Working in the service/restaurant industry since I was 16 has taught me a thing or two about the American customer. The main thing I have learned is that the phrase, "the customer is always right" is almost always taken too far. This article is going to be a chaotic list of things a current restaurant worker would like every potential customer to know. Starting with general information and then outlining your dining experience. You might want to grab a pen and paper to take notes.

1. You pay our bills!

Almost every front of house employee (that's servers, hosts, bartenders, ToGo people, food runners, bussers, etc.) are tipped employees in some way. That means we are paid a lower wage (about $2.13) because what you tip is supposed to cover the difference. And guess what? That $2.13 on our "paycheck" is taken out by taxes! So when you leave your server $3.00 on a $60.00 check, they paid for you to eat.

What? How is that possible?

Remember how I said most front of house employees are tipped? That's how. A percentage of what you leave your server has to go to the people I listed in parentheses above. Then after all those people have been tipped out, the rest is what your server gets to keep. So if you're going to leave less than a 15% tip, don't go out to eat.

But it was a Saturday night at 6:00 and my server let my drink run empty one time! And they weren't even the people who brought us our food. They must not care about us, they don't deserve a tip!

Let me let you in on a secret: you are not your server's only table. They probably have three or four other tables also asking for a million things and have other drinks to refill, especially on a busy Saturday night. They weren't the ones who brought your food out? It's called working as a team. Everyone helps each other. That means helping each other run other people's food. The phrase "they don't deserve a tip" is complete bull. That's like your boss at the office saying you don't deserve to get paid your hourly wage from 11-12 p.m. because you forgot to clean your computer screen. Unless your service was god awful, they deserve a tip.

2. Sit where the host seats you.

How hard is that? Just sit where we put you! The restaurant is not there for you to decide where to sit. No, you can't sit on the very left side of the restaurant where there are no servers. Fun fact: You probably won't get good service if you just have to sit at table three when the host didn't originally seat you there. Hosts have a rotation of seating they go in to ensure that servers are getting sat fairly and not sat twice or three times in a row.

But we have to sit at a table, not a booth, because my father has back issues and it's easier to get in and out of!

Not a problem! Let the host know before they walk you all the way to a booth in the back of the restaurant.

I don't like where the host sat me. I'm just going to move to this table over here.

NO. STOP. DO NOT PASS GO. Servers are assigned sections of certain tables. If a table is not in their section, they're not going to acknowledge that they are supposed to take it. Sometimes (like during lunch shifts) a lot of tables are not assigned to any server. So, if you decide to move to a random table, especially during lunch, without telling the host, you may very well sit there for a long time without anyone greeting you.

3. When we're on a wait...

Please do not hover over other tables while you wait. It's not going to make them leave any faster. It's just rude.

Please don't complain about the wait time.

45 minute wait on a Friday night? I don't believe you!

Okay, that's fine that you don't believe me but it's not going to change the reality of the situation.

Please do not lie to try to get seated faster.

We were quoted a 25 minute wait and we've been here two hours!

Ma'am, it says right here on my wait system that you've only been waiting 15 minutes so far.

Please let the restaurant know in advance if you're going to have a party larger than seven to eight.

Hello, we didn't call ahead or make a reservation but we have a party of 23 all here right now on this lovely Saturday night. May we be seated now?

No. Just no.

4. Don't complain about the prices.

We don't make the prices. The managers don't decide the prices. They just are what they are. If you think it's too expensive, you are free to eat somewhere else.

I have this coupon for $10 off, can you add it to my bill?

Absolutely!

I also have this one for a free dessert.

I'm so sorry, but we're only allowed to use one coupon per check. Would you like me to add the first? It will save you the most money! This way you can save the other for the next time you come in!

Excuse me? I was here last week and was allowed to use both. You need to get your facts straight before I report you to corporate.

Of course, ma'am. Let me go tell my manager how unruly you are being so they can do something they're not supposed to do just to make you happy.

5. Know the hours of the restaurant you are visiting.

Do not decide to come in five minutes before close and then stay until an hour after. That's all we ask.

6. We know the menu better than you.

We were here seven years ago and you had a chicken and shrimp combo on the menu. May I have that?

Well, no. Considering that was seven years ago and doesn't even make sense because this is a burger restaurant. Have you looked at the menu, sir?

No, but I know it's on there and if you don't have that I will just have to leave.

OK, bye.

7. We are humans just like you.

The biggest thing I wish customers would realize is that we as workers are just human. We're not perfect and never will be, just like you.

I asked for four ranches with my salad and they only gave me three. I demand a refund!

Really? REALLY?

Any restaurant wants to make the customer happy. I am not denying that. We want you to have a good experience so you leave happy and come back. If your steak is not cooked correctly, please tell us. It's no big deal at all to fix that. If you would like to sit in a certain place, just tell us. If you want us to sing for your birthday, just say so. We want to make you happy! Just not in the most annoying way possible.