I also still will never understand why a waiter should make more simply because I ordered a steak and a nice beet instead of chicken fingers and a water.
The waiter might actually work harder for the chicken fingers and water.
The problem is American waitering now is not what it was before. Being a waiter used to hold some elegant prestige, why?
They had many roles
Memorizing the menu and specific ingredients that one may not expect, like maybe their chicken uses curry variant
Wines and their pairings was a huge part of their training. Adding the history of how some wines were made and where because it mattered.
When serving they would offer to cut meat, pour drinks at table, replace cutlery, dishes, rags etc.
Conversationalist, you needed a little charisma and be able to entertain guest. Tell stories about the restaurant, the food, you added to the experience while guests waited for food. Which was a huge tactic if it was a quiet table.
They had to memorize different dining rituals think of how it's improper to eat before everyone is served, stabbing food with your chopsticks is bad manners, etc etc. specific way some religions say the man must be served first or the the children and women are to take first bite etc etc
Basically waiting used to be a very educated position.
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u/brokemillionaire572 8h ago edited 4h ago
I also still will never understand why a waiter should make more simply because I ordered a steak and a nice beet instead of chicken fingers and a water.
The waiter might actually work harder for the chicken fingers and water.
Edit - a nice BEER