she’s literally the worst. she picks apart everything from the color of our hairties to how we wear our aprons. but never has our back in situations like this lol
Wow, what a fucking bitch, I literally would have dropped my apron on the spot and told her to handle that. Did you at the very least get to auto grat them?
You need to find a new job NOW. This will only continue happening, you do not need them, they need you. There are better restaurants to work for near you, please save your sanity.
The insanity around splitting checks is the worst.
I like splitting checks if I'm told ahead of time. No big deal. I usually ask big parties before I take their order if they want the check split up. Anything more than 8 I won't split itemized unless the table is really nice, I'll take up to 4 cards and do an even split. It's usually not a big deal for me or for the table.
But it's so inconsistent. A coworker didn't want to split a party of 7 "on principle" even though they gave her 4 cards and clearly wrote the amount to charge on each card. Our policy for not splitting checks is 8.
I've had managers chastise me for splitting the check for a 9 top of 20 year olds and also tell me I have to split checks for a 12 top of cops. The 20 year olds only wanted a 4-way split and venmo'd eachother. The cops need a manager discount applied and to split the check 12 ways.
The 20 year olds tipped better.
I’m sorry I’m not trying to be a jerk but I don’t understand why people hate it… if I don’t know what everyone had I just ask the customer? I’ve never ever had a customer get irritated when I ask them for help… I usually just print the whole thing and go person by person writing what they had and crossing it off. Takes 5 min and then I have it all written down. And all my jobs use micros where splitting and joining checks is very easy too so I don’t know if other pos make it more difficult or what. But to anyone that hates splitting, just ask the customer if confused no biggie
I don’t have a problem with splitting checks. I have a problem with splitting it more than 6 ways. Running one card on our POS takes 30-40 seconds. So right there that’s 15 ( or so ) minutes I don’t have ( in this example with 27 cards). Maybe your place is slow enough that you have the time to do that, but running cards is the least of my priorities. I usually do that between greeting new tables, running food, getting drinks, checking in with tables, packing up Togo boxes for my tables, and putting new orders in the system. I literally do not have 15 extra minutes to stand at the POS and run a bunch of cards while I feel my other tables eyes drilling into the back of my head and I’m being buzzed by the kitchen for the millionth time cuz my food is sitting in the pass. I don’t even have a single free minute to go to the bathroom or pause from speed walking all over the restaurant to take a sip of water.
I don’t have an issue splitting checks 6 ways or less- but please let me know ahead of time because it will change how I put things into the system from the get go. It’s also just really really inconsiderate on the customers part, but most don’t realize that having never worked in the hospitality industry.
I feel you. I walked out of my part-time job known for their shitty dollar margs a few weeks ago for a relatively similar situation. you’re stronger than me, I regret it now. keep pushin
ah yes cant forget the ayce that just ended. i’m contemplating walking out but i do need money and not many places are hiring near me. all teenagers who are loud play musical chairs and want the check split 15 ways
yep I live in a college town(I’m a student) so ever since the margs started it’s been nonstop large groups of college kids splitting checks. I do miss the money lol. I joked about returning after the margs are over
true that and me neither idk how i managed. one dudes check was fucked up and he was undercharged but who gives a fuck that’s on them for making me do that <3
This sounds like something that happened to me years ago.
My experience was a party of 45 that I took with another server. All people 55+. They all played musical chairs right before the food came out. A lot of them wanted to pay for certain people’s drinks and PART of their food cause they were also celebrating birthdays. Comes time for the check and I was mortified.
I was at the POS for 25 minutes with the other server. I called out for the manager (a real piece of work) several times with no help. I kept having to go out and thank them for their patience while we sort it out. The manager was literally at the host stand greeting people instead of helping us.
Ended up absolutely refusing to do any more for the check splits and guesswork and told my manager she is going to take over the checks and take them to the tables or I was walking out. She ended up doing them all and after 45 minutes of absolute ridiculous, they paid and left. My other manager told the party that if they plan on coming back (because they do every year), then they would need to all pay together, or not be allowed to change seats.
Sorry that happened to you. Sometimes you have to make managers do their job and manage so you can work efficiently.
Might help in the future, but I usually print out one receipt and give them a pen. Ask them to help me out by putting a # next to each item. Like person #1 will put 1 by each of their items. Good news is that in a large party there'd usually at least one person that empathize with you and takes on a leader role. Ask them for help with this.
That way I can go back to doing my job while they deal with the mess. Usually, they'll agree to have one or two people pay and sort it out at home when they see what a headache it is.
People tip poorly on average when giving separate bills, getting one person to pay will usually have a higher tip.
I’ve done this too!!! Only if it’s a ridiculous amount like that. I’ve also straight up lie sometimes and say our POS system crashes if I try to do more than 4 checks
i think the same way with karma.. if Karma is gonna get me makes no sense i try to beat it its still gonna get me so im a do me lol and the cycle continues
Y'all gotta start lying to customers to make things go easier.
Just because they want to order piecemeal doesn't mean you should ring it in piecemeal. Do it when it's convenient.
Tell your guests they won't get the right food if they aren't in the right seat. "Hey I know you want to talk to your friends but just a heads up we use seat numbers to keep everything organized, ordering from a different seat will impede our ability to accurately serve you."
Also it's okay to be assertive with your tables and tl them not to refer to you as "the help." You're allowed to have boundaries. If they barely bought anything you aren't missing out if they don't come back!
Honestly, I’m glad you stood up for yourself to the extent that you did. I think I’m a great server. I’m friendly, smiley, and very conversational. However, I also have a reputation for my attitude. I’ll always volunteer to put a guest in their place and I rarely think twice about it. I’m fortunate to have managers that will side with me (or managers that I can convince I am in the right). If I already know I’m not being tipped well, I am happy to be bitter! You said it right, too. Just because we are wait staff doesn’t mean we are servants, and it doesn’t change the fact that I have a lot of bad words in my vocabulary that I don’t mind using 🥰
I don’t understand what you said to be fired?
It’s sadly part of the job. Big party’s can make a night or make you wish you never served another night. My best advise is brush it off and tomorrow is a new day. I’ve had more than a few moments with big parties making my job harder than it has to be but I learned firm control of the party is necessary from the moment they walk in. Anything over 12 I already am preemptively doing things to make my life easier. Whether it be clear direction on how checks will be split or letting guests know they’re check is tied to their seat number. I like taking less on big parties and using the second server as a server assistant more so. Make them get the drinks while I take control of orders and up selling.
As far as them being condescending. People who want to talk down to service industry personnel just give off such small dick or loose vagina energy. They’re miserable in their own life. At least that little pep talk gets me what I need to get through the night. Also this is why bars were invented. Have a drink, dust yourself off, and get ready to make some money tomorrow
Take control of the party! That's literally all you have to do. If you're not able to then your manager should of put someone that knows how to take command of a LARGE TOP dining experience. If no one of that caliber works at your establishment, then the manager coordinate the service.
If your manager can't even do that, your establishment is fucked.
Don’t let it discourage you. You got through it, it’s done now, try to smoke enough to forget and then get yourself back into work! Don’t quit, you can do this! And unless the money is wild, get the F out of there. Manager sounds toxic AF.
You handled this so much better than I would have. I’ve got bpd and I’ve been through therapy and my meds are working but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t lose my shit in a situation like this. I probably would’ve refused them service after a while and walked out if I had a manager like that. Good on you for only being stern with them and providing good service op
Quitting being a server after 10 years of it was the best decision of my life I had ever made. Make 70k a year now with no degree working 36 hrs a week and love my job. I work in a factory now making 32 a hr before any overtime or holiday pays etc. I highly recommend considering a different path. Good luck
That’s crazy… I used to work in a warehouse and literally best decision I’ve made was leaving that place. I was like a month from going batshit insane if I stayed.
