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SF Restaurants Can’t Afford Waiters. So They’re Putting Diners to Work

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Re: SF Restaurants Can’t Afford Waiters. So They’re Putting Diners to Work

#71

Post by TheChaplain »

toomanybeersies wrote: post #64

I don't think this is really a particularly new concept. I think that there are two factors that have fuelled the rise of this type of restaurant. The first is that people are eschewing more formal dining for casual joints. When was the last time anyone went on a date to an actual fine dining establishment? Let alone gone to one with friends. Secondly, this isn't fine dining dressing down, but rather greasy spoons dr…

> When was the last time anyone went on a date to an actual fine dining establishment?

Last night actually with my wife to a very nice french restaurant, something we do once a week. We live in a cramped apartment without space for a dining table, these moments are very cherished because we get to sit face to face in a nice environment with good food.

Re: SF Restaurants Can’t Afford Waiters. So They’re Putting Diners to Work

#72

Post by dragonwriter »

toomanybeersies wrote: post #64

I don't think this is really a particularly new concept. I think that there are two factors that have fuelled the rise of this type of restaurant. The first is that people are eschewing more formal dining for casual joints. When was the last time anyone went on a date to an actual fine dining establishment? Let alone gone to one with friends. Secondly, this isn't fine dining dressing down, but rather greasy spoons dr…

> When was the last time anyone went on a date to an actual fine dining establishment? Let alone gone to one with friends.

Anyone? I'm going to take zero risk of being wrong and say “within the last hour”. To both questions.

This may not be something that happens in your social circle, but it is certainly something that happens regularly.

Re: SF Restaurants Can’t Afford Waiters. So They’re Putting Diners to Work

#73

Post by jcelerier »

jedberg wrote: post #45
jcelerier wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Want one once of 16 different beers? No problem. apart from the lack of decency. > And the notion of the wise bartender with an ear to lend from the movies I never saw transpire in real life. maybe not like "in the movies" but did you ever try to at least befriend the bartender ?

> apart from the lack of decency. I've been to a place like that. They had a button on the dispense for a one ounce pour, so they were actually encouraging us to try many beers.

yes... but not all together at the same time in the same pint, right ?

Re: SF Restaurants Can’t Afford Waiters. So They’re Putting Diners to Work

#74

Post by listenallyall »

JackCh wrote: post #69
listenallyall wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your argument is reductive. ALL tips are given willingly. Starbucks could, at any moment, bar individual stores from placing a tip jar at their registers. Just like McDonald's. No tips, no issue, no should I or shouldn't I?

Tips to wait staff are voluntary but have significant social pressure behind them. Tip jars at counters have no social pressure behind them. That's not reductive, that's just the practical reality of tipping culture in America. If you refuse to tip a waitress a very significant portion of the American population will consider you tantamount to a thief, a morally bankrupt person. Refusing to put your change in the tip…

Your outrage would be misdirected, as I have not patronized Starbucks in many years. But among friends who do, they absolutely feel pressure to tip, especially when they see the same barista every single day. I'll trust them over you, thanks.

Re: SF Restaurants Can’t Afford Waiters. So They’re Putting Diners to Work

#75

Post by jedberg »

jcelerier wrote: post #73
jedberg wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> apart from the lack of decency. I've been to a place like that. They had a button on the dispense for a one ounce pour, so they were actually encouraging us to try many beers.

yes... but not all together at the same time in the same pint, right ?

Of course not. I don't think OP was suggesting it was the same pint either.

Re: SF Restaurants Can’t Afford Waiters. So They’re Putting Diners to Work

#76

Post by JackCh »

listenallyall wrote: post #74
JackCh wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tips to wait staff are voluntary but have significant social pressure behind them. Tip jars at counters have no social pressure behind them. That's not reductive, that's just the practical reality of tipping culture in America. If you refuse to tip a waitress a very significant portion of the American population will consider you tantamount to a thief, a morally bankrupt person. Refusing to put your change in the tip…

Your outrage would be misdirected, as I have not patronized Starbucks in many years. But among friends who do, they absolutely feel pressure to tip, especially when they see the same barista every single day. I'll trust them over you, thanks.

> "But among friends who do, they absolutely feel pressure to tip,"

I'm pretty damn skeptical of that, since in America the vast majority of customers do not put anything in counter tip jars. Maybe you've got some sort of strange selection bias going on...

Re: SF Restaurants Can’t Afford Waiters. So They’re Putting Diners to Work

#77

Post by wink »

JackCh wrote: post #68
toomanybeersies wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some people tip their garbage collector: http://www.mymoneyblog.com/how-do-i-tip-the-trash-collector.... From a foreign perspective, where I don't think I've ever tipped anyone in my life, it's absolutely bizarre.

Tipping a garbage collector is bizarre from an American perspective too.

Back when I lived with my parents in a single-family home people would give the garbage collectors a little something once per year, usually around christmas.

Re: SF Restaurants Can’t Afford Waiters. So They’re Putting Diners to Work

#78

Post by everdev »

JackCh wrote: post #66
everdev wrote: post #22

In Santa Cruz we have a bar with no bartenders. It's fantastic. Scan your bracelet (linked to your CC), pour yourself whatever beer on tap you want and pay only for the once you pour. Want one once of 16 different beers? No problem. Can't get that experience at a traditional bar. The seating is more like a restaurant, so no one is sitting by themselves staring at a wall full of hard alcohol, everyone is facing the ro…

> "Want one once of 16 different beers? No problem." If I want one pint of 16 different beers, will it comply or will it cut me off for being visibly intoxicated?

I think you only get 32 or 48oz every two hours. The limit does seem pretty low.

Re: SF Restaurants Can’t Afford Waiters. So They’re Putting Diners to Work

#79

Post by everdev »

jcelerier wrote: post #73
jedberg wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> apart from the lack of decency. I've been to a place like that. They had a button on the dispense for a one ounce pour, so they were actually encouraging us to try many beers.

yes... but not all together at the same time in the same pint, right ?

No. There's water to wash your glass after each beer

Re: SF Restaurants Can’t Afford Waiters. So They’re Putting Diners to Work

#80

Post by vidanay »

JackCh wrote: post #68
toomanybeersies wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some people tip their garbage collector: http://www.mymoneyblog.com/how-do-i-tip-the-trash-collector.... From a foreign perspective, where I don't think I've ever tipped anyone in my life, it's absolutely bizarre.

Tipping a garbage collector is bizarre from an American perspective too.

My garbage collector has to park his truck, open my gate, get back in his truck, empty my dumpster, park his truck again, lock my gate, and then finally go on to the next customer.

His extra effort and reliability warrants a Christmas card and monetary gift every year.

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