I spent almost twenty years in food service doing everything from washing dishes to working as a service director at a country club. Mostly, I waited tables, and it was actually one of my favorite jobs, mostly because of the people. One thing I learned is to not focus on what one table leaves you in tips. If you do your job right, focusing on ensuring that your customers have the best dining experience you can, then over time, you will make plenty of money.During college, I worked at a place called O’Malleys. It’s not open anymore so I don’t have to worry about getting anybody in trouble, and besides, this isn’t that kind of story.Every Sunday, these two ladies and a little girl would come in, and nobody wanted to wait on them because they were super cheap and never tipped, so I volunteered, and they became my regulars. I quickly learned that it was a single mom, her young daughter, and her mother. They always ordered the same thing. They’d each get water, the two women would split an entrée, and the young girl would get something off the child’s menu.And they’d leave no tip. I didn’t really care because Sunday lunch was always busy with the after-church crowd, and their check was so small that even a 20% tip would have been just a few bucks. Besides, they were super nice, and I understood that this was their special time out. Going out just wasn’t something they could do. I did my best to treat them just like everybody else, which they appreciated.This went on for over a year. Every Sunday, they would come in after church in their pretty dresses, sit in my section, order the same thing they always did, and not leave me a tip… until one day, they did.That one day, they came in and ordered iced tea and a soda for the girl. I knew something was up. The two ladies each got their own entrée — nothing elaborate, but still. The little girl got a full order of chicken strips. (I’m not sure why I remember exactly what she ordered.) (CONTD)
I spent almost twenty years in food service doing everything from washing dishes to working as a service director at a country club. Mostly, I waited tables, and it was actually one of my favorite jobs, mostly because of the people. One thing I learned is to not focus on what one table leaves you in tips. If you do your job right, focusing on ensuring that your customers have the best dining experience you can, then over time, you will make plenty of money.During college, I worked at a place called O’Malleys. It’s not open anymore so I don’t have to worry about getting anybody in trouble, and besides, this isn’t that kind of story.Every Sunday, these two ladies and a little girl would come in, and nobody wanted to wait on them because they were super cheap and never tipped, so I volunteered, and they became my regulars. I quickly learned that it was a single mom, her young daughter, and her mother. They always ordered the same thing. They’d each get water, the two women would split an entrée, and the young girl would get something off the child’s menu.And they’d leave no tip. I didn’t really care because Sunday lunch was always busy with the after-church crowd, and their check was so small that even a 20% tip would have been just a few bucks. Besides, they were super nice, and I understood that this was their special time out. Going out just wasn’t something they could do. I did my best to treat them just like everybody else, which they appreciated.This went on for over a year. Every Sunday, they would come in after church in their pretty dresses, sit in my section, order the same thing they always did, and not leave me a tip… until one day, they did.That one day, they came in and ordered iced tea and a soda for the girl. I knew something was up. The two ladies each got their own entrée — nothing elaborate, but still. The little girl got a full order of chicken strips. (I’m not sure why I remember exactly what she ordered.) (CONTD)