“Table For One?”: Waitress Gets Back At Diner Regular Who Always Expects To Be Welcomed With Open Arms
Any person who has ever worked in a customer-facing position knows that there’s nothing worse than an entitled patron.
Well, it’s our lucky day, because this Redditor’s wife does so too, and oh boy, is there a story to tell. The regular in question is a very “prideful” dude that always expects to be treated as royalty – however, when the woman finally reached her boiling point, she found a petty yet professional way to strike back at him.
More info: Reddit
Entitled diner regular expects employees to treat him like “royalty”
Image credits: Kars Alfrink (not the actual photo)
Waitress takes none of it and plots petty but professional revenge
Image credits: Krystal Hotels Timeshare Mexico (not the actual photo)
Image source: Luck_Administrative
“Table for one?” – this internet user took to one of Reddit’s most vengeful communities to tell its members a tale about his wife’s petty revenge against a self-centered regular at the local breakfast diner where she waitresses. The post managed to garner nearly 5K upvotes as well as 195 comments discussing the situation.
Now, did you know that according to IBISWorld, a publisher that provides trusted research on thousands of industries worldwide, there are 8,796 breakfast restaurant and diner businesses in the US as of 2023? Now, try to imagine how many of those experience difficulties with their customers!
Of course, when you work at or manage an establishment that prepares and serves food, be it a Michelin-star restaurant or a food truck, you’re bound to encounter some interesting individuals at least once or twice (or thrice even). Don’t get me wrong – complaints and constructive criticism are crucial for the success of your business; the feedback highlights a problem, allowing you to investigate it further and ultimately better your service. However, if it’s something that was said out of spite, then that’s a whole other issue.
It’s no big news that a god complex is a thing that you often notice among customers. They love to rant and rave, and even if you’re somewhat used to the never-ending scenes, a burst of hostility or yet another entitled remark can tip an already exhausted worker over the edge. But fear no more, as u/Luck_Administrative’s wife found a great approach.
So now, whenever the patron comes in, she makes sure to ask “Just one today?” to remind him that he’s alone
Image credits: pxfuel (not the actual photo)
The culprit of this tale, according to the author, always had a problem. He expected his food to be made a certain way without specifying this in advance and would also make remarks about the dishwasher “stacking plates too loud.”
He wanted to be recognized and treated as a VIP guest – however, not everybody’s nerves are made of steel, and instead of getting what he wanted, his antics earned him a taste of petty revenge.
The netizen’s wife is a very professional woman, and while she had finally had enough of the guy, rather than sinking to his level, she decided to use his pridefulness against him by simply reminding him that he’s alone.
Now, everyone knows the good old “customer is always right” mantra. We’re constantly told to listen, to sympathize, to not take it personally – basically to do everything in our power to satisfy the needs of the consumer – but if someone’s being a total jerk, perhaps a little pettiness here and there can finally knock some decency back into them.
And just like Aretha Franklin said, “If you disrespect everybody that you run into, how in the world do you think everybody’s supposed to respect you?”
Fellow online community members shared their thoughts and opinions
115Kviews
Share on FacebookDo we even know that being single bothers him at all.? Her judgement that being alone is something worth insulting and everyone's support of that view is pretty damned bad. As someone who is often alone by choice this is no different than racism and bigotry frankly. He may be an a*****e but the way she views the world is nothing to sing about.
I find these "deliberate and consciously" done hurtful and mean behaviours very uncomfortable to read about. I was bullied in elementary school and I never forgot how painful it was. Purposeful meanness, even if the object is a jerk, doesn't reflect well on the perpetrator. You're just as nasty as your victim really. 70 odd years and I still think of those times with sadness. Don't stoop to the jerk's level, you're demeaning yourself. So no, this situation was neither funny nor satisfying to read about. Wish I hadn't. 😨
I'm with you on this…I'm picturing a lonely old curmudgeon who comes to a diner as his social activity once a week. Kindness, acceptance and a little might work to make him nicer. Might…
Load More Replies...I often work nights so traditional breakfast at a restaurant is my grabbing dinner on the way home from work. There are way too many of these places where the waitresses are treated like serfs by customers who think they are feudal lords. One of my favorite places gives you a free meal on your birthday. They have a calendar by the register I assumed was for that purpose as it had various names on it. When I asked, my waitress laughed and said no. When regulars acted up too badly, you were temporarily banned and the calendar was to keep track of when they were allowed back. I'd seen some of the bad behavior they'd ignored so I had to ask. They had laminated lists. For instance, touch a waitress, 1 week. Touch a breast, a month. Call the Hispanic owner or any of her family members working there something racist, 6 months.
Do we even know that being single bothers him at all.? Her judgement that being alone is something worth insulting and everyone's support of that view is pretty damned bad. As someone who is often alone by choice this is no different than racism and bigotry frankly. He may be an a*****e but the way she views the world is nothing to sing about.
I find these "deliberate and consciously" done hurtful and mean behaviours very uncomfortable to read about. I was bullied in elementary school and I never forgot how painful it was. Purposeful meanness, even if the object is a jerk, doesn't reflect well on the perpetrator. You're just as nasty as your victim really. 70 odd years and I still think of those times with sadness. Don't stoop to the jerk's level, you're demeaning yourself. So no, this situation was neither funny nor satisfying to read about. Wish I hadn't. 😨
I'm with you on this…I'm picturing a lonely old curmudgeon who comes to a diner as his social activity once a week. Kindness, acceptance and a little might work to make him nicer. Might…
Load More Replies...I often work nights so traditional breakfast at a restaurant is my grabbing dinner on the way home from work. There are way too many of these places where the waitresses are treated like serfs by customers who think they are feudal lords. One of my favorite places gives you a free meal on your birthday. They have a calendar by the register I assumed was for that purpose as it had various names on it. When I asked, my waitress laughed and said no. When regulars acted up too badly, you were temporarily banned and the calendar was to keep track of when they were allowed back. I'd seen some of the bad behavior they'd ignored so I had to ask. They had laminated lists. For instance, touch a waitress, 1 week. Touch a breast, a month. Call the Hispanic owner or any of her family members working there something racist, 6 months.
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