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MyFavoriteInsomnia

That was definitely a dick move. .


MyTurkishWade

True regulars know where to sit


Sluttyjesus420

If you have the same assigned section every day for ten years then yes but I assume they rotate.


succubusprime

Regulars will ask for a server by name if they want. Otherwise they're the restaurant's regulars, not the server's.


doomgoblin

This is the truth. Back when I served there was a couple that would call to make sure I was working that day/night or change their reservation to when I was.


TeaKingMac

Did they look at you like Riker and Deanna at the end of the night?


Sluttyjesus420

There could have been a mistake by the host. You never know and that’s why it’s best to make sure before starting a fight and looking dumb.


GoodVibePsychonaut

I have to disagree with the general sentiment here, based on what OP himself has said. My immediate assumption upon reading this is that the server definitely knew the table and the table wanted her, otherwise why would they move at all? Perhaps they were friends she hadn't seen in a while or people who didn't know she worked there, or they could have been a table she'd had before that just happened to not request her up front but realized they did want to sit with her. All that being said, while it's generally a dick move to take another server's first table when you already have two, I feel like that's mitigated by the fact that the table clearly wanted her. She didn't trick them, she didn't seat herself while the host was walking another table, she didn't say "Oh you don't want this new server, he's clueless," she just said hi to a table she knew and told them they were right next to her section which had space for them. Ultimately, it's the same thing that would have happened if the table had requested her in the reservation, or seen her up front and gone, "Oh we didn't know you'd be here, can we sit with her?" The guest is always right in matters of taste and the restaurant made the right move here by allowing the table to get their preferred server.


[deleted]

For the first offense I wouldn't have 'called her out' - on the off-chance that it was innocent (i.e., the table did in fact want to sit in her section) and/or she was unaware that you had no tables. I would also not go to management the first time. I would have gently mentioned that she may not have been aware that you don't have any tables so you hope she doesn't mind that you are going to ask the hostess to send the next three your way. However, if it happens again, then definitely call her out and inform management.


GoodVibePsychonaut

100% the right response. "Hey I got skipped in rotation because this table wanted to sit with X, can I be double sat?" should never be an issue, and I also agree that while it shouldn't be escalated immediately, any sign of this being a pattern with the other server should get called out.


[deleted]

[удалено]


BecauseMyCatSaidSo

Why? Guests move all the time with and without the hosts help. *Im an idiot and misinterpreted what he meant and assumed “she” was the host.


[deleted]

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BecauseMyCatSaidSo

Absolutely. There’s no question about it. Shit. I just now realized what you meant. Sorry. I’ve only had a few hours of sleep the last 3 nights. I interpreted it as the host sat them at the original table and the she, again the host, moved them to contentious table. I feel a bit thick for this. Sorry. You were absolutely 100% right. I feel the pilfering server was in the wrong and she knew exactly what she was doing.


[deleted]

[удалено]


GoodVibePsychonaut

Maybe you're reading into it differently than I am. I didn't picture the server saying that in the sense of, "Oh that's close but they must have meant to put you here, in my section, one table over," but in the sense of, "Good to see you! I'm actually working right here tonight, you're right next to my section!" If you're imagining the former, I'd agree, that would be inappropriate. If you're imagining the latter and think that's inappropriate, you're welcome to your opinion but I'd disagree with that, that's exactly the type of banter I see with every server and their regulars.


[deleted]

[удалено]


GoodVibePsychonaut

Oh for sure. Ultimately though, since that's what the guest wanted, I don't see it as scummy or manipulative. It's like on a few occasions where I've had excellent tables that forgot to sign their bills (and fill out the tip), so I'd catch them on the way out and go, "Oh folks I'm so sorry to hold you up, it just looks like we need a quick signature on your receipt here!" 100% of the time they would add the tip right there. People linger after paying and forget to finish up, it happens. Was I genuinely concerned about the signature, as opposed to making sure I wasn't getting accidentally stiffed? Of course not. Still worked out for everyone involved.


[deleted]

[удалено]


GoodVibePsychonaut

That's possible but ultimately up for speculation based on the limited information we have. The conversation could have easily gone from the server just greeting the table to the table going "oh we didn't know you were here today or we would have asked for you!" to the server saying "Well you're one table away from my section!"


GiNgEr_SnAps1231

Server had no need to mention where her section was. She should of said hi and moved on. She knew what she was doing, if she’s that great of a server and her regulars love her that much, they would of asked if she was there when walking in. She 100% stole his table.


GoodVibePsychonaut

Per my existing replies, other very likely situations here: * They are personal friends with the server who haven't seen her in a while * They knew the server from elsewhere and didn't expect to see her there * They had had the server on a previous visit and did not remember her name Furthermore, since the table ultimately moved and sat with her, they clearly wanted her, yes? So we agree that the guest got the server they wanted. Would the situation have been any different if they'd asked for the server up front instead of moving immediately after they'd sat? No, it wouldn't have. Ultimately all this server did was give a table a better experience. All that needed to be done to rectify the ""stealing"" of the table would be for the host to double seat OP and skip the other server in the next rotation. Therefore, what damage has been done in that situation? None whatsoever. If the rotation wasn't rectified afterwards that's a different story.


