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From what I have heard (if anyone can confirm?) in America Waiting staff are taxed a fix rate on their tips regardless of what they actually get. Which just makes for wanting.

So it turns out that my girlfriend was on her period...

Just kidding.

This one time when I was in Mexico, we waited what seemed like an hour and then the food was terrible.

Vladsimpaler wrote:This one time when I was in Mexico, we waited what seemed like an hour and then the food was terrible.

When I went to this resturant in the Isle of Wight, we arrived at 6:30 and waited for 5 hours for our food. They claimed that the kitchen only had one chef but no-one else in the whole resturant had their food either . We left at midnight after claiming back over twice what we originally paid, thanks to their bad accounting.


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Valkyrie wrote:

Vladsimpaler wrote:This one time when I was in Mexico, we waited what seemed like an hour and then the food was terrible.

Think yourself lucky you actually got your food. When I went to this resturant in the Isle of Wight, we arrived at 6:30 and waited for 5 hours for our food. They claimed that the kitchen only had one chef but no-one else in the whole resturant had their food either . We left at midnight after claiming back over twice what we originally paid, thanks to their bad accounting.

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oh bugger ive double posted. Could a mod please delete the other post?

Thanks

I’ve remembered a few more.

This one time my wife and I were in Florence. She being a Japanese fishitarian, she insisted we eat at what her guidebook said was the best fish restaurant in Florence. The first thing was there were a bunch of Japanese at the table next to us. My wife hates going abroad and running into Japanese people. This time it was a famous actor so it was OK. However when the first course arrived, a small black slug crawled out of her salad. I called over a waiter and asked, “What’s this?” and he said “pepe” meaning pepper, because there were peppercorns all over the plate. But the rest of them weren’t moving. Apart from that the meal was pretty good and we still laugh about it years later.

One Christmas the works do was held at The London Dungeon. I don’t know whose idea it was, but eating a tepid lamb stew buffet at a table for two crammed into a corridor next to an animatronic tableaux of someone being boiled alive, opposite another one of people dying of Black Death, was not my idea of a jolly festive time.

The next Christmas the works do was at the closed down Truman’s Brewery in Brick Lane. Two things stood out about this event. The first was that the food ran out before half the assembled staff had been fed. The second was that no beer was allowed to be served before 9 pm, when the CEO finished his speech congratulating us on how much beer we drank. This proved my company can’t organise a piss-up in a brewery.

You guys can't eat out all that often in the UK, included service charges are fairly common here now as well. In fact, in Pennsylvania where I travel about 3/4 times a year, the service has never been included in any restaurant I've been to and we're talking a large amount of restaurants, I've never been charged an inclusive service charge.

The service in the US has been, with one exception that I can remember, amazingly good, far better to have a friendly waitress chatting than some sullen and obviously bored chavette like some of the crap service I've experienced in the UK. I have, on a few occasions, refused to pay a service charge here, I find it quite offensive an establishment would charge me extra for the waitress service, whats next? A table usage charge? We pay the extra when we dont order takeaway, that's why it's more expensive.

Sorry Whatwhat, but my experiences of US service have been, for the most part, far better than the UK, this extends into the supermarket checkouts, where I can get looked in the eye and engaged in speach instead of some gumchewing, soul dead little cretin talking across to her neighbour, about getting shagged in an alleyway last night by some baseball cap wearing little scrotumsack called Liam, when I'm trying to talk to her about my receipt, give me US service (almost) every time.

whatwhat wrote:From what I have heard (if anyone can confirm?) in America Waiting staff are taxed a fix rate on their tips regardless of what they actually get. Which just makes for wanting.

Tips are usually taxed in the same manner as wages. When they're actually reported, anyway.


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MeanGreenStompa wrote:You guys can't eat out all that often in the UK, included service charges are fairly common here now as well. In fact, in Pennsylvania where I travel about 3/4 times a year, the service has never been included in any restaurant I've been to and we're talking a large amount of restaurants, I've never been charged an inclusive service charge.

