Where are the clean tables????

I think it really just depends on the specific restaurant.

Whenever I go into a restaurant for the first time, I visit the restroom because the way the bathroom is kept will likely reflect how clean the kitchen is.

I have noticed that fast food restaurants are real bad about cleaning off the tables

Reason number 427(b) to avoid fast food places.

Bonnie- So sorry for your experience!

I've had bad/disinterested service all across the country, but, nothing like you describe.

I spent my early years (15-17) as a waitress and I would have been fired with that attitude! Over the years, I've had to fall back on that job to make ends meet, but, would have died before acting like that!

My son is a bartender/server and he makes on average $150 per night, so, I know he isn't like your examples.

I would fire those servers also...but, if I was the GM...I'd fire the managers!

When I was a retail manager- I always told my employees, You are only as good as your worst employee!

That is a real bummer Bonnie. Fast food places tend to give out receipts with 1-800 numbers posted on them for feedback or have a website that accepts feedback. You could ask the name of the manager and then mail a letter to him, or you can complain to the Department of Occupational Health and Safety. I like to eat somewhere clean, and I don't think I'm alone in that. Good luck!

Are restaurants doing a good job where you live?

It kind of works both ways, wouldn't one think? The staff there has been given an "I don't have to care" attitude, and that did not come from their bosses. It come from their surroundings.

The last time I waitressed in "a well-known pizza place", I was pulling $2.13 per hour on my paycheck, working like a dog to try and take care of a newborn, and not doing such a fantastic job of it. I wasn't strong enough, and neither was my environment. Did the customers care? Of course not. It's not "professional" to have personal problems at work, even when work is actually one devil of a "personal problem".

I did, eventually, outgrow the service industry and learned not to bother trying to give a hoot whether your coffee was cold or your bacon was soggy. Those little bitty dollars here and there are just not worth it. And for those of you who "do" tip good? Be aware that there are 100 more of you who don't.

Public Health didn't respond? Call the County bigwig and find out who's in charge of PH and then call them. Dirty dishclothes on clean utensils is a big no no

That's a very cute and modest article, Bonnie. I appreciate it.
You know, quality service often comes with the area and the perception of the providers about their potential customers. You must have felt disrespected that day, not by the pizza store's crew, but by the society. Use this experience to discover how the society operates on a discriminatory standard. The reason why you found this shocking is that you are used to neat restaurants with polite crew and you thought that was the standard everywhere. Well, no, my dear. When you enter a restaurant to eat, no matter who you are, the staff that used to serve their customers like pigs and faced no complaints, is not ready to serve you. If more people like you come in and go back out without buying because of the appearance of the place, they will make change for fear to not run out of business.

I once entered a chineese restaurant during a trip to Queens, New York. I was not familiar with the area to know where is a respectable area. I had some hunger to calm down. I went and ordered something to go ( I must say the restaurant looked clean though). I stayed and watched the cook prepare my order. She never stopped talking over the pan all the way with a co-worker. When she finaly set the food and handed to me, I asked her if that was my order, she say yes and I say, why were you talking all over it and spraying it? She remained mute and I walked away. I entered a deli store and bought me xome snack and a snapple. Peace.

I went to a fast food burger place and ordered burger, fries, drink and a ice cream dessert. The burger came first, got cold, then the fries (while she was talking to a co worker) ...got cold while she was fixing my ice cream dessert. Of course the ice had started to melt because you get the cup to fill yourself. The only thing that was good was the dessert. Well I gave it one more try...not much improvement. That's the end of buying there. They weren't even busy except to gossip with each other.

Years ago waitresses only took orders and brought food, maybe flirted a little. Now they also seat customers, work the cash registers, and clean the tables. One person can do only so much.

I'm a long time fill in the budget part timer at waiting tables. To stop and gossip with a coworker when the order is up was a firing offense. guess not anymore but leaving my food to get cold to gossip (they were that loud) that's a surefire way to lose a customer.

You all have heard of "Mystery Shoppers" , I though about starting a business called "Mystery Employee" Become an undercover spy for the higher managment. What you think?