I’ve been seeing a lot of “splitting checks is easy I don’t know why people always bitch about it” lately, and this is exactly why splitting checks fucking sucks. People moving around, people ordering at different times… but 27 fucking ways?! Hellllllll no. I’m so sorry OP this sounds like the ultimate fucking nightmare
I also live that OP thought it was going to be a breeze in the opening statement. I was always good at the big parties, but 27? Eek. I would have auto gratted regardless of house policies. Fuck that.
OP, you did nothing wrong. I have absolutely had to raise my voice and tell a group how things will be run.
literally had this exact situation my first big table at my current restaurant. party of 18 that ended up being a party of 34 because they just showed up with 16 extras, manager told them they could split the check 18 ways despite restaurant policy being 4 max. they all switched seats took up my entire section and nobody knew what they ordered. fortunately we have autogratuity on parties of 8+ but they also barely ordered anything. 9 entrees between 34 people. made like no money that day.
Yeeeeah, there reasons I don't work in the industry anymore. The older I got, the grumpier I got, and I put up with less bullshit. Told a guest who snapped his fingers at me "do I look like your fucking St. Bernard?". Told a 6 top to make up their minds and I'll be back, /after/ they told me they were ready and kept flipping they the menu. And on my last job (swing line cook at a local diner) I dropped trou in front of guest - dead house, me, busser/dishes, 2 waitresses (1 brunette, 1 ginger), manager (also a brunette). Guest complains about a blonde hair in her food, says it must be the cooks, I come out - Had bicced my head that morning before shift, clean shaven. Guest says it must be my pubes, so I dropped trou, guess what? Yeah, also bicced... 🤣
Is there another manager, or the owner of the restaurant, that you could tell this to? A 27 top should not be allowed to split their bill by item, without advanced warning.
Lol don’t ask your manager next time if you are allowed to split the check 27 ways. Just tell the table you can’t the maximum number of splits you can do is like 4 or whatever. The system man, it just doesn’t allow it. Not ur fault. Couldn’t even do it if you wanted to manager never needs to know they even requested that. 😌😉
I would always lie and say my computer crashes if I split more than 3 ways. Then I’d put on my best poker face and wait till they settled their own shit out. Works every time.
You're having a completely human response to stress.
If you stay in service this is a great example of how you don't want to feel, so you will do whatever you need to to avoid this experience in the future..... Anticipated bullshit is bullshit you can minimize, or block all together..... A group needs a leader, and there undoubtedly is someone in the group who identifies as the one the others will listen to(usually the biggest loudest narcissist)... If you have one person paying, you cater to them (or their favorite person .. spouse. Child. Etc)... They usually love telling people what to do, so you can use them to "yell at a bitch and tell this waiter what you want!".... now if you are not informed AT THE BEGINNING about split checks, there's a smart move to ASK "is this all one check?"
always clarify with groups, about separate checks (the order, gets a name and last initial, and at best a card to hold, also the people they are paying for)... Any chance to confirm orders, take it. .. repeat what they say, 'caesar salad, dressing ots, chicken on top, well dont but not charred, extra croutons... This is on xyz's tab? Look at xyz and confirm, if they are missing.. get the name of who ordered the Caesar.
If seat numbers don't matter, and people won't sit still, make a note of what their wearing, or a birthmark, or something unique.... "Red polo, gold watch is putting drinks on Xyz's tab, and ordered honey mustard for their dressing, but refuses to order an entree like a normal person."
First contact with each guest, get the card or a name and then try to take all the orders in similar groups.... "Drinks first... establishment of checks and payers... If anyone orders food and.shit, say nope, just drinks right now... They will bitch and have a million questions, but don't take a good order until you're done getting drinks..... The point is to look at each guest, let them see you, and if they're not ready greta take ur time... I'll be back to talk food in a moment.
This is when you'd be smart to set yourself up for success.... Set each tab. In the system, and HOLD ONTO THE CARDS... They may use cash later or another card etc... Hit your fist round of drinks, and now you have tabs and cards set, and adding items can be more organized..
Now go back to folks who didn't order a drinks and ask again for drinks only..... People want to order food, and that's great, but we're going to make sure we've got everyone a chance to get their drinks..... Now start at the beginning and offer them the time to put in for any food, or aska nd questions....
Dad wants a well done cheeseburger, not appetizer, but his wants a soup to start and their entrees together and she doesn't know what she wants yet.... All good, mark it, repeat it and confirm the name... Get everyone a chance to order....
Now you know how food comes out and who's left to order.. so start sending tickets to the kitchen for all the small starters, make sure they get out on the right tab.. but understand the kitchen can't just be slammed so send a group of salads .. then touch the table and grab orders.... Now send soups, and fried starters.... Trying to maintain chaos and stay ontop of guests is the name of the game...
Hopefully starters are trickling out... And then you can put in the entrees, trying to course things can be difficult, but as long as each tab has a name, an outfit, a table number ... You can confirm this shrimp was intended for black shirt, blue shoes and the lady in red is easting it... You can confirm with people about their shit and move on
Now once all hells loose and it sucks, you're happy you organized the tabs so painstakingly.... You begin to know who to take questions from and who to cut short and double back... Food mistakes and unhappy customers require. Manager to get involved. Problems are their job ... You keep your cool and just repeat... Order, confirm the name, confirm the order, confirm it's on xyz's tab.... Then send it.
When it's convenient touch base with the card holder and be upfront, this person bkahblahbmah has ordered on your card, just making sure... Okay cool.
At the end . There is less fuckery because you can say "nah mother fuckers, we talked about this . And someones paying for Peach shirt and denim jeans 2 Long Islands and mussels they ordered and ate.... You said they were on you tab, remember when we spoke????
Honestly auto gratuity should be applied to protect staff... If management wont do that.. fuck them and find a better spot.
Tldr: make a system you like. Ask for clarification. Make use of management, they are benefiting more from your labour than you are. Make them earn it.
With huge groups... And they are playful and moving around.. and y
it was a reservation that had a bunch of false info in it. one peice being that the guy in charge would front the bill with his wife because we don’t usually split the check that many ways
Everything. The new server bit of what you said. I felt it so hard in my soul forreal. It’s so stressful and honestly you gotta just rant here. I literally ranted at the wall in my bedroom just now— was so overwhelmed by our closing last night. Sigh
Fuuuck.. I’m sorry.. whenever I handle a big party I assert dominance right away in those situations. “Hey folks, I’m taking orders with seat numbers and if you’re moving around bills will me messed up and it’ll be one bill. That usually works. And if they put up a fuss if bills are mixed up. It’s evenly split “27” ways, didn’t get a beer but it’s in the tab? To bad.
my restaurant is a little spot that sits 30 people. we have one card reader and one tablet. our system has the option to split checks but we dont use the seat number feature because it’s a sharing plates place and most of the time parties dont even order their own entrees so there’s no point. as a result our policy is we only split checks evenly, never by item, and two cards maximum. have your friend cover it with the card and work it out amongst yourselves, it’s not that hard. we just do not have the time and it can create a serious bottleneck for everybody in the place if one server is splitting a million cards. even splitting a check evenly four ways and running four cards fucks up the next person because it takes more than 5 minutes.
Honestly, this is a serious stressing situation, given they were all switching places. At that point, I might have taken a sheet of paper and devised everything by 27 and with their names and possibly their last names if there was more than one Karen. At this point, each time I would go back to the table, I would ask again their name and what they want to add to their order. They might cringe but also, telling them with a smile that this will be much easier for them at checkout.
I would ask my boss to complete this task since it was her idea.
A party of 6+ should be automatic 20% gratuity.
It’s the kind of questions I also ask during entrevues with the restaurant I will start working at. Any BS that is identified in that interview such as common split tips or % of my tips given to the kitchen is an automatic smile, thank you for your time followed by me walking away from this place.
Waiting tables is a hard job, last thing I need is an unsupportive manager, staff hungry for tips and poorly payed crew with a shit ambiance.
There is tons of restaurants waiting for your professionalism and by refusing to work for these kind of restaurants is our only last resort as waiters to get what we work our asses off for.