There's usually a fine print clause at the bottom of any menu to the effect of "parties of 15 or more will be charged 15% gratuity". Otherwise its all discretionary.

Japan is the place for top service and there's no tipping.

It goes over the top sometimes. Checking into a hotel can be a major drag. They go through everything and explain it all carefully to check you understand.

"Here's the lock, you put the key in and turn it just like that. Shall I demonstrate again?"

<Thinks> No, feth off, I've been on a plane for 13 hours and I want a beer, a shower and bed.

"Yes sir, yes sir. Bow Bow. Yes sir, Bow Bow Bow, etc."

Also it's embarrassing because the porters are often these darling petite girls and they get really flustered if you carry your own bag even though it's heavier than they are.

Sorry for the OT.

MGS sick of the chav invasion of the UK?

Help us solve the problem at my latest thread!

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/255449.page


We need idea's on how to destroy the Chav menice!


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Kilkrazy wrote:Also it's embarrassing because the porters are often these darling petite girls and they get really flustered if you carry your own bag even though it's heavier than they are.

Are those the Girls you hired and brought back to the UK to make funny pictures with hot japanse girls?

MeanGreenStompa wrote:Sorry Whatwhat, but my experiences of US service have been, for the most part, far better than the UK, this extends into the supermarket checkouts, where I can get looked in the eye and engaged in speach instead of some gumchewing, soul dead little cretin talking across to her neighbour, about getting shagged in an alleyway last night by some baseball cap wearing little scrotumsack called Liam, when I'm trying to talk to her about my receipt, give me US service (almost) every time.

Firstly, I wasn't purely denoting US service i have just noticed more of it over there. Plus it wasn't really the service I was getting at (with the exception of the pesterors which I do find annoying) more the tipping culture.

Anyway, looked into my earlier point about the tax and apparently they do lower wages in some states due to tipping. So it could be down to area as well.

Kilkrazy wrote:
Also it's embarrassing because the porters are often these darling petite girls and they get really flustered if you carry your own bag even though it's heavier than they are.

Must be terrible...

Lord-Loss wrote:MGS sick of the chav invasion of the UK?

Help us solve the problem at my latest thread!

Meh, the stupider the general population of this country get, the more intelligent I get according to the mean. Soon I will rule you all with an iron fist...

Back to restaurants and yes, you're quite right on the US service charges, but only on big parties, me and the missus usually dine together or with a group of about 6 people.





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Oh and if any of you are in Williamsport in Pennsylvania, I strongly recommend a Japanese restaurant called Ichiban, we go there every time and it's brilliant, Hibachi or sushi/sashimi.

This thread needs fewer dicks and more bad restaurant stories.

We went to a local Italian restaurant for my birthday. The plates were still wet and soapy from the dish washer, the meat was black and very bad, the pizza tasted like cardboard with horrible cheese, the beer was luke warm piss and we had to wait twenty minutes for the bill. They did not receive a tip nor a favourable review on the local restaurant site.

Let's see, bad restaurant stories...

Well, the Waffle House should be self-explanatory

Also, I once ate at a Deny's 30 minutes before football practice; putting me off that place for life. Didn't have much choice, we were in Colorado Springs and it was the only thing close to the hotel.

But the worst ever? Went to a pizza place in Sydney. Ordered a large cheese with a couple friends, and it came to the table...yellow and dripping. Not with olive oil, or anything delicious like that, but with some form of cheese product intermixed with Vegemite.

Ive never realy had a bad resturant exprience but once In a chippy I had to wait 20 minutes for a burger.

MeanGreenStompa wrote:You guys can't eat out all that often in the UK, included service charges are fairly common here now as well. In fact, in Pennsylvania where I travel about 3/4 times a year, the service has never been included in any restaurant I've been to and we're talking a large amount of restaurants, I've never been charged an inclusive service charge.

