[X]
Write ReviewJump to 
6
Helpful
Votes
Votes
Steak n Shake Complaint - Profiled
Complaint
DAVIE, FLORIDA -- About a week or two ago, a group of about 5 friends and I went to Steak 'n Shake after a night of bowling to enjoy some of their tasty milkshakes at about 10:30pm. They were not busy...there were no more than 3 other tables with patrons in the dining room.
We were seated and orders were taken quite promptly. We all ordered milkshakes along with a few orders of fries to split between us. We informed the waitress that we'd all like separate bills.
She gave us an attitude right from the start, like she'd rather be doing anything else but serving us. Very straight-to-the-point with no charisma. She almost gave the impression that we were torturing her just by being there. I can only assume it's because we were a group of 19 & 20 year olds. I'm usually not one to be assumptive but it was noticeable, especially when I witnessed her interact with the other restaurant guests.
We finished everything roughly 20 minutes after receiving it all. When she noticed we were all finished, she came over to the table and said in a somewhat whiney tone, "I want to go home!" We weren't sure if she was trying to be conversational or if she was giving us the hint to get going. Nevertheless, not wanting to argue, we proceeded to the cash register to pay.
We each paid our separate bills. Four of my friends paid with cash and after receiving change returned to the table to leave a monetary tip. Myself, along with one other friend, paid only with a debit card. I signed off on the receipt, giving the waitress a $5.00 tip on a $4.xx bill. I kid you not.
I didn't see it, but I was told that the waitress gave me and the other guy who paid with debit cards an absolute look of death when she didn't see us return to the table to leave a tip, despite the fact that we both gave tips through the card. She then began throwing things around in a really huffy mood when she was busing the table after we left.
I realize this isn't the most shocking of complaints, but I found it worth mentioning. I've worked fast food before, and yes, I'm guilty of rolling my eyes when I witnessed a group of young people coming into the restaurant, bracing myself for the worst. But I never let the customers see it. Same applied to when I was just having a bad day in general. I blew off as much steam as I needed to when I was away from customers, but by golly when I was in front of them I was expected to treat them like royalty. Not that it should even make a difference as far as the level of service we received, but we were not AT ALL a pain to deal with. We all knew what we wanted when she took the orders, didn't ask for anything extra, didn't make a huge mess, weren't rowdy, etc.
We were a group of civilized young people only there to enjoy a treat while we reminisced about high school and caught up on what everyone is up to nowadays.
The waitress should be happy to even have a job in this economy, be GRATEFUL that customers are tipping her, and realize that some of her greatest tippers might be people young enough to be her children!
We were seated and orders were taken quite promptly. We all ordered milkshakes along with a few orders of fries to split between us. We informed the waitress that we'd all like separate bills.
She gave us an attitude right from the start, like she'd rather be doing anything else but serving us. Very straight-to-the-point with no charisma. She almost gave the impression that we were torturing her just by being there. I can only assume it's because we were a group of 19 & 20 year olds. I'm usually not one to be assumptive but it was noticeable, especially when I witnessed her interact with the other restaurant guests.
We finished everything roughly 20 minutes after receiving it all. When she noticed we were all finished, she came over to the table and said in a somewhat whiney tone, "I want to go home!" We weren't sure if she was trying to be conversational or if she was giving us the hint to get going. Nevertheless, not wanting to argue, we proceeded to the cash register to pay.
We each paid our separate bills. Four of my friends paid with cash and after receiving change returned to the table to leave a monetary tip. Myself, along with one other friend, paid only with a debit card. I signed off on the receipt, giving the waitress a $5.00 tip on a $4.xx bill. I kid you not.
I didn't see it, but I was told that the waitress gave me and the other guy who paid with debit cards an absolute look of death when she didn't see us return to the table to leave a tip, despite the fact that we both gave tips through the card. She then began throwing things around in a really huffy mood when she was busing the table after we left.
I realize this isn't the most shocking of complaints, but I found it worth mentioning. I've worked fast food before, and yes, I'm guilty of rolling my eyes when I witnessed a group of young people coming into the restaurant, bracing myself for the worst. But I never let the customers see it. Same applied to when I was just having a bad day in general. I blew off as much steam as I needed to when I was away from customers, but by golly when I was in front of them I was expected to treat them like royalty. Not that it should even make a difference as far as the level of service we received, but we were not AT ALL a pain to deal with. We all knew what we wanted when she took the orders, didn't ask for anything extra, didn't make a huge mess, weren't rowdy, etc.
We were a group of civilized young people only there to enjoy a treat while we reminisced about high school and caught up on what everyone is up to nowadays.
The waitress should be happy to even have a job in this economy, be GRATEFUL that customers are tipping her, and realize that some of her greatest tippers might be people young enough to be her children!
Comments:
Posted by Anonymous on 2009-09-19:
Did you go in at closing time? Not that you deserved the attitude of course. I thought steak and shake was a fast food place. Never been, but you tip there?
Posted by andbran on 2009-09-19:
why does almost everyone throw in the "should be grateful to have a job" card?i was agreeing with her until she put that line in.
