TIPS FROM A WAITRESS

Evening Star, Issue 21292, 22 December 1932, Page 15

TIPS FROM A WAITRESS

HOW TO BEHAVE IH RESTAURANTS Don’t, on entering a tea room,take any of the vacant tables you can see; go right up to the other end and choose a “ reserved,” _ with tilted chairs. Reverse the chairs and Sit down,, This will bring the waitress to you hot-foot, and will also give you an excellent opportunity to cominent upon her impudence when she requests you? patronage of another table. Don’t, although you may feel very, hungry and have a lot to spend, give all your order at once. Let her get well down the room and then call her back and explain that although you said ‘ 1 tea, ’ ’ you really meant coffee, > and that when you ordered a plate of cakes you meant only those filled with cream. Such trifles create a pleasant atmosphere, and give the waitress needful exercise. Don’t dream of looking at the specie fled price of things marked on the menu; argue with the girl when she gives you your ticket. It solicits at» tention from the manager, and shows the girl that if she is a fool you are not. . , ~ Do, if you have time, carefully scrutinise the menu for anything that can possibly bo given a French pronunciation ; it impresses your neighbours and shows the waitress up when she- brings you an ordinary omelette. Do, whilst waiting to he served, put all your belongings on the table. The waitress loves standing with a loaded tray—especially during “rush hours.”Do, when you see spotless - napery,give the children tea in a saucer, also a spoon, that they may play nicely, while you discuss your domestic derangement with your best friend. The mess won’t matter—you can cover much of it with the plates, etc., until you go. After that, well, the waitress is proverbially careless; she will merely be’ blamed for'upsetting the teapot. Do, if only as an outward and visible sign that you cannot be idle, fiddle with the table accessories, especially, the cruet; then, when the top cornea off and the whole contents of the pepper pot become immersed in the gravy,you can protest indignantly to the manager and get a second serve or your money back. Don’t forget, before leaving, to confiscate all loose paper doyleys “to take home to the children.” They love them so, the darlings! And, after all,you’ve paid for them, haven’t you?