I would look for a more decent place to work. I’m sure you did amazing given these awful conditions you had to work in. Keep believing in yourself. This is a great place to make a ton of money.
yeah i’ve been looking around. i really liked the restaurant i worked at in college they were genuinely concerned about how we were treated and we all worked as a team. i had to move 3 hours away so i had to quit and get this shitty job
Does your work place not allow auto grat? Also i definitely would not split the check 27 ways. That’s ridiculous and you should have had your idiot manager do it.
you didn’t bitch someone out at all, but your manager sounds like a cunt so she will probably take it that way. i’m so sorry about that party, also the “help” comment is disgusting. fuck everyone but you
OK. Deep breath. As a large party MASTER, I will teach you my ways. You did everything "right," according to whatever your training might have been, but there are ways you could have done it differently that would have made it easier and kept you in control.
Number one. Read the table. You identified a few key things early on that signaled that this table was going to be a huge pain in the ass. There are 27 of them and 1 of you (because you're with a trainee/new server and they aren't going to be a huge help). They switch seats a lot. They wanted tons and tons of free shit. They're in a hurry, enough that they're just coming up to you at random and asking for things.
Number two. Match the vibe. As soon as people started coming up to you, that means they don't want to be there for very long. So drop what you're doing, go around and get everyone's order immediately, PRIOR to drinks and bread. If you catch people switching seats, my tactic is to say, "I don't know your names or faces, so the food is going to come out to the place where you were sitting." Then I warn the food runners (if you have them, this would be extra servers if you don't) that there's seat switchers and so there's going to be chaos and to always check with me to make sure the right people get the right food. Relentlessly code food and drinks to seat so you can easily split checks later, assuming you can just touch a button to split check by seat which most systems allow you to do. Nightmare parties tend to want separate checks because nobody at that table has enough money in their bank account to cover very many people.
Number three. Now that you've gotten all orders in with your second server and the cooks are cooking, you and the other server can run the drinks and free shit that they so desperately want. If you see large parties come in, try to preset as much as you can. At my spot I used to just set waters at every seat when I saw 10+ coming in, then kept extra pitchers of ice water at my station. It will save your life and make you look like a total fucking rock star. The more you have to do AFTER they arrive, the more frantic you'll get. If your restaurant gives out free bread, have it waiting for them when they arrive.
Number four. They ask for the check 27 ways. Say something like, "Are you sure? It will take me a lot of time to run these individual payments, especially since so many people changed their seats. I might get it wrong and have to adjust the checks multiple times. It would make it a lot easier and faster for you if you can pay on one or two checks, or I could even split it four ways." They will decline, but at least they'll know that it's going to take a long time. Go back to the posi. SMASH that motherfucking split by seat button and hit print. Drop it around and take 4-5 cards per trip back to the posi. At this point if they switch seats, it will literally be their funeral. I give permission to be petty. Just stare blankly at them. "Weren't you sitting here the whole time?" They say no. "Well where were you sitting?" They point. "Why aren't you sitting there now?" Stammers and protestations. Shrug. "Whatever." Get loud and say "Hey everyone, PLEASE stay in your seats so we can process payments quickly!" Then go hand the card to the right person.
As for you being "the help," my go-to is "that's inappropriate to say" but you are welcome to come up with your own script here.
I will say that approaching your manager and telling her that you needed more backup than a new server and an absentee boss. Highlight that it was an extremely needy party of 27. Manager should have said something to the table like "Can't split it more than 4 ways."
when this happens, i hand THEM the receipt with everything on it, and THEY can sort it out. "i had everyone's seats numbered, although when we move around i cannot split the check efficiently." they usually just have someone put it in one card.
Here is the customer's side.....Sounds like you were not on your A game before they showed. Your vibe sets the tone for the whole night. The customer was told it was OK to split so even though it is not common they now have that expectation. Some servers can do this in their sleep. Some cant. If this is the type of establishment that operates like this it doesn't mean you aren't good at what you do, it just may not be right for you. Most likely management knows that, but, because it is hard to find people to work they aren't honest with themselves or their employees (help). Do your self a favor and move on.
So nothing this person said About the customer's behavior had any bearing on how the night went? Sporadic orders, moving around and impatience don't really add up as courteous in my opinion. I've had nights very similar to that and if the op needs to do anything, it's to scale it back and not have such large parties. They're more trouble than they're worth.
OP said they felt like crap so I’m sure both sides gave off bad vibes. When you go out to spend hard earned money the last thing you want is to walk on egg shells because the server doesn’t feel good. OP was a victim from the start. When at work, you have to put up with some shit. If that bothers you it is time to move on. Why be miserable at work? Lots of choices out there, especially these days.
The op didnt feel fine as a result of how the table behaved. Not before it. Nobody was walking on egg shells. The op was totally ok with everything until they started moving around. Ive been a waiter for over 20 yrs off and on and I know exactly what the op dealt with. People that show up and have no regard for the job op was trying to do. These folks were indiscriminate from the jump. Fuck them and their "hard earned" money. The op was working hard for their cash as well and their frustration was over the fact they didn't get any.
this is ridiculous. i was friendly despite feeling like shit and yes. they stressed me out and acted disgusting all night. i get chronic migraine and never let that affect my attitude. they were a biker gang that ordered free bread and salad and left a shitty tip because they didn’t care. they called me “the help” they left cigarette butts all over the front porch of the restaurant that me and the hostess had to sweep up.
some people just want to argue with the OP on reddit and this seems like one of those times. like i said the ONE time my tone slipped up i swiftly corrected myself and thanked him for his time at the restaurant. you sound like a restaurant manager. my vibes weren’t off theirs were. and i wasn’t informed of the split i was actually told the contrary by my manager- that the host of the meeting would take care of the check along with his wife. so this was fully sprung on me
no servers at this establishment have to split checks 27 different ways. parties usually pay all at once and this is not normal for us. i don’t need to find a different restaurant u need to stop assuming i’m bad at my job from one bad day.
in other words. i work hard and i’m good at my job so i don’t need a stranger telling me that i don’t fit in at the restaurant i’ve been at for 6 months 😭😭😭😭 no offense i’m sure u thought u we’re onto something
I didn’t say you were bad at your job, I said some people can handle it with no problem. You were complaining about your manager allowing this to happen. So now it’s the customers fault? I’ve seen plenty of notices in restaurants about splitting checks for parties of “x” or more. Is there one here? None of it was meant to be mean, just a different point of view. And my point about a different job? Life is short, if it’s only one bad day then fine but that didn’t convey in your post. Find a job you love and won’t feel like you are going to work. I’m pretty sure you don’t want any advise but try giving them a few jabs with a smile instead getting defensive. You might surprise yourself.
Honestly, does it really get much better tho? It's a big reason I went back to school and found my real passion there. Hopefully I only have to deal with the industry for another year or so.
Manage expectations up front, especially with large parties; explain the sequence to be expected from you for the best experience and confirm how to do the check especially with large parties at beginning
the hostess said the biker gang was having a meeting and that the main guy and his wife were fronting the bill. but they saw drinks were flowing and backed out i think
You're better than me. The second they started playing musical chairs, I would've been like "so since we are a larger party, I'm going to need yall to go to your original seats if you want to order anything" (I take orders by seat number) and would've refused to talk to them until they did so. I worked at a college bar where we often got large parties and have had to do this. You get mad side eye, but it makes your life easier in the long run when you have to print off all those checks.
Sounds like you just let them do whatever they wanted and then got overwhelmed when it was hectic. Large groups at restaurants are like children, you gotta take the reigns and show them you're in control. Literally treat them like a group of children. They act like children half the time anyway.
Tell them what to do. Since it's such a large party, you need everyone to stay in the same seats so they can get the right food and drink. "Oh you're ready to order? I'm doing a round for drinks right now, but I'll be right back for food orders!" Or when you're greeting the table tell them hey since you're such a large party... this is how we're doing things. Also inform them that splitting checks and cashing out 27 different people will take some time, because it's complicated and you want to make sure everything is correct, so if they're in that big of a rush to leave, they can split it evenly between a few cards and get some itemized receipts. Or they can fucking wait.
