Older couple refuses the brand-new server on her VERY FIRST shift and demands a more experienced one for a “perfect peaceful evening”… so the restaurant owner kicks them out of the restaurant. The owner stood up for his new employee, refused to accommodate the request, and ultimately asked the... couple to leave the restaurant, saying “not all business is good business.” So who’s right here? The manager protecting his nervous new server on her first night… or the paying customers who are spending good money and just wanted experienced service for a nice, stress-free dinner? What would you do in this situation — as the manager or as the customer?show more

That couple almost ruined that girl as a server forever. They would've destroyed her confidence to do the job. I've seen it happen. Takes months upon months to fix. Great move refusing their business. Losing that one table saved him potentially thousands in the long run.

@TylerRatcliff17 In a real life scenario, red shirt guy made the right decision 🤗 put that 🔥 out before it gets started

Some of you people probably need to not take eating your dinner so damn serious. You can handle a night of somebody learning on the job. It's just not that fucking deep.

@kittenaround_51 its things like this that make or break a manager. Defend customers who are in the wrong, and u lose all respect u had as a boss there. Maybe forever. Stick UP for them, they have ur back big time. U chose wisely.

He did the right thing. If that couple starts off bitching chances are they’ll bitch about every thing else

Not all experienced waitresses are good either. New waitresses are not always bad. They probably abuse every waitress.

If that's a real scenario, the couple was nuts. The best thing you can do with a new server is adopt them, make them comfortable, help them with the menu, the table number, and praise for the food. They'll remember, and if you're a regular, they'll be your friend forever.

As a customer I can understand telling a person in training that I want an experienced phlebotomist, but a waitress?!? Every year I see the entitlement mentality growing. I see anger growing.

I'm with the owner/manager standing for his employee. The older couple (being wiser) should have been more understanding with the new server getting trained. This is the classic case of employers wanting to hire experienced people but doesn't understand that experience has to come from somewhere.

Older folks. Regular customers. Appease them. Not a big deal. They were not rude. New staff should not go up to a table and basically tell them ahead of time there may be problems. New staff needs to project confidence and knowledge. Even if they are nervous. She may of thought she was "breaking the ice" but obviously the customer did not. Kicking out regulars over their preferences is a sure way to always lose your regulars.

I admire him for standing up for his employee. I was a server for 22 years.

Maybe it's me, but the older I get, the more patience I have for beginners. If you're not a complete asshole, you remember your own experiences. But that's a big "if"....

@thewriterme They are both right. HOWEVER, I would never have kicked out a recurring customer. If I (the manager) knew these people, I would ask them discretely before hand "I hired a new server that needs practice going by herself. Would you be her first table?"

I would so go to his restaurant because he stood up for his employee. That work is hard, and underappreciated.. no one should feel so entitled to do that to people on their job.

I am shocked by the responses on this post. I am totally behind the manager. People who eat out should enjoy the adventure of not knowing exactly how it will turn out, or just stay home where they can control the environment.

I love that you stood behind your new server! Sounds like they didn't even give her a chance. 😏

@ColorApril Tell me this fat red shirt moron is not a leftist! lol, these leftist are just mentally ill. If this dude is not the owner he should be fired immediately.

frankly, I never knew if a server was new or not. IT'S NOT A HARD JOB and the couple was OUT OF LINE.

I like the opportunity of building confidence in a new employee. I’m always polite, but go out of my way to be extra kind to newbies. They always remember me when I go back. It’s kind of nice to build a good reputation.

@Ilegvm Always stand up for your employees! Good job!

We need more grace from people in situations like this. It's not like this young inexperienced person is about to operate on you. It's dinner FFS. Give the kid a break.

It is 100% reasonable for a customer to request an experienced server and opt out of a person of staff that has never worked solo. Your stance was absurd as an owner or manager.

The new server should work with a seasoned server until she’s not so nervous anymore. I do have empathy for a new employee but a dining experience is not just about food, it’s about the experience too. Was the new employee well trained? Is she knowledgeable about the menu? Is she able to communicate well? We don’t know all the details.

I would have kicked them out too. No excuse for bad manners.

Good for you! Sometimes putting your staff first is hard, but you showed your employees that you will stand by them.

As a customer, if I know you are new and still learning, I will cut you tons of slack and be really polite. Even if you are not new. It doesn't cost anything to be nice and polite to people. People make mistakes, and generally, it's not the end of the world. It's how we learn

I just completed a cruise and one of my servers in the main dinning room was new and learning, but he was not solo and instead he was supporting 2 far more experienced server / waiters in a section of the restaurant. In any dinning room that I have been in where staff is being trained it is announced and they either shadow or are being shadowed, only when they have shown that they can fly solo does this change. If your customer does not want a nervous waiter / waitress / server, or would prefer a different table then you move them. It is the right of a customer to advocate for themselves and not be bullied by staff, managers, etc , who refuse to accommodate reasonable requests.

A Manager who stands for an employee Trains them so the customer doesn’t know the server is new.

Good. Some boomers are entitled assholes. What can possibly be that catastrophic? They need to get over themselves.

He told them she was great and had fantastic training. If you dont give the new guy, or in this case girl, a chance how will they ever learn. Also, some of the BEST service I ever got was from the new person because they aren't jaded yet and Really want to make a good impression

@JimBramlage Since it’s the manager prerogative he can do what he wishes. Having a seasoned server is a good thing, but we always give new people a chance. We treat them well, encourage them and laugh with them. We ease their tension.

Everybody can relate to being a newbie on a job. A little bit of patience costs nothing. If she gets it wrong, politely correct her and she will get it right. It's amazing how many older people have amnesia about when they were young and just starting out in life. Give the young girl a break.

@CoVet_81 I stand with the manager. I’ve seen far too many of these “older” people behave in such a loathsome manner. FTR, I’m “older”.

I personally applaud this guys actions! The couple put him in the position of having to tell his new employee - who had done Nothing Wrong - that the people just didn’t want to be bothered by whatever they perceived she might do wrong. He had and was making an investment in her as an employee - in the old way of restaurants. They become Family - and family puts its own first. She was “new” family, but he showed her he had her back. And I’ll bet that investment in her paid off in spades. One of the biggest problems in today’s culture is the assumption that “people” need to be treated a certain way (or “deserve” to act as they like) if they are paying customers. Businesses have bent over in fear of bad online reviews to the extent that’s fed poor to outlandish, and empowered behaviour. I thank God that they’re still men like this guy out there in the world.

Your server screwed up at the start. You don’t warn the table if something likely to go wrong and give them a before hand excuse of “I’m new at this.” People don’t want to be burdened with your inexperience and lack of confidence, they’re paying good money to eat at your biz. She should have practiced a little “fake it til’ you make it” strategy. The elderly couple would have never said anything if she just stayed silent about her newness and was confident.