Of bad service in sit-down restautants...

Taken from my Xanga Online Journal:

Monday, May 02, 2005
Currently Playing
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1992
Canadian Cast)
By Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice
Go Go Go Joseph!
see related


So, after SSG rehearsal tonight, I decided that I would go to IHOP
and get some food, cause I was hungry.

So, I walk in (10 pm), and there are two people, a guy and a girl,
also going in. We go to the hostess stand, and we stand and
wait.

and wait.

and wait.

Finally, after about three and a half minutes, someone in the
office goes "Oh! There's THREE people out there!" Like, it would
be okay if there's one or two?

So, she comes out, and she greets us, and takes teh couple to
their table, and then takes me to my table. We are seated in the
same section, four feet from each other. Remember that.

The waitress (her name was Christy, so if you go to the IHOP on
92/575, don't get her) greeted them, and took their drink
orders, then walked off, got them their drinks, and then took
their orders.

I sat and waited.

and waited.

and waited.

After about five minutes (10 10 pm), she comes up and asks me
what I'd like to drink. I hadn't completely given up at this point,
so I tell her I'd like a coke, and the chicken strips appetizer, and
a pen, I may have something a little after that. She doesn't have
a pen. I ask her to scratch one up for me.

The five guys in the table next to me are having a grand old
time, laughing and joking and slapping the table which is
making my table shake.

The waitress takes my drink/appetizer order, and wanders off.

And I wait.

and I wait.

and I wait.

The couple get their food. The drunkards at the next table get
their food, and a refill on their drinks, and slapping the table.

at about 10 18, my coke arrived.

I get up and move to the table across the way. I am now sitting
DIRECTLY behind the couple.

and I wait.

and I wait.

and I wait.

The waitress (Christy- avoid her at all costs, cause she SUCKS) is
standing in the kitchen having a fun time with her co workers,
telling stories, talking and hanging out, cause that's what work
is all about, right?

Chicken strips, as a quick side note, are quite easy to make.
Throw 'em in the fryer for five minutes, dump 'em in a basket,
slap some honey mustard in a bullet, and send it out. a six
minute procedure. It has been over fifteen minutes now.

Christy the inane comes out of the kitchen, stands in the
doorway, and stares directly at me. I stare back. How ya' doin'?
She reaches back, grabs the basket of chicken tenders, and gives
them- GIVES THEM TO ANOTHER SERVER- who brings it out to
me.

Still no pen.

One bullet of honey mustard. I'd like a little more, but I can wait
until she comes and checks on me, cause it can't take that long,
right? See, I stil haven't given up.

A Chx appetizer usually has about 4 strips in it. This one has
like 8, and I go through them all. She never showed back up, no
one checked on me. The couple at the table in front of me has
finished their meal, and they are waiting for their check.

Finally, at 10 35, she comes back out, and walks up to my table.

"How's everything?" I looked at the final bite of chicken in my
hand, and the sadly empty appetizer basket. A dozen answers
spring to mind, but none of which I feel I should utter in a family
restaurant. So I respond quite simply "Fine." Only, I did it in a
falsely jovial way to get the idea across that things are actually
NOT fine, but that I'm not gonna make a big deal, and will
instead, only cut your tip severely.

"Do you need anything else?" she asks. Again, another dozen
answers, but I go with "Nope, I'm fine," again in a falsely jovial
way. She seems uncertain for a moment, pauses, and then asks
me THE QUESTION.

"Is everything okay?"

So finally, I don't care anymore, and just this once, I'm going to
be confrontational and beligerant. "No," I reply quite tersely,
"everything's not fine, but we'll make do."

"What's wrong?"

"Well, I ordered the chicken strips and it took about a half an
hour to get here. It took me about ten minutes to get my drink."

"Half an hour for chicken strips?"

"Yeah, long time huh? And then, when I needed something, YOU
were no where to be found. You were gone for like twenty
minutes, and NO ONE else checked on me."

"I was only in the back for like five-"

"You were gone for like twenty minutes. You pointed to the food,
and then to me, and sent SOMEONE ELSE to deliver it."

"Do you want me to pay for your chicken strips?" Like I would
prefer to pay for them, and for the "privilege" to be screwed
around like that.

"Yeah," I said, "I'd prefer it."

"Okay. You have a nice night then."

"Yeah, you too." I said, took the last bite of my chicken, and
walked out, penless, because she never got me one

I mean, I know that waiting tables isn't that easy- I used to do it.
I know that sometimes it can be stressful and busy, but good
lord- thirty minutes for something that should take six, and
then not ever EVER checking on your table? That's just plain
irresponsibility.

so anyway, yeah. *sighs* At least I got free food.

Don't ever take her as your waitress. This has been your PSA.
Now back to our regularly scheduled programming, already in
progress.

and have a GREAT day!