"Growing up working-class outside Manchester, I spent plenty of evenings watching my parents carefully count out cash before we'd treat ourselves to a meal out. My father, who worked in a factory, and my mother, who worked in retail, taught me that dining out was special, not routine. Years later, after moving through corporate life and now living in London, I've noticed something fascinating. The habits I learned from my working-class upbringing, the very behaviors that might make wealthy diners raise an eyebrow, are often the ones that restaurant staff genuinely appreciate."
"Without thinking, they'll often stack their empty plates, gather cutlery together, and push everything to the edge of the table. I do this instinctively. My partner, who grew up differently, was mortified the first time she saw me do it at a nice restaurant. "That's their job," she whispered. But here's what servers have told me: they love it."
Working-class upbringings cultivate frugal, practical dining habits that benefit restaurant staff. Stacking plates, gathering cutlery, and moving dishes to the table edge reduces trips and lowers the risk of dropped crockery. Leaving cash tips even when paying by card gives immediate, usable money to front-of-house employees. Restaurant staff frequently report that these habits make service smoother and show respect for their work. Wealthier diners sometimes view such behaviors as beneath them or worry that they imply slow service. Small practical gestures from customers can materially improve workflow for servers juggling multiple tables.
Read at Silicon Canals
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