This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Conn chapter.
If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant as a server, there are certain things that come with the territory. The good, the bad, the ugly; you see it all. Whether it’s a huge chain restaurant or a mom & pop diner, here is a list of 53 things any server can relate to.
1. People that don’t understand you live off your tips.
2. Wanting to chop your feet off by end of the night.
3. You never EVER have a specific let out time.
4. People ordering water and water only.
5. Working dinner and knowing you’re closing because you were put in a certain section.
6. The love/hate relationships you have with your co-workers.
7. When there’s dead dessert.
8. You have to be nice to your bar tenders.
9. When people take forever to order their food.
10. Asking people if they need anything and being attacked with requests.
11. Getting told you’re a wonderful server and then being left less than 10%.
12. When a manager catches you standing around.
13. Having to hold your tongue at guests who get on your nerves.
14. Kids will leave stickers and crayon drawings on the table, the wall, and even the salt shakers.
15. You never see your family on holidays because you’re always stuck at work.
16. When you only have one table and you feel like you’re hovering.
17. Realizing you forgot to ring in an order.
18. To-Go boxes are the bane of your existence.
19. People can be extremely specific and mean.
20. Trying to meet goals means pushing food: “Any appetizers I can get started for you? Drinks? How about dessert?”
21. Guests who complain about everything just to get free stuff.
22. Guests who leave a huge unnecessary mess behind.
23. When your food comes out wrong and your whole flow is thrown off.
24. Refills are also the bane of your existence.
25. Horrible servers that still have their jobs after a month.
26. The horror that is coupons and promo discounts.
27. Getting a table of teenagers and receiving zero tip is a daily occurrence.
28. No, the guest is NOT always right.
29. Sending in orders incorrectly makes the line chefs HATE you.
30. When you ask a manager to get involved and they get mad at you for interrupting them.
31. You guard your pens with your life.
32. Being asked to work a double.
33. You’ll never forget your first big spill.
34. “Non-slip”. Yeah, okay.
35. Getting called in on your day off.
36. People who pay in bills WAY too high for their check price.
37. “Does anyone have change?!”
38. The amount of items you can carry on one tray/arm is ridiculous.
39. Getting snapped at.
40. Getting stiffed.
41. People who leave you their business card and weird product advertisements.
42. Cuties who leave you their number.
43. Creepers who leave you their number.
44. Trying to find people to sing “Happy Birthday” with you is nearly impossible.
45. “Does anyone have a lighter?!”
46. The questions people ask never cease to amaze you… “What is marinara?”
47. Having a large party ask to split the check a hundred different ways.
48. When people come in five minutes before close and you have to seat them.
49. Losing weight from being on your feet for 7+ hours a day, 6 days a week.
50. Eating back all that weight from endless amounts of discounted/free food.
51. When your friends make plans for the weekend.
52. Working the night shift and having to work the morning shift the next day means you maybe get 5 hours of sleep.
53. When someone says serving is easy.
