Why do hipster waiters/waitresses suck?

[magatoni]

There's definitely bad service across the city. Apathy runs wild. Some don't take pride in their work. All work is noble, regardless of the type of work it is. I must say, it's very frustrating to get collegiate service at a place that should raise the bar. Hipsters are needed. They fuel the city. What makes me laugh are the ones that pretend to be trendsetters, yet are completely shallow in relation to people skills. LA has many of these people. In fact, they are everywhere and not exclusive to hipsters. I do smile when I see a person wearing a fedora and skinny jeans with some goofy piercings. Everyone needs to be young at some point.

[Tail]

I noticed, not to mention any names...ahem PYT and Dos Segundos...that the waiters/waitresses at these establishments take their sweet time when serving food/drinks or checking up. I've been to these places a number of times and have experienced less than mediocre service. Is it because I'm from Northeast Philly and wear Express clothing...come on!

A lot of hipster Waiter/Waitresses suck because they all feel as if they are doing you a favor by waiting on you. I had one look like an idiot recently when she made a derogatory comment to me about another patron, mocking his style. She was pretty embarrassed when I told her he was with my group and I'll let him know how she feels about him.

I don't hang out with anyone based on music, clothing or whether they ride a bike or drive a car. I hang with people who are cool and can enhance my life by being my friend. Half of my friends have no idea who these bands are I listen to when they look through my record collection and thats OK, I don't learn from people who are exactly like me, I learn from the differences others provide.

Anyone can be hip when the internet masses tell you what to wear. At least in the pre-internet days, the hip kids had to work much harder and usually had an inherent style that made them unique. Today, it's just amusing watching people who all dress, think, eat, drink and listen to the same things mock others cause they're not independent.

Style is not good style when you try too hard.

BTW, the NE Philly attacks are so lame and tiresome, its not really open minded. this is not directed at the post I quoted though. I grew up in Holmesburg, I was into punk rock and skating. There were a ton of us in 80 's & 90's. I enjoy the NE still, although I live in FT, my entire family still resides up there. Go to the restaurants on Castor ave, its the united nations avenue of food.

[Marquis]

I've had poor service at some restaurants where the servers were not hipsters, so now I don't know what to think.

[caL]

Where did you get that 'failed make up' quote? You must have quoted yourself. I'm so sorry that you have such a low self-image of you and your neighborhood.

And you still haven't explained how that makes me a hypocrite.

Directly from one of your posts. You're a piece of work.

[loveisnoise]

Directly from one of your posts. You're a piece of work.

Please cite your direct source or I will have to have my attorney Hal sue you for libel.

[caL]

Please cite your direct source or I will have to have my attorney Hal sue you for libel.

You two are a great combination. You make these threads such a joy to read.

[DeanN3rd]

A lot of hipster Waiter/Waitresses suck because they all feel as if they are doing you a favor by waiting on you. I had one look like an idiot recently when she made a derogatory comment to me about another patron, mocking his style. She was pretty embarrassed when I told her he was with my group and I'll let him know how she feels about him.

I don't hang out with anyone based on music, clothing or whether they ride a bike or drive a car. I hang with people who are cool and can enhance my life by being my friend. Half of my friends have no idea who these bands are I listen to when they look through my record collection and thats OK, I don't learn from people who are exactly like me, I learn from the differences others provide.

Anyone can be hip when the internet masses tell you what to wear. At least in the pre-internet days, the hip kids had to work much harder and usually had an inherent style that made them unique. Today, it's just amusing watching people who all dress, think, eat, drink and listen to the same things mock others cause they're not independent.

Style is not good style when you try too hard.

BTW, the NE Philly attacks are so lame and tiresome, its not really open minded. this is not directed at the post I quoted though. I grew up in Holmesburg, I was into punk rock and skating. There were a ton of us in 80 's & 90's. I enjoy the NE still, although I live in FT, my entire family still resides up there. Go to the restaurants on Castor ave, its the united nations avenue of food.

Very well said.

[thoth]

To quote Malloy: this thread sucks.

[RittenhouseGirl]

It's because hipsters are mentally living in a sarcastic, post-apocalyptic world and don't see a purpose in putting effort into anything. If they must work under capitalism they will do so begrudgingly.

But I have noticed a problem with at least 50% of all restaurant workers I have ever run into. The worst are at downtown Philly fastfood places. I stay away from them like the plague.

They must be upset they are earning minimum wage. They should be happy to have a job at all. Sometimes the worst people are in customer service positions. I have no qualms in complaining to managers or as high as I have to go in the organization to right a wrong. Do a job right or don't do it at all.

[oxjox]

As a non-hipster living in close vicinity to these establishments, I take offense to the term hipster. It's become a generic, derogatory term in this city that people use to classify someone as being different and inferior. When my out of town friends come to visit and ask me to define hipster (evidently because NoLibs is hipster mecca), I have to go back to Brooklyn in the early 2000's when trust-fund kids actually started this hipster scene to start my definition. Then I conclude with admitting that I really don't know anymore because they just aren't what they used to be. I've actually been called a hipster before by more than one person! (shocking to me) Because I sport a beard, drink good beer and/or High Life, listen to indie rock and electronic, own a turntable and wear clothes that actually fit me from Old Navy/Gap/BR.