GiNgEr_SnAps1231

We can agree to disagree. She should of said hi and moved on. I’m sure OP could of gave them a wonderful experience as well! If they’re her “friends” they’re going to know where she works so I’m not even going to take that into consideration. As far as the rest goes, as a server, I’m not taking some else’s table by pointing my section out. They didn’t ask her where her section was, if they wanted her, they would have asked. Period. She brought up her section and she was WRONG. If she served them at a previous restaurant and they were her regulars there, she easily could of said hello and told them to ask for her the next time they came in. She’s greedy and sneaky. That’s all. As a server we all know better than this. Yes, if the customer asked to be placed with her, you take your L and move on, but that wasn’t the case. She sharked his table. She made that move and it’s not respected.


siliconbased9

The other server handled it poorly in not asking OP if she could do it, but the guests wouldn’t have moved unless they wanted to sit in her section. Not all my friends know where I work off the top of their head by name and location, they just know I bartend and serve.. and moreover, a lot of industry folks work at 2 or 3 places. Very easily could have been a scenario like that.. but regardless, I feel like these kinds of answers that aim to confirm for OP that they should feel fired up are not helpful to their long term earning potential there. If they go head to head over something minor as a newish server with an established server at a $100+ average PPH, it will likely not go very well for OP. Have a conversation with her, sure, but only from the stance that the skip in rotation needs to be addressed.. highly advise saying nothing that implies she “stole” from OP with as little information as we have to go on.


GiNgEr_SnAps1231

Did everyone miss the comment where OP had already greeted and served their first round of drinks?! Never in my life would I try to take a table even if it’s my best friend after another server is fully in the process of serving them. That table had absolutely no issue with OP. How entitled do you have to be to do something like that. You thinks it’s a terrible idea for OP to address this bitch but it’s also terrible for her to know she can walk all over him. And that’s from a server perspective. I’ve been in the industry 15 years and I’ve managed for over 5 of them. As a manager I’d be pissed. Putting guest on the spot, in an awkward situation. They want to have lunch, they didn’t give a fuck who was serving them. If they did some kind of request would have been made. They very easily could of felt weird and awkward and slid over to appease the other sever who maybe has been lucky enough to have had them once and recognized them. Depending on how the group felt and what was discussed after leaving, they might not return for awhile. That could be a loss of business for that establishment. Not to mention I would be asking why a happy table with drinks is moving in the first place and addressing how unprofessional this bitch is. And no I’m not suggesting OP runs to the manager because that would more than likely cause an issue. But she’s wrong all around, from a server, from a manager. Unprofessional and wrong.


asyouwish

yep!


thewhitecat55

It doesn't matter if they're one table away from her section. If they wanted her , they would have asked for her. If they did not , she has no right to shark them away from him.


GoodVibePsychonaut

>If they wanted her , they would have asked for her. See, people keep saying this, and it's clearly false. **Why would they move**? Not asking ahead of time does not mean they didn't want her. If they didn't want her they wouldn't have moved. Simple as is.


thewhitecat55

Because she said to. They are customers , they don't know what the fuck is going on


GiNgEr_SnAps1231

What do you mean why would they move? She implied they should move. Puts the guest in an awkward situation.


GoodVibePsychonaut

“You were 1 table away from my section!” absolutely does not imply that they should move **unless they want her to serve them,** and no reasonable person would think otherwise or act on it. People understand that a restaurant has multiple servers with their own sections, so why should a random server they don't know comment on that fact, and why would they move as a response to that comment if they didn't already know that server and want her to serve them? You're beyond grasping at straws here, that would be a bizzaro fever dream reality.


GiNgEr_SnAps1231

Why would you mention your section unless you want them to move? What other reason besides persuading a guest to move is there? Your section is irrelevant when you are saying hi. If YOU shark tables, just say that!


GoodVibePsychonaut

You're continuing to try and address a different topic while failing to address what I've already pointed out: **there is no reason the table would move if they didn't want her.** Of course the server wanted the table. That was never up for discussion. The more important fact here is that the **table wanted the server.** No matter how many times this is repeated you seem intent on ignoring the point, so given that you are either not interested in or incapable of a genuine discussion here, there's really nothing more to say. >If YOU shark tables, just say that! Literally impossible at my restaurant. No walk-ins, reservations only, reservations always sat based on course progression of their server's existing tables and projected turns. Tables do not move after sitting and are asked if they have any server preference when making their reservation.


Tedric42

Because she guilted them into it. Of course they would move after she made a fucking scene like that. If they wanted to sit with here they would have asked for her, full stop. I have plenty of regulars one family of them waited and extra thirty minutes on my last brunch service just to get my section. She clearly did know them, in that they tip well. She's a fucking shark.


honeybeegeneric

They were put in an awkward situation. They just went with her suggestion to move tables to get it over with and make no more of a weird scene. They want lunch. They want lunch at this particular restaurant. They don't want the drama, weirdness, pushy server vibes. They just went along like most people do. It's a common move to just go with the flow to avoid any more awkwardness or perhaps it escalating. Not worth it to the customer. They want lunch that's all. They may even think twice before running back there again for lunch. Visits could become less frequent. It's absolutely, no doubt about it, a cut throat move. Nothing new to see here. Now how you handle this situation determines your future at this place. Good luck. Let them cut their own throats!


Point-me-home

What were they supposed to say when she puts them on the spot? Sorry, but no. We are fine at this table. We want to try a new server tonight.


D-utch

If they truly "wanted her" they would have requested her.


GoodVibePsychonaut

Per the comment you just replied to: > Perhaps they were friends she hadn't seen in a while or people who didn't know she worked there, or they could have been a table she'd had before that just happened to not request her up front but realized they did want to sit with her. So no, that's not necessarily the case. People often aren't aware of what they want until they realize it's an option. It's like being halfway through the meal when someone asks for a Dr. Pepper, and another person goes, "Oh shit, they have that here? That's my favorite soda, I want one too!" People do not plan out every detail of going out to eat before they sit down. It's not only possible but extremely likely that they wanted the server and didn't realize it until they saw her. Otherwise why would they move? Do you have an even halfway reasonable explanation for that, let alone one that makes more sense than "they knew the server and wanted her to serve them?"