The service in the US has been, with one exception that I can remember, amazingly good, far better to have a friendly waitress chatting than some sullen and obviously bored chavette like some of the crap service I've experienced in the UK. I have, on a few occasions, refused to pay a service charge here, I find it quite offensive an establishment would charge me extra for the waitress service, whats next? A table usage charge? We pay the extra when we dont order takeaway, that's why it's more expensive.

Yeah the Local Papa John's (Pizza) has decided to add a delivery fee to their orders, and since we discovered that, the drivers don't get a tip. Which is too bad really, we'd tip the drivers a lot more than the $2.00 delivery fee, as we often order a LOT of pizza. But if you take away the choice of a tip, then you get exactly what you demand and no more.

Apparantly this is a standard thing in America, adding the tip automatically. I have a rule, unless the service is exceptional, if the tip is added automatically, I refuse to leave any tip whatsoever. I don't have a problem with a restaurant telling me that their staff are worth that bit extra, but if they are found wanting in my eyes, you lose whatever tip I might have been prepared to grant.

Which is a shame, because I tip as generously as my budget affords for good service.

I agree, unless you are an exceptional waiter/waitress you shouldn't expect that handout. I am by no means a cheap ass either, I have been known to pay 100% of the meal's cost in tip, provided the evening was a good one.

As far as worst service goes...
there is a local restaurant that my aunt loves to take my family to during special occassions, and the place is completely unremarkable.
Well I had graduated from high school, and instead of celebrating with friends I got roped into going to this little shithole of an eating establishment.

The list of errors included:
> 15 minute wait when we were the only ones there
> appetizers arrived AFTER dinner.
> they screwed up almost all of our orders- crab soup didnt have crab in it, the appetizers were cold, they tried to serve my aunt straight gin and call it a martini, I could go on...

finally, my aunt has enough of this gak, and I felt inclined to chime in. She demands to see the manager, who takes the stance of "well usually we're better- but you took the risk of eating here so screw you" . It was at this point that I started berating the guy for lousy service, and wouldnt back down until he comped our meal. When he refused, my aunt spalshed the "martini" in his face.

I wound up writing a review about the experience and published it in the local paper- and I guess they lost all business because they had to close down. Coincidence? I don't fething think so.

whatwhat wrote:

JD21290 wrote:Both of you are acting like dicks

Nice bit of mediation. Ftr I was happily ignoring him before he sniped at me. And I have no interest of continuing anything via PM.

Modquisition on. Both cease and desist now please. Dogma that was a bit of an unwarranted original attack. Lets move on or this will have to get official.

I live in Korea, so... most of my dining experiences are fairly awful. Spicy, cold fish heads? Yum!

My buddy taught English in SK for a while.

He came back 40 pounds lighter.

You pay 10% tip ATLEAST for anything other than fast food.

Kilkrazy wrote:

This thread needs fewer dicks and more bad restaurant stories.

Oh No!! KK and Luna are teaming up on us! RUN!!!

I really hate it when the wait staff constantly come over to the table and check on you, especially if they mention their drink specials more than once and I ordered a cola. That is a guarantee of no tip, especially if it's obvious that they're treating the drunken fratboys at the next table better just to rub it in.

When I was in France a number of years back, my family was driving in a group to a campsite and we decided to stop for some food as a group. Me and my dad decided that eating at Mcdonalds was not particularly to our liking so we went to a little hotel down the road. Worst... restaurant... ever.

Cheese... flies... lots of flies.

Service... french... VERY french.

Food... I blanked the rest of the experience out....

Yes, despite its culinary reputation France can be a bit hit or miss especially if you're a foreigner. They look down on anyone who can't speak perfect French (I can't.)

Parisians in particular are famously rude.

Wrexasaur wrote:When I was in France a number of years back....

Ah... French service is terrible, the Japanese have set up an evacuation service for poor polite Japanese folk finding themselves going into full culture shock on encountering the incredible rudeness of France.

