young man down for something during their meal, usually drink refills. And HE did not bring ANYONE's food to the table, he had someone else deliver the food each time. No one could figure out where he was going (he just disappeared), because these people who kept delivering the food had tables of their own and they seemed to be handling theirs and this creep's tables too, just fine. He never told us his name; he never asked us if we wanted more of anything or if our food was satisfactory; the person who brought our food did not bring everything we asked for because they didn't take the order and didn't know about the gravy and ketchup we'd asked for; he never came back to see if our food was cooked to our satisfaction or anything else. The only way we got more iced tea was to find a different waiter with a pitcher and ask for more, but after the first time, THAT waiter kept returning to our table with the tea pitcher. The manager brought the extra things we'd asked for when I went and found him and reported this idiot to him. At the end of the meal, the manager came back to our table to tell us he was picking up the tab for our food and we had a couple of other comments for him...THEN the waiter came running over and stuck his nose in to see what we were saying; I told him it was too late. The manager picked up the tab for all three of those tables, one of which had 8 people sitting at it; expensive night for the restaurant.

I stand by everything I said in my message and I wasn't speaking a foreign language, it it what it is, no hidden messages, just straight forward information. I'm not (and don't consider myself) more important than anyone else; but when I go into a restaurant, I'm PAYING for more than just the food...I'm paying for the service, too, and I expect to be treated respectfully and courteously - THAT'S ALL I ASK. I'm glad you do well in your job and wish you continued success. But, if I come into your establishment and you pull out your at ude, you will NOT be tipped and you WILL be reported to the management. It's that simple.

If you didn't want to know what anyone thought about your rant, or didn't want to take the trouble to read the responses, you should not have posted it. Or, at the very least, you should have just SAID from the gitgo that your mind was made up about it and no one should bother to respond. I won't go to any more trouble, you can bet on that.

Oh it, let's just agree to disagree. I don't like when people suck their drink down and don't take a sip after that, and you like having a waiter that knows how to "behave".

[tlongII]

They serve sweet tea here.

In L.A. they don't, but here in San Antonio a lot of places serve the tea already sweetened as an option.

This bit of information puts San Antonio in a more positive light for me. They don't do that in Portland.

[j-6]

Anyone that takes themselves this seriously about their tipping habits, the "server/customer relationship", how their meals got comped at Chili's, and how intuitive their waiter is has never worked in a full-service restaurant. Nothing personal, pache100, but I'd hate to wait on any table you were sitting at.

You sound like a germ - the word we used to use for a guest either looking to either , freeload, or stiff the server. Like I said though, nothing personal - every has their own eccentricies. I to Sprint damn near every time I get a statement from them.

[SpursWoman]

Anyone that takes themselves this seriously about their tipping habits, the "server/customer relationship", how their meals got comped at Chili's, and how intuitive their waiter is has never worked in a full-service restaurant. Nothing personal, pache100, but I'd hate to wait on any table you were sitting at.

You sound like a germ - the word we used to use for a guest either looking to either , freeload, or stiff the server. Like I said though, nothing personal - every has their own eccentricies. I to Sprint damn near every time I get a statement from them.

I worked in the service industry for exactly a month before I realized that that was not for me. No matter how hard you try, how good or how slammed you are ... there will always be someone there ing that you didn't fill their drink fast enough so they leave you a quarter, regardless of the fact that 2 people didn't show up and you had to cover their tables too.

I don't expect miracles when I go out to eat, regardless of the service I feel I'm en led to. If the place is extremely busy and I can see my waitress/waiter is swamped ... I'm inclined to be very patient, because I know that evening they are going to get jipped by other patrons who have no understanding whatsoever and an overblown sense of how far their $4.99 special should get them. I don't go out to eat for the tea anyway.

[pache100]

Anyone that takes themselves this seriously about their tipping habits, the "server/customer relationship", how their meals got comped at Chili's, and how intuitive their waiter is has never worked in a full-service restaurant.

I have said that over and over and over again; I don't know how to make it any plainer that I have never waited tables. And that the reason I tip well is because I'm thankful I never had to.

Nothing personal, pache100, but I'd hate to wait on any table you were sitting at.

Not if you were any good. If that's the way you feel and you were a good waiter, it's your loss.

You sound like a germ - the word we used to use for a guest either looking to either , freeload, or stiff the server. Like I said though, nothing personal - every has their own eccentricies. I to Sprint damn near every time I get a statement from them.