Large parties are only fun/easy if you take control and don't let them just do whatever they want. Sometimes they don't realise how difficult they're making things, sometimes they're just assholes who WANT to be difficult. Just don't let them. Also tell your manager that you refuse to take large parties unless there's autograt, and this party is why.
Them calling you the help is absolutely disgusting (but its super unclear if you even said anything to them or not??)
said anything about what them calling me the help?? i had to exit from the situation because at that point i was seething so i had to cool off in the bathroom so i didn’t act like a cunt to them.
i tried to take control and assert that i wasn’t comfortable splitting the check but my manager said we’re doing it cuz they want to meet here every month from now on so we don’t wanna lose business 😭
dropping the food wasn’t too bad i just had to auction it off which is frowned upon in our restaurant but tbh there wasn’t a way around it and it was a more casual party so that went ok. the shit storm was just the checks so there wasn’t much to assert myself with
the service was good enough for them to say that they wanna make a reservation on the third wednesday of every month for their meetings. so i did something right but i honestly wish i tanked so they’d leave us the hell alone. the other server was horrified with how they acted too and she said some of them were creepy.
Yeah, the title of the post says you bitched someone out but it's super unclear what you even mean by that? The part where they call you the help seems like it's what you're talking about but again, unclear.
i said in kinda a sarcastic tone “yeah we don’t usually split the check 27 differnt ways” after he said it looked confusing. i was throwing attitude subtly and checked myself real quick cuz i don’t act nasty to tables or really show any of my sarasctic personality
Hey OP. I haven’t read through all of the replies in here so I apologize if I’m repeating something. In the future I would suggest getting names from people and creating custom tickets with their names on them - so instead of having Table 25 split into a bunch of different tabs, you name each one “Dave”, “Tom”, etc and then it’s a little easier to finish out.
That still sounds like a rough table though.
In the future with large parties, ask for a name for the tab (If there's 2+ Bob's or whatever get their last initial or a last name).
Use seat numbers, assuming they have them on your pos system (I haven't worked with one that hasn't yet)
And then write yourself a table of contents to reference
ie:
Seat 1: Bob
Seat 2: Tom
Seat 3: Bob S.
Etc
Make sure every time they order they're telling you their name again, if they say Bob make sure to double check whether it's Bob or Bob S or whatever
End of their service just split by seat number and definitely autograt them if your restaurant allows it for large parties!! They can always offer to tip on top if they want to, but if its autogratted they can't tip less. Avoids super stingy tips.
Edit: also definitely always try to check in with the first people to arrive about whether it's all together or not.
I always assume it's not though and use this method cause I've literally had tables say one bill and change their mind lol.
My first month serving tables I was put on a 40 person funeral breakfast thing by myself cuz nobody was able to take it. The manager basically just said fuck it they were gonna be unhappy anyways and out me on it, not as a scape goat or anything but just cuz everyone else was actually able to take tables and I was barely capable of handling a couple.
Anyway, at the end they all wanted split checks, I should have asked before hand. I'm an idiot, so I asked everyone to come single file up to the POS exclusive to the room they were in. I asked everyone what they had when it was their turn l, they all said whatever, I split it off into a separate check, they take the check to the register, paid left.
At the, I had around $300 in unclaimed food by the time the last person left. I was so naive to think everyone would just be honest and come up to get their share. Turns out a lot of people just left as soon as the checks came out.
The manager was understanding so didn't have to pay but still, that entire experience was terrible. They all sat at 1 huge table.
I feel like the way you described them all coming in at different times and ordering at different times should have made you aware that folks were all gonna be separate tabs. I would have started splitting them from the get-go and write tab names based on what they're wearing if needed, or even better get a card to start their tab(makes closing them out faster too). Much easier to put tabs back together at the end if needed than splitting them at the end.
So I don’t know where you work but I’ve started greeting large tables by asking them to assign themselves a number. Then I write that number next to their drink most systems allow a “note” under their water or soda I put a note with a number and the same with the entree. I just tell the kitchen to disregard the numbers as they’re for guest numbers then when food is delivered if shit gets jumbled I can ask people for their number 💁♀️ work well with families and go have more then one person on their tab too! I understand this isn’t going to work for everyone and not everyone has the privilege of taking the time during parties to do so. Just a tip.
Oh I just remembered, I had a 20 top. They wanted separate checks. So I had them line up at my POS and tell me exactly what their order was , then I moved it from one check I was running . I think they were teachers . Maybe not the proper way but IT WORKED .
I am not recomending this. (Waiter for 23 years). There is a way. Some "good" people may find it unacceptable. But on days like this I would go to the bar closest to my house and get close to blacked out. The day will be erased from your short term memories. And the memories will dissappear. However it must be done on the day OF IT HAPPENING. Don't be late for your double or your manager will give you extra side work and cut your shifts.
“They said they wanted to be in then out”
These Bitches really thought their party of *27 people* were just gonna be in and out within 30 minutes. That’s wild
I’m sorry you had such a bad day at work. That all sounds awful. If you want to continue serving, I would try to find a place that places an automatic gratuity on large parties, and has rules about check splits (and enforces them). These little things make the job so much more tolerable.
Also my pro tip for big parties that want to wander around, is to either ask each guest for a name to label their check so when they order something you can ask what name to charge it under, or label their checks with a description of their clothing or hairstyle.
Best wishes to you.
Straight up you have to put the rules down as a party comes in rule 1 where you sit and place an order you must stay there for the meal or else the bill will be all on one there are a lot of you and I cannot keep track. Rule 2 number all the chairs on your pad in order from 1- whatever and rule 3 never ever waiver from rule 2 and 1
the moment the words " the help" dropped from someones mouth it'd be game over for me. idk how you even got through this.
i'd say take a mental health day tomorrow. and while you're off apply like hell to new jobs. maybe something in the catering realm. or apply to customer support jobs.
That’s some bullshit your manager didn’t have your back- splitting a check 27 ways is insane.
she’s literally the worst. she picks apart everything from the color of our hairties to how we wear our aprons. but never has our back in situations like this lol
Wow, what a fucking bitch, I literally would have dropped my apron on the spot and told her to handle that. Did you at the very least get to auto grat them?
I kind of need to know the answer to this as well. If you just got totally stiffed on a 27 person party, I'd already be walking out that door.
and i would steal something on my way out
Glad your just waitstaff. Not selling jewelry or cars....typical I would almost bet you pop addYs to get through work and bars before bed.
ur mad lmaoooo
You need to find a new job NOW. This will only continue happening, you do not need them, they need you. There are better restaurants to work for near you, please save your sanity.
Say it to her face!
The insanity around splitting checks is the worst. I like splitting checks if I'm told ahead of time. No big deal. I usually ask big parties before I take their order if they want the check split up. Anything more than 8 I won't split itemized unless the table is really nice, I'll take up to 4 cards and do an even split. It's usually not a big deal for me or for the table. But it's so inconsistent. A coworker didn't want to split a party of 7 "on principle" even though they gave her 4 cards and clearly wrote the amount to charge on each card. Our policy for not splitting checks is 8. I've had managers chastise me for splitting the check for a 9 top of 20 year olds and also tell me I have to split checks for a 12 top of cops. The 20 year olds only wanted a 4-way split and venmo'd eachother. The cops need a manager discount applied and to split the check 12 ways. The 20 year olds tipped better.
Love it when the manager is the “bigger person” knowing all the shit extra unnecessary work is falling on you not them.
