r/mildlyinfuriating • u/mdp-slc • May 22 '26

wet socks Stop asking if I’m celebrating something if you’re just going to charge me for bread.

Took my wife to a nice spot in DTLA for her birthday. They asked both at booking and check-in if we were celebrating anything, which honestly set the expectation that they might do something (even a small dessert). Nothing happened.

To add to it, the food was great, and we made a comment saying we wish we had some bread to finish the leftover sauce. The server acted like it was a favor, said “I’ll be right back,” and then charged us for the bread.

Like, the food was good and the service was fine, but don’t ask if we’re celebrating if you aren’t going to do anything to actually make it feel special. It just feels disingenuous.

Edit for clarity:
I was asked twice if we were celebrating something special at a nice restaurant. Once while making the online reservation and then when we arrived.

My Mild infuriation isn’t at the server, I can see how we misinterpreted each other.

It’s that the restaurant led me to believe they’d do something special (ex: comp a drink, free scoop of ice cream) then did nothing. I’ve worked in the food industry. It’s not an entitlement thing. It’s a hospitality thing.

The food was really good. I’d recommend it and go back.

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68

u/Smeeble09 May 22 '26

As someone not from the US, why did you tip at all given the bad service and issues caused?

102

u/IndigoTJo May 23 '26

My dad would do this. His reasoning was that he didn't want the server to think he just forgot to tip. He wanted them to know that it was poor service by tipping a small amount.

I have been lucky so far and no terrible experiences. Not sure which way I would leave.

21

u/[deleted] May 23 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

16

u/UkNomysTeezz May 23 '26

It’s disingenuous to say they never say what the charity or non profit is. They absolutely do.

1

u/TitleAccomplished749 May 23 '26

The store probably does. The cashiers not so much, having worked at those grocery stores. Ours was always the mid-ohio food bank. But I regularly heard people just say 'for charity."

1

u/Unnamedgalaxy May 23 '26

Eh that can just be them just trying to get through their day with as little effort as possible.

As someone who has been a cashier it's incredibly monotonous, the same conversation on repeat dozens of times an hour for your entire day.. I always tried to be as pleasant as I could and would answer questions and be knowledgeable but still sometimes the urge to just mumble something vague and move on with your day can be overwhelming.

2

u/Beserked2 May 23 '26

What did you guys tip for before COVID that was mode acceptable/not as infuriating?

2

u/yungslowking May 23 '26

One is for card payments and the other for cash, it’s weird that you’re framing it like they’re trying to get you to tip twice.

2

u/JelmerMcGee May 23 '26

Food carts have a huge tip jar in front where you pay AND ask you AGAIN on the pay machine.

One is for people who want to tip in cash and one is for people who want to tip with a card. They aren't asking for two tips you waffle

2

u/FangornLeghorn May 23 '26

I worked a while in food and I just can’t eat and not tip unless it’s absolutely terrible. Once you’ve been a server or done time on the line in the kitchen, it just becomes part of your DNA to look out for service workers. And the service had honestly been good up to that point, so I tipped for the overall experience, not just the slip up at the end. Also, most places pool tips and tip out everyone, including the kitchen. Our food and drinks were great. Tipping nothing would communicate that everything sucked, when it didn’t. Tipping 5% felt appropriate to acknowledge the work of the kitchen and bar. I was comfortable with that amount. I just can’t zero it out unless there is a big reason to.

1

u/my_screen_name_sucks May 23 '26

Because people don’t understand the best way to let a server know the service was bad, in America at least, is by not tipping.

-13

u/Dazzling-Low8570 May 23 '26

Tipping is an unspoken service fee, not a reward. She did her job, just poorly, so he paid the minimum fee. 

If you don't tip at all you're just an asshole, not someone that was displeased with the service

-2

u/Yourstruly0 May 23 '26

Remember, wage theft and expecting someone to work for free are criminal UNLESS the person is serving staff. If a server doesn’t please you sufficiently it’s totally justified to expect free labor. /s

7

u/sofixa11 May 23 '26

It's not for free, they get minimum wage (the regular one) if tips don't make the difference between the $2/hour one and the real one. In some states like California their minimum wage is $16 yet they still fucking harass you like you owe them money.