NTA. I was a waiter for 4-5 years in college. If someone asked to see the manager I was always happy to oblige.

People acting like people are afraid of tables asking for managers have probably never waited tables or were fucking incompetent if they did.

Hell, I'd send the manager if there was even a hint of anything going wrong, that's what they're there for.

At one restaurant the GM used to bring me all the tables that the hostesses would inadvertently piss off (I mean 16 year old girls shouldn't be running the front alone IMO). This is how I got a bunch of my call-parties (people who ask for your section when they return).

I loved waiting tables. I averaged around 29-30/hr in 2019 money (17-18/hr in the mid 90s).

I think a lot of people here are assuming shit, I'm sure I am to. But as a waiter, I didn't get paid enough by a restaurant to give a fuck about the restaurant's issues. I wanted every table to enjoy themselves. 2.13/hr almost covered taxes.