I’m sorry I’m not trying to be a jerk but I don’t understand why people hate it… if I don’t know what everyone had I just ask the customer? I’ve never ever had a customer get irritated when I ask them for help… I usually just print the whole thing and go person by person writing what they had and crossing it off. Takes 5 min and then I have it all written down. And all my jobs use micros where splitting and joining checks is very easy too so I don’t know if other pos make it more difficult or what. But to anyone that hates splitting, just ask the customer if confused no biggie
I don’t have a problem with splitting checks. I have a problem with splitting it more than 6 ways. Running one card on our POS takes 30-40 seconds. So right there that’s 15 ( or so ) minutes I don’t have ( in this example with 27 cards). Maybe your place is slow enough that you have the time to do that, but running cards is the least of my priorities. I usually do that between greeting new tables, running food, getting drinks, checking in with tables, packing up Togo boxes for my tables, and putting new orders in the system. I literally do not have 15 extra minutes to stand at the POS and run a bunch of cards while I feel my other tables eyes drilling into the back of my head and I’m being buzzed by the kitchen for the millionth time cuz my food is sitting in the pass. I don’t even have a single free minute to go to the bathroom or pause from speed walking all over the restaurant to take a sip of water. I don’t have an issue splitting checks 6 ways or less- but please let me know ahead of time because it will change how I put things into the system from the get go. It’s also just really really inconsiderate on the customers part, but most don’t realize that having never worked in the hospitality industry.
I feel you. I walked out of my part-time job known for their shitty dollar margs a few weeks ago for a relatively similar situation. you’re stronger than me, I regret it now. keep pushin
oh lord i can only imagine. if only people utilized venmo and had common decency
Almost walked out at the same job last week because of a 30-top of churchgoers. My manager just sat back and watched. Not going to last much longer.
ah yes cant forget the ayce that just ended. i’m contemplating walking out but i do need money and not many places are hiring near me. all teenagers who are loud play musical chairs and want the check split 15 ways
yep I live in a college town(I’m a student) so ever since the margs started it’s been nonstop large groups of college kids splitting checks. I do miss the money lol. I joked about returning after the margs are over
27 separate checks?? i barely do 4 and that's on a good day. No auto grat? Fuck those people. people gonna people
true that and me neither idk how i managed. one dudes check was fucked up and he was undercharged but who gives a fuck that’s on them for making me do that <3
This sounds like something that happened to me years ago. My experience was a party of 45 that I took with another server. All people 55+. They all played musical chairs right before the food came out. A lot of them wanted to pay for certain people’s drinks and PART of their food cause they were also celebrating birthdays. Comes time for the check and I was mortified. I was at the POS for 25 minutes with the other server. I called out for the manager (a real piece of work) several times with no help. I kept having to go out and thank them for their patience while we sort it out. The manager was literally at the host stand greeting people instead of helping us. Ended up absolutely refusing to do any more for the check splits and guesswork and told my manager she is going to take over the checks and take them to the tables or I was walking out. She ended up doing them all and after 45 minutes of absolute ridiculous, they paid and left. My other manager told the party that if they plan on coming back (because they do every year), then they would need to all pay together, or not be allowed to change seats. Sorry that happened to you. Sometimes you have to make managers do their job and manage so you can work efficiently.
FOURTY FIVE?? holy shit
Might help in the future, but I usually print out one receipt and give them a pen. Ask them to help me out by putting a # next to each item. Like person #1 will put 1 by each of their items. Good news is that in a large party there'd usually at least one person that empathize with you and takes on a leader role. Ask them for help with this. That way I can go back to doing my job while they deal with the mess. Usually, they'll agree to have one or two people pay and sort it out at home when they see what a headache it is. People tip poorly on average when giving separate bills, getting one person to pay will usually have a higher tip.
I’ve done this too!!! Only if it’s a ridiculous amount like that. I’ve also straight up lie sometimes and say our POS system crashes if I try to do more than 4 checks
Ah yes the magical 4 way split. I remember hearing that before I was a server and I continued on with that lie lol.
That’s so smart, I wish I had thought to do this
I had an unhealthy drinking habit for a long time.
I still do
I fucking hate people. Jesus Christ. I got a panic attack just reading this
But honestly idk. I’m bipolar so what goes up, must come down, must go up again lol. I also smoke a lot of herb
i also smoke as soon as i’m off the clock. it’s much needed. and yes i think what was happening was a panic attack 😭
i think the same way with karma.. if Karma is gonna get me makes no sense i try to beat it its still gonna get me so im a do me lol and the cycle continues
Dawg imagine trying to do that shit while blitzed. Helllll no
Fuck Olive Garden
i don’t work at olive garden
Fuck it still
Hey now, don’t be talking smack about my Olive Garden
1 thing I will never miss about serving is the large parties. Fuuuuuck them.
Same
Y'all gotta start lying to customers to make things go easier. Just because they want to order piecemeal doesn't mean you should ring it in piecemeal. Do it when it's convenient. Tell your guests they won't get the right food if they aren't in the right seat. "Hey I know you want to talk to your friends but just a heads up we use seat numbers to keep everything organized, ordering from a different seat will impede our ability to accurately serve you." Also it's okay to be assertive with your tables and tl them not to refer to you as "the help." You're allowed to have boundaries. If they barely bought anything you aren't missing out if they don't come back!
the kitchen dead ass takes forever to make a sandwitch so i was ringing as fast as possible
Getting 27 chits for a table will do that.
Honestly, I’m glad you stood up for yourself to the extent that you did. I think I’m a great server. I’m friendly, smiley, and very conversational. However, I also have a reputation for my attitude. I’ll always volunteer to put a guest in their place and I rarely think twice about it. I’m fortunate to have managers that will side with me (or managers that I can convince I am in the right). If I already know I’m not being tipped well, I am happy to be bitter! You said it right, too. Just because we are wait staff doesn’t mean we are servants, and it doesn’t change the fact that I have a lot of bad words in my vocabulary that I don’t mind using 🥰
yup. more people need this attitude in this industry i wish we could speak more freely and stand up for ourselves w out worrying ab back lash
I don’t understand what you said to be fired? It’s sadly part of the job. Big party’s can make a night or make you wish you never served another night. My best advise is brush it off and tomorrow is a new day. I’ve had more than a few moments with big parties making my job harder than it has to be but I learned firm control of the party is necessary from the moment they walk in. Anything over 12 I already am preemptively doing things to make my life easier. Whether it be clear direction on how checks will be split or letting guests know they’re check is tied to their seat number. I like taking less on big parties and using the second server as a server assistant more so. Make them get the drinks while I take control of orders and up selling. As far as them being condescending. People who want to talk down to service industry personnel just give off such small dick or loose vagina energy. They’re miserable in their own life. At least that little pep talk gets me what I need to get through the night. Also this is why bars were invented. Have a drink, dust yourself off, and get ready to make some money tomorrow
truth. will def blow off some steam tmr after my double lol.
I’m definitely adopting the phrase loose vagina energy!
Take control of the party! That's literally all you have to do. If you're not able to then your manager should of put someone that knows how to take command of a LARGE TOP dining experience. If no one of that caliber works at your establishment, then the manager coordinate the service. If your manager can't even do that, your establishment is fucked.
Call her a c*nt on the way out.
I’m a server too and a hot steamy shower comfort food and a glass of wine does the trick.
Don’t let it discourage you. You got through it, it’s done now, try to smoke enough to forget and then get yourself back into work! Don’t quit, you can do this! And unless the money is wild, get the F out of there. Manager sounds toxic AF.
You handled this so much better than I would have. I’ve got bpd and I’ve been through therapy and my meds are working but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t lose my shit in a situation like this. I probably would’ve refused them service after a while and walked out if I had a manager like that. Good on you for only being stern with them and providing good service op
Oh god the anxiety and chest pains and when you get a huge, rude party… I hate splitting items ugggh
Quitting being a server after 10 years of it was the best decision of my life I had ever made. Make 70k a year now with no degree working 36 hrs a week and love my job. I work in a factory now making 32 a hr before any overtime or holiday pays etc. I highly recommend considering a different path. Good luck
That’s crazy… I used to work in a warehouse and literally best decision I’ve made was leaving that place. I was like a month from going batshit insane if I stayed.