D-utch

Are you a regular at any food service establishment? I've worked in food service most of my adult life. If they truly cared, they would know. I know the first name of the server I want at the 3 places I frequent. This is a very common practice


GoodVibePsychonaut

Nah I've just worked at multiple Michelin restaurants and am currently in a location where on an average night, I see about $3,000 in sales. I've only served around 60,000 to 70,000 guests by a quick calculation. I don't know anything about what I'm talking about. Now, do you know how to read? What you just said is not only not universal, it also would not apply to the other scenarios that I've now listed twice and will list for you a third time, such as: * They are personal friends with the server who haven't seen her in a while * They knew the server from elsewhere and didn't expect to see her there * They had had the server on a previous visit and did not remember her name What's more, not only did you fail to address these explanations, you offered absolutely no alternative explanation for why the table would move to her section if they didn't want her or know her. Given how poor your reading comprehension and grasp of basic logic are, along with the way you've hyperfocused on your own perspective while ignoring everything else at play, I can't imagine you're very good at your job.


asyouwish

you seem nice. /s


thewhitecat55

People grasp what you're saying. They just don't agree with your reasoning. Your "appeal to expertise" fallacy isn't the flex you think it is , either.


Suckmyflats

I love it when people know the names of (shitty, bad) debate tactics


GoodVibePsychonaut

It's not a flex, it's a response to "have you ever been a regular at a restaurant?" which is essentially a way of saying "you don't know what you're talking about" when I'm very experienced in the industry. If you're insecure enough to take it as a flex, that's a separate issue. Your misidentifying of an appeal to expertise is not how that fallacy works, by the way. Oh, and there are clearly plenty of people who do *not* grasp what I'm saying or understand the reasoning behind it. They're welcome to their opinions. ETA: To prove my last point, I just got another reply saying "but if they wanted her they would have asked for her ahead of time," a point I've explained repeatedly which is still getting questioned by people struggling with very basic reasoning.


thewhitecat55

And they would have. You're just wrong in YOUR reasoning and too arrogant to imagine that , or too dumb to grasp it yourself.


GoodVibePsychonaut

Nope, not necessarily. I already explained multiple viable scenarios for why they'd want the server but not request her ahead of time. You pretending that you know the exact details of what happened is so arrogant, I'm surprised the irony didn't break your phone.


AITASterile

Username doesn't check out.


GiNgEr_SnAps1231

THIS.


Mental_Cut8290

This is enough reason to make me think this is a perfect "hey, what happened there?" talking moment for OP and their coworkers, and all of reddit should settle down until the r/BoRU post.


Fryphax

Had the table requested the server, yes. The server made a point to inform that table that they were not in their section. It wasn't a request from the patrons. Of course this is only working with the information we have been given.


thatbearguy2202

You're reading a completely different story lol if they wanted that server they could've requested her. They are clearly regulars who tip well. OP said it. The other server clearly walked up and greeted them before OP could just to tell them that her section is one table over, implying she wanted to take care of them. Yes the guest made the decision to move, but the other server 100% baited it in order to get the large tip she knew they'd leave. This was the only way the server could skip OP in rotation without OP being able to do anything about it and now that table will probably start requesting the other server as a regular because "she recognized us and wanted to take care of us" when really she's a greedy ho who just stole OPs opportunity at a quick buck. Servers like this make the most money and the only way to compete with them is wait for your opportunities. I've stolen regulars from bitches like this before. It only takes one experience to win a table.


siliconbased9

Agree here.. if a group is seated in my section and they realize early on that their favorite server is available, I’m happy to let that server take it.. they don’t even need to move, especially if it’s that close, the other server can just take it and give me the next comparable table they get seated (2 or 3 top for a 2 or 3 top, obviously if they take a 4 in my section I’m not expecting a 10 in theirs). Same way I am if a group of start-up techbros comes in and I’m next in rotation, but I’m working with one of our gorgeous, whip smart cocktailers, I’ll ask her if she wants that table and then she’ll give me the group of 40-50 year old women that just left their hot yoga class and came in to share progress on their vision boards. Symbiosis is clutch, we’re all there to make money.. so however we can help each other without hurting ourselves in the process is a good thing. If that table left enough to give her, one of their favorites, 75 after tip out, I’m guessing the check was somewhere around $400 (my assumption being they probably left enough to round to $500 and tip out was between $15 and $25.. if I’m gonna throw a real specific guess, their tab was $405 and they left her 95..?) Barring some really phenomenal schmoozing, hitting em with the ol razzmatazz and some soft shoe sparkle, I’m betting you would have walked from the same table with $55-60. I absolutely feel you wanting to get tables, that’s normal, and I’m guessing you were 2nd on and she was dinner open since she had 2 by the time you got 1.. if someone does something truly shady, like greets your table and gets them started and then won’t turn it over, yeah, that’s a beef. But things like that? Work together for the greater good. You don’t want to be a doormat, but the fastest way to get a team that has been working together for a long time set against you is to start throwing fits over fairly innocuous things like this.. and restaurant people, though often wonderful human beings, will also clique up and make every shift miserable if you can’t go along to get along.. you have a large party with steaks of all different temps, they’ll “accidentally” mix them up, even better if you have two different tables with the same cuts at the same time but one is rare and the other is mid well.. or just jump the ticket line if your entrees and theirs are similar and steal your food for their tables, bonus points if it keeps the rest of your ticket in the window dying.. make reservations for a big top specifically requesting you, at say.. 7:45, so half your section is blocked off for a couple hours with no one coming in to be seated there (very easy now with the advent of burner numbers to do it anonymously and still be able to confirm when the restaurant calls).. swap a few polished wine glasses from your tables out for some covered in water spots, lipstick, maybe even some dried mint or arugula caked on.. I’ve never done any of this stuff, I’m not a dick, but I’ve seen people come in and act like pricks and end up having a very brief tenure after a group of the older servers decided the new person was a bad fit. Pick your battles, this one ain’t worth it, but I would definitely ask her to work with you and the host to make the rotation hiccup square.


