Question for waitstaff/servers/bartenders - do you like being called by name?

[nadine_mn]

Oftentimes when I am out eating or drinking, our server comes by and says "Hello, I am [friendly waitstaff name] and I will be your server" and I never know if I should use their name during our service (As in saying "Thank you, [friendly waitstaff] or "Excuse me [friendly waitstaff], may I have a refill&quot .

I briefly waitressed at Pizza Hut in college and when we were trained we were told to say our name and give the specials. Whenever someone at one of my tables called me by my name it freaked me out. Actually any job where I had a name tag and someone said my name it creeped me out. I am also willing to concede that I may just be weird like that and normal people like being called by name.

I hate the idea that I might be rude unintentionally to waitstaff because customers in general can be such asshats. I always make sure to tip 20%+ and be as friendly as possible but the name thing has always confused me. Is it rude NOT to use their name? What if they are only giving it because they have to and would be freaked out like I was? Miss or ma'am or sir seems off too.


Thank you for your input

[hay rick]

1. I'm embarrassed when I don't remember the server's name.

Usually I go to local places that are busy and noisy and I signal for attention by catching the server's eye and maybe giving a little hand wave. I prefer to use the person's name if I remember but I wouldn't yell it out across the floor to get attention. If I forget their name and think they are really good, I will apologize for forgetting their name and ask them to repeat it so I will (hopefully) remember next time. I think being pleasant and leaving a good tip are more important than using or not using the server's name.

[Bertha Venation]

2. Good questions. I look forward to reading the responses.

[riderinthestorm]

3. As a former server at a high end restaurant, I was flattered if they remembered my name

it meant they tried to connect.

We didn't wear name badges so they had to actually listen to my introduction. But 99% never remembered my name and I never thought twice about it.

If I had to wear a name badge, I'd actually think it would be insulting if they didn't at least acknowledge my name. It's placed prominently on my left boob! Clearly management thought it was important for our names to be obviously marked for customers to recognize. So yeah, if they ignored my name and simply called me "Hey miss", that would be a tad bit insulting.

Not that that would get in the way of my service. Bucks before pride was always my mantra as a server. I was a shameless hussy in pursuit of the almighty dollar as a poor college student.