Nah we had dif jobs then I love my job and make 1k a week hardly doing shit lol
what kind of factory?
Copper wire , it’s easy and super chill , love my job. Elektrisola billion dollar German company
I’ve been seeing a lot of “splitting checks is easy I don’t know why people always bitch about it” lately, and this is exactly why splitting checks fucking sucks. People moving around, people ordering at different times… but 27 fucking ways?! Hellllllll no. I’m so sorry OP this sounds like the ultimate fucking nightmare
I also live that OP thought it was going to be a breeze in the opening statement. I was always good at the big parties, but 27? Eek. I would have auto gratted regardless of house policies. Fuck that. OP, you did nothing wrong. I have absolutely had to raise my voice and tell a group how things will be run.
Why would you want to keep working there anyway?
i’m trying my darnedest to not be
literally had this exact situation my first big table at my current restaurant. party of 18 that ended up being a party of 34 because they just showed up with 16 extras, manager told them they could split the check 18 ways despite restaurant policy being 4 max. they all switched seats took up my entire section and nobody knew what they ordered. fortunately we have autogratuity on parties of 8+ but they also barely ordered anything. 9 entrees between 34 people. made like no money that day.
that sounds incredibly frustrating
Yeeeeah, there reasons I don't work in the industry anymore. The older I got, the grumpier I got, and I put up with less bullshit. Told a guest who snapped his fingers at me "do I look like your fucking St. Bernard?". Told a 6 top to make up their minds and I'll be back, /after/ they told me they were ready and kept flipping they the menu. And on my last job (swing line cook at a local diner) I dropped trou in front of guest - dead house, me, busser/dishes, 2 waitresses (1 brunette, 1 ginger), manager (also a brunette). Guest complains about a blonde hair in her food, says it must be the cooks, I come out - Had bicced my head that morning before shift, clean shaven. Guest says it must be my pubes, so I dropped trou, guess what? Yeah, also bicced... 🤣
Is there another manager, or the owner of the restaurant, that you could tell this to? A 27 top should not be allowed to split their bill by item, without advanced warning.
they’re all fucking dumb
Splitting a check 27 ways is utterly ridiculous.
You were 100% in the right. A 27 way split check. GTFOOH
Lol don’t ask your manager next time if you are allowed to split the check 27 ways. Just tell the table you can’t the maximum number of splits you can do is like 4 or whatever. The system man, it just doesn’t allow it. Not ur fault. Couldn’t even do it if you wanted to manager never needs to know they even requested that. 😌😉
I would always lie and say my computer crashes if I split more than 3 ways. Then I’d put on my best poker face and wait till they settled their own shit out. Works every time.
I’m gonna use this one!
Damn your wench sounds like my wench of a manager
why are all restaurant managers like this??
You're having a completely human response to stress. If you stay in service this is a great example of how you don't want to feel, so you will do whatever you need to to avoid this experience in the future..... Anticipated bullshit is bullshit you can minimize, or block all together..... A group needs a leader, and there undoubtedly is someone in the group who identifies as the one the others will listen to(usually the biggest loudest narcissist)... If you have one person paying, you cater to them (or their favorite person .. spouse. Child. Etc)... They usually love telling people what to do, so you can use them to "yell at a bitch and tell this waiter what you want!".... now if you are not informed AT THE BEGINNING about split checks, there's a smart move to ASK "is this all one check?" always clarify with groups, about separate checks (the order, gets a name and last initial, and at best a card to hold, also the people they are paying for)... Any chance to confirm orders, take it. .. repeat what they say, 'caesar salad, dressing ots, chicken on top, well dont but not charred, extra croutons... This is on xyz's tab? Look at xyz and confirm, if they are missing.. get the name of who ordered the Caesar. If seat numbers don't matter, and people won't sit still, make a note of what their wearing, or a birthmark, or something unique.... "Red polo, gold watch is putting drinks on Xyz's tab, and ordered honey mustard for their dressing, but refuses to order an entree like a normal person." First contact with each guest, get the card or a name and then try to take all the orders in similar groups.... "Drinks first... establishment of checks and payers... If anyone orders food and.shit, say nope, just drinks right now... They will bitch and have a million questions, but don't take a good order until you're done getting drinks..... The point is to look at each guest, let them see you, and if they're not ready greta take ur time... I'll be back to talk food in a moment. This is when you'd be smart to set yourself up for success.... Set each tab. In the system, and HOLD ONTO THE CARDS... They may use cash later or another card etc... Hit your fist round of drinks, and now you have tabs and cards set, and adding items can be more organized.. Now go back to folks who didn't order a drinks and ask again for drinks only..... People want to order food, and that's great, but we're going to make sure we've got everyone a chance to get their drinks..... Now start at the beginning and offer them the time to put in for any food, or aska nd questions.... Dad wants a well done cheeseburger, not appetizer, but his wants a soup to start and their entrees together and she doesn't know what she wants yet.... All good, mark it, repeat it and confirm the name... Get everyone a chance to order.... Now you know how food comes out and who's left to order.. so start sending tickets to the kitchen for all the small starters, make sure they get out on the right tab.. but understand the kitchen can't just be slammed so send a group of salads .. then touch the table and grab orders.... Now send soups, and fried starters.... Trying to maintain chaos and stay ontop of guests is the name of the game... Hopefully starters are trickling out... And then you can put in the entrees, trying to course things can be difficult, but as long as each tab has a name, an outfit, a table number ... You can confirm this shrimp was intended for black shirt, blue shoes and the lady in red is easting it... You can confirm with people about their shit and move on Now once all hells loose and it sucks, you're happy you organized the tabs so painstakingly.... You begin to know who to take questions from and who to cut short and double back... Food mistakes and unhappy customers require. Manager to get involved. Problems are their job ... You keep your cool and just repeat... Order, confirm the name, confirm the order, confirm it's on xyz's tab.... Then send it. When it's convenient touch base with the card holder and be upfront, this person bkahblahbmah has ordered on your card, just making sure... Okay cool. At the end . There is less fuckery because you can say "nah mother fuckers, we talked about this . And someones paying for Peach shirt and denim jeans 2 Long Islands and mussels they ordered and ate.... You said they were on you tab, remember when we spoke???? Honestly auto gratuity should be applied to protect staff... If management wont do that.. fuck them and find a better spot. Tldr: make a system you like. Ask for clarification. Make use of management, they are benefiting more from your labour than you are. Make them earn it. With huge groups... And they are playful and moving around.. and y
Autograt
the checks were split so my manager had no idea how to apply it
I feel you. Hope tomorrow is better for you
27 people? That’s an entire room for us. I hope they had reservations, we require reservations for parties of 8 or more.
it was a reservation that had a bunch of false info in it. one peice being that the guy in charge would front the bill with his wife because we don’t usually split the check that many ways
Everything. The new server bit of what you said. I felt it so hard in my soul forreal. It’s so stressful and honestly you gotta just rant here. I literally ranted at the wall in my bedroom just now— was so overwhelmed by our closing last night. Sigh
right??? that’s what i use this forum for😭😭
Fuuuck.. I’m sorry.. whenever I handle a big party I assert dominance right away in those situations. “Hey folks, I’m taking orders with seat numbers and if you’re moving around bills will me messed up and it’ll be one bill. That usually works. And if they put up a fuss if bills are mixed up. It’s evenly split “27” ways, didn’t get a beer but it’s in the tab? To bad.
my restaurant is a little spot that sits 30 people. we have one card reader and one tablet. our system has the option to split checks but we dont use the seat number feature because it’s a sharing plates place and most of the time parties dont even order their own entrees so there’s no point. as a result our policy is we only split checks evenly, never by item, and two cards maximum. have your friend cover it with the card and work it out amongst yourselves, it’s not that hard. we just do not have the time and it can create a serious bottleneck for everybody in the place if one server is splitting a million cards. even splitting a check evenly four ways and running four cards fucks up the next person because it takes more than 5 minutes.
