So, Are You Going Out to Eat?

Did you know that even though the economy is down, people still go out to eat? (which is totally cool...yet understandably expensive) I highly recommend doing this, as it is like a breath of fresh air.

Did you know that when you go out to eat, your server is busting his or her rear end to get everything out to you in a timely fashion, oftentimes having to prepare certain specialty items such as desserts, drinks, etc, not to mention dishing out whatever the complementary appetizer is, along with taking care of several other tables and keeping each order straight, each individual customer's drink topped off, and keeping all the chips neatly swept off the floor in their section as well as keeping cups, napkins, pitchers, soda, straws etc etc etc well stocked in the back of the bar between talking to customers and running to the kitchen?

Did you know how often servers have leg cramps, back aches, cracking/bleeding hands from scrubbing tables with bleach water, nasty crap spilled all over them, not to mention getting yelled at by managers and treated bad by customers and sacrificing each weekend night (as well as several weekday nights) and lots of clothing because everything they wear ends up stinking like the restaurant? Then there are those nightly reoccurring dreams of the cramped and crazy restaurant, where no order comes out on time, where customers are yelling and where you are getting triple sat...and for some reason you just can't get to the tables because there is so much going wrong in the background....and then you wake up in a cold sweat and realize it is that same old dream coming back again.....

Did you know that your server here in Utah only makes $2.13 an hour? Yes, my friends, it is very true. Less than half....heck, less than a third, of minimum wage. And the manager never pays you extra if you don't make minimum wage with your tips, which happens more than you realize. The restaurant business is definitely slowing down, which limits the amount of money a server makes, as they work 4-5 hour shifts and oftentimes only make maybe $15-30 in that amount of time in tips during the weekdays, and maybe $40 on weekends.

I love serving, it is really honestly fun. I am not complaining in the least. However, there is a looot of junk we have to put up with as servers. So I am going to take a moment to encourage you kind yet incredibly frugal LDS and non-LDS alike persons to tip your server at LEAST %15.

I realize that Elder Hales taught us at Conference the importance of living within our means. However, part of going out to eat is giving a tip to your server. If you cannot afford at least a %15 tip, then just don't go out to eat! Its really part of the expense. I'm sorry this sounds so harsh, but really, those people depend on you for their pay. It's sad to say, and unfair to the customer to have such a burden placed on them (and if I were a legislator in Utah, I would make it illegal to pay a server less than minimum wage as base pay) I like to think of it as this: You are literally paying that person to be your servant for the time you are at that restaurant.

Here is a good rule of thumb: A $5 tip for two people is a good amount, if you can't figure out the fifteen percent. Or if the two of you order a lot of food or specialty items such as drinks, by all means, tip $7-10. You will totally make someone's day, and who knows, maybe help them to get their rent payment in on time. :) And if you bring all your kids in and they make a big mess, it doesn't matter if you are all sharing plates of food to keep down the cost, please tip at least $10-15. Oftentimes a server may only get about 4 tables during their shift (especially at lunch), which for a 4 hour shift, and at an average of $5 a table (which is honestly rare, its usually about 2.50), do the math.

Enjoy your next trip to the restaurant, and please, remember, you are literally paying that person for their job! :)