Rude customers are a common theme. Like customers who yell at waiters for no good reason, just because they had a bad day themselves. Another theme is unfair complaints, such as blaming the waiter for things like the kitchen being slow or the food not being exactly as they imagined when they ordered something very custom.
Well, customers' lack of understanding about how a restaurant works is a big theme. For example, some customers don't realize that during peak hours, food might take longer to come out. So they get angry at the waiter. Also, there are customers who have unrealistic expectations. They might expect a five - star service in a small, family - run diner. And of course, there are the difficult customers who make inappropriate remarks or behave inappropriately towards waiters, which is really a nightmare for waiters.
One horror story is when a waiter had a customer who was extremely rude. The customer kept changing their order multiple times and then complained about the wait when it was their own fault. When the food finally came, they found a small hair in it (which may not have been the waiter's fault at all) and demanded a full refund and screamed at the waiter in front of the whole restaurant.
Some 'waiter horror stories' involve food allergies gone wrong. A waiter takes an order from a customer with a severe allergy, passes it on to the kitchen correctly, but somehow there's a mix - up and the wrong dish is served. The customer has an allergic reaction, and the waiter often gets blamed, even if it was a kitchen error. There are also cases where customers change their orders multiple times, right when the food is almost ready. This causes a lot of chaos in the kitchen and delays for other customers. And let's not forget about those customers who are just plain impatient, constantly calling the waiter over and complaining about every little thing.
The main tasks of a waiter in a restaurant included receiving customers, guiding customers to their seats, providing menu and ordering services, serving dishes, pouring wine, changing cutlery, and paying for the bill. They were also responsible for assisting guests in solving problems during the meal, maintaining the cleanliness and cleanliness of the restaurant, and working closely with other employees. Restaurant waiters needed to have good professional ethics and discipline, be familiar with the menu and beverage knowledge, master service operation skills, and have basic hygiene knowledge. They should also have good communication and service skills, be able to provide excellent service, and ensure that customers have a pleasant dining experience in the restaurant.
One common horror story is when the host forgets your reservation. You show up excited for your meal, but they have no record of it. Then they either make you wait a long time or turn you away. It's really frustrating.
Bad customer service is also a big one. I went to a chain place where the waitress was rude. She rolled her eyes when we asked for more water and took forever to bring the check. It made the whole dining experience unpleasant.
Bad attitude from the staff is a common one. Like when they act impatient or rude towards customers. Another is getting the order wrong, whether it's the food or drinks. And slow service is also very typical. It can make the whole dining experience really unpleasant.
Well, overcharging is another one. Some restaurants add extra charges without proper explanation. I know of a case where a customer was charged double for a dish that was not supposed to be that expensive. And when they questioned it, the staff was very uncooperative, trying to make the customer feel like it was their fault for not understanding the menu properly.
One common element is finding foreign objects in the food. It could be hair, like in my soup story, or pieces of plastic, which is really dangerous. Another is food that is not cooked properly, either undercooked or overcooked. And of course, food that is not fresh, like the smelly oysters I had.
Another common horror story is about overcharging. Some restaurants add extra charges that are not clear to the customer. A friend of mine was charged for a side dish that was supposed to be included with the main course, and they didn't notice until they got the bill.