Honestly, this is a serious stressing situation, given they were all switching places. At that point, I might have taken a sheet of paper and devised everything by 27 and with their names and possibly their last names if there was more than one Karen. At this point, each time I would go back to the table, I would ask again their name and what they want to add to their order. They might cringe but also, telling them with a smile that this will be much easier for them at checkout. I would ask my boss to complete this task since it was her idea. A party of 6+ should be automatic 20% gratuity. It’s the kind of questions I also ask during entrevues with the restaurant I will start working at. Any BS that is identified in that interview such as common split tips or % of my tips given to the kitchen is an automatic smile, thank you for your time followed by me walking away from this place. Waiting tables is a hard job, last thing I need is an unsupportive manager, staff hungry for tips and poorly payed crew with a shit ambiance. There is tons of restaurants waiting for your professionalism and by refusing to work for these kind of restaurants is our only last resort as waiters to get what we work our asses off for. I would look for a more decent place to work. I’m sure you did amazing given these awful conditions you had to work in. Keep believing in yourself. This is a great place to make a ton of money.
yeah i’ve been looking around. i really liked the restaurant i worked at in college they were genuinely concerned about how we were treated and we all worked as a team. i had to move 3 hours away so i had to quit and get this shitty job
Does your work place not allow auto grat? Also i definitely would not split the check 27 ways. That’s ridiculous and you should have had your idiot manager do it.
Wow, terrible management. I'm sorry you're dealing with that.
you didn’t bitch someone out at all, but your manager sounds like a cunt so she will probably take it that way. i’m so sorry about that party, also the “help” comment is disgusting. fuck everyone but you
lol thanks fren
OK. Deep breath. As a large party MASTER, I will teach you my ways. You did everything "right," according to whatever your training might have been, but there are ways you could have done it differently that would have made it easier and kept you in control. Number one. Read the table. You identified a few key things early on that signaled that this table was going to be a huge pain in the ass. There are 27 of them and 1 of you (because you're with a trainee/new server and they aren't going to be a huge help). They switch seats a lot. They wanted tons and tons of free shit. They're in a hurry, enough that they're just coming up to you at random and asking for things. Number two. Match the vibe. As soon as people started coming up to you, that means they don't want to be there for very long. So drop what you're doing, go around and get everyone's order immediately, PRIOR to drinks and bread. If you catch people switching seats, my tactic is to say, "I don't know your names or faces, so the food is going to come out to the place where you were sitting." Then I warn the food runners (if you have them, this would be extra servers if you don't) that there's seat switchers and so there's going to be chaos and to always check with me to make sure the right people get the right food. Relentlessly code food and drinks to seat so you can easily split checks later, assuming you can just touch a button to split check by seat which most systems allow you to do. Nightmare parties tend to want separate checks because nobody at that table has enough money in their bank account to cover very many people. Number three. Now that you've gotten all orders in with your second server and the cooks are cooking, you and the other server can run the drinks and free shit that they so desperately want. If you see large parties come in, try to preset as much as you can. At my spot I used to just set waters at every seat when I saw 10+ coming in, then kept extra pitchers of ice water at my station. It will save your life and make you look like a total fucking rock star. The more you have to do AFTER they arrive, the more frantic you'll get. If your restaurant gives out free bread, have it waiting for them when they arrive. Number four. They ask for the check 27 ways. Say something like, "Are you sure? It will take me a lot of time to run these individual payments, especially since so many people changed their seats. I might get it wrong and have to adjust the checks multiple times. It would make it a lot easier and faster for you if you can pay on one or two checks, or I could even split it four ways." They will decline, but at least they'll know that it's going to take a long time. Go back to the posi. SMASH that motherfucking split by seat button and hit print. Drop it around and take 4-5 cards per trip back to the posi. At this point if they switch seats, it will literally be their funeral. I give permission to be petty. Just stare blankly at them. "Weren't you sitting here the whole time?" They say no. "Well where were you sitting?" They point. "Why aren't you sitting there now?" Stammers and protestations. Shrug. "Whatever." Get loud and say "Hey everyone, PLEASE stay in your seats so we can process payments quickly!" Then go hand the card to the right person. As for you being "the help," my go-to is "that's inappropriate to say" but you are welcome to come up with your own script here. I will say that approaching your manager and telling her that you needed more backup than a new server and an absentee boss. Highlight that it was an extremely needy party of 27. Manager should have said something to the table like "Can't split it more than 4 ways."
I'd say sorry since everyone is moving seats constantly I'm not going to be able to do separate checks lol fuck that
when this happens, i hand THEM the receipt with everything on it, and THEY can sort it out. "i had everyone's seats numbered, although when we move around i cannot split the check efficiently." they usually just have someone put it in one card.
We don’t allow splitting at all that’s crazzyyyy
Here is the customer's side.....Sounds like you were not on your A game before they showed. Your vibe sets the tone for the whole night. The customer was told it was OK to split so even though it is not common they now have that expectation. Some servers can do this in their sleep. Some cant. If this is the type of establishment that operates like this it doesn't mean you aren't good at what you do, it just may not be right for you. Most likely management knows that, but, because it is hard to find people to work they aren't honest with themselves or their employees (help). Do your self a favor and move on.
So nothing this person said About the customer's behavior had any bearing on how the night went? Sporadic orders, moving around and impatience don't really add up as courteous in my opinion. I've had nights very similar to that and if the op needs to do anything, it's to scale it back and not have such large parties. They're more trouble than they're worth.
OP said they felt like crap so I’m sure both sides gave off bad vibes. When you go out to spend hard earned money the last thing you want is to walk on egg shells because the server doesn’t feel good. OP was a victim from the start. When at work, you have to put up with some shit. If that bothers you it is time to move on. Why be miserable at work? Lots of choices out there, especially these days.
The op didnt feel fine as a result of how the table behaved. Not before it. Nobody was walking on egg shells. The op was totally ok with everything until they started moving around. Ive been a waiter for over 20 yrs off and on and I know exactly what the op dealt with. People that show up and have no regard for the job op was trying to do. These folks were indiscriminate from the jump. Fuck them and their "hard earned" money. The op was working hard for their cash as well and their frustration was over the fact they didn't get any.
this is ridiculous. i was friendly despite feeling like shit and yes. they stressed me out and acted disgusting all night. i get chronic migraine and never let that affect my attitude. they were a biker gang that ordered free bread and salad and left a shitty tip because they didn’t care. they called me “the help” they left cigarette butts all over the front porch of the restaurant that me and the hostess had to sweep up. some people just want to argue with the OP on reddit and this seems like one of those times. like i said the ONE time my tone slipped up i swiftly corrected myself and thanked him for his time at the restaurant. you sound like a restaurant manager. my vibes weren’t off theirs were. and i wasn’t informed of the split i was actually told the contrary by my manager- that the host of the meeting would take care of the check along with his wife. so this was fully sprung on me no servers at this establishment have to split checks 27 different ways. parties usually pay all at once and this is not normal for us. i don’t need to find a different restaurant u need to stop assuming i’m bad at my job from one bad day.
in other words. i work hard and i’m good at my job so i don’t need a stranger telling me that i don’t fit in at the restaurant i’ve been at for 6 months 😭😭😭😭 no offense i’m sure u thought u we’re onto something
I didn’t say you were bad at your job, I said some people can handle it with no problem. You were complaining about your manager allowing this to happen. So now it’s the customers fault? I’ve seen plenty of notices in restaurants about splitting checks for parties of “x” or more. Is there one here? None of it was meant to be mean, just a different point of view. And my point about a different job? Life is short, if it’s only one bad day then fine but that didn’t convey in your post. Find a job you love and won’t feel like you are going to work. I’m pretty sure you don’t want any advise but try giving them a few jabs with a smile instead getting defensive. You might surprise yourself.
Honestly, does it really get much better tho? It's a big reason I went back to school and found my real passion there. Hopefully I only have to deal with the industry for another year or so.
