I worked at a 24 hour diner on the graveyard shift, and things tended to wind down after the initial bar rush at 2am. I had one table, a guy who had a bit too much to drink and was ordering some late night breakfast. Another server had a five top and asked me to cover them while she took her dinner break.

The table had already eaten so I of course obliged. They were a group of regulars who were always rude and we were just accustomed to it at this point. They were being a little bit nasty to me as usual when my drunk guy decided to step in and play hero.

As the five guys, who incidentally were Russian, were leaving, he started calling them Nazis (I guess he thought they were German?) and faggot and other unpleasant slurs. I sheepishly stepped between them on my way to the kitchen and said there was no need to fight but they didn’t listen I guess because when I came out of the kitchen the five had kicked the guy to the floor and proceeded to kick him in the ribs until he was spitting blood.

Most terrifying night of all my time serving.

And after the police and ambulance came and everyone was arrested, the one drunk guy didn’t pay for his meal so after all that – no tip.

Submitted by: Monika

As I was dropping of a check to table that gave me no problems up to that point, the lady proceeds to officially lose her mind because she sees lipstick on the glass she was drinking out of. I sincerely apologized, even though I think it was her lipstick, but she would not have any of it.

She insisted that I bring out the dishwasher so she could show him the lipstick, and basically belittle him in front of the entire restaurant. I saw this as a crazy request, so I got my manager and she continued to argue saying that she wanted to see the dishwasher.

Eventually we coaxed her out with a couple free appetizer coupons, but as she was leaving she kept screaming that she worked for some “government institution”.  Needless to say, tip was awful.

BRIGHT SIDE: As another woman was leaving, she came up and gave me $10 and said, here you deserve this for how she treated you. Score!

Submitted by: Samantha from PA

I was waiting on a table of two that was sandwiched in between two other two-top tables, both of which were seated as well.  The table in the center ordered their meals, and opted to have salads instead of pasta or soup, so I put the order in.  Minutes later, I bring their salads out.  A few minutes into eating them, I inform the cook to begin preparing their meal as the timing seemed perfect.

I’ve been timing food perfectly for the three months I’ve worked at this restaurant and never had an issue.  The food comes out about 10 minutes later, and as I’m setting up a tray stand, I see both the man and woman still have about 1/4 of their salads left.  Oh well, slow eaters right?  Dinner rush, busy kitchen, etc.

I inform the customers their meal has arrived, and the woman slams her fork down, practically throws her salad plate off to the side of the table, and just gives me a look.  While placing the plates in front of each customer, I apologize for the timing being a little off.  The woman snubs me and makes snide remarks.

My others tables are now staring, and I felt the need to defend myself.  In a calm, polite way, I responded “madam, again, i am very sorry for the off timing on your entree.  I unfortunately have no control over how fast the food is cooked, but only when it begins preparation and how fast it gets to you”

She then snaps her head in my direction, and practically screams “EXCUSE ME?  DON’T TELL ME WHAT YOUR JOB IS, I KNOW WHAT IT IS.  YOUR JOB AS A WAITER IS TO MAKE SURE MY FOOD COMES OUT ON TIME, AND YOU HAVE FULL CONTROL OVER HOW FAST ALL THAT HAPPENS, ITS YOUR JOB.  SO DON’T TRY TO TELL ME”

Now standing there dumbfounded like a jackass, i realized my surrounding tables are all staring at me like I suck.  I didn’t say anything else, and walked away.  Needless to say, I received some poor tips shortly thereafter from her table, as well as the adjacent ones who I believe were acquaintances that happened to be seated nearby.

Submitted by: Jesse

Yesterday I waited on a table of teenagers, two guys and one girl. For the most part the meal went well, they only ordered two appetizers. When it came time for the bill, there wasn’t a tip left for me, but there was a phone number.

You would think that if a customer was going to leave me his number he would at least have the courtesy leave a tip.

Submitted by: Sam

I’ve only been serving tables for about a month now, but I went into work today feeling that I really had the hang of it.

I had a table of three come in, I payed close attention to them, always making sure their drinks were full (of course without ever hanging over the table,) made friendly conversation when they addressed me, and sold two of our most fancy desserts. Everything went smoothly. I was quite pleased with myself.

But at the end of $75 bill, no tip. I kept playing it over in my mind to see if I went wrong somewhere, but that was the most efficient table I had ever served. I understand this kind of thing happens sometimes, but it can be disheartening. The rest of my shift was pretty lousy after that.

Submitted by: Michelle

I had a table of 2 redneck men the other day, as most of us all know these are the tables that usually drive you crazy. They both order steaks with steamed vegeatables and mushrooms on the steak. The meal gets to the table and one of the men yells for about 5 minutes about not getting a roll with his meal, apparently he has always gotten one every time he has eaten here.

Our restaurant does not have rolls and never has! The other man then complains that he did not get enough mushrooms on his steak! the mushrooms cost 99cents and there were actually more than usual on the steak, He yelled that he refused to pay for the mushrooms and 5 dollars was too much to pay for the mushrooms (which were 99cnts). 70 dollar bill and no tip.

Submitted by: TY

I was working the closing shift one evening, and about 5 minutes before close a couple walked in and requested a table. Of course this is a defeating blow to any server’s moral, but I figured I might as well make the best of it and make a few extra bucks.

They proceeded to order full meals, act quite rude and then sit around for an extra 45 minutes after their meal.

My reward was a $3 tip on a $40 check.

What a life.

Submitted by: Samantha from PA

So you’re in the middle of a busy shift trying to manage all of your tables. (and of course you’ve been double or even the dreaded… triple sat) You’re waiting on this couple who seem just amazed at your talent and ability to do your job. They thank you repeatedly and when you ask how the food is their response is “Spectacular”.

You think to yourself, “This is almost too easy!”. Then when all is said and done, they thank you again, tell you it’s the best service they’ve ever had, that they’ll definitely be back and they’ll request you when they do.

At this point you feel invincible, you’re on cloud nine. Then, with your head held up high, you pick up the check presenter with pride only to see that they’ve left you %10… Now you’re thinking “Great, they’ll be back.”

Submitted by: Carnoculus

Put down the Cosmo and pick up the Whiskey.

A real estate agent in our town, a really made up from the 80’s with big blonde hair and bright pink lipstick, with her face all around town, and her table of 3 other ladies were drinking cosmo’s and martini’s all night at the bar I work at.

A bar, not a restaurant, so bartenders already hate making those, but my bartender made them good in hopes that I’d get a good tip, otherwise he would’ve made them not as good so she wouldn’t order more. But, she decided to pick up the bill which was $103 and what was her tip? $5. Wtf. That’s not even 5%.

Submitted by: Crystal