Paying the bill

[Anonymous]

I ate lunch in a restaurant today. When I was ready to pay the bill, I looked for my server, but didn’t see her. I asked 4 other people for the bill over the course of 15 minutes. Everyone said they would get my server, but no one did. Honestly, no one was paying very close attention to me; I could have walked right out and they likely wouldn’t have noticed. At the 20 minute mark, some random person came over with my bill.

Whose responsibility is it to make sure the customer gets the bill in a timely manner, the restaurant or the customer? I wanted to pay, I know servers work hard, but frankly I felt like I had to work pretty hard to get someone to take my money! It was a bit ridiculous. I never saw my server again, after she dropped off the food.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure your server had an emergency - maybe she bled through her clothes and was in the bathroom, maybe she was in the weeds, maybe she was having an asthma attack, etc.

I'd have just asked for the manager at a certain point and said "I've asked for the bill from three different people bc I haven't seen my waitress and would like to leave. Will $20 cover it?"

[Anonymous]

Try the host next time. Once we saw our server come from the back of the restaurant with her coat and purse, and she left the restaurant. We were done eating and assumed she had handed us off to another server. No one came. We flagged the host and he had trouble even finding our check, so we guesstimated and left cash. It was very odd, but I assume she had some sort of emergency and had to leave. Usually servers are prompt because they need to turn the table over for the next cover. At least in the us! Doesn’t apply for other countries (Italy, I’m looking at you)

[Anonymous]

I had this happen at Busboys and Poets. I waited and waited until I went inside to look for her. She was talking with her colleagues! I tipped her poorly and left.

[Anonymous]

At the 10 minute mark I would have walked up to the bar, manager or hostess and paid. You need to have a time cut off for yourself. I know mine is around 10 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Server and I would have docked the tip in this scenario.

[Anonymous]

If I actually asked more than once and waited for 10 minutes I'd just walk.

[Anonymous]

Happened to me at Fago de Chao in Tysons this summer. We couldn't get any service, got fed up after a while, and then couldn't get our bill. Luckily a manager was walking around and got it. On our way out, our waiter was seated in a lounge table near the door talking to someone. Even waived good bye! Loser.