You know why you have poor service at a restaurant? Because your server is hung over from the night before. Because you couldn't make up your mind in a reasonable amount of time. Because their fellow server remembers you from the last time you were there and you left a **** tip. Because one of the line cooks couldn't ride his bike in the rain from South Philly. Because you don't know how to treat people serving you with respect. Because you're wearing overwhelming perfume or cologne. Because your server is just having a bad day.

None of these things are exclusive to "hipsters" but it sounds like it may be exclusive to the particular establishments you keep going back to. I've had really, really, really bad service at Darlings. Guess, what? I don't eat there unless the bars just closed and I'm starving. Then I call ahead and get take-out. Even then, I regret walking through their door. Do I come to this forum and ask the community why people that work at diners are so poor at their jobs with the caveat that service at Spring Garden Diner is outstanding? No.

You're right though. PYT and Dos Segundos have pretty bad service. Do I get all worked up about it with a NE attitude and stereotype a person based upon their appearance? No. I accept them for who they are, the business for what it is and I have more enjoyable experiences at places that appreciate my business. I'm with @Neb, it sounds like you're new to this dining out deal and you've lived a pretty sheltered life if you're still wearing clothes from Express.

[loveisnoise]

Interesting-you are the only one who deemed them to be inferior. Then your friends asked about hipsters, so they must really be scumbags relying on stereotypes.

And then it comes to be that you admit to having zero knowledge about the situation. Hipster came long before your friends were looking for coke and microbrew in Nolibs so chill your cucumber soup sissy pants.

And then you finalize by saying that you don't have a 'NE attitude', all while going on some tirade about how all the restaurants suck by you don't talk about how they suck on here... even though you just did.

Your irony and lack of relevance makes you a hipster. Be proud. Stay strong. Well, as strong as a greasy jeans schlepp can be.

As a non-hipster living in close vicinity to these establishments, I take offense to the term hipster. It's become a generic, derogatory term in this city that people use to classify someone as being different and inferior. When my out of town friends come to visit and ask me to define hipster (evidently because NoLibs is hipster mecca), I have to go back to Brooklyn in the early 2000's when trust-fund kids actually started this hipster scene to start my definition. Then I conclude with admitting that I really don't know anymore because they just aren't what they used to be. I've actually been called a hipster before by more than one person! (shocking to me) Because I sport a beard, drink good beer and/or High Life, listen to indie rock and electronic, own a turntable and wear clothes that actually fit me from Old Navy/Gap/BR.

You know why you have poor service at a restaurant? Because your server is hung over from the night before. Because you couldn't make up your mind in a reasonable amount of time. Because their fellow server remembers you from the last time you were there and you left a **** tip. Because one of the line cooks couldn't ride his bike in the rain from South Philly. Because you don't know how to treat people serving you with respect. Because you're wearing overwhelming perfume or cologne. Because your server is just having a bad day.

None of these things are exclusive to "hipsters" but it sounds like it may be exclusive to the particular establishments you keep going back to. I've had really, really, really bad service at Darlings. Guess, what? I don't eat there unless the bars just closed and I'm starving. Then I call ahead and get take-out. Even then, I regret walking through their door. Do I come to this forum and ask the community why people that work at diners are so poor at their jobs with the caveat that service at Spring Garden Diner is outstanding? No.

You're right though. PYT and Dos Segundos have pretty bad service. Do I get all worked up about it with a NE attitude and stereotype a person based upon their appearance? No. I accept them for who they are, the business for what it is and I have more enjoyable experiences at places that appreciate my business. I'm with @Neb, it sounds like you're new to this dining out deal and you've lived a pretty sheltered life if you're still wearing clothes from Express.

[boognish]

Express still exists?

I generally get great service no matter when I go out, because I don't eat at crappy places that would hire crappy servers. If I have a problem with the server, which of course happens to everyone, I try to focus on the food, give the server hints or at last resort speak to the manager immediately. At the very least, I contact the restaurant via email the next day and explain how my otherwise enjoyable meal was blemished by poor service. If I receive no response, not only will I never go back, I may very well speak my mind on some searchable internet community.

One of my favorite and most pleasant servers once asked my wife and I where we were from. When we said "West Philly", she was shocked. She said she thought due to our politeness that we were from out of town. That speaks volumes.

[gideon]

I was at Han Dynasty a few months ago. There's this one waiter there, skinny guy, blonde hair, bike culture dude. Pretty filthy - usually very sweaty, unkempt, dirty hands the times he's waited on us.

