Everyone loves coming to Olive Garden for its unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks meal, but they don’t often realize how much work it is for a server. Me: “Are we ready to order folks?”
Guests: “Yes, we are going to make this real easy on you. We will have the unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks, please.”
When someone orders this unlimited deal, which is under ten dollars, it not only makes it physically more work for us but also annoys us more than any other entrée. This order makes more trips for us and less time for our other tables with higher bills. Check out this video. Although the language is a bit vulgar, and I would choose otherwise, it gets the point across.
Now check out this video. He has a great point. It is so conflicting to have such high-priced meals and then one low-priced meal at a restaurant that is supposed to be known as classy and prestigious. People come and order the unlimited deal when they want to be cheap and save money, but if you are really looking to save money, Olive Garden is not the place to go.
Sometimes people order an entrée that comes with unlimited soup OR salad. When this happens, it is safe to assume a guest will eat one bowl of soup or salad because they have an entrée coming out after. However, a lot of times guests will fill up on four or five bowls of soup and then just get the entrée boxed up so they have a meal for later. Legally this is okay, they have the right to eat as much as they want, but actually it is a lot of work for your server and most of the time, a tip is left that doesn’t match the work.
So while the bill is a lot lower when ordering soup and salad, it is more work for us than regular entrées; tip accordingly.
That video is the best! I hate getting SSB'd
ReplyDeleteThanks for the 100% coworker delight ;-D
I love the song that girl made! So amazing! Really does show how much work it really is.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you and completely understand where you are coming from but please understand that in this economy customers are going to go for the best value for their buck... I know it can be annoying but I would honestly tell you that you are a server and your job is to serve, your guests are not even required to tip, a tip is optional and you are lucky for every cent someone gives you for your service. I would say that you should blame the company and not the customer, the customer is there for the value and that is all, it's the company's idea and possible fault if that puts you in a position that you have to work harder and earn less, and I think that stinks. Most people won't tip more than 20% unless it is the best service they have ever had, if they are paying 6-10 dollars for a meal, you can't expect a large tip. I would think you should be upset with the company you work for if you are not satisfied with these prices offered rather than the consumer trying to make the most of the money in their wallet. May I sugguest a simple solution? If you are not making the money you want and are good at your job, look to serve somewhere more upscale where the average check price is higher or you are almost always guarenteed a set gratuity. No one is forcing you to serve at Olive Garden and if you don't think the amount of work you do is not worth your amount of tips than move on. Good Luck and best wishes.... Servers sometimes make out great and othertimes not so much, it's the nature of the business and I wish you the best in the future!
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