Growing up, my family went out to eat fairly regularly. As a result, we got to know our waiters and waitresses very well and truly appreciated good service.
Jeanie was a waitress at a now-defunct restaurant called Pat Joyce's Tavern in Rocky River, near Cleveland. My parents first met Jeanie before I was born, and when I came along she would carry me throughout the dining room making the rounds. As a baby and toddler, I was allowed in a working kitchen because I was with Jeanie. When the restaurant came under new management, Jeanie left to find another job, and we followed.
There was also George, who was the owner of George's Restaurant in Bay Village, also near Cleveland. It was this cozy family diner in a building that also held a karate studio, a hair salon and a church. George was an affable man who always would wave from the kitchen. George even set me up on my first date. I was three and we were eating with another family who had a son my age. George sat us at our own table and put a candle on it. We ate spaghetti and meatballs like Lady and the Tramp. George eventually moved his restaurant and changed the name, and my family followed.
In high school, after seeing a movie my friends and I would always go to Applebee's. At first there was Curtis. Curtis was 25 and working at Applebee's until he could find a job in music. He was very talkative and often sat down with us when there was a lull in traffic. But then Curtis left to work at The Cheesecake Factory, and my friends and I didn't follow him because we had found Scott. Scott was 23 and had a cute butt. Sorry, Curtis.
If you do go out to eat, please follow this advice: it is NEVER acceptable not to tip. Not tipping is rude, no matter how dismal the service may be. For some, serving is their livelihood and it is a hard job. If the service is bad, your tip can reflect that.
It should also be noted that a 10 percent tip is a very low tip. Fifteen percent is the lowest you should tip for fairly decent service. Twenty percent is an appropriate, standard tip. Also, try to always tip in cash. Tips put on credit can be taxed by the credit card companies, so the full tip amount doesn't go to the server.
- Elizabeth Lundblad is a junior studying journalism and a reporter for The Post. Send her your memories about your favorite waiters and waitresses at el246506@ohiou.edu.
3 Culture
Elizabeth Lundblad
Columnist offers advice on appreciating friendly service
