Watch the Third Base Coach

Who can forget the scene from "Fletch," when Mr. Underhill gives the server a hard time for taking his plate too soon.

Mr. Underhill: "Does it look like I'm finished?"
Waiter: "I guess not."
Mr. Underhill: "Now, I'm finished."
Waiter: "Whatever you say, Mr. Underhill."
Mr. Underhill: "I imagine you're expecting a nice gratuity, right? Maybe next time!"

Customers have no idea when they are finished eating. Utensils crossing the plate; plates pushed away and arms folded. Even stacking plates on top of eachother, but yet, I go to clear the table and it's,

"I'M NOT DONE! CAN'T YOU SEE THAT?!?"

We need to hire a Third Base Coach for restaurants, so they can signal the servers as to when the customer is done eating, so we can clear the table safely. There have been many occasions when I was snapped at by a customer, and I thought that I was going to be missing some fingers.

I get it. In a down economy, you want to eat your money's worth. Even if that money's worth is a single leaf of lettuce, lump of potato, or gristle of fat, customers are fighting fork and knife for their right to finish their food.

I've seen customers, who are chromosomes away from Honey Boo Boo's family tree, practically licking their plates as indication that they are finished. "Them's was some good eats."

Perhaps it's best to go over some simple guidelines to help these people out.

PLACE your knife and fork in the middle of your plate at the 12 o'clock or 4 o'clock position.
PLACE your napkin to the left side of your plate.

DO NOT criss-cross your fork and knife across your plate. Unless you are practicing learning the alphabet.
DO NOT leave your crumpled napkin on top of your plate. Unless you've just ended a dramatic-in-your-face-yelling break-up with your boyfriend/ girlfriend, then by all means, do that! And add, "I'M OUTTA HERE!" Then storm off.

Simple?

And a bit of news, The Bitter Bistro will soon be a live podcast. So any servers, bartenders, or anybody in the industry, please email/message/ or smoke signal me to be a panelist on the show to share your most horrific, or unbelievable customer experiences.

Until next time... Server's don't pay their rent with compliments.

"Bitter. Party of one? Your table is ready."

The Bitter Bistro

Comments

Excuse Tips

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Customers love being waited on hand and foot. But there are some customers who love to tell me HOW to wait on them hand and foot. I call these customers "waiter watchers." They weigh their waiter down with all of the crap that they tell them they should be doing, and when they should be doing it. One time I was serving a table of five, and everybody had order an appetizer and an entree. But one person in the party had ordered a salad in addition to his appetizer. I asked him when he wanted to have his salad served, and he told me to bring it before everyone got their appetizer. So that's what I did. Next thing I know, I'm getting pulled aside by the guy who is host of the group. "Why did you only bring out the salad and nobody else's food?" He demanded. "Your friend had asked that I bring his salad first so he could get it out of the way, since he ordered more food than everybody else," I pleaded. "You should bring all ...

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