'She served a kid buttermilk instead of regular milk': 25+ Rookie restaurant staffers who made embarrassing mistakes on the job

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Jul 11, 2023 3:00 PM EDT

When you're new in a job, you absolutely have to learn some things the hard way — how else will you learn? 

Fresh employees are always making lots of mistakes. They're new, they're learning, and sometimes that makes you, the seasoned employee, giggle a bit. Sometimes they don't understand rules about when to cut corners or stick to the books. Other times, they're not sure when to get a manager involved or when to handle customers on their own. At least as a longer-term employee, you've already made those mistakes, and now it's your turn to help someone else grow in their role. 

One person admitted to being confused by that thing customers do when you've already rung up their order and opened the cash register — then suddenly they want to confuse you by saying, "I don't need change, here's a five." I've felt my ears burning because I, too, struggle with this type of math. For some reason, customers love to do this, and I've messed it up so many times. I've ended up giving them too much money or shorting them and having them get mad at me… After a while, I just started ignoring them, and gave them their change anyway. 

Check out the answers to this question from u/RootlesssCosmo, who asked, "What's the funniest rookie mistake you made or know of?" Tons of commenters answered honestly with their most naive goof-ups. 

Up next, these people shared their own workplace experiences about their "worst/funniest/strangest client stories."

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  • 01
    World - 'She managed to carry the overfilled tray to the table, where she proceeded to pour 13 waters down the guest of honor's back. Twice.'
    via Rick Govic on Unsplash
  • 02
    Font - What's the funniest rookie mistake you made or know of? Short Tonight our table was chosen as a new server's first solo table. We've been going to this restaurant at least once a month for the past 5 years, so the staff knows we're an easy table that tips between 20 and 25%.
    via u/RootlesssCosmo
  • 03
    Font - She came up to the table, introduced herself a bit nervously and then just froze. After a moment, she managed to stammer out, "And who are you? I mean your names." Then we all looked at each other and just about died laughing!! The woman who was training her had the weirdest look on her face when she came rushing over. I guess it's not normal for a server to say so few words and start laughing hysterically along with their guests. ETA: She did a great job. We had 2 drinks each, a shared a
    via u/RootlesssCosmo
  • 04
    Font - spootshootriot I gave a regular his usual cup of coffee one morning. He looked at the mug, then looked at me, then started laughing. I forgot to put coffee grounds into the coffee machine before I ran it and handed him a cup of hot water.
    via u/spootshootriot
  • 05
    Font - Draco_Siciliano First two weeks of being a server, I carded a lady who ordered a Shirley Temple. I didn't know that it was non alc holic. I didn't even know how to make one I just always saw ladies ordering them at the bar in movies.
    via u/Draco_Siciliano
  • 06
    Font - Cat_fanatic7 I was so swhen I started in the hospitality industry. I used to hold the plates really weirdly and guests would have to take them off my arms
    via u/Cat_fanatic7
  • 07
    Font - olneyvideo I had an old lady ask for Roquefort dressing. I had never heard that before. Asked her to repeat herself. Decided to start listing the dressings we had. Got to blue cheese and she said yes. Apologized for not having her dressing of choice. One of my coworkers overheard and when I got to the kitchen she told me that Roquefort and blue cheese are the same (basically). This was a sty casual dining chain restaurant, btw.
    via u/olneyvideo
  • 08
    Font - MidnightSmores So my training manual says I'm suppose to get everyone's names at the start and shake their hand so I can say good bye individually by name at the end. Absolutely not.
    via u/MidnightSmores
  • 09
    Font - fernnifer Management | Eight Years Despite every single server telling her she should make separate trips to bring the beverages to the large party the GM insisted she was ready for (while all of us told him she wasn't), she managed to carry the overfilled tray to the table, where she proceeded to pour 13 waters down the guest of honor's back. Twice.
    via u/fernnifer
  • 10
    Font - frozenmoose55 I had a rookie waitress come up to our table and ask us "are you ready to go to the bathroom?" She meant to ask if we were ready to order but i guess she had just given another customer directions to the bathroom and she wasn't paying attention to what she was saying to us. One of the funniest things I've ever heard a server say
    via u/frozenmoose55
  • 11
    Font - actualbeans she was a seasoned server, but she served a kid buttermilk instead of regular milk. she said she was vegan & didn't know there was a difference. also had another girl hold up a lemon & a lime and ask "which one is the lime?" (eta: she was white and didn't know any language but english. just really stupid)
    via u/actualbeans
  • 12
    Font - GeoGirl07 I was new at a steakhouse and had a two-top of men come in who seemed to be businessmen, a bit gruff but fine. One of them asked something about the menu and I apologized and mentioned I was new but I could find out for them. I'm not sure if they decided to haze me or what but they became the most demanding table ever and ran me constantly, complained about tiny things, asked for more bread, warmer butter, etc. At one point when their food came one of them asked for more sauces,
    via u/GeoGirl07
  • 13
    Font - My other tables were falling behind and I was super flustered because filling up all the ramekins took me forever so I didn't load the tray right with the drinks. I barely made it to the table and then one of the guys reached out and grabbed a drink off the tray while I was holding it. Instantly the entire thing tipped and dumped all of the sauces and the other drinks onto him and his food.
    via u/GeoGirl07
  • 14
    Font - I was MORTIFIED and no one would believe that I didn't do it on purpose. They didn't tip me anything but to be honest I didn't expect it and just hoped I would keep my job. My manager was super cool about it but it was still the most stressful table I've ever had and I learned a LOT about loading trays that day.
    via u/GeoGirl07
  • 15
    Font - OverlappingChatter. My parents didnt drink coffee, so i had no idea how to make it, which made people laugh. Then later in the evening a table asked for a pot at the table and i brought them the glass pot instead of pouring it in a carafe.
    via u/OverlappingChatter
  • 16
    Smile - roastandstir Not making sure a ketchup lid is secured.
    via u/roastandstir
  • 17
    Font - ItsKai I think it was when i used to go to EVERY TABLE one by one....get that tables oder, then go put it in and grab drinks and then repeat for every table in the section before i learned to LAP YOUR ENTIRE Section aka work smarter not harder.
    via u/ItsKai
  • 18
    Font - Mental _Noise_5414. More of a kitchen thing but instead of wiping off the debris from the counter top into a garbage can, the newbie wiped off the counter top onto the floor and then swept up the floor.
    via u/Mental _Noise_5414
  • 19
    Cheezburger Image 9784595712
    via u/fetter80
  • 20
    Cheezburger Image 9784595456
    via u/Iamamermaid666
  • 21
    Cheezburger Image 9784596480
    via u/ spizzle_
  • 22
    Cheezburger Image 9784596736
    via u/captainsdoctor
  • 23
    Cheezburger Image 9784596224
    via u/ThrowRARAW
  • 24
    Cheezburger Image 9784595968
    via u/ThrowRARAW

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workplace-stories work stories server waiter coworkers restaurant workplace restaurants food waitress tales from your server funny spill dropped
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