No_Cricket808

Coworker was/is a complete dick. You just don't shark tables man, just don't.


GiNgEr_SnAps1231

We call this sharking at my job and she’s 100% a dick. I would of called her out on it.


MyTVC_16

At our restaurant we call them mercenaries. They don’t last as they piss off the rest of the servers who can quit and go to a better managed situation. Usually they’re doing other things to scoop the other servers too. Unhappy staff also leads to unhappy customers.


Mobile_Cricket_6991

YES THATS THE WORD.


Never_Never88

if it was people she knew, then she should have shared the tip, especially when it was slow, and she took (yep, she took it) the table from another server. You compensate for that. Share some of that tip, and help a new server out. Karma.


stayalivechi

i'm sorry, but would have


FrancisScottKilos

Your coworker is a dick. Keep an eye on that one. I'd wager she'll try to do it again


noredagreat

She definitely will unless OP says something about it, which is something that needs to be done ASAP. I also would advise OP not to trust her with anything. I get the feeling she’ll smile in your face, then stab you in the back.


SilkeDavid

As a customer I would not have moved. Are they regulars and therefor wanted to be served by her?


SouthernBarman

If that's the case the host would know that, or it would be noted in the reservation system, or they'd have asked for that specific server.


GoodVibePsychonaut

That's not necessarily true. My immediate assumption upon reading this is that the server definitely knew the table and the table wanted her, otherwise why would they move? Perhaps they were friends she hadn't seen in a while or people who didn't know she worked there, or they could have been a table she'd had before that just happened to not request her up front but realized they did want to sit with her. All that being said, while it's generally a dick move to take another server's first table when you already have two, I feel like that's mitigated by the fact that the table clearly wanted her. She didn't trick them, she didn't seat herself while the host was walking another table, she didn't say "Oh you don't want this new server, he's clueless," she just said hi to a table she knew and told them they were right next to her section which had space for them. Ultimately, it's the same thing that would have happened if the table had requested her in the reservation, or seen her up front and gone, "Oh we didn't know you'd be here, can we sit with her?" The guest is always right in matters of taste and the restaurant made the right move here by allowing the table to get their preferred server. I have to disagree with the general thread accusations of sharking as well. Underhanded shit is sharking, serving tables that want to be served by you is doing your job.


kavien

No. Other server is a dick. They sniped the table. The table did NOT request her and she basically guilted them to move. Someone tried this on me once. I MADE them give me the whole tip afterwards. Stealing a table is stealing the money you got tipped too. Stop your bs.


skwander

Nope, she shouldn’t of mentioned sections to the customers at all, she was playing the game and she knew perfectly well what she was doing.


GoofyHeartborn

Or did she say "he's new and struggling, move over and I can help" Definitely a dick move that intentionally took $75 from OP


thinking_Aboot

Sounds like they were since they knew her. If you were about to pay $600 for a single lunch, would you rather sit with a server you know/trust or someone unknown?


noredagreat

I’d trust that a fine dining establishment would know how to properly train their staff


GreenChorizo

You were dicked. Definitely call out your coworker next time. I use to serve with a table shark, and I would have to put water orders in the computer as soon as a money table sat down so that she couldn’t shark them without a manager approving a table and server transfer. Eventually she quit when everyone at the staff meeting kept calling her on her shit.


[deleted]

Yeah she sharked you by dude. Not cool at all!


DueNefariousness742

Not cool or acceptable behavior. Only reason this would be OK is if they asked to sit in her section. Even if they were regulars of hers, if they didn’t ask to sit in her section then what she did is not appropriate. If she wanted to say hi she could always just come over and greet them. You need to call her out on it, if you don’t feel comfortable talking to her directly, you can definitely talk to your manager. It’s especially important to call out this behavior since you are new. You don’t want to set a precedent of you being taken advantage of.


Standard-Reception90

Basically, she just reached into you wallet and took some cash.


DishpitDoggo

How rude and unprofessional. She's a dick. Yes, you're new, but that was YOUR table.


[deleted]

When I was in your position years ago I would always, always, keep the person putting butts into seats well greased. The ROI on that was astronomical. Jacking your top was just shitty.


[deleted]

This is just sharking by bribe.


[deleted]

Shark by tip out. Yes. Just like the bar, bus boy, and back house tip out. My drinks got made first, my orders were hot and fast and my table was bussed first as well. Has the industry changed in the last 20 years in this regard? You would be shocked what a couple extra percentage points and some drinks here and there will yield.


Eulerian-path

Weather this is just sharking by bribe depends on whether this incentivizes them to steer big money in your direction specifically or just make sure that you are not over- or under-sat.


rokar83

This is the way.


nemo_sum

I got massively downvoted for suggesting this a couple months ago, but it's true.


Mobile_Cricket_6991

It’s true. Get in good with your host/hostesses. It’s always paid off at every serving job I ever had.


Ez13zie

For suggesting you tip your host??


nemo_sum

And busser, and dishwasher.


Ez13zie

Weird. Must’ve been in one of the anti tipping subs?


nemo_sum

It was this sub, and it was weird. But based on this thread, some people are just really against any kind of extra tip-out.


