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Every worker, especially one that deals with the public, will have some interesting (and probably some not-so-interesting) stories to tell. Years ago, when I was still waiting tables, I decided to compile a selection of some of the "better" ones that I have experienced and heard about. At the time, my intent was to write an article to try to raise public awareness to the plight, such as it is, of the server. However, those other than servers have SERVICE! stories to tell. I've included contributions from others as well as stories from my own experience that do not come from my waitress days.
Highway Robbery! I waited on a couple that was asking about various things on the menu and finally settled on country fried steak and shrimp with grilled fish, two not-cheap items. I delivered the food and asked was everything okay. They said it was. I walked off. A moment later they were calling me over to say that the lady didn't know the steak was fried. I looked at her, trying to politely express my disbelief and said, "Country FRIED steak." She wanted to know could she get a sirloin steak. I explained that she could but it would cost extra. She chose the sirloin. They finished their food and the next thing I knew one of the cashiers came to tell me that the couple was complaining about me, asking if I was new. She didn't charge for what they complained about; they basically *stole* that food!  Speaking of stealing: a lady at one of my two-seater tables whispered to me that the boy at the next table had hidden my tip - from the previous patrons - under his menu. I didn't want to rudely ask about it - I figured that the tip would remain on the table until I collected the menus. I stepped to the opposite end boy's table to take the order. The lady spoke to me again - across that family's table - to tell me to look under the boy's menu. I said lightly, "Oh, I believe I didn't pick up my tip before and that lady saw it under the menu." The boy finally raised up his menu - nothing was there. I was going to go back to taking the order - it was getting very awkward there! The nice lady said, "He's got your tip in his hand under the table." At first the boy tried to deny it, but at the lady's insistence, he came clean. I couldn't thank that lady enough! At Cracker Barrel, I was waiting on a group of four. When they sat down they told me that it was one of the teenaged boys birthday. They all ordered the most expensive things on the menu. After the meal, I delivered the "birthday" cake to the boy and the servers sang the birthday song. I was about to leave the check and the other boy suddenly remembered it was his birthday. Yes, that's very suspicious, but what can I do, ask for ID? So I delivered his cake. Their bill was over $50, and they walked out on their check. They did however, leave me a $3 tip.
It's my party ... I waited on a particular party of 14, and I recognized one family as having gone to the same church that I used to attend. They didn't say they were displeased with anything. Every time I went to their table, they were happy and insisting that everything was perfect. This group sat there until past closing time and they collectively left me $1. I cried. If I see those people somewhere, I will hand them a dollar and say, "I waited on y'all in a group of 14 and someone left this on the table." If they say, "that was your tip." I'll say, "No, from a party that size, that's an insult." 
A clip from my "article" I know that we as people tend to see things from our point of view only. Certainly one could understand the frustrations of a customer who's having a bad day; problems with their dining experience could be the straw that broke the camel's back. However, I wish people would consider the frustrations of being a server. At the start of a shift, one never knows what one is going to make. That can make the first hours at work rather anxious. A few tables that don't tip means that for those hours that server didn't even make minimum wage. And serving is too often a Catch-22. There is no one way to please every table in your station or even to please every person at one table. That may sound obvious but stay with me on this. One table wants you to stop by every minute. One wants to be alone. One table wants you to be their friend. Another wants you to be their indentured servant. One table wants to chat with their waitress. Another is only interested in each other. One table is in a great mood, out to have fun. Another may have a loved one in the hospital and understandably doesn't want to joke around. One wants to sit for a while. Another is in a hurry to be somewhere else. Usually by the time I figure what the case is at any given table, their time with me is over, and I have to try to figure out the case at the next one. Servers have the not-so-pleasant task of being the one that interfaces with the customer. If the food takes too long to cook or is cooked wrong, or if the restaurant is out of something, the server is the one to bear the news to the guests, and the server is the one who loses money due to an unhappy diner. When dining out, as in life in general, let me point out some earth-shattering news: stuff happens. People are not perfect. Stores run out of things; shifts are sometimes understaffed. Another secret here: the minute one orders tea to drink or a hamburger to eat, it does not magically appear waiting to be picked up. When one orders a glass of tea, for example the server must go, get a clean glass (on a busy night, that in itself takes several minutes), put ice in it, fill it with tea, perhaps make tea first, garnish with a lemon, get a straw, then repeat the process for whatever the others in the group wanted to drink. In a perfect world, this would take no longer than it takes the guest to decide on their entree. Ours is not a perfect world. Your patience is greatly appreciated.
Menu Lost in the Translation? ~ Was it something I said? Contact Me ~ Ring bell for service.
Service! is a rusted-crush production.
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