I’m still steaming about a recent experience with a mostly M.I.A. waiter at a mid to upper priced place (think $15 to $18 an entr\u00c3\u00a9e). \u00c2\u00a0It has me rethinking my philosophy on tipping. \u00c2\u00a0Here’s the story.<\/p>\n
My dinner companion and I hit the\u00c2\u00a0restaurant just as the height of the dinner rush was passing. \u00c2\u00a0After being seated it was 10-15 minutes before the waiter stopped by. \u00c2\u00a0No question about if we wanted drinks–just an “are you ready to order?” \u00c2\u00a0The waiter took our order in a sullen hipster silence and left.<\/p>\n
Maybe the waiter’s brevity was due in part to our luck at\u00c2\u00a0being seated at worst table in the place. \u00c2\u00a0A table \u00c2\u00a0right near the kitchen and right on\/in the servers’ path to the main dining area–there is a constant stream of traffic past the table that the table’s waiter inevitably has to block. \u00c2\u00a0But the thing is I’ve eaten at this\u00c2\u00a0restaurant\u00c2\u00a0before, at the same table, and the waiter some how managed the miracle speech. \u00c2\u00a0But not this time.<\/p>\n
A food runner brought our food and took away our dishes. \u00c2\u00a0The plaid clad server returned once our leftovers were neatly packed and the\u00c2\u00a0restaurant\u00c2\u00a0about 70% cleared out. \u00c2\u00a0He didn’t even speak at this point, I just asked for the check which he silently retrieved. \u00c2\u00a0The second\u00c2\u00a0sentence he managed all night was to ask if I wanted change (I was paying cash). \u00c2\u00a0 Not thinking about the service too much I calculated $9 as a 20 percent tip which I couldn’t give without change. \u00c2\u00a0What happened next is what REALLY pisses me off: the asshole \u00c2\u00a0came back with a 10 and 1. \u00c2\u00a0I don’t want to get all Reservoir Dogs (see below if you’re confused), but what in god’s name made this man think that he deserved more than a 20 percent tip? \u00c2\u00a0In retrospect I wish I had just left him the $1 (well maybe not, the food runner hopefully gets a cut). \u00c2\u00a0I’m not asking for a show or to be dazzled but there is no reason for me to pay you if you don’t do ANYTHING. \u00c2\u00a0When I’m paying $15 plus for a plate why should I give a waiter anything for a disinterested attitude.<\/p>\n
The last time I had a bad waiter experience was months ago at Sette<\/a>. \u00c2\u00a0And that was a totally different experience. \u00c2\u00a0At Sette my waiter was probably \u00c2\u00a0having a horrible day–in my recent experience maybe that was true, but all that came across was\u00c2\u00a0laziness\u00c2\u00a0and indifference \u00c2\u00a0that I hear is becoming more common. \u00c2\u00a0I’m not sure how I’m going to handle such an experience if and when that happens again–but I am\u00c2\u00a0extremely tempted ask myself WWMPD (what would Mr. Pink do?).<\/p>\n