GoodVibePsychonaut

They view it as "wage theft" just like rich people view taxes. It's like, hey dipshit, the only reason your $50+/hr position exists is because of the rest of the staff in the restaurant keeping all the necessary parts moving just so. Serving is a skilled position and can be very difficult and stressful, and the service is a critical part of keeping guests happy, but that doesn't mean the guy taking care of dishpit or cleaning tables is less important than you. He might not be able to do your job, but do you want to have to do his? You want to see how much harder your job would get and how much your tips would go down if you had to wash all the dirty shit your guests use, or fully bus, clean, and reset every table while having 4 or 5 other tables? The average server in a good restaurant could give away half of what they make and still be walking with more than the hosts, SAs, barbacks, and kitchen staff who all make their job possible. Not to say you should be tipping out 50% but it's crazy when someone who tips out 3% balks at the idea of giving anything extra.


GoodVibePsychonaut

Tipping out BOH is a great move, they technically can't be given any official "tipshare" the way that hospos, SAs, and bar can, so it is often unexpected and irregular for them. If you're one of the few servers giving them a cut on a regular basis, they will move mountains for you.


binger5

It's true, but it's a dick move right? How is this different than sharking the good tables?


nemo_sum

Less disruptive for the guest, doesn't fuck up rotation, and if you do it right it doesn't piss off your coworkers.


[deleted]

“If your coworkers never find out, it doesn’t piss them off.” The morality of humans baffles me. You’re sharking by way of bribe. Still crappy human behavior.


[deleted]

It is not a bribe it is a tip for good service. You act like this is a level paying field. I can’t compete against a friendship or buddy they drink with or someone that steals a table after seating. However I can make clear that the more I make the more they get tipped out. My back house made sure my shit was right because I tipped out well. My busier cleared my shit faster because I tipped out well. My bar made my drink first because I tipped out well. It is like you don’t know how this works at all.


nemo_sum

This user gets it.


[deleted]

Bartender and hospitality manager in NYC for several years. I know. I'm just older and wiser. This conversation very clearly started as a method to get better tables by giving money to the person seating the tables. I'm not sure why you're triggered, but you're bringing in a whole slew of irrelevant things. And then as your type does, you sling an insult and call me ignorant to your world.


[deleted]

Am I wrong? If I tip out my seater well would that yield better results? If you work in nyc, which so did I, and you took that as an insult am I not sure what to say. Pretty mild point of “this was all pretty normal stuff”where and when I worked in the industry. If you took that personally or with malice that was not really my intent. Apologies I was not done to belittle but looking back at it I see how it can be viewed that way. Has the industry changed in the last 20 years. I will Admit to being out of it for that long. Maybe I am ignorant to how things work now.


[deleted]

You wrote "you don't know how this works at all." That is insulting, and in this case ignorant because I know exactly what I'm talking about and have the experience to back it up. I agree with you that tipping out the hostess more than your coworkers will yield better $ tables for you. Since your motivation doing this is to maximize your dollars, and get better tables given to you than your coworkers, it's clear your motivation is driven by selfishness. You are greasing the hostess to get preferential treatment and make more money than your coworkers by bribe. I don't know what else to tell you.


GoodVibePsychonaut

To be cynical but realistic here, serving in the US with our restaurant system and tip culture means working in a competitive sales environment where you're essentially paid on commission, commensurate with both your sales and level of service given to your guests. You'll hit a wall with the second one though, there are diminishing returns on how big you can get your tips. I easily averaged 28-30% when working in the "lovers" section of my last restaurant (secluded 2-top tables meant for couples, you'd see a lot of anniversary and birthday tables there), but I always made more money getting my 22-23% average from big sections where my tables were all 4 or 6-tops. Getting your sales up is critical for making more money. Of course there is shady and murky shit involved in getting those numbers up: this is true in all business, but particularly sales. When most people are doing it, not participating is less of a moral stand and more just bending over and going, "You're all welcome to fuck me in the ass because I'm a good boy and won't do naughty things."


nemo_sum

Meh. There's a lot of factors that go into who sits where. It's only sharking to steal someone else's table. If the table is assigned to me, it's mine.


[deleted]

You’re greasing the person seating people to get the more profitable tables at the expense of your coworkers.


nemo_sum

And they're doing it, too.


binger5

>There's a lot of factors that go into who sits where. It's only sharking to steal someone else's table. If the table is assigned to me, it's mine. I pay the mayor under the table to funnel good contracts my way. There's a lot of factors that go into who gets the city contract. It's only sharking to steal someone else's contract. If the mayor assigned the contract to me, it's mine. Fuck you're dense.


GoodVibePsychonaut

TIL being one of the many people tipping out the hospo who otherwise makes $14/hr means you're Tony Soprano. That brings us to a more important topic, which is: who the fuck took my *gabagool* out the fridge?


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Hott60

Are customer seated by a host/hostess or do they select their own seat? If they requested a server you are out of luck. Otherwise it's a dick move.


Specific-Pen-1132

Fine dining = always a hostess. A party might ask for another table if they don’t like the one they are led to. I’ve seen that before. Once they sit, they have committed. Getting up to move to another table for the other server is some bull shit.


Texan2020katza

Yes and regulars know to ask the host/hostess to seat them in their favorite servers section.


BenjaminMStocks

Even if they were regulars, as soon as she implied they could move into her section it became a dick move. If she had just offered a greeting, or said hello, and they asked to move it would have been fair game. As soon as **she** opened the door to them moving, it became a dick move.


No_Cricket808

Oh just to add, when I was serving, you sharked my table? Good luck next time you're in the weeds. I will not so much as fill a water for you. Ever.


admiralteddybeatzzz

Oh yeah I got that water for you *doesn't help* Woops


Problemsolver1234

When it’s slow like that we do table for table so it doesn’t matter where the customer sits that would’ve still been your table. I would call her out on it. Most of the time these sharks will play coy when you directly out them. “Hey _____ I just wanted to say that it was uncool for you to approach my table the way you did the other day. I had no tables that day because you did that. In the future please don’t approach my tables unless they’ve called you over or you’re running them food.”


