There’s an unspoken balance within the universe that we, as humans, may not always be aware of. Nevertheless, we should always respect that balance. I like to believe everything happens for a reason. A lot of that is because of this balance that keeps us all unwittingly connected. What goes around, comes around. Our webs are all intertwined and its for a higher purpose than our minds might be open to knowing in this phase of our lives. From the trees and clouds to our small physical interactions, everything is connected and protected by a special balance.

https://twitter.com/Domin088/status/1044258783189336064

Like all things on this earth, restaurants exist in a karmic atmosphere. Meaning, what we as servers put into the world or into other restaurants, comes back to us. It’s very simple– you put out bad karma, you’ll get bad in return. You put out good karma, and you’ll receive good. There are some basic restaurant karma rules to follow to ensure the server gods may shine a light on your pockets and keep your tip jar overflowing.

5. Don’t be a server to your server.

We hate it. You know how you feel when guests come in and think they know more about your menu than you do? So you end up saying, sure, you’ll check and see if the store has that random sauce you know you don’t sell but this guest really wants it. That’s what it’s like to serve a server who doesn’t know how to be a guest. It can be hard to get out of server mode, and we all catch ourselves critiquing other servers; but, we can’t take over the table for them. It’s rude AF.

4. Don’t overstay your welcome.

You know that point you cross in work where you’re suddenly tired of looking at people and fake laughing at table jokes so you can get your tip. As servers, we ALL get there– as people, we all have that point. The difference is, people who work in offices get to go back to their desks and play music when something bothers them. We don’t necessarily have that luxury. Sometimes, working at restaurants feels like hell, if hell was a never ending game of diner-dash and you have to take care of every single guest in the place. Be aware that your server might be feeling it too and not 🙂 know 🙂 when 🙂 they’ll finally 🙂 snap. So, sometimes it’s nice to acknowledge the burden you might be placing on servers by doing stuff like staying too long or coming in too late.  As someone who has worked in and out of restaurants since the age of 16, I can tell you with all honesty, you don’t want to eat what anyone’s serving after walking in 30 minutes before closing.

If you as a server do this to another restaurant, you will most likely see a party of 10 come in 20 minutes before closing on your next shift. If you don’t do this, you should be one of the first cut and get to snuggle with your dog.

3. Always tip appropriately/well.

To clarify, by tip appropriately I mean tip the customary 15-20 percent (unless your service was entirely awful. Some people really dish out “no tip” service). You know the rules: if you can’t afford to tip, EAT FAST FOOD. You know your server lives off of tips; as my grandmother would say, you know better than that. If your service was good and you had a great dining experience, the rules of Restaurant Karma say you must tip appropriately/well or you’re bound to have at least 1-2 tables leave awful tips.

I don’t make the rules.

2. Please try to remember your table manners.

Table manners are SO important. It’s important to know that there is a way to dine properly. I say this to also say – if you know your kids can’t dine in public because they throw too many temper tantrums, they throw all their food on the floor, they jump all over the booths and get in everyone’s way, why would you bring them to a restaurant to interrupt everyone’s dining experience? Also, as adults, you should know that there’s a way to respectfully ask a question. Your server is doing their job, they are not a lackey for you to throw all your things on. You wouldn’t want it done to you, so please don’t throw it onto your server. By doing this, you’re guaranteed 5 shitty attitude tables your next shift.

1. Do not make your server’s job harder.

https://twitter.com/leexxim/status/1044240726526238721

Please please please do not be the server that makes your servers job harder than what it already is to give them a “test.” They already passed the test for their job. Your test literally means nothing to them. Don’t be the table that leaves $5 on the edge of the table and takes a dollar away for every mistake you see. That’s treating your server like a dog and asking them to trade their dignity for a measly five dollars. Just try to be a decent person. If you see you need a condiment and it’s on the empty table next to you, just grab the condiment. It won’t kill you. Try not to ask your servers for things you actually don’t need. When you’re finished with your food, you could make your servers job easier by just stacking your plates so they could “pre-bus” their tables faster. Failure to help another server will get you 2 tables completely stiff you.