I don't look to or freeload or stiff the server. I hate like to have to . It ruins my whole meal, usually my whole day; I'd rather somebody beat me and not make me do that. But, I eat out about 5-6 times a week, and I DO take it pretty seriously. I rarely get free meals, and don't want them. I don't mind paying for my food, any time I get comped a meal, it's strictly voluntary on the manager's part. Most often, I don't make any complaints about anything until AFTER I have paid my bill. Sometimes, though, the situation warants it (like when you never see your waiter); what are you supposed to do, just sit there all night with your mouth shut and accept lousy service? Uh uh, not me. And, as I have said over and over and over, also, I almost NEVER "stiff the server", only when that is warranted also. I don't remember the last time, before Friday night, that I had to do that.

[Melmart1]

I don't think Eriks was talking about the average customer. He was talking about those who demand service THAT THEY DON'T NEED. Those people are just being assholes. I see it all the time. I don't care if you want 8 refills. There are times I get 10 refills. But to demand it when you clearly don't need it? Total bull .

As for the nursing tea because you know they don't refill well... If you know this in advacnce, WHY THE DO YOU GO BACK?! I would never EVER keep going to a restaurant that I already know has bad service. If you are stupid enough to do this then don't . There are a lot of other restaurants where this is not the issue, why don't you go to one of those?

[Kori Ellis]

If the place is extremely busy and I can see my waitress/waiter is swamped ... I'm inclined to be very patient, because I know that evening they are going to get jipped by other patrons who have no understanding whatsoever and an overblown sense of how far their $4.99 special should get them.

I agree. People should be extremely patient with the waiter if a place is swamped. The waiter is having a harder time than the customer is.

I will only if the waiter/waitress is obviously not that busy and still isn't doing their job. Like the time we were at Applebee's and the waitress sat down in the booth next to us talking to her friends while we waited 15 minutes until the manager asked us what we wanted to drink Things went downhill from there.

Even that time, I didn't really ... I did write a note on the receipt as to why the tip was zero though.

[pache100]

I don't expect miracles when I go out to eat, regardless of the service I feel I'm en led to. If the place is extremely busy and I can see my waitress/waiter is swamped ... I'm inclined to be very patient, because I know that evening they are going to get jipped by other patrons who have no understanding whatsoever and an overblown sense of how far their $4.99 special should get them.

Neither do I expect miracles. Just what I'm paying for. And that is one of the other reasons I generally tip well (because I see old geezers leave a dollar bill when they gave the waiter fits...we had to follow around behind my Dad and leave more money because he didn't believe in tipping).

I don't go out to eat for the tea anyway.

Me, either, and I often drink something else, sometimes just water. But I don't feel that I should have to choke my food down either, just because someone feels I am being a pain in the ass because I drain my glass a couple of times during a meal. And, I pointed out before...if more restaurants had "get your own" drink machines or left pitchers of whatever on your table....they'd get no complaints from me.

I am not an unreasonable customer, and I'm sorry I have given that impression.

[pache100]

I don't think Eriks was talking about the average customer. He was talking about those who demand service THAT THEY DON'T NEED. Those people are just being assholes. I see it all the time. I don't care if you want 8 refills. There are times I get 10 refills. But to demand it when you clearly don't need it? Total bull .

I agree with all of that. 100%.

As for the nursing tea because you know they don't refill well... If you know this in advacnce, WHY THE DO YOU GO BACK?! I would never EVER keep going to a restaurant that I already know has bad service. If you are stupid enough to do this then don't . There are a lot of other restaurants where this is not the issue, why don't you go to one of those?

Because we like the food? Because I don't like to let one bad experience with a waiter ruin a restaurant for me? Most of the time, it's isolated cases where this happens, most waiters do not do this. And I have pointed out that if I have bad experiences several times at a restaurant (from more than one server) I don't go back. And, I, myself, pointed out that there are thousands of choices, so I agree with that, too.

Again, I'm sorry that I have given the wrong impression here, but I also think that my remarks have been blown all out of proportion.

[TDMVPDPOY]

inhale the fart

[BurgerKing]

Stop by my place and you can have it your way and fill up your own damn drinks!

[pache100]

Stop by my place and you can have it your way and fill up your own damn drinks!