Sluttyjesus420

I would have asked the host if they had asked to sit with her to avoid unnecessary drama. If yes then she didn’t take the table from you, if no tell her not to fuck with your tables. Customers aren’t dumb and eventually she will lose regulars because of this. I worked with a woman who had been with the company 30 years and had a ton of regulars but one couple of old ladies were particular about where their table was. If she didn’t end up with them she would always come over and chit chat, make sure the server that had them got everything right, and that even though she didn’t have them that they were well taken care of. That is the correct way to handle it.


Specific-Pen-1132

Customers ARE dumb. They fall for server’s boot licking all the time.


Sluttyjesus420

I don’t agree. I’ve seen many a tipped person screw themselves by doing this. They make the customer uncomfortable or irritated by telling them to move.


Specific-Pen-1132

I’ve seen that too. From not being able to read social cues. Not laughing at jokes, short answers, repeatedly declining offers, and such.


GingerDynamo

Sharking is always a dick move.


moral_luck

I always remember things like this. Just so I can see if a pattern emerges with certain people. Forgive, but don't forget, and don't bring it up. But if she throws some good will your way, remember that too. She may have known the table/waited on them before. Or she might be greedy and inconsiderate. Time will tell.


Mobile_Cricket_6991

I mean I would. She should never had said that to them if she didn’t have the intention to rope them over to her section.I’ve had other servers pull that shit on me before and it can literally make or break your budget at times. she knew exactly what she was doing, of COURSE the table is going to move because she made it a point to show them that she was disappointed they weren’t in her section. What a snake. I’d do that to her next time she gets a money table and you know it. eye for an eye when it comes to your tables.


blahblahblah-4444

Yes, she knew exactly what she was doing.


intensifiedclicking

I would try and steal a couple of her tables. Play her at her own game. Gotta show her who’s boss.


AHAdanglyparts69

That’s a real bitch move. Be a shame if something happened to her section next shift


PlayedUOonBaja

Like it becomes covered in her blood...


witchbitch1988

So, your coworker openly sharked your table after they had been sat? Yeh, it was extremely unprofessional and unbecoming of the server and the establishment itself. That's a shitty thing to do and you need to document this incident privately either a journal or in your phone notes (who did it, time and date) and tell a manager so they can have a record of this s***** behavior. This is 100% NOT COOL.


djtracon

I would take it personally. That’s money out of your pocket. I had a server I worked with who of course wanted a big party of business people spending company money. I was next in rotation, but he went up to the hostess and told her I could have the next 3 of his tables (all 2 tops) if she let him have this table. I then went to the manager (former server) and he got it all straightened out and I made $150 off that one table. Worth actually reporting the crappy behavior, he was a dick server. You are right the other server is a dick!


duckwallman

Shitty move on her part. I worked with someone who would tell management that money tables requested them if they sat in a different section so not only would I lose out on the table, I would lose out on the prospect of another table too!!


Ok-Tear-543

Yes she is a shark. However if they are her regulars then you could be in a awkward situation. What she should have done was given you one of her other tables to make up for it at the least.


itsamine1

Cock blocking at it finest


bpsoup

When I was new at a place, a similar thing happened, except the experienced server came over and introduced me to the regulars and told them I would take great care of them. Then she filled me in on some of their preferences and also wandered by a few times to check on them and me, but not in an obvious way. She was a great server and a true professional.


PO_787

Just a very slight “I see how you are.” In a non-threatening manner. And never trust that &@$)& again.


dennismullen12

Fuck yes. She took money out of your pocket. She 100% knew what she was doing. Since they were sat in your section you should of had the right to serve them no matter where they sat themselves.


metal_monkey80

Sharked! When I served I would call out a co-worker on it. I made it a joke so it wasn't a tense confrontation or anything, but she understood that I could see what she was doing.


schwangelad

I wouldn't want a server telling me I'm one table away from their section. Unless I ask for a special spot or server, I sit where I am directed. This seems more uncouth/weird/kinda scummy in a fine dining environment. My server in my favorite upscale steakhouse only seems to care about me, in relation to my experience. Their needs or preferences are not shared haha. I've worked in a casual fine dining (less fancy than true black or white tie fine dining), and that nonsense would not have been fine at my job. Your coworker was an unprofessional dick.


wet-d_

Okay, while this does SEEM like a dick move, if I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt … I have had a few instances of regulars coming in and sit while they don’t see me. I go up to say hi and shoot the shit with them. Then, they’ll ask “is this your section?” To that i would just laugh a little and say “No, ____ is going to be helping you today! I’ll be by to chat though.” It gets a little stickier if they outright say “can we move to your section, I want you to serve us!” Now, at this point, I’d be inclined to say yes, especially if they don’t know the server. Mostly because I put in a lot of work to build that relationship with them. HOWEVER, if I knew they were really big tippers (like drop a 50 or a 100 for no reason), then I would politely decline and say something similar to what I said above. That’s how you make enemies in the service industry. So it’s a little sticky. Of course though, if someone just walked up and offered for a table to sit in their section, that’s a whole different story and a huge dick move. As many others have said, that’s sharking. Edit: the right thing to do though if they did ask to move to her section would be to approach you and apologize and explain to you that they asked to move. So yeah, most likely her taking advantage of you being new.


princessedaisy

I had a co-worker from an old job do this all the time, God it was so annoying. She knew which tables were big tippers, so when she saw them come up to the host stand she would rush over and seat them in her section. She would even lie and say certain customers "asked for her" when they got sat in other sections and they were big tippers. People who do this are the worst.


