If you have ever worked in the restaurant or the food industry, you know that it is not the most glamorous job.
When I come home from work I smell like BBQ sauce and grease; I deal with rude, hungry customers every day. My fellow employees and other friends in the food service industry all share their horror stories from working at a restaurant.
Here are some situations we have all suffered through as restaurant employees:
1. Customers and their discounts
I don't mind giving discounts, but please understand different restaurants have different discount policies. When there's a sign that says please ask about our discounts prior to payment, then please ASK ABOUT THE DISCOUNT PRIOR TO PAYMENT!
2. Screaming Children
There's nothing like going through the workday with children screaming and misbehaving throughout the restaurant. Not only do the kids cry, but they can also make messes and run to the employee only areas in the store.
3. Front of House vs. Back of House
Anyone who has worked in the restaurant knows about the ongoing battle between the cooks and the servers, the front versus back of the house. The front of the house or the servers have to deal with the customers all day while the cooks or the back of house get to hide in the kitchen, away from all the social interaction. We servers would love to seek refuge in the kitchen, but sadly we're forced into the middle of the lunch hunger battle.
4. Customers with Difficult Orders
I understand being picky about what you're eating, but some customers take ordering food to the extreme! Restaurants have a menu for a reason, so please don't be mad when we disregard everything you say and give you what's actually on the menu!
5. Customers that stay past Close
Most restaurants' hours of operation are displayed prominently at the front door and can be found online, so please don't come in and expect us to stay open past close! We have lives too and we can't close down the restaurant while customers are still in the store!
6. Spills and other Messes
We've all cleaned up plenty of messes if you have ever worked in a restaurant. My favorite mess I had to clean up was when a sweet tea urn was leaking then proceed to spill all over my shirt and jeans when I tried to move it to fix the leaking tea.
7. Phone Orders
Not all restaurants take call-in orders, but many do and it is the worst! Half of the time you can't hear the customer's order because it's too loud in the restaurant or there's just a bad connection. And because you can't hear them, you probably get their order wrong and have to remake it whenever they get to the store.
8. Lunch and Dinner Rush
After working in the food service for several years, I've come to enjoy the different rushes of the day. For new employees, the lunch and dinner rush can seem like life or death.
9. Bad Tippers
Every server has had a customer leave a lousy tip. Some days are better than other, but servers generally appreciate some sort of tip.
10. Customers asking for the Manager
When a customer asks for the manager, it usually means they don't agree with a policy that the manager has put in place. Some things even the manager cannot change because it is a cooperate policy.
