A Night in my Waitressing Life

snugglebunny on Mar 18, 2009

Tags: cheap, dinner, etiquette, money, restaurant, Server, Tipping, waitress

I would like to address something that, as a waitress, really gets my goat.

I began writing these blogs because I wanted to write about things that I’ve encountered dealing with my boyfriend’s addiction to heroin. Tonight, I’m going to change the subject for a moment.

I am a waitress. I work for a corporate restaurant that happens to be the number one italian restaurant (that chain, not that restaurant specifically) in America. Our section consists of three tables and we have to turn those three tables all night long to make money. I am paid $3.35/hr. That money pays the taxes on my reported tips. I live off my tips, not my hourly pay.

Tonight, I had the pleasure (*sarcasm*) of waiting on two middle aged ladies who sat at one of my tables for 5 hours. I made $10 off them for 5 hours. If they had sat at the table for almost an hour like normal people, I could have turned the table 4 more times. I don’t know if you understand what I’m saying, but they basically took money out of my pocket. There’s no guarantee, but my average was $7/ table tonight, so I could have at least made another $28+ if they hadn’t been sitting there. Now, that may not seem like a lot, but it helps. It really is amazing how oblivious people are to how much servers get paid or just how much they don’t care.

If I could tell people one thing, it would be that when you go to a restaurant, sit there and enjoy yourselves for the duration of your meal. If you’re going to sit there for a LONG TIME, tip like you sat there a long time. If you can’t afford to leave that big of a tip, well, maybe you should have cooked a meal at your house and had the person over if you’re going to chit chat and show pictures to each other for 5 hours. You’re wasting space in the restaurant during the dinner rush and your $50 is just going to cover the hourly payroll of the employees that you’re keeping past closing. EAT at the restaurant, reminisce and catch up somewhere that people aren’t trying to make a living based on the money you’re spending on that one meal.

Now, why do I work there? They have one of the best benefit packages that you could ever dream of. If I took an hourly job somewhere else, in most cases, I would take a pay cut and probably have a benefit package no where near as nice. I’m stuck, but if one person reads this and it makes sense to them, I’ve enlightened someone and maybe I’ll help some other poor server out in their time of need.

To middle aged women who want to catch up, do so in your home.

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Comments (9)

mysticdave666 on Mar 19, 2009
I know how you feel, i met my wife when she was a waitress:)
mysticdave on Mar 19, 2009
Betty Carew on Mar 19, 2009
I know exactly what your talking about many years ago I did the same thing for a living. Its got to be one of the most fustrateing jobs ever. However, I can’t believe your rate of pay Snuggle, that is unreal in this day and age or is it the norm for where you live? Hope things go better for you dear.
Tom on Mar 19, 2009
I never knew that. I’m also really surprised that there is no minimum wage in the USA, or if that is it, that it was so low. Your a strong woman. Good luck.
Biz on Mar 19, 2009
minimum wage for a server is less than minimum wage because servers report tip income. I have worked at places where server pay is $2.10 per hr.
adrian on Mar 24, 2009
through the food serving business i put myself through college. yes, ii was a waiter for 5 years so, i completely understand the situation.
but, i don’t buy the $3.35/hr. rate. i served food in los angeles, ca and the minimum wage was around $6.85 in 1998. maybe it is different in your state.
on the other hand, it is bizarre how in this food serving business, people stop being people and start looking like money. as a server, you don’t care what your costumer eats or if they enjoy their plate or their time at the restaurant. what is important, is the size of the bill because that means “possibly” a bigger tip.
what is sad is the dehumanization, which takes place on both sides:
on one side- the desperate money starving server who cares not about their customer
on the other- the customer who cannot find pleasure on what is supposed to be an enjoyable moment to dine with friends and family

i don’t blame neither. it is almost, out of the control of the people. but i think we can be smart enough to understand the “why?”

now i live in paris, france and this problem does not exist here. “why?”
alison on Mar 24, 2009
I’m a server at a fine dining steakhouse in Dallas. I make $2.19 an hour. I, too, never see a paycheck. I had to pay $2500 in taxes last year on April 15th. You’ve pointed out one of the many things diners do, without even realizing, that affects our income.

In response to Adrian, you are wrong. At least when it comes to myself. I do care that our customers are more than happy with their dining experience. I’ve been at the same restaurant for over 3 years now, and I never alter my level of service for anyone, whether they order appetizers and water only, or a full four course meal with wine and after dinner drinks. I know there are people who do, but not all servers are money hungry automatons. And not all customers are picky, cheap tipping, check splitting, water with lemon and sweet-n-low drinking, ‘diners’. It isn’t that way in Paris, because servers are paid a professional wage and do not rely on tips there.
alysa on Mar 24, 2009
i used to wait tables…it changed my life lol, everyone should at least work for tips at one point in their lives, they would totally know how it is and reconsider the things they do. ive always said, if you have to ask how much something is, you probably cant afford it as well as if you dont have enough to tip, stay home!!
jay on Mar 29, 2009
i m in philly
i still cant understand that people who wait make around $3/hour.
is that for real?

A Night in my Waitressing Life

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