A Hostess's plea [rant]
Disclaimer: This is, in no way, a complaint or report or anything about my job. I really do like working at my restaurant; it's fun, the pay is decent, and the co-workers are pretty cool. This list is probably something that every hostess at every restaurant has thought of at some point. And it's good stuff to know as a restaurant customer.
To Customers:
1. So you want a booth, but the hostess tells you that they're unavailable. DEAL. Stop being so picky!
2. Have an infant? Don't bring him/her. Do you know how much of a hassle it is to seat your party? There are only a certain amount of tables that can accommodate high chairs.
3. Tip well! Especially if you fall into one of the many groups of people who are known not to tip at all.
4. Have a party of 5+ people? Split it up; see #2.
5. Obese customers, lose weight! Don't eat out. It's not our fault you can't fit in any of our chairs.
6. See an empty table that you want to sit in? Don't sit yourself there! We have a rotation system that we're trying to follow; 9/10 times, you will screw it up if you demand for a special table. And we'll have to pay.
7. And if you don't like where you're sitting, too bad. Do NOT, by any means, move to another section. You're cheating the poor waiter out of his income, and once again, screwing up the rotation.
8. If a table is empty but dirty, don't ask to sit there, and don't make the hostess clean it, especially if there's a long line of people waiting to be seated.
9. Try not to come after 9 if possible. At many restaurants, managers tend to cut down the number of waiters after then, so if more people come in then, the restaurant will get very hectic. [NYC may be different, though. I have no clue.]
10. If you can tell that there's a huge party at the restaurant, be a little more patient to the waiter and hostess.
Hostesses have the easier job, but if you make our tasks difficult, you screw up the rest of the chain. Keep that in mind the next time you eat out.
To Customers:
1. So you want a booth, but the hostess tells you that they're unavailable. DEAL. Stop being so picky!
2. Have an infant? Don't bring him/her. Do you know how much of a hassle it is to seat your party? There are only a certain amount of tables that can accommodate high chairs.
3. Tip well! Especially if you fall into one of the many groups of people who are known not to tip at all.
4. Have a party of 5+ people? Split it up; see #2.
5. Obese customers, lose weight! Don't eat out. It's not our fault you can't fit in any of our chairs.
6. See an empty table that you want to sit in? Don't sit yourself there! We have a rotation system that we're trying to follow; 9/10 times, you will screw it up if you demand for a special table. And we'll have to pay.
7. And if you don't like where you're sitting, too bad. Do NOT, by any means, move to another section. You're cheating the poor waiter out of his income, and once again, screwing up the rotation.
8. If a table is empty but dirty, don't ask to sit there, and don't make the hostess clean it, especially if there's a long line of people waiting to be seated.
9. Try not to come after 9 if possible. At many restaurants, managers tend to cut down the number of waiters after then, so if more people come in then, the restaurant will get very hectic. [NYC may be different, though. I have no clue.]
10. If you can tell that there's a huge party at the restaurant, be a little more patient to the waiter and hostess.
Hostesses have the easier job, but if you make our tasks difficult, you screw up the rest of the chain. Keep that in mind the next time you eat out.