I do that from time to time, too, BK. You have a really nice place right here on the base.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I do it simply to annoy the waiter.


We have one restaurant we go to that charges $2.00 for a Coke and the put it in a 12 oz. glass full of ice.

They do refill, though, so I make sure I have them refill that sucker at least a dozen times when we're there. If the waiter is across the room, but mistakenly makes eye contact with me I'm waving him/her over.

I'll make 3 trips to the restroom during my visit if if means sucking down a few more refills in order to make my point.

Granted it's not the waiter's fault that the restaurant charges too much for what amounts to about 6 ounces of fountain drink per glass, but the waiter has chosen to work here so in some ways they're expecting me to harrass them at every opportunity.

On the flip side, I've talked to the manager a few times and he's a good guy, and I usually tip around 20-25%, so the waiter is definitely rewarded for spending an hour and a half at the soda fountain. I probably wouldn't go there, but the salsa and queso is just too good to pass up.

[ComfortablyNumb]

I like restaurants like Saltgrass that leave a flask of tea on the tables.

[pache100]

EHJ, I never take anything that is the restaurant's fault out on the waiter. If the food is not up to par, if I can eat it I do, and then complain to the manager. If I can't eat the food, I ask the waiter to bring the manager over. But I make sure the waiter KNOWS that I am not blaming him/her. And I tip them as I always do, based on their service (for the most part, excellently), no matter what issues I have with the food. If they get an order wrong or leave my food sitting until it's cold (and I only make this judgment if I can see this, like at Jim's), that's another story. They still get a fair tip, but not as nice as it would have been if they'd been on the ball.

I like restaurants like Saltgrass that leave a flask of tea on the tables.

Me, too. And, I like Sea Island because I can get up and get my own.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

EHJ, I never take anything that is the restaurant's fault out on the waiter. If the food is not up to par, if I can eat it I do, and then complain to the manager. If I can't eat the food, I ask the waiter to bring the manager over. But I make sure the waiter KNOWS that I am not blaming him/her. And I tip them as I always do, based on their service (for the most part, excellently), no matter what issues I have with the food. If they get an order wrong or leave my food sitting until it's cold (and I only make this judgment if I can see this, like at Jim's), that's another story. They still get a fair tip, but not as nice as it would have been if they'd been on the ball.

I'm not blaming them, I'm making sure my tummy is full of delicious cold Coca-Cola. The experienced ones who know me there know to just put a pitcher of Coke on my table.

It's called conditioning, I teach them what I want, and they are rewarded for serving me in the manner to which I expect.

[pache100]

I'm not blaming them, I'm making sure my tummy is full of delicious cold Coca-Cola. The experienced ones who know me there know to just put a pitcher of Coke on my table.

It's called conditioning, I teach them what I want, and they are rewarded for serving me in the manner to which I expect.

Oh. Well. Ok.

(Xenia, our server at Golden Corral always brings us a pitcher of iced tea for our table; hardly anyone tips those people there, but we leave at least $1 - usually more - each for the clean plates, the pitcher of tea and extra ice, and the friendly at ude she always shows us...we LOVE her, and she usually meets us at the register as soon as we pay to help us to our table.)

[Solid D]

I'll lay it out as simply as I can......

I don't care if you need more of something or would like something different. All a waiter does is say. "Sure." and walk back to get it when you ask. But when you're not drinking something, and feel the need to gulp down your drink so you can get some more, then not touch it at all afterwards, then that's a problem. And that type of "I need more and need to hoard " at ide is probably what makes you a ***** person.

This all came from a restaurant I was eating at this morning. I was watching some guy play with his ice tea. He was just stirring it and stirring it and chatting away. He took maybe two sips within a 5 minute time period. He sees a waitress (one of 10 of them actively monitoring their tables) walk by with a pitcher of tea to refill a table not too far from him, and starts drink tha tea as far quickly as he can. Then screams "Mija. mija!!!!! More!!" as she walks away. Then he drinks maybe a quarter of that glass before he left. If anyone doesn't see a problem with that, then you probably do it under those exact same cir stances. That's my pet peeve. Even when I was stuck doing the lame office job deal for a few years I'd dine out and notice that happening.

I would say that could have been one of two people. Zombie or Bishop.

[1369]

Xenia, our server at Golden Corral...

If you have you own personal waitress at the Golden Corral...you might be a redneck.

Sincerely,
Jeff Foxworthy