'Sorry, we're closed': Servers Share Most Entertaining Experiences Working at Restaurants

Author image for Eleonora Bader
Eleonora Bader
Apr 25, 2024 1:00 PM EDT

Coffee mugs rattle, silverware clinks, and the grill is sizzling. You weave your way through the packed tables, refilling customers' water and delivering steaming hot plates piled with burgers and fries. Ten years in the biz, and you've got this dance down to a T. Your muscle memory serves you well as the crowd thickens. You juggle orders, argue with the kitchen, and wish your coworkers cared about their tips as much as you do. Why does it seem like you're doing everything alone? By closing time, your legs ache, your voice is hoarse, and your smile feels permanently etched on your face.

Ugh, to be a server. Can you relate? Scroll down to read an amusing and accurate thread about what it's like to wait tables in a restaurant based on stories by servers who are, frankly, tired. Next, check out this guest who checked into a hotel for 45 minutes, then demanded a full refund and argued with the staff. Customer service, huh.

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  • 01
    "Sorry, we're closed."
    via Canva
  • 02
    Waiters/Waitresses of Reddit, what's one thing about your job you hate, and why?
    via u/Vixen_Starfire
  • 03
    Comfortable_Glove684 - 8 hr. ago Late nights, weekends, and no structured pay or scheduling. Most everything pay wise comes out in the wash with your occasional bad tipper, but, I was "lucky" enough to work at a place that accrued vacation time. They paid it out at server minimum.
    via u/Comfortable_Glove684
  • 04
    honestyanonymously 7 hr. ago. edited 5 hr. ago Just one thing? Well I have time! I cocktail at a cigar lounge with a heavy sports bar vibe -People holding me hostage while they decide what they order ("I'll give you guys a few more minutes” “—No, wait, we're ready!" Spoiler alert: they're never ready) -People holding me hostage to try to have small talk when we're busy and I have lots of other guests to help -Inappropriate men
    via u/honestyanonymously
  • 05
    -Men assuming I'm dumb because of my job (I said something about an acronym last week and a guy responded, "wow, I didn't think any girl in here would know what an acronym is." I'm not joking); men always being shocked when I can actually talk to them about the sports that are on (turns out women can have hobbies and one of them can be watching sports) -Bringing waters to the table for those who ordered them and then someone else says, "oh, can I get one too?" Bring it to the table and then anot
    via u/honestyanonymously
  • 06
    -People complaining that it's too smoky. No st it's a cigar bar. -People who make an absolute fɩ`ng mess all over their table with absolutely 0 effort to clean or organize it in any way before they leave -"What kind of beer do you have on tap?" Bro, like 20. By the time I get past listing 6 of them you'll have forgotten what I said. Please look at the menu or at least ask me a more specific question so I can suggest something that caters to your preferences. -People who insist on trying to stay
    via u/honestyanonymously
  • 07
    -People who make jokes (but they're serious) about wanting a heavy pour. Oh, so you want to pay for a double? Or the "that doesn't look like a double" people. Well, I jigger poured it, so -The customer who think they know better than you about anything pertaining to the restaurant you're working in as if you're not the one that actually works there, or the older people who think they know everything about the restaurant industry because they had a high school job as a busboy in the summer of '75
    via u/honestyanonymously
  • 08
    Reapaa99 9 hr. ago Restaurant politics and culture. It would be easy for me to talk about customers etc but that will get said enough. But man, politics in restaurants suck. Chefs will send food out quicker for certain waiters, certain people won't help your section because you couldn't cover their shift last week and stuff like that.
    via u/Reapaa99
  • 09
    pleasantly-dumb. 8 hr. ago The inconsistency. I'm fortunate enough to work in a very high end restaurant. I do well, about 75k/year and rarely work more than 32 hours a week. But it's feast or fine many years. Summers where I live are brutal; hot, humid, slow business because we have a lot of tourists that come in the winter. I'm easily making 2k/week in the winter time but when summer rolls around some weeks my income is cut by 60% or more, but some weeks I get lucky or can pick up a last minut
    via u/pleasantly-dumb
  • 10
    So a lot of the money I saved during the busy season is used to make it through the summer months. Most of us also only work 3-4 shifts a week in the summer, so a couple bad nights can make for a bad week.
    via u/pleasantly-dumb
  • 11
    MotleyCute ⚫ 7 hr. ago People assuming or acting as if their table/group are the only people you are taking care of at one time. This presents itself in many ways: holding you hostage at a table while claiming over and over they're ready to order followed up with "sooooo....I....want....theeeee" pause running you back and forth for more items instead of asking for everything at once. "Can I get more ketchup?" "Of course! Anything else I can grab for you?" "No that's it" brings back ketchup "I ne
    via u/MotleyCute
  • 12
