NAH
Ha this was a really good read. I was that server a lifetime ago. Worked at a fancy/trendy/always need reservations place. In my early days, I was WAY in over my head.
The situation you described probably happened to me 3 times in the first year and I started having nightmares where I would dream up more complicated ways to fuck up a table.
Big ticket tables.
Spilled drinks. Straight up forgot about tables.
Here’s the thing. I NEVER expected to get tips on those early fuck ups.
But things happen. Got sat too many tables, kitchen just didn’t like the new server so sort of let’s you flounder instead of help running. New bartender at the same time screwing up the orders you ring in. Sooooo much is constantly going wrong in restaurants, that’s why when you see a good servers-you’re really seeing a great one. Allowing the circus to run invisibly in the background while you eat.
Nah because;
• you’re not a regular so whatever, no consequences • sometimes, paying it forward when you know you represent a regular goes along way • if it was that big a deal, they could have said “you pay the bill, we’ll grab the tip”
Those times I mentioned fucking up large parties. They all actually still tipped. It wasn’t the money. It was the reminder that, not every table is a slave master. And just relax and handle things the best you can and things will work out.
The stress of one fuckup snowballing, and potentially costing you you’re whole night of income adds to the stress to only compound it.
Those times when people still tipped were hugely important to me becoming a better server at the time, and has even carried over into my professional life.
Is that an overshare? Sure, but you struck an old memory ha, sorry.