Day 32: Hot Water Before Meals: A Server’s Dilemma

Yes, it is true that servers are not always the happiest people in the room. Sometimes they are the unhappiest because they may have to mask their emotions in order to make a living. There are a plethora of reasons that a server can be unhappy despite their best efforts. But one way to upset a server is to order hot water before a meal. I admit that while I was a young server that I too have been irritated by the simple request of hot water. But I’m trying to see the other side.

There are a few reasons why ordering hot water may upset a server:

1) Pouring hot water out of a spout is perceived to be more work or take more time than pouring cold water out of a spout.

2) Mugs, which are typically the glassware used to transport hot liquid, are heavier than plastic cups.

3) Water does not increase the total price of the bill and most people tip servers based on a percentage of the bill. Thus, there is a larger statistical chance that the server will receive less money from the customer.

4) Getting hot water for a family of five is odd because that practice is not widely used in our American culture.

5) The customers are not originally from American and the server is subconsciously racist, and thus believing that they will receive a poorer tip because “Foreign people don’t tip well.”

Have I covered everything?

I want to express two things that I have learned from my years in the foodservice industry:

1) If they offer it, order whatever the hell you want at a restaurant because a good server will not mistreat a customer over a simple request.

2) Hot water is good for you!

Do a quick search now: “benefits of drinking hot water”. Go ahead, I’ll wait. Did you do it? Liar.

Hot water has many, many benefits, but the one that is pertinent to this discussion is that hot water helps with digestion. That is why people ask for it at restaurants. They aren’t looking to get a free drink or cause anyone pain. They want a healthy drink to help their stomach digest the greasy hunk of cow shoulder they’re about to shove in their face. That’s it. Case closed. Be nice.

But if anyone asks for lemon, they can go straight to hell.

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Author’s Note #1: And if you don’t know, now you know, serva.

Author's Note #2: Here's a funny video on server mentality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMZkukOB8Ig

(Warning: Don't watch at work or around kids. Now get the fuck outta here.)