    drinks?" "No we're good on drinks" brings napkins "I need more Pepsi" waiving their hands or interrupting you when you're speaking with other guests. This happens more when bartending, but happens with tables too rushing you to make sure "my food is out asap, I need to be back at work in 20 minutes!"
    via u/MotleyCute
  • 13
    Inevitable_Total_816 · 7 hr. ago I worked as a waiter, busier for Golden Corral, what I dislike or hated, where PARENTS THAT SS KNOW THE DU *SS KID/KIDS ARE MAKING A HUGE MESS, and they act as tho they don't see it... when they leave, we have to sweep underneath the table because again Dl KID/KIDS THREW JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ON THE FLOOR, and stacked all the plates like trashy people they are, a nice huge pile of plates and food, bones, etc..in the middle of the table. No tip, no thank you, no a
    via u/Inevitable_Total_816
  • 14
    Capable-Ground8272 · 6 hr. ago When people stay past closing time. I know I've had customers stay (while I did my side work as a closing server) hours after we've closed. Especially if it was a big party.
    via u/Capable-Ground8272
  • 15
    curryp4n 10 hr. ago I used to work as a waitress in hs. People assume you're dumb
    via u/curryp4n
  • 16
    weirdddj . 8 hr. ago Everyone treats me as though I am stupid or incompetent, and proceed to tell me how to do my job. I have no choice but to laugh it off. Another thing is that sometimes people specially request specific adjustments (which i have no problem with), but if it's something we cannot actually provide (ex. cooking a burger medium rare) then they blame it on me. FYI here in Canada it is illegal to cook burgers under 74°.
    via u/weirdddj
  • 17
    wonky_panda - 9 hr. ago Well one place I worked recently, I was hired as a food runner, despite 5+ years of serving experience. Was promised I'd move up to serving (twice the money) quickly, and was even trained to serve after a couple months. Lo and behold, 6 months into the job and I still hadn't been given any server shifts. That's when I realized my manager only wanted pretty young women serving, as all 10 servers there were under 25 and obviously beautiful. I am a man so he wouldn't promote
    via u/wonky_panda
  • 18
    No_Acanthisitta_6552 - 8 hr. ago When they dont leave a tip and instead write a rude note on the receipt then scamper out the door so as not to be confronted.
    via u/No_Acanthisitta_6552
  • 19
    jinsoox 10 hr. ago Aside from the obvious of no tippers, being ran, etc. You wouldn't believe the drama in restaurants between the staff
    via u/jinsoox
  • 20
    universalrefuse. 8 hr. ago I served for ten years. For me the worst thing ended up being the physical stress on my body. 10 hours running off your feet on a concrete floor, hardly time to go pee - good thing there's no time to re-hydrate, let alone eat something. I used to go home and wear crocs in my shower because my feet hurt too much to stand on the porcelain tub. One day I woke up and thought “I cannot be doing this when I'm 50" so now I work a much more relaxing desk job...which is also ph
    via u/universalrefuse
  • 21
    Individual_Crow8044.7 hr. ago other servers not carrying their weight ESPECIALLY when closing or opening
    via u/ndividual_Crow8044
  • 22
    Ok-University-9769. 6 hr. ago Sunday Brunch...worst crowd ever. 20 years in multiple states/restaurants. It's always the Sunday Brunch crowd.
    via u/Ok-University-9769
  • 23
    Ear_Enthusiast • 8 hr. ago I hate it when people come in hot talking politics to me, assuming that I support whatever they think. Let me tell you, it's 95% a one side thing and it's infuriating. I make sure to make it awkward.
    via u/Ear_Enthusiast
  • 24
    Charming-Role-79 6 hr. ago edited 6 hr. ago People who order beer. "Can I have a beer?" Sure but fling WHICH ONE “just a regular beer" Giving me nasty/judgy sideeyes when their order takes a little longer. Well I'm sorry you have to wait but I'm a waitress not the chef. I don't make your food no need to look at me like that or even worse become rude. Tbf splitting tips with our kitchen staff especially the ones who almost do nothing all day long.
    via u/Charming-Role-79
  • 25
    Customers that compare our presentation of the food/taste etc to other restaurants (IN OTHER COUNTRIES) Like I'm sorry we don't have the exact same plate or glass (happened recently) as you got your freaking coffee in in SPAIN 500 people wanting something from me at the same time like c. n sometimes I'm the only waitress there and I can't accommodate to 28 guests + chef + boss at the same time Guests who stuff their trash into glasses or bottles. Especially used napkins Guests yelling their orde
    via u/Charming-Role-79
  • 26
    Similar: guests expecting me to drop literally everything I'm doing rn to run over to them as soon as they're able to make eye contact with me when they want something. Dude I noticed you, just give me a minute.
    via u/Charming-Role-79
  • 27
    iskin - 9 hr. ago A complaint I hear a lot from my wife is that people will claim they're ready to order when they're not. She will even get called over to be forced to stand there 10 minutes while they look at the menu for the first time.
    via u/iskin

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customer service humor boss amusing server workplace stories reddit waiter customers waiting tables working tipping restaurant employees entertaining food funny check
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