Posted by jktshff1 on 2009-09-19:
Just a little hint about courtesy. Usually when I am dining out I use the following rule 1-4 people, separate check ok. Once you get to 5 or more, it's nice if one picks it up and the others pay them back.
Posted by jktshff1 on 2009-09-19:
Lady, anytime a comes to the table and takes your order, then serves you, you should tip.
Posted by jktshff1 on 2009-09-19:
waitress was supposed to be in there somewhere.
Posted by memoryx57 on 2009-09-19:
What's up with the replys on this post? I don't get it. Am I missing something? I don't see anywhere at all where the poster did anything wrong. Why find some fault with the poster when it's quite evident that they were polite and well mannered AND DID GIVE A TIP???
The waitress was rude and completely out of line and there was absolutely no excuse for it. And so what that they had seperate checks..It's part of the job...No job is perfect..Ya have to get over it. And I for one AM grateful that I have a job and I would suspect that a few million other people are as well...Good post !!!!
The waitress was rude and completely out of line and there was absolutely no excuse for it. And so what that they had seperate checks..It's part of the job...No job is perfect..Ya have to get over it. And I for one AM grateful that I have a job and I would suspect that a few million other people are as well...Good post !!!!
Posted by Principissa on 2009-09-19:
I don't think it matters if they had separate checks or not, the waitress was flat out rude and unprofessional. She should be grateful she even got a tip, because trust me, she wouldn't have gotten one from me.
Posted by madconsumer on 2009-09-19:
so how were you profiled?
Posted by Anonymous on 2009-09-19:
Lady, Steak n Shake is a 24 hour establishment. The dining room never closes. And you pay the cashier in the front and tip the waitress as you would a full service restaurant. Very similar to Dennys.
andbran, there is absolutely nothing wrong with saying that people should be grateful that they have a job. I know I am. And if those who are employed are not grateful, perhaps they should give somebody who would be their position. Unemployment rates are certainly not on the downward trend.
andbran, there is absolutely nothing wrong with saying that people should be grateful that they have a job. I know I am. And if those who are employed are not grateful, perhaps they should give somebody who would be their position. Unemployment rates are certainly not on the downward trend.
Posted by Anonymous on 2009-09-19:
Sounds like the watiress was ready to get her shift done and over with. Still, it wouldn't have killed her to serve her last customers of the night a little nicer. She *should* be glad she got any tip at all.
Posted by Anonymous on 2009-09-19:
jktshff, I realize the separate check issue is typically a headache for servers. Because we had that debit card vs. cash issue, we figured telling the server right off the bat would make it easier rather than waiting till the end.
mad, I witnessed her interact with the other 3 tables who were in there. She did not treat them the same way she treated us. It was evident. She probably thought we were going to stiff her on the tip from the beginning. Given the attitude we received, I think back and i'm surprised I didn't.
mad, I witnessed her interact with the other 3 tables who were in there. She did not treat them the same way she treated us. It was evident. She probably thought we were going to stiff her on the tip from the beginning. Given the attitude we received, I think back and i'm surprised I didn't.
Posted by Anonymous on 2009-09-19:
I stopped going to our local Steak and Shake three years ago entirely because of the service.
If the OP's waitress had an issue with serving 19-20 year olds, she should have told the host not to seat groups like that in her area. Otherwise, she should have just done her job without the editorial attitude.
If the OP's waitress had an issue with serving 19-20 year olds, she should have told the host not to seat groups like that in her area. Otherwise, she should have just done her job without the editorial attitude.
Posted by Anonymous on 2009-09-19:
I don't believe you were profiled for being a bunch of young individuals. Its probably because you all sat together and asked for separate checks.
Posted by Anonymous on 2009-09-19:
ahhh yes. a well written review w/o the usual emotional drama attached to it. and some still have to nitpick it apart and somehow find fault with the op. good grief!
great review cjc0189. let's hope that cranky ole waitress felt some grief when she saw you left a tip that was more then your bill.
great review cjc0189. let's hope that cranky ole waitress felt some grief when she saw you left a tip that was more then your bill.
Posted by jktshff1 on 2009-09-19:
I quit going to s&s 'cause of the food.
Posted by Ytropious on 2009-09-19:
"Steak n Shake is a 24 hour establishment. The dining room never closes." That's true of most Steak and Shakes, but the one closest to me is not a 24 hour store, it closes at 10 or 11. Last time I was at S&S my server was extremely nice. I bet the waitress gets a lot of groups of teens who don't tip and leave a mess. Yes it's profiling, but it sucks when you aren't like everyone else.
Posted by Anonymous on 2009-09-19:
Thank you. I did not know that. I thought it was another fast food place.
Posted by cokezeroqueen on 2010-02-22:
I can't help but wonder if I've run into this same person before, lol. I'm sorry you had such a negative experience. It sounds like you guys were a pleasure to serve. You did nothing wrong, except tip her. You do not have to tip your server and if she treats you poorly, don't tip. I wouldn't have left her a dime, and I tend to leave large tips.
Note: All comments are reviewed by a moderator before being published. Please be sure to read our guidelines before commenting.
Company Reps: Post your company response!
