This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Conn chapter.
If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant as a server, there are certain things that come with the territory. The good, the bad, the ugly; you see it all. Whether it’s a huge chain restaurant or a mom & pop diner, here is a list of 53 things any server can relate to.
1. Â People that don’t understand you live off your tips.
2. Â Wanting to chop your feet off by end of the night.
3. Â You never EVER have a specific let out time.
4. Â People ordering water and water only.
5.  Working dinner and knowing you’re closing because you were put in a certain section.
6. Â The love/hate relationships you have with your co-workers. Â
7. Â When there’s dead dessert.
8. Â You have to be nice to your bar tenders.
9. Â When people take forever to order their food.
10. Â Asking people if they need anything and being attacked with requests.
11. Â Getting told you’re a wonderful server and then being left less than 10%. Â
12. Â When a manager catches you standing around.
13. Â Having to hold your tongue at guests who get on your nerves.
14. Â Kids will leave stickers and crayon drawings on the table, the wall, and even the salt shakers.
15. Â You never see your family on holidays because you’re always stuck at work.
16. Â When you only have one table and you feel like you’re hovering.
17. Â Realizing you forgot to ring in an order.
18. Â To-Go boxes are the bane of your existence.
19. Â People can be extremely specific and mean.
20.  Trying to meet goals means pushing food: “Any appetizers I can get started for you? Drinks? How about dessert?”
21. Â Guests who complain about everything just to get free stuff.
22. Â Guests who leave a huge unnecessary mess behind.
23. Â When your food comes out wrong and your whole flow is thrown off.
24. Â Refills are also the bane of your existence.
25. Â Horrible servers that still have their jobs after a month.
26. Â The horror that is coupons and promo discounts.
27. Â Getting a table of teenagers and receiving zero tip is a daily occurrence.
28. Â No, the guest is NOT always right.
29. Â Sending in orders incorrectly makes the line chefs HATE you.
30. Â When you ask a manager to get involved and they get mad at you for interrupting them.
31. Â You guard your pens with your life.
32. Â Being asked to work a double.
33.  You’ll never forget your first big spill.Â
34.  “Non-slip”. Yeah, okay.
35. Â Getting called in on your day off.
36. Â People who pay in bills WAY too high for their check price.
37.  “Does anyone have change?!”
38. Â The amount of items you can carry on one tray/arm is ridiculous.
39. Â Getting snapped at.
40. Â Getting stiffed.
41. Â People who leave you their business card and weird product advertisements.
42. Â Cuties who leave you their number.
43. Â Creepers who leave you their number.
44. Â Trying to find people to sing “Happy Birthday” with you is nearly impossible.
45. Â “Does anyone have a lighter?!”
46.  The questions people ask never cease to amaze you… “What is marinara?”
47. Â Having a large party ask to split the check a hundred different ways.Â
48. Â When people come in five minutes before close and you have to seat them.Â
49. Â Losing weight from being on your feet for 7+ hours a day, 6 days a week.
50. Â Eating back all that weight from endless amounts of discounted/free food.
51. Â When your friends make plans for the weekend.
52.  Working the night shift and having to work the morning shift the next day means you maybe get 5 hours of sleep.
53. Â When someone says serving is easy.