Fast food: cheap, time-efficient, tasty. Although rarely the healthiest of options, millions of Americans swarm fast-food restaurants daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You probably pay little attention to who makes your food, but you desire quality service, clean facilities and to be served your french fries with a smile. You have places to be, errands to run and tasks to cross off your to-do list, and all you want is to get in and out as quickly as possible.
This was me, too, until I was hired as a fast food restaurant crew member. In the time I've held this job, I've developed several pet peeves that most other employees and crew members at fast food restaurants can widely relate to. "What's this?" you think. "Customers at your restaurant don't always have good fast food etiquette? Gosh, I hope I'm not one of those customers!" Here's a basic list of behaviors to avoid at fast food restaurants:
1. Talking on your cell phone while ordering.
Talk to us instead! We'd like to serve you without feeling like we're the inconvenience. We know your conversations are important, but so is making sure you get exactly what you want to eat! If you're talking to a friend or family member, ask if you can call them back after ordering. They won't mind. If it's a business call, you probably shouldn't try to talk with so many distractions anyway.
2. Telling employees how "cute" it is that your child made a mess.
Is your child cute? Absolutely! Is their entire kids meal all over the floor cute? Definitely not! We understand that children are messy, but we don't appreciate when you leave your table looking like World War III was fought food-fight style. Yes, someone is getting paid to clean up the dining room, to wipe down tables and sweep the floor, but it's much more polite to clean up after yourself and your children before you leave.
3. Not paying attention to the cashier's questions.
Cashier: "Anything else for you today? Would you like a drink with your order today?" You: "No, but I'd like a small soda." Sometimes restaurants are loud and filled with distractions, but focusing on our questions will help us get you through the line quickly so you can go enjoy your meal.
4. Ordering food right before closing time.
Maybe you're out late with friends, or you're bored at home and suddenly find yourself hankering for a late-night snack. We've all been there, but please remember that most restaurant crews don't get off work when the restaurant closes; most of the cleaning takes place after hours, and we don't get to head home until it's done. If you must come in right before the restaurant closes, ordering quickly and taking your food to go is more respectful of employees' time.
5. Waiting to decide your order until you're already at the counter.
When everything on the menu looks delicious, choosing the tastiest choice is of utmost importance! But if you wait to make your decision until you're already at the counter, you'll only hold up the line. Read the menu ahead of time, figure out what you're craving and then get in line so you're ready to order when it's your turn.
6. Leaving a 25-cent tip.
We appreciate your tips, we really do, and we also understand that not everyone can afford to tip. If you do decide to tip, however, remember that everything in the tip jar generally gets split between all the crew members working during that shift. So when you pull that shiny quarter out of your pocket and let it clink to the bottom of the tip jar, understand that you just tipped each of us approximately one nickel.
7. Asking to alter your order with food from home.
Maybe you have a dairy allergy or a gluten intolerance. We'll do our best to accommodate your dietary needs, but for food safety reasons, most restaurants don't allow food from other sources to go behind the counter. If you absolutely have to have your favorite brand of hot sauce in your burrito or dairy-free cheese on your burger, you can add it yourself once you've reached your table.
8. Banging on the door before the restaurant is open.
You're hungry. We get it. But the chances are, until the restaurant opens, there probably isn't any food ready to give you! Restaurant crews are working quickly to get our food ready to serve you, but we can't do that if we're being interrupted by impatient banging on the doors and windows. Until the doors open, daydream about the tasty meal you're about to enjoy and hang tight. Once we're ready, we'll be glad to serve you.
