Waiting Tables In College May Seem Easy, But I Can Assure You It's Not As Great As It's Cracked Up To Be | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Waiting Tables In College May Seem Easy, But I Can Assure You It's Not As Great As It's Cracked Up To Be

Being a waitress in college is so under-appreciated.

183
Waiting Tables In College May Seem Easy, But I Can Assure You It's Not As Great As It's Cracked Up To Be
Gabriel Matula

Waiting tables is one of the most stressful jobs to have in college. The job consists of doing a bunch of side work, running food, busing tables, all while keeping your table happy, which can be very hard to do. Here are some things that can be annoying to a waitress.

1. Same-siders

This is what we call those weird people who, you guessed it, choose to sit on the same side of the booth. It's incredibly weird and uncomfortable to have a conversation with someone at a restaurant when they're sitting next to you, eating. Why not sit on the other side of the table? This way you can actually have eye contact and not crank your neck just to look at the person you're with. I totally understand wanting to be closer together, but can't you just play footsie under the table like everyone else?

2. Can you tell me what is the best thing on the menu?

Man, I would really love to stand at one table and tell people about each individual best seller item on the menu. NOT. The menu items have descriptive descriptions below them, why can't you just read it? If you want to know if something is spicy, yes, I will answer that for you because the menu doesn't say "Hey, be careful, the chili has a little kick to it." However, I am not going to tell you everything that comes on a burger when it tells you in the menu that you have open in front of you. (Fine, I actually will, and with a smile too, but I won't be happy about it in my head.)

3. Why must you interrupt my friendly, southern greeting?

It's my thing to greet my tables by saying "Hey, how are y'all doin' today? (insert pause to listen if they choose to answer) My name is Marissa and I'm going to be taking care of you this evening. Can I get you something to drink?" Pretty thoughtful in my opinion, but there's always that person that feels the need to cut me off, "Sweet tea". No please? No, "oh, I'm doing great thank you for asking"?

I will not get you your sweet tea any faster by you interrupting me. Odds are it will take longer because when I go back to the kitchen I'll stop to tell my co-workers about how rude you were, prolonging the delivery of your precious tea. Take that.

4. Running around like a chicken with my head cut off... to get no tip?

I work hard for my money, so when a table sends me back to the kitchen more than 10 times to get something they need I do it with a big smile knowing that they may appreciate my hard work and leave a nice tip. Wrong. Most of the time, the people who run you around in circles don't even tip! I wonder if people know I'm making $2.13 an hour and their tips make up the rest. As servers, we rely on tips for a decent paycheck.

5. If you want to make good money you will find yourself "in the weeds".

"In the weeds" basically just means you're super busy. You may need to run hot food, fill drinks at one table, take the order for the next table, and cash out another table all in a timely manner to ensure that good tip. Oh, and while trying not to look crazy or super stressed while doing all of that. If you don't find yourself in the weeds at any point in the night, you probably didn't make good money.

6. Accepting the fact that some people come in solely to piss you off.

It's a fact that some people are just miserable and have a tendency to bring every one down with them. Nothing you do for them will be good enough, and it sucks. This past Sunday I had a complicated table. After all the food went out I made sure everything was alright, and they said it was. I came back five minutes later to refill drinks, and one of the lady's at the table says, "I ain't got no cheese on my salad."

Oops. I apologized and told her I would be right back and she had the nerve to roll her eyes at me and say, "Well, I should've gotten my cheese the first time." I thought to myself, "Wow, she must have a really miserable life to get that upset about some dang cheese."


What makes it all worth it are the people who come back just to see me and who are genuinely kind human beings. I am so thankful for those people





Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
friends
Photo by Elizeu Dias on Unsplash

If I have learned one thing in my lifetime, it is that friends are a privilege. No one is required to give you their company and yet there is some sort of shared connection that keeps you together. And from that friendship, you may even find yourself lucky enough to have a few more friends, thus forming a group. Here are just a few signs that prove your current friend group is the ultimate friend group.

Keep Reading...Show less
ross and monica
FanPop

When it comes to television, there’s very few sets of on-screen siblings that a lot of us can relate to. Only those who have grown up with siblings knows what it feels like to fight, prank, and love a sibling. Ross and Monica Geller were definitely overbearing and overshared some things through the series of "Friends," but they captured perfectly what real siblings feel in real life. Some of their antics were funny, some were a little weird but all of them are completely relatable to brothers and sisters everywhere.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Types Of Sorority Girls

Who really makes up your chapter...

1492
Sorority Girls
Owl Eyes Magazine

College is a great place to meet people, especially through Greek life. If you look closely at sororities, you'll quickly see there are many different types of girls you will meet.

1. The Legacy.

Her sister was a member, her mom was a member, all of her aunts were members, and her grandma was a member. She has been waiting her whole life to wear these letters and cried hysterically on bid day. Although she can act entitled at times, you can bet she is one of the most enthusiastic sisters.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

10 Reasons Why Life Is Better In The Summertime

Winter blues got you down? Summer is just around the corner!

1311
coconut tree near shore within mountain range
Photo by Elizeu Dias on Unsplash

Every kid in college and/or high school dreams of summer the moment they walk through the door on the first day back in September. It becomes harder and harder to focus in classes and while doing assignments as the days get closer. The winter has been lagging, the days are short and dark, and no one is quite themselves due to lack of energy and sunlight. Let's face it: life is ten times better in the summertime.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Things That Describe You and Your College Friends

The craziest, funniest, and most unforgettable college memories are impossible to create without an amazing group of friends.

991
College Friends
Marina Lombardi

1. You'll never run out of clothes when you have at least four closets to choose from.

2. You embrace and encourage each other’s horrible, yet remarkable dance moves.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments