'[What] do you mean you don't have tartar sauce?': Top 'Tales From Your Server' of the Year (2023)

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Dec 22, 2023 8:00 AM EST

Before we wrap up the dysfunctional year that was 2023, let's do a recap of the most dysfunctional customers servers were forced to encounter on the job. Being a server requires a certain bandwidth to be able to withstand a lot of unfair treatment from managers, Karens, etc. That being said, every so often, that bandwidth is tested no matter how much experience one may have in this field. Sometimes, customers demand something so outrageous (like seriously, dude? you can't live without tartar sauce?). Other times, they try to get away with ridiculous behavior (like the several cases of dining and dashing we have seen). 

These stories were compiled from Reddit's r/TalesFromYourServer subreddit and include the eight most popular posts of 2023. Keep scrolling below to see why and feel free to share your own egregious encounters with entitled customers and horrible managers from this year in the comments section below. For more compilations like this, check out these top Karens of the year.

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  • 01
    Top Tales From Your Server' of the Year
    via Adrien Olichon
  • 02

    Story #1

    Table tried to dine and dash but I came out and did their birthday shout out right in time Short My manager was a server on the floor tonight and had a large group that swallowed two of our tables. They brought their OWN cake and OWN ice cream and we kept it cool for them in our fridge. They sent her to retrieve it and she does. I grabbed our saddle and dragged it over and they were suddenly ALL standing up some people had left. It was definitely but whatevs. Doesn't sus as matter. The show must
    via u/Rosequartzsurfboardt
  • 03
    THEY STILL TRY TO LEAVE. and my manager luckily notices and gives the mom her check and doesn't leave her side. Not only were they using the cake and ice cream as a diversion to escape but the MOTHER was in on it. She tried to stall her payment hoping my manager would get busy and leave her with the bill as if we are not all aware of their intent by now. Safe to say we will probably not be seeing them again.
    via u/Rosequartzsurfboardt
  • 04

    Story #2

    A husband divorced his wife at my table Medium but I still think about it often and just had to share. Had a couple come in who seemed really happy, they were having their first date night since they had a baby and wife was really excited to finally have a reason to get a sitter.
    via u/meh12398
  • 05
    They ordered drinks, an app, and their meals. Things seemed to be going well at first but as the night progressed things seemed to take a turn. Subtle things like started off holding hands across the table but stopped by the time drinks were out. Weren't as chatty by the time the salads were out. By the time I brought their meals out, there was an orange envelope on the table next to the guy with his wedding ring on it. She was sobbing. He said he'd take his in a to-go box and the checks would b
    via u/meh12398
  • 06
    He left as soon as his tab was paid, and she ended up telling me he apparently had been having an affair since she got pregnant and just told her he was leaving to start a life with his new family. The envelope had the divorce paperwork in it. She said he completely blindsided her, she had no idea this was coming. My manager ended up comping her ticket and paying for an Uber to take her home. Never saw her again, but I always think about that situation and hope her and the kid are alright.
    via u/meh12398
  • 07
    Editing to add some things based on comments I've seen: 1. Yes, my manager was in general just an awesome person and thoroughly good at being a manager. 2. It is totally possible this was a scam to get a free meal, but if it was they were incredible actors and props to them, because the whole staff and the table next to them believed the performance. Also she sat there for like an hour just processing and never touched her food, and I don't recall her asking for a Togo box, so I'm pretty confide
    via u/meh12398
  • 08
    3. She did tell me he flat-out said he wanted to start a new life and would not be challenging her for any custody and would be willing to pay child support, so I think he just didn't care about what he would lose in court tbh. 4. Yes, it's very possible that I heard a version of the story that made her look good when in reality she did something to cause all of this, but the guy didn't stick around to give his side of the story and I've known some pretty crummy people in life who I wouldn't dou
    via u/meh12398
  • 09

    Story #3

    My coworker is mad that I wouldn't work without clocking in Medium So I'm 16 and have a part time job working carryout for a chain restaurant. It's hourly plus tips. So Tuesday night I was scheduled 4-9. I don't drive but my ride dropped me off like 15 minutes early. No big deal, I thought.
    via u/visitnomore1
  • 10
    There's a whole section of the restaurant that's only used on weekend nights. So during the week employees sit at the tables if they're on break during a double. So since it's winter and I can't clock in more than 5 minutes before my shift. I figured I'd sit there and play on my phone or talk to coworkers. I wasn't there long and one of the hosts that I thought I was cool with "Sara" came up to me and said "carryout is really busy and Tim needs help".
    via u/visitnomore1
  • 11
    I said "okay I'll go find a manager and ask to clock in". Sara was like "you can't just help him?" I said "yea as soon as I clock in". She rolled her eyes and walked away. I had to walk all over looking for a manager, including past the host stand.
    via u/visitnomore1
  • 12
    When I walked by the host stand Sara said "you're seriously not going to help Tim for a few minutes ". Eventually I found my boss and clocked in. The other host said Sara kept about it all night. I mean I see both sides, it was probably annoying that carryout was busy, because if the carryout phone isn't answered in so many rings it goes to the host stand. So it probably made more work for the hosts.
    via u/visitnomore1
  • 13
    My reasons for not working were, 1 I want to be paid for my time obviously, but 2 my parents always told me not to because if I get hurt working off the clock the company won't care. 3, if I did it once Sara would expect it all the time. I worked with Sara yesterday and she still had an attitude. Sara is a few years older than me and has worked there longer and people lik her so I might have just made myself the disliked coworker over a couple minutes.
    via u/visitnomore1
  • 14

    Story #4

    Thanks to all the picky people on Mother's Day, my livelihood just got destroyed. Medium One of those days where I got all the tables with picky, absolutely irritating people that kept sending back food. Had a table with a college girl that came with her mom; she sent back two cocktails stating the first was too sweet, the second was "too alcoholic."
    via u/ryanxwonbin
  • 15
    Another table that sent back an entire noodle dish and chicken entree simply saying they didn't like it. A table that took one bite of a roll and said she wanted her friend's roll instead so sent that back. A table that cancelled a branzino fish that typically takes 30-40 minutes to make and barely picked it. And a table that wanted to cancel and change 3 items 5 minutes after they were sent and being made because the kids wanted something else, making the chefs go on a screaming rant in the kit
    via u/ryanxwonbin
  • 16
    So the owner/boss who always has to approve voids and is already in his panic and mood, which he is always on in busy days? Obviously thinks the entire orders are my fault. He's hired new people since last month and has been looking to "remake" his staff, with several staff members that have already had their hours cut in half and more. And now my usual 5 shifts a week has been reduced to 1 a week for the next 2 weeks. Wonderful thing to wake up to. Really. Thank you picky people. Time for a new
    via u/ryanxwonbin
  • 17

    Story #5

    6 top just left, called them and blacklisted them Medium A table of 6 made a reservation through our website for 18:30 on Sunday evening. It says it's for a table inside when you book. We only have a couple of tables outside that are in high demand, so by 18:30 they were full. Also I would need 2 connecting tables to be able to seat 6. By 18:00 I've had to refuse a couple of people already, for even inside I was completely booked.
    via u/Happy_but_in_pain
  • 18
    It's about 18:30, the first people of the reservation arrive and the following interaction occurs G(uests): There's a reservation in blank name. Me: A yes, 6 people. Follow me, I'll take you to your table. G: It's inside? Can we sit outside? Me: The reservation is for inside. All I have outside is a table of 2 and that one is booked for 18:30 as well.
    via u/Happy_but_in_pain
  • 19
    Another member of the party shows up and they proceed to ignore me as they chat, so I quickly go to the bar to put away the menus I was holding prior the first people coming in. I turn around, not even 5 seconds after talking to them, and they are gone. I'm fuming at this point, the audacity of people. I call the number of the reservation, it rings out and goes to voicemail. Nah, not having it, instant re-dial. Now they pick up.
    via u/Happy_but_in_pain
  • 20
    Me: Hi, this is me from restaurant whatever. You were just here for your reservation, but now you're gone. (Small hope they just went to pick up the last people of the group and in their way back) G: Ah yes, we can't make it anymore, something came up. Me: No, you heard your table wasn't outside and didn't even have the decency to notify anyone of staff that you would leave. This is beyond and you have been flagged in our system and are now blacklisted. Learn some manners, have a good day. G (in
    via u/Happy_but_in_pain
  • 21