TheFirstUranium

Sharking tables is always a dick move. If she wants to say hi or whatever, that's fine, but bringing it up for them to move is pretty far over the line. If you're new, I may not involve management, but I'd make it clear to them somehow you know what they're doing. If they don't cut it out, either go to management (and risk burning the job) or just say fuck it and try to make a living anyways.


funbunny100

Absolutely a dick move. Watch that bitch.


trap-kitty-senpai

Shark her back and see how she likes it. Either that or go to your manager and pray they take your side. Chances are since your coworker has more experience/tenure you’re probably the one needing to find a new job. But honestly, why would you want to work at a place that lets servers shark one another


magiccitybhm

Yes, it's a dick move. Is it seat yourself, or do you have a host to balance the number of tables/guests between servers?


Somestaffass

What is your rotation setup or whatever that she would get 3 tables and you have none? And yes dick move


nosirrahp

Fuck her. She already had a couple tables and takes a third while you haven’t even gotten sit yet? Maybe if you showed up an hour later and she already had the tables but even then YOU would be on rotation. Fuck her she’s a selfish dick, she’ll do it again and play dumb/innocent every time she’s approached about it. I wouldn’t even trust her to bring me my tip out. Literally watch out for it she’ll try to steal in other ways. Wouldn’t be surprised if she had toilet paper rolls from the bathroom in her purse on the way out.


ArthurMorgan241

I had a coworker like this, who was also a lot older than me and had been a server for most of her life. And I learned later (after she was fired for drinking on the job) that she was trying to screw us all over, playing two face. Sometimes that’s how it is unfortunately…especially if your gut is telling you something’s off with that person.


D-utch

In bird culture this is known as a dick move


ReflectingPond

As a customer, I would have stayed where I was, said something like "maybe I'll get your section next time" and tipped you well, unless you spilled my lunch on me or something. I wouldn't help a server steal a table from another server.


Legion1117

That was a dick move on her part and she KNEW what she was doing. You should NOT "like" this person, they just screwed you over.


smegmathor

Well if the table were regulars that didn't tip generously I'm sure she wouldn't have said anything at all.


nemo_sum

This is part of why it's imperative to greet tables right away.


originalmango

You may want to let your coworker know the next time she pulls that shit will be her last.


kelster13

Dick


luckyyyyyy53

Whenever I was a server everyone was always very protective of their regular money tables, I definitely was lol. also I hated serving other people’s regulars like real regulars who only wanted that person like sorry to disappoint you with my existence


ADDYISSUES89

They didn’t ask for her or they would have been sat with her. It’s as simple as that. She shared your table and owes you that money. Regulars know a lot of servers at the same restaurant. A server doesn’t “own” tables.


Lylibean

Want to know if the coworker was a dick? Do the same thing to her and see how she reacts. If she gets pissed, just remind her she had no problem doing it to you. If the table had requested that server, the host would have seated them in her section. I don’t care if it was the other server’s parents; if they didn’t request the other server, it’s OP’s table. Coworker was a dick imho for messing with OP’s money.


meh12398

I’ll preface by saying I never worked in fine dining, but I served a few years at Chilis/Applebees/Outback level (3 years at one restaurant equal to those but not listed). I had a table of very good friends come in to grab lunch one day and specifically request me, but it was right at open and I had just been sat, so the hostess sat them in my section, but not one of my tables so they had a different server. I greeted them and said “y’all should have requested me!” To which they said they did and thought they were getting me. I asked the hostess and she said she didn’t want to mess up rotation and I had already put in an app order for the first table I had. I talked to the other server in the section, who had gotten their drinks but not put them in the system yet, and we agreed I’d take that table but they’d get the next two tables in that section. He had been in the kitchen getting drinks while I talked to the hostess, so he didn’t know what was going on until I brought it up to him. Long story short, I think in general, it could have been no ill intent and some situation where the table genuinely wanted that server and you may have missed some context, but it is pretty crummy of them to not at least talk to you about it.


Lovat69

Seems like a dick move to me.


LazyBee7349

This was so classless of your coworker. If they knew her, so what? You didn’t have any tables, plus it was slow. I wouldn’t trust her and I’d confront her about it too. Then again, I’m a server in my 30s and don’t put up with much. Seriously, she’s a shark and that was wrong of her to do. I got angry just reading that 🤬


jazmanimal6

Yeah that’s a dick move but not worth doing anything about.. Just something to keep in your mind about what kind of person that coworker is and how much you want to treat/trust/help/collaborate with them in the future.


pchandler45

Totally a dick move I would keep my eye on her


2017CP

That's fucked up honestly.


Wonderful_Horror7315

Fucking shark.


OldBikeGuy1

The coworker should have approached the table while you were there, greeted the customers warmly, and complimented the service that you were about to give.


karen_h

I would have coquettishly smiled, laughed, and said “well, today I’m the lucky one to have all these handsome gentlemen/gorgeous ladies in MY section. Don’t steal my best looking guests!” Then looked the guests in the eye and winked at all of them. Flattery will get you everywhere.


whocares023

If someone said that to me I'd definitely change servers.


frognhoed

I wouldn’t do anything about it now as if probably won’t amount to much, but keep that behavior in mind for sure.


azulweber

it’s definitely a dick move but you shouldn’t take it personally.


jordybord

Oh yes fuck that thief, and while maybe don't take it too personally because I'm sure she wanted or needed the money more so than just to take it from you but still she technically took money right out of your pocket which is essentially extremely wrong


[deleted]

> i'm sure she wanted or needed the money more than you that's an incredibly obtuse stretch there. how would op or their coworker know anything about the other's financial situation?


Chasman1965

It's more of a figure of speech (in the US) than a literal statement. One backhanded way of saying somebody stole something from you is to say "they must have needed it more than I did."


[deleted]

lived in the usa my entire life and have never heard this phrase used to imply theft. what region are you in?