Behold and dread...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6197921.stm

BBC wrote:The experience can apparently be too stressful for some and they suffer a psychiatric breakdown.

Wait... you take the french that seriously? Seriously?

BBC wrote:However, the only permanent cure is to go back to Japan - never to return to Paris.

Seriously...

Typeline wrote:At Apple-bee's. I took a bite of chicken...

It was raw in the center...

Went to Apple-bee´s and my mom took the all-you-can-eat ribs offer. Second basket of ribs or so, she digs in a bites on metal. Chips half a tooth of. Turns out it was lead shot.

Went to some steak house in El Paso once. The bill was sumthin around 50 bucks. The guy I went with decided to pay it all and hands the waiter a hundred bucks. He looks at the cash and asks: Would you like change? My friend asked him why the hell he would tip 50% lol That was a rather funny moment actually.

Ate a McNeds in Milano. I dont know what the hell it was that I got, but Im not going back there again lol

Went to some fast-food place in Paris. We were discussing what we would like in german. Appearently that kinda set the fella off and he refused to sell us food.

This isnt exactly a bad experience , but its the last time my dad took my anywhere important to eat ( long ago when i was still little )
After picking bunch of unknown ingredients out from the various dishes i was still hungry. ( I only ate the things that i recognize )
So i asked if we can have some instant noodle instead . The host said the food cost *Edit what on earth , currency exchange says : $304 usd
I asked him price aside instant noodle tastes as good no? He laughed and said im really something .

The stupid restaurant with no good food:

MeanGreenStompa wrote:You guys can't eat out all that often in the UK, included service charges are fairly common here now as well. In fact, in Pennsylvania where I travel about 3/4 times a year, the service has never been included in any restaurant I've been to and we're talking a large amount of restaurants, I've never been charged an inclusive service charge.

The service in the US has been, with one exception that I can remember, amazingly good, far better to have a friendly waitress chatting than some sullen and obviously bored chavette like some of the crap service I've experienced in the UK. I have, on a few occasions, refused to pay a service charge here, I find it quite offensive an establishment would charge me extra for the waitress service, whats next? A table usage charge? We pay the extra when we dont order takeaway, that's why it's more expensive.

Sorry Whatwhat, but my experiences of US service have been, for the most part, far better than the UK, this extends into the supermarket checkouts, where I can get looked in the eye and engaged in speach instead of some gumchewing, soul dead little cretin talking across to her neighbour, about getting shagged in an alleyway last night by some baseball cap wearing little scrotumsack called Liam, when I'm trying to talk to her about my receipt, give me US service (almost) every time.

I eat out whenever I can afford it. I do not patronise 'naff caffs'(the ones with laminated tablecloths, cheap ketchup disguised in Heinz bottles, and run by dirty chavvy people, where you can get an all day breakfast for three quid). I enjoy eating in five star hotels where possible, as they tend to have good quality restaurants. I eat at Italian places, Asian food places(but only ones that look nice), and seafood restaurants. Eating out at a nice restaurant, followed by the theatre is a great way to have a first date, if expensive.

I usually get the tip added automatically to the bill in about 1 in every 4 places I visit. It's almost never done in the higher quality places though. The service cost is incorporated into the cost of the food on the menu.

the tipping system makes me cry, its like a trick.. 13 dollars PLUS tip its like a hidden charge.. someone carrys my bags two metres Im meant to tip lolwut?

But my worst eating experience has got to be maccas breakfast with a sausage patty like rock.

whatwhat wrote:From what I have heard (if anyone can confirm?) in America Waiting staff are taxed a fix rate on their tips regardless of what they actually get. Which just makes for wanting.

My wife has a friend who worked as a waitress for a little while, at the local Huddle House. Long story short, she made $2.50/hour and had her reported tips docked from her wages.

Longer story short, she doesn't work there anymore and the manager isn't quite to fond of her either.