Not a REAL table

[Nelsonette]

I work the counter at a restaurant that rhymes with Stake 'n' Snake.
When people sit to eat at the counter, I am their server.

For some reason, however, since they're not "sitting at a real table" they have decided that I don't get a tip.

Let me try to understand this. I do all the work a server does. I seat you and take your order. I bring you your drinks, I get you your food, your refills and your remakes, your desserts and etc. I make sure you have the most pleasant dining experience possible.

But because you're not sitting at a table or a booth...you aren't being served?

What the hell?

This old guy gave me that argument the other night.

He had me running for everything little thing. Refill on a half-drank soda. More cheese sauce for his fries. The burger 'got cold' so I had to go rush order another for him. Later, when he's paying the bill, he sees the "Tip:______" on the receipt and looks at it, thena t me, and...
"Well...'m not sittin' atta real tabuhl," he drawls, in his barely understandable redneck accent. "So it's ahlright if'n I don't tip ya." He then scribbles the total onto the receipt and lumbers off to go defile the restroom with his nasty Wide-Load behind full of chili burgers and shakes.

ARGH.

[Captain Card]

I have never worked a tipped job so I wouldn't kknow what its like living on tips but the nerve of someone not leaving a tip on propouse not even forgetting about it is just a dick move.


And Rural Burbia in the state of Misery sucks don't it?

[tehtech]

I hated that when I was waiting tables. I worked at a restaurant (we had a 50's theme and danced every now and then just to give you a hint) with a counter. Every time I was stuck with only the counter and no tables I'd make so much less than any other time.

I actually blame Rachel Ray. On $40 a Day she advised people to save money and sit a the counter since you didn't have to tip. People think the face on the TV is right and don't think those of us on the on the counter are still earning just regular server wages.

[Bright_Star]

I hated that when I was waiting tables. I worked at a restaurant (we had a 50's theme and danced every now and then just to give you a hint) with a counter. Every time I was stuck with only the counter and no tables I'd make so much less than any other time.

I actually blame Rachel Ray. On $40 a Day she advised people to save money and sit a the counter since you didn't have to tip. People think the face on the TV is right and don't think those of us on the on the counter are still earning just regular server wages.

The "face" on the tv is usually wrong.

[MoxisPilot]

...I am so guilty of this...! D:

I claim Brain Burp on my part, though.

I know better now. SORRY!

[McGoddess09]

I thought you were my friend,Cupcake, for a second.

I can't believe Rachel Ray said that!

The only time I have ever eaten at a counter was during my senior trip and I didn't leave a tip because everything was already paid for,including tip

[roguesqd]

was she not talking about somewhere over in Europe about that??

[Metody]

Someday, I will post about my first day as an actual waitress at Snake and Bake. I started at 6 pm. I left at 4:15 am. I did not get a break, and I made $50 in tips.

That place is a hellhole, and the customers sucked, though not nearly so much as my coworkers. You have my deepest sympathies.

[tehtech]

was she not talking about somewhere over in Europe about that??

I can't remember where she was but it was in the US. The tipping practices on that show are absolutely horrible to begin with but people follow them all too often.

[Boozy]

Oh yay! Another tipping thread!

These tend to go downhill quickly, guys. I don't understand why, but they do. So let's keep it focused on the OP's story and the sucky customer therein. Thanks.

[BookstoreEscapee]

You tip when you sit at the bar, don't you? How is the counter any different?

[TonyDonuts]

Like I needed another reason to not like Rachel Ray.

She's a lousy tipper, and there's this.

Have you ever been pestered, at work or not, by some earnest, touristy Jonathon Livingston Human type, trying to find out where YOU eat. Not the chain places, but the local places that only the locals know. YOU KNOW! The special fantastic local places?!?! That only the locals go to since they're not plastic cookie cutter chain places. YOU KNOW! Sometimes you have to stun them with bricks to make them go away.

Thank Rachel for that. Ask the locals where THEY eat and it'll be a much more special-er experience! And then sit at the counter so you don't have to tip so you can eat anywhere for 40 bucks a day.

My ENTIRE ass.

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

I tip those counter workers well because I know in addition to serving customers they typically also double as bartenders and thus have a lot of work to do.

I sympathize easily with them because I know what it's like to be young and work really hard for little pay.

So to all of you out there who do this, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and would tip each and every one of you if I could.

[Racket_Man]

AHHHHH Nelsonette I feel your pain. I too worked for that company (I called them trots and barf and no I will not explain) in the St. Louis area. even back 25 years ago people did not get the counter-is-not-a table-so-I-won't-tip thing. worked grill drivethru, server manager etc.

I worked for them when they still had car hops ie outdoor 365 days a year service at your car. I left when they quit doing that around 1984 and just went total drive thru

[Reyneth]

Like I needed another reason to not like Rachel Ray.

If you need another, I have some "good" tidbits on her from when she did a booksigning at my bookstore. I don't have time this morning, but even the staff that liked her before the event despised her after!