Most servers agree that certain customer behaviors irk them, such as ordering water that goes untouched or being dog-whistled at to get their attention. One server reveals why customers who snatch a drink off a server’s tray without their permission grind her gears.
“Never take a drink off of a server’s tray unless you hear the words, ‘please take this from off of this tray’ come out of the server’s mouth,” TikTok creator @housecatchronicles begins the video.
Regardless of whether your drink is the first one on the tray, her position still stands.
“When a server is standing in front of your table, holding a tray brimming with drinks, and your drink happens to be right there in front of your face, that is not an invitation for you to then take your drink off of that tray,” she explains. “Your drink will end up in front of you in mere moments. Just wait.”
Why does this irritate her so much?
Since servers have to balance the drinks, an impatient customer can make it a recipe for disaster.
“Because that server has that tray balanced in their hand. Everything on that tray has been arranged in a specific way in order to achieve that balance,”@housecatchronicles elaborates. “When you snatch your brimming martini off of a tray filled with other brimming martinis, you’re not only going to get your drink but you’re gonna get everyone else’s, too.”
Essentially, the content creator urges customers to wait. “Part of being a good server is being efficient. Part of being a good guest is being patient,” she concludes.
Fellow servers resonated with the TikToker’s take
“This is a good example of serving being a SKILL and not just ‘taking orders.’ We have everything balanced in a specific way,” one viewer remarked.
“LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK PLEASE!!!” another concurred.
Moreover, others shared their stories of impatient customers doing this.
“I had a guest throw off my balance once and everybody at that table wore their drinks,” one commentator recalled.
“Had one guy pull one off my tray, ended up with a strawberry margarita on his expensive white shirt!” a second shared.
“This happened to me with a tray full of 7 tall blue moons. It went all over me, the lady, and her Louis Vuitton purse. I looked her right in the eyes and said, ‘This was your fault,'” a third revealed.
Tray physics explained
When a server uses too much force to carry the tray, drinks will spill. Not enough force will cause the tray to drop, Cursa explains. Therefore, heavier drinks are placed at the center while lighter ones surround them to prevent spilling. In addition, how you carry the tray impacts its stability. Maintaining correct posture and avoiding abrupt movements will keep the tray intact. If a customer removes a drink from a full tray, it disrupts the weight distribution and creates a huge mess.
@housecatchronicles #restaurant #restaurantindustry #server #serviceindustry #customer #customerservice #hospitality #food #dining #service #fyp ♬ original sound – not a quick question
The Mary Sue reached out to @housecatchronicles via TikTok comment and direct message.
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