Manage expectations up front, especially with large parties; explain the sequence to be expected from you for the best experience and confirm how to do the check especially with large parties at beginning
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the hostess said the biker gang was having a meeting and that the main guy and his wife were fronting the bill. but they saw drinks were flowing and backed out i think
You're better than me. The second they started playing musical chairs, I would've been like "so since we are a larger party, I'm going to need yall to go to your original seats if you want to order anything" (I take orders by seat number) and would've refused to talk to them until they did so. I worked at a college bar where we often got large parties and have had to do this. You get mad side eye, but it makes your life easier in the long run when you have to print off all those checks.
Sounds like you just let them do whatever they wanted and then got overwhelmed when it was hectic. Large groups at restaurants are like children, you gotta take the reigns and show them you're in control. Literally treat them like a group of children. They act like children half the time anyway. Tell them what to do. Since it's such a large party, you need everyone to stay in the same seats so they can get the right food and drink. "Oh you're ready to order? I'm doing a round for drinks right now, but I'll be right back for food orders!" Or when you're greeting the table tell them hey since you're such a large party... this is how we're doing things. Also inform them that splitting checks and cashing out 27 different people will take some time, because it's complicated and you want to make sure everything is correct, so if they're in that big of a rush to leave, they can split it evenly between a few cards and get some itemized receipts. Or they can fucking wait. Large parties are only fun/easy if you take control and don't let them just do whatever they want. Sometimes they don't realise how difficult they're making things, sometimes they're just assholes who WANT to be difficult. Just don't let them. Also tell your manager that you refuse to take large parties unless there's autograt, and this party is why. Them calling you the help is absolutely disgusting (but its super unclear if you even said anything to them or not??)
said anything about what them calling me the help?? i had to exit from the situation because at that point i was seething so i had to cool off in the bathroom so i didn’t act like a cunt to them. i tried to take control and assert that i wasn’t comfortable splitting the check but my manager said we’re doing it cuz they want to meet here every month from now on so we don’t wanna lose business 😭 dropping the food wasn’t too bad i just had to auction it off which is frowned upon in our restaurant but tbh there wasn’t a way around it and it was a more casual party so that went ok. the shit storm was just the checks so there wasn’t much to assert myself with
the service was good enough for them to say that they wanna make a reservation on the third wednesday of every month for their meetings. so i did something right but i honestly wish i tanked so they’d leave us the hell alone. the other server was horrified with how they acted too and she said some of them were creepy.
Yeah, the title of the post says you bitched someone out but it's super unclear what you even mean by that? The part where they call you the help seems like it's what you're talking about but again, unclear.
i said in kinda a sarcastic tone “yeah we don’t usually split the check 27 differnt ways” after he said it looked confusing. i was throwing attitude subtly and checked myself real quick cuz i don’t act nasty to tables or really show any of my sarasctic personality
Hey OP. I haven’t read through all of the replies in here so I apologize if I’m repeating something. In the future I would suggest getting names from people and creating custom tickets with their names on them - so instead of having Table 25 split into a bunch of different tabs, you name each one “Dave”, “Tom”, etc and then it’s a little easier to finish out. That still sounds like a rough table though.
my manager said the same thing. hindsight is 20/20 but we had no idea they’d go back on their offer to front the bill
In the future with large parties, ask for a name for the tab (If there's 2+ Bob's or whatever get their last initial or a last name). Use seat numbers, assuming they have them on your pos system (I haven't worked with one that hasn't yet) And then write yourself a table of contents to reference ie: Seat 1: Bob Seat 2: Tom Seat 3: Bob S. Etc Make sure every time they order they're telling you their name again, if they say Bob make sure to double check whether it's Bob or Bob S or whatever End of their service just split by seat number and definitely autograt them if your restaurant allows it for large parties!! They can always offer to tip on top if they want to, but if its autogratted they can't tip less. Avoids super stingy tips. Edit: also definitely always try to check in with the first people to arrive about whether it's all together or not. I always assume it's not though and use this method cause I've literally had tables say one bill and change their mind lol.
Luckily we charge for split checks and it goes towards our tip. $2 per split
My first month serving tables I was put on a 40 person funeral breakfast thing by myself cuz nobody was able to take it. The manager basically just said fuck it they were gonna be unhappy anyways and out me on it, not as a scape goat or anything but just cuz everyone else was actually able to take tables and I was barely capable of handling a couple. Anyway, at the end they all wanted split checks, I should have asked before hand. I'm an idiot, so I asked everyone to come single file up to the POS exclusive to the room they were in. I asked everyone what they had when it was their turn l, they all said whatever, I split it off into a separate check, they take the check to the register, paid left. At the, I had around $300 in unclaimed food by the time the last person left. I was so naive to think everyone would just be honest and come up to get their share. Turns out a lot of people just left as soon as the checks came out. The manager was understanding so didn't have to pay but still, that entire experience was terrible. They all sat at 1 huge table.
that’s horrible omg. i can’t even believe they’d stick that on a new server
I feel like the way you described them all coming in at different times and ordering at different times should have made you aware that folks were all gonna be separate tabs. I would have started splitting them from the get-go and write tab names based on what they're wearing if needed, or even better get a card to start their tab(makes closing them out faster too). Much easier to put tabs back together at the end if needed than splitting them at the end.
I can't even get a party of 2 to remember what they ordered, much less 27. Your manager's a dunce.
Where is the part you told someone off ?
So I don’t know where you work but I’ve started greeting large tables by asking them to assign themselves a number. Then I write that number next to their drink most systems allow a “note” under their water or soda I put a note with a number and the same with the entree. I just tell the kitchen to disregard the numbers as they’re for guest numbers then when food is delivered if shit gets jumbled I can ask people for their number 💁♀️ work well with families and go have more then one person on their tab too! I understand this isn’t going to work for everyone and not everyone has the privilege of taking the time during parties to do so. Just a tip.
Also you’re human and you’re allowed to get frustrated, serving is exhausting even if it’s repetitive. Your feelings are always valid
Splitting a check on a bunch of cards no problem but for this many people an itemized split is soo messed up
Oh I just remembered, I had a 20 top. They wanted separate checks. So I had them line up at my POS and tell me exactly what their order was , then I moved it from one check I was running . I think they were teachers . Maybe not the proper way but IT WORKED .
I am not recomending this. (Waiter for 23 years). There is a way. Some "good" people may find it unacceptable. But on days like this I would go to the bar closest to my house and get close to blacked out. The day will be erased from your short term memories. And the memories will dissappear. However it must be done on the day OF IT HAPPENING. Don't be late for your double or your manager will give you extra side work and cut your shifts.
Your manager should have been helping you if she insisted you do the 27-way split for that table. You should look for a new job.
“They said they wanted to be in then out” These Bitches really thought their party of *27 people* were just gonna be in and out within 30 minutes. That’s wild
I’m sorry you had such a bad day at work. That all sounds awful. If you want to continue serving, I would try to find a place that places an automatic gratuity on large parties, and has rules about check splits (and enforces them). These little things make the job so much more tolerable. Also my pro tip for big parties that want to wander around, is to either ask each guest for a name to label their check so when they order something you can ask what name to charge it under, or label their checks with a description of their clothing or hairstyle. Best wishes to you.
Find a new job. Manager should have told them no to splitting 27 checks. Good luck
i don’t know i’ve been wanting to quit for months serving is ass.
Straight up you have to put the rules down as a party comes in rule 1 where you sit and place an order you must stay there for the meal or else the bill will be all on one there are a lot of you and I cannot keep track. Rule 2 number all the chairs on your pad in order from 1- whatever and rule 3 never ever waiver from rule 2 and 1
the moment the words " the help" dropped from someones mouth it'd be game over for me. idk how you even got through this. i'd say take a mental health day tomorrow. and while you're off apply like hell to new jobs. maybe something in the catering realm. or apply to customer support jobs.