I have to admire some of the most hardworking people in America: servers. It’s a difficult job — standing on your feet for hours at a time; putting up with rude, stingy customers; having to be pleasant when you don’t feel well.
The best waitresses, of course, are those who are good actresses: the ones who crouch at the side of your table, call you “dear” or “honey” and act as though you are their long-lost friend. They make it look easy. The worst is the waiter who brings the wrong order, fails to check back until leaving the check or forgets to drop off that lemon or condiment you requested 20 minutes ago.
I always leave 15 to 20 percent, even for mediocre service because I know waiting on tables can be a grind for the person who relies on the generosity of customers. Most in the business are paid dollars below the minimum wage by their employees and must depend on customers to earn a decent living.
Even the best service can yield little in return. The customer may be mad at how long the food took to arrive or how the meal tasted. That client might be in a bad mood because of a run-in with the boss or spouse. The eater may just be naturally stingy. A friend who is a waitress told me that she recently received a 40-cent tip on a $19.60 bill. And then there’s the churchgoer who tips a dollar on a $20 tab and leaves a tract about becoming a Christian. That really makes somebody want to convert.
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