The Waitress’s Revenge: Watch Out for These Hospitality Tricks
Nine times out of ten—or, as we like to say, 99 times out of 100—people who work in hospitality remain impeccably polite and professional, even under extreme pressure and when dealing with guests from hell. But that one time when they’re truly fed up with whining, grumbling and rude guests, they hit back hard. The article 13 ways hospitality workers get back at guests caused quite a stir on Facebook.
‘You just don’t do that’ or ‘Then you shouldn’t work in hospitality’: yes, we saw those reactions coming. Maybe some chefs and waitresses really do have the stainless-steel patience of a monk, but most employees turn out to be human too. And yes, sometimes you lose your temper, your professional mask slips and you think: I’m going to get back at you. These eight people know exactly what we mean—so consider yourself warned, and behave yourself when you go out.
Extra-hot hot chocolate
Sipping, blowing and not immediately taking a big gulp of your hot chocolate: that’s the wise lesson Lenn teaches us. Because: ‘A former colleague always loved making hot chocolate scalding hot. Whipped cream on top and a straw in it. Impatient or thirsty people were out of luck.’
Spicy
You can imagine something similar, but with chili pepper, in the challenge Cindy faced. ‘A woman complained that the spicy chicken sandwich wasn’t spicy enough.’ And then? Well, she doesn’t say, but it doesn’t seem easy to ignore the sambal.
Blisters
Some colleagues have a hard time too, especially when people aren’t nice to those working at the buffet. Priscilla knows how to deal with that type. ‘Put the handle of the coffee cup under the tea tap before handing it over.’
Wise advice
The older, the wiser. Zamira’s grandmother knows the ropes. ‘My grandmother always used to say: be nice to the person serving your food or drinks, because you never know what they might do with them.’
Blow off steam
Unpleasant guests? Mari Sa gives them a warm welcome. ‘Open the mussel pan in such a way that the steam hits them in the face.’ Dinner and a facial in one, and the smell of mussels will surely wash out of your hair eventually.
Charity
Tip, or don’t tip. But a ten-cent tip… that’s genuinely insulting. And Daan gives those stingy types exactly what they deserve. ‘When someone leaves a really bad cash tip, I give the money back. And I say: I think you need it more than I do.’
Rinse water
Ask nicely, and please use the words. Otherwise… Dennis: ‘Once, when a man “asked”: “hey asshole, get me a glass of water”, I filled the glass from the dishwashing sink.’
Bonus
And when the bottom of the tip jar is in sight, Demi knows how to solve that. ‘Ring up an extra drink and put the money in the tip jar (if they don’t notice).’
Read also:
- Servers reveal: these are the strangest orders ever
- What expats and tourists think of Dutch service
- Can I have a hamburger with… mandarins? And more strange combinations