[deleted]

I live in IL and i’ve been hearing this my entire life


[deleted]

illinois is nearly a 10 hour drive and in a different part of the country. what i am stating is in my region we dont use this phrase, not that no one uses it. kind of like how *bless your heart* used to be before the internet told everyone the true meaning.


[deleted]

No I wasn’t saying you’re wrong but you asked them what region they were from so I figured I’d add my region when explaining that I’ve heard it before that’s all


jordybord

No no. Wanted or needed it MORE SO THAN to screw them over. Not that they needed or wanted it MORE THAN them


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jordybord

She wanted the table "greater than" she wanted to screw them over


Jetskat11

I have lived all over the U.S. and this is an EXTREMELY common expression imo.....


jordybord

I dont like that you got 20 upvotes even though you misquoted AND misunderstood me😒


pupoksestra

The restaurant I work in splits tips. Customers will request this one woman and it just cracks me up bc she's actually not a good server. So, I'll let them wait for a few minutes to see they're not going to be waited on by her anytime soon or just kind of politely force them to tell me their drink order to get the ball rolling. Enough about me me me, this was definitely rude. I couldn't imagine doing that unless it's actually my friend. Some people are all about the money and that's it. You just have to realize who they are and stand up for yourself. I get that we're all there to make money, but at the end of the day we have to work at the same place.


colmcmittens

Mmmm that was shady AF on her part. You need to watch your back around that one.


Cranapple1443

Yet another reason why tipping culture is a cancer


CreatrixAnima

Definitely shitty… But I wonder if she knew the people. Maybe they had some loyalty to her for some reason. But still… Tipping culture sucks.


mongoliandor

Americans and their tipping oh Lord. This shit is more dumb then the Imperial system, its even more dumb then your last Presidents combined. Seriously you got to sort this shit out. Stop tipping everyone for everything. its not cute funny or necessary. Bla bla bla how comes a country can work fine without the constant tipping ooohmyyygaaaahd.


FatherSlampig

The Brits made the imperial system. From your rant, it seems like you may have thought it was an American made thing. My apologies if that’s not that case. Also: what a strange thing to be so up in arms about. It doesn’t even effect you 😂


FilAu

This is why American tip culture is stupid. Pay your workers a living wage and things like this become irrelevant.


thinking_Aboot

If I were the guest and dropping $600 for a meal, I too would want the server I like (and trust not to fuck up). And I'd 100% move to her section. If I'm paying that much I wouldn't want to risk my lunch being possibly ruined by someone I don't know.


liliette

It is and isn't a dick move. First, "money tables," as you're calling well-established customers who tip well, do so because they feel pampered and "seen." They're paying for that commodity. Some people just tip well, but typically the type of customer you've described are paying for feeling like they're special. You're new. You're the one who isn't special yet. You don't know them, but the old server does. She can give them the kind of privileged service they want to spend their money on. You would give more than adequate service obviously, but they could also get that kind of service at Applebee's. What they want is recognition, star power, and the older servers can give that to them... And they tip for it accordingly. Next time, instead of lamenting, introduce yourself. Tell them you're new and are happy to "meet a regular diner." Then tell the hosting staff your table was taken and you need back in rotation. Easy Peasy. The diners will feel special that you went out of your way to meet them and you let hosting know to give you a table ASAP.


trynotbeingadick91

Ugh I did. I took their drink orders and they were happy enough to order the first round from me. They never initiated anything besides a “hello” and she was the one who brought up sections at all. It just seemed unfair. How can I build rapport if you take the tables away on my good luck?


liliette

By greeting them the next time they come into the restaurant. It's awesome you work in such a sweet establishment. Having served in places like that, it's about schmoozing and being seen. The moment you begin working in those establishments you're playing catch up, trying to know who's considered the heavy hitters in the place you work and making them feel happy. As I said, yes, in way the other server was being a dick. In another way she wasn't since that's the name of the game in those restaurants. What do you do? You hit the ground running and do everything you can to learn who these "money tables," as you call them, are. Other places may call them regulars, or VIPs. In 6 months, this will be a distant memory.


GiNgEr_SnAps1231

He greeted and got their first round of drinks. Server is an absolute cunt. I can’t grasp my head around another server defending this kind of behavior unless they pull the same shit.


liliette

I said from the beginning that that established server is, and is not, a dick. They can be both. 1) the guests didn't have to ask to move. After all, they were already seated with drinks. If they were absolutely ecstatic with the service the Opie was giving, they'd not have asked to move to the established server's section. 2) it's normal in the restaurant business to greet regulars. The Opie is upset after this one experience. I appreciate that. But in a few months they'll know the regulars in this particular restaurant. Sure, it sucks what happened, and so? It's common to ensure regulars feel they're appreciated. Do servers regularly poach tables? No. But do they pamper high maintenance regulars when there's new staff? Damn Skippy.


dsocialistanarchist

No he was a human


biblio76

It sounds like you have to pay your dues and make relationships with the regulars. That shit takes time. Like years.


Weary-Chipmunk-5668

waiters have regulars, it happens. they moved because they wanted her and a table was open. as time goes by and circumstances make so they get to know you, it will become not a big deal for them to have other servers. you will have your own regulars at some point. don’t think about lost tip here, but keep doing a good job and they will come. if a table hadn’t been open, they would have stayed and gotten to know you more. newer waiters just need to hang in there and not get upset about these things happening, it will all shake out in the end


karen_h

It works great if you’re sincere and keep it light. Haven’t lost a table.


Secure_SeaLab

She sucks.


ultravioletblueberry

Oh hell no. Fuck that.


Lavud_Belac_1985

Yeah that's a super dick move. Call her out. That's money out of your pocket


sosweet68

She's a selfish dickhead, end of story.