So I was getting take out one night and I saw him being very rude to a table of people who just sat down. Jokingly I said "guess it's like hitting the lottery -you get nice or nasty". He responds "the food is so good here that we can afford to smack some of them around a bit." A waitress right next to us overheard and knowingly nodded her "yes" and said "yeah, we can pretty much do what we want here."

I haven't been back since.

[darthsinatra]

I was at Han Dynasty a few months ago. There's this one waiter there, skinny guy, blonde hair, bike culture dude. Pretty filthy - usually very sweaty, unkempt, dirty hands the times he's waited on us.

So I was getting take out one night and I saw him being very rude to a table of people who just sat down. Jokingly I said "guess it's like hitting the lottery -you get nice or nasty". He responds "the food is so good here that we can afford to smack some of them around a bit." A waitress right next to us overheard and knowingly nodded her "yes" and said "yeah, we can pretty much do what we want here."

I haven't been back since.

I truly hope this tale is at best an exaggeration. I have had Han Dynasty bookmarked for months.

[loveisnoise]

I couldn't care less about the wait staff. Seriously, you people have enough interaction with them to have such tales?! I want left alone when I eat. Nothing pisses me off more than someone who recognizes me and then feels the need to talk my ear off or start asking me questions. Bring me water, take my order, give me my check without waiting to ask and they'll get 30%. Talkative? It drops to 20%. Takes forever to get my check or another unsweetened iced tea? Drops to 15%. Otherwise, who cares.

[OffenseTaken]

I couldn't care less about the wait staff. Seriously, you people have enough interaction with them to have such tales?! I want left alone when I eat. Nothing pisses me off more than someone who recognizes me and then feels the need to talk my ear off or start asking me questions. Bring me water, take my order, give me my check without waiting to ask and they'll get 30%. Talkative? It drops to 20%. Takes forever to get my check or another unsweetened iced tea? Drops to 15%. Otherwise, who cares.

I disagree. I love it when my server is an 18-year-old bimbo that cuts in on my conversation by shrieking "HOW'S EVERYONE DOIN OVER HERE, OKAY!?!?!!?" every five minutes. Even better is when they draw a smiley face on the check.

It makes me feel like we're best friends. Not like those hipster waiters who act like you came for the food & drink.

[Dayman]

I shaved my hipster travel beard and I still get good service.

Guess it's cause I tip well and am friendly.

Or that I have The National in my iTunes library and they can smell it.

[gideon]

not an exaggeration. it's what happened.

[loveisnoise]

Hipster waitresses are ok for blowjobs.

I disagree. I love it when my server is an 18-year-old bimbo that cuts in on my conversation by shrieking "HOW'S EVERYONE DOIN OVER HERE, OKAY!?!?!!?" every five minutes. Even better is when they draw a smiley face on the check.

It makes me feel like we're best friends. Not like those hipster waiters who act like you came for the food & drink.

[DeanN3rd]

As a non-hipster living in close vicinity to these establishments, I take offense to the term hipster. It's become a generic, derogatory term in this city that people use to classify someone as being different and inferior. When my out of town friends come to visit and ask me to define hipster (evidently because NoLibs is hipster mecca), I have to go back to Brooklyn in the early 2000's when trust-fund kids actually started this hipster scene to start my definition. Then I conclude with admitting that I really don't know anymore because they just aren't what they used to be. I've actually been called a hipster before by more than one person! (shocking to me) Because I sport a beard, drink good beer and/or High Life, listen to indie rock and electronic, own a turntable and wear clothes that actually fit me from Old Navy/Gap/BR.

You know why you have poor service at a restaurant? Because your server is hung over from the night before. Because you couldn't make up your mind in a reasonable amount of time. Because their fellow server remembers you from the last time you were there and you left a **** tip. Because one of the line cooks couldn't ride his bike in the rain from South Philly. Because you don't know how to treat people serving you with respect. Because you're wearing overwhelming perfume or cologne. Because your server is just having a bad day.

None of these things are exclusive to "hipsters" but it sounds like it may be exclusive to the particular establishments you keep going back to. I've had really, really, really bad service at Darlings. Guess, what? I don't eat there unless the bars just closed and I'm starving. Then I call ahead and get take-out. Even then, I regret walking through their door. Do I come to this forum and ask the community why people that work at diners are so poor at their jobs with the caveat that service at Spring Garden Diner is outstanding? No.

You're right though. PYT and Dos Segundos have pretty bad service. Do I get all worked up about it with a NE attitude and stereotype a person based upon their appearance? No. I accept them for who they are, the business for what it is and I have more enjoyable experiences at places that appreciate my business. I'm with @Neb, it sounds like you're new to this dining out deal and you've lived a pretty sheltered life if you're still wearing clothes from Express.

The traits I mentioned about myself are obvious self-jabs to add some humor to my post. What's not humorous and utterly ridiculous is your argument in response. So I get bad service because the hipster is hungover, had to ride his bike to work, etc? Here's a thought: stop drinking $2 PBR's and buy a car. And if wearing Express clothing translates to living a sheltered life, God knows what sporting Old Navy means.