Keep the change
A few weeks ago I took my family out to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants. Applebees. I like eating there because the service is usually fast (not always but usually) and they have lots of different things on the menu. I like to get one of their sampler platters which give you a little bit of several different things. It makes overeating almost guilt free. You can just eat three ribs, three quesadillas, some chili cheese nachos and a big batch of fries by ordering only one thing. Sometimes I even stuff down a small desert if I am feeling particularly guilt free.
But the thing that makes eating there so special is the way the present the check. It comes in one of those leather folders. The server will lay it on the edge of the table and politely tell you that they will take “that” whenever you are ready. One of these days I will immediately say “I’m ready” without putting anything in it to see what happens. Inside the leather folder, the bill is neatly tucked inside its designated slot. There is also a slot for your credit card if that is how you want to pay. On the back of the bill is a little personal thank you note from your server. Ours read: “Thanks and have a nice day” and then there was a big happy smiley face and the name Ginger. Even the dot over the “I” is shaped like a little heart. It made me feel so special.
Well this particular day, our meal came to 41.50. Not too bad for a party of 4. OK I’m a cheap date. After checking the bill for mistakes I slid three twenties into the folder and placed it back on the table. Our server obviously was watching me because she returned to the table as soon as I laid the folder down. As she picked up the folder with the bill and the money, and without even looking inside she asked: “would you like your change?” Now I am a good tipper and sometimes I even tip too much but 19.00 for a 41.50 meal is a 46% tip. I wanted to say “Honey you weren’t that good” but instead I said “Yes please”. I wonder what she would have done if I had put 42.00 in there and answered “no you keep it” when she asked that question. So remember, before you ask for "change" you better know what the change is. Just food for thought.
Have a great day,
Greg
But the thing that makes eating there so special is the way the present the check. It comes in one of those leather folders. The server will lay it on the edge of the table and politely tell you that they will take “that” whenever you are ready. One of these days I will immediately say “I’m ready” without putting anything in it to see what happens. Inside the leather folder, the bill is neatly tucked inside its designated slot. There is also a slot for your credit card if that is how you want to pay. On the back of the bill is a little personal thank you note from your server. Ours read: “Thanks and have a nice day” and then there was a big happy smiley face and the name Ginger. Even the dot over the “I” is shaped like a little heart. It made me feel so special.
Well this particular day, our meal came to 41.50. Not too bad for a party of 4. OK I’m a cheap date. After checking the bill for mistakes I slid three twenties into the folder and placed it back on the table. Our server obviously was watching me because she returned to the table as soon as I laid the folder down. As she picked up the folder with the bill and the money, and without even looking inside she asked: “would you like your change?” Now I am a good tipper and sometimes I even tip too much but 19.00 for a 41.50 meal is a 46% tip. I wanted to say “Honey you weren’t that good” but instead I said “Yes please”. I wonder what she would have done if I had put 42.00 in there and answered “no you keep it” when she asked that question. So remember, before you ask for "change" you better know what the change is. Just food for thought.
Have a great day,
Greg
Comments
I'll be paying close attention tonight when I go out for dinner with the kiddies. (I'll be thinking of you.)
One time, though, my husband and I had a really amazing experience at one of our favorite restaurants. The waiter was so attentive and friendly and really went above and beyond to make our dinner special. So, I decided to leave him a 30% tip. The waiter refused it! He came back to our table and told us it was too much. So I told him how great he had been and that we really wanted to do it, and he humbly accepted. Maybe he was afraid that we had had a little too much wine and had made a mistake, but I thought it just proved how much he deserved the extra in the first place. The restaurant ended up making him the manager a few months later. He was just great.
i do hate when they ask if u want change...I mean do the seroiusly think their service is worth a 20 dollar tip?
I mean hell, even I can bring u a refill and a platter of food...
Now you have me craving Applebees!!
Thanks for visiting my blog. I see you live in a beautiful area!
Anyhow, we just returned from a fun family vacation to Disney :) It was my little one's first time there.
Take care!
I unlike you, don't like Applebees, their food (at ours) isn't that good, and if you want a cocktail, their alcohol is very cheap and leaves me with a headache, something I never get somewhere else.