    Story #6

    Angry man child threw a fit over something that was his fault and wife made it up to me Medium So last night I get sat a 5 top family. It's a husband (dad) and wife as well as some extended family members. They're really polite and extremely over-the-top nice to me from the get go, except for the dad. He automatically orders appetizers with a million modifications and I can tell he's a picky eater and is being about it...oh well. I bring out their apps and they're perfect to his standards. Amazi
    via u/MrsCyanide
  • 22
    About 20 minutes later I come out with their entrees and the dad asks for an extra tartar sauce for his meal. We do not have tartar sauce and instead the fish and chips come with an aioli(as stated on the menu). I inform him we don't have tartar sauce and ask if he wants an and extra aioli. He flips his yells "what the do you mean you don't have tartar sauce?! If I knew that I wouldn't have ordered this!!!"
    via u/MrsCyanide
  • 23
    I ask if he wants any other sauce or if he wants to change his entree(even though it's his fault for not reading the menu and not even asking in the first place if we had tartar sauce) and he says no. He demands we make tartar sauce for him. I tell him we don't have the ingredients. He mutters how I've ruined his dinner and the rest of the family is silent. He chooses to keep his food so whatever, I walk away and let them eat.
    via u/MrsCyanide
  • 24
    After about 10 minutes he says he's done and has me take away his food he barely touched. I noticed that he leaves the table and doesn't come back at all. The wife informs me they're ready for the check so I bring it to them. I'm processing her card and she asks if she can say a few words. I say yeah is everything okay? She says: “hey I just wanted to thank you for taking care of us you were amazing, and I'm so sorry that people give you for things that are out of control. I hope you have an ama
    via u/MrsCyanide
  • 25

    Story #7

    100% my fault. I around and found out. Long It's Good Friday, just a few days ago, and I'm the normal closing manager. It was busy, we close at 11, but everyone's getting ready for the holiday and it clears out early... Almost. There's 1 table left, clearly a first date, I've walked past several times and caught snippets of their Convo. Seem like nice folks.
    via u/Kentencat
  • 26
    It's 11:15 and I get their server to fill up their water glasses and then he can head home. The closing bartender has already packed up and is heading out too. Just me left, the dishwasher and The Couple. Dishwasher finishes up around midnight. Sweeps the line, takes out the trash and heads home. Just me and them.
    via u/Kentencat
  • 27
    Meh, I'll leave them be for a while. It's an hour after close but they're still chatting. I'll go to the office and do the nightly paperwork. I left the doors unlocked, the lights are still set low, the music is still on. But they're completely by themselves. I finish up the paperwork and it's now 1 in the morning. I walk out to lock up and am Really Surprised that they're still there. I figured somebody would go to the bathroom and notice that Absolutely Nobody in this 55 table establishment wa
    via u/Kentencat
  • 28
    I'm off Saturday. Let's see what happens. I've got Reddit I need to catch up on. At 1:55, I decide that's enough. I walk up to the table with my keys in my hand and before I can say anything, the guy asks me if he can get another drink from the bar.
    via u/Kentencat
  • 29
    I stammer for a half of a second, completely off guard, and the speech about how I'm leaving so You're leaving died in my throat. Before I can collect myself, the guy says he forgot to order some togo food and needs to put in an order. So I laughed. Didn't really know what else to do. Hey lady, I shouldn't have laughed at your date, I'm sorry. But I laughed at him.
    via u/Kentencat
  • 30
    And he came back with, "you haven't been closed for 3 hours" and he scoffed. I honestly didn't think real life people scoffed. But I said, "Well, you're kinda right." Looked at the lady and said, "we've been closed for 2 hours and 57 minutes. And like I said, I'm about to lock the doors-so that means you gotta come with me." And then I stood at their table with my keys in my hand until they got up. And we all walked outside together. Tldr; I I around giving people extra time after close to see w
    via u/Kentencat
  • 31

    Story #8

    I served a family twice today at different restaurants Medium Just a fun story. Long story short my last restaurant I made a ton of money at closed suddenly(we got evicted because our owner is an idiot and opens and closes restaurants constantly). I started somewhere new but need to catch up and make the same money so they have allowed me to pick up shifts at another restaurant. I'm doing 5 doubles a week between them.
    via u/1justathrowaway2
  • 32
    I served this really nice family at my morning job that had never been there before. They didn't spend much but tipped very well. We had fun. I go to my second restaurant and a family gets seated. A couple of them had on specifically noticable outfits. It didn't register. I was thinking why are they wearing the same clothes every time I serve them?--assuming I recognized them from that restaurant. I welcomed them back. Turns out I served them 7 hours earlier. Mind you there are hundreds of resta
    via u/1justathrowaway2
  • 33
    I greet them and they start laughing and say wait, didn't we have lunch with you?? I was like ohhhh that's why they are in the same clothes. They had no idea our restaurants were sisters under the same owner. The mom said this is crazy, we rarely eat out, and definitely not twice in the same day. How are you here? How did we get the same server twice in a day at different places.
    via u/1justathrowaway2
  • 34
    I explained the small locally owned restaurant group with four restaurants and different names and styles. That I was working two of them. It was such an odd coincidence. These restaurants are like 5 miles apart. We had more fun and they tipped me really well again.
    via u/1justathrowaway2

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karens server waiter restaurant talesfromyourserver server life entitled reddit thread Reddit tales from your server karen entitled people
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