Quote Originally Posted by DonMike View Post
Dave Barry once wrote, "A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention. It never fails.)"

I used to hang out with this guy who was really nice, very generous and friendly. And he was always pulling out these free coupons or cashing in favors from management he knew at a lot of restaurants. As I got to know him it seemed that he had really bad luck wherever he went to eat because waiters and waitresses were always giving him attitude, messing up his orders, and giving him terrible service. Then he would talk about his "friends" who managed these places and how they would take care of everything. Then we ate out a few times. I noticed right away that he wouldn't even make eye contact with the waitress. No smile, no thank you's, it was like they were robots and he was just reporting his order. I mean, come on, these are real people. It takes nothing to give a little smile and say thank you when done. Than I found that his expectations of any restaurant were through the roof. If he didn't have a drink refilled within minutes of finishing it you would have thought someone had spit in it. If his food didn't come within a very short time of ordering, no matter how insanely busy they were, he'd get that look in his eye. And God forbid the waitress forgot something or the cook messed up his side dish. I soon came to realize that as nice as he was to me and my friends, he loved getting stuff by complaining. The sad thing is that I think he was raised like that and found it perfectly acceptable.

Needless to say, I don't really like eating out with him anymore.

This is going to turn into the opening discussion from Reservoir Dogs in a minute!

I have very high expectations for service when I go out to eat, but only b/cuz I used to be a waiter myself, and I was a GREAT waiter. I was always on top my tables. But of course there were always those nights where you would fuck up, and for those nights, I am also very lenient with wait staff. I know how hard it can be. I tip VERY well, but I also expect them to pay attention to me and be on top of my needs. I hate waiters who just ignore you the whole time you're there. But I am very good at talking to them and making eye contact. Even at the bloody drive-thru at McD's.