My DIL made more than $40,000 a year as a server 10 years ago. Tourist town and fine dining restaurant. She worked herself up to fine dining after starting out at a neighborhood diner. She doesn't have to work now. Son, who was a waiter, is CEO of his own IT business now and they have plenty of money. Waiting tables helped him learn to interact with all kinds of people, a skill he has needed in business. He says that has been more helpful to him than all the college courses he took (while waiting tables). Look down on anyone you want, but please don't stereotype.

I worked at Friendly's restaurant- a lower priced chain restaurant as a waitress for one month. I was nice and polite to everyone and treated every customer the same-even they had been in before and I knew they would not leave a tip. I can you tell you this: Most black and hispanic people do not tip, or tip very low, 5% or less. Senior citizens tip 10% at most- usually closer to 7% or 8%. Teenagers also do not tip or tip low. Most families with kids, not black or hispanic, tip 15-20%. I had heard before that black people do not tip but did not believe it. Sorry, it is true.I am wondering where you can make $40000 a year as a waitress. One morning I called up and said "Sorry, I cant do this for the amount of money I am making."

Yup, Marie Callender's restaurant is mostly in California, and then a few other locations in the west. Sometimes their food can be hit or miss, but the potpies are made right there, not frozen. And they are AMAZING. And then of course, tons and tons of pie. Yum.

Bulimia sucks. I keep it mostly under control by avoiding restaurants and foods I would binge/purge on. I find myself without plans tonight and what pops into my head? You could hit this restaurant, then buy the cupcakes you've been craving and then....well you can guess the rest.

OP of the person who's meal was ruined at a restaurant - YES, it gets me upset to think about how they and some people in general act. There was a related fight between my husband and I that happened after--it was a rough night. I hadn't thought about it in a really long time until I read the other confession, but I think it may be one of those things that forever irks me just a little at least.

My DH wouldn't have even asked the couple to replace his meal that their child ruined, my DH is not confrontational AT.ALL. and it bugs me to no end. He's such a pushover and I hate it. I don't need him to be a dick to everyone but when shit happens (like a meal being ruined by someone else) I need him to stick up for himself. And us for that matter. I'm always the one that has to say something to get things fixed, credited etc. He's had meals delivered to him that he didn't even order, like a chicken sandwich instead of chicken pasta and he won't even let the waiter know, "it's fine, it's not big deal", yes it is a big deal. Especially when we came to this restaurant specifically so you can have your pasta. Shit like that. I just may say fuck it and let him deal with it on his own. If he gets a burned meal and won't say anything about it, oh fucking well.

SO I was diagnosed with celiac last month and learning a whole new way to eat. The positives are that for the first time, I feel hopeful about my health problems having a solution, rather than just pills. Also, I am starting to feel really better! My stomach isn't bloated out like a four-months-pregnant person, I don't have constantly aching knees and itchy skin. I am feeling so much more normal! The trouble is that my family thinks "gluten free" is a bunch of BS. THey know nothing about the actual condition of celiac. Yeah I know it's trendy now and actresses and Hollywood types are acting nuts for gluten free, thinking it's some big cure all. I know a lot of things are not "cured" with gluten free but for me, this is an actual condition where you NEED to eat gluten free or you damage your intestines each and every time. My family refuses to "cater" to me in any way and acts like I'm a huge pain in the ass if I bring my own gluten free bread or try to avoid contamination. We went out to restaurant and they berated me for not trying the breaded shrimp that the restaurant is known for. My mom said, 'Oh for heavens' sake if you're that worried about bread just pick it off!" I said I can't do that, the residual gluten would make me sick. I got a huge eyeroll. It just makes me incredibly sad that they can't support me. I guess no more eating out with the family.

I can't believe I'm even confessing this because it still pisses me off to just think about it. I was at a restaurant with little kids running around, chasing each other between the tables, having a good ole time while the parents sat and chatted. One little kid who was swinging his shirt/jacket thing around slapped it right into my husband's meal. The mother stormed over to retrieve the kid and the shirt, made the kid (maybe 5 or 6?, bawling) apologize, and then went back to her table. Meanwhile, my husband's meal is ruined with nothing but a child's apology in return. After he and I fought about it, ruining our date, he went and asked that the family might buy him a new dinner. The mother looked shocked and said, "But he said he was sorry!" Her husband acted like he was doing everyone a big favor by being the better man and buying my husband some food his kid hadn't dipped his clothes in. Dumb, inconsiderate assholes. Ugh, now I'm upset again. I apologize to myself.

I used to wait tables and that post about a child wondering around restaurant really ticked me off! We had parents let their kids do that in my restaurant and it's extremely dangerous. Their waitstaff walking around with hot plates and pots of hot coffee. There are swinging doors and moving furniture and lots of people shuffling about, it's prime situation for a serious injury! Not to mention that not all people want to deal with your child when they are out eating at a nice restaurant!

A friend of mine just told me how cute she thinks it is when her 4 y/o son goes up to people in restaurants. Instead of making him stay at the table, she lets him wander around the restaurant because "He just loves to talk to people!" She was irked because someone actually took her child's hand and walked him back to her table because he was bothering them. I was dumbfounded. I've heard of crazy parents, but didn't believe it would happen to her. She used to be so normal.