Servers Reveal Their 'Biggest' Pet Peeves in Video Viewed 2.3M Times

A group of servers took to TikTok last month to share their biggest pet peeves about serving and the video has since gone viral.

The clip, which was posted to the app on January 27 by @bobbiswan, has amassed more than 2.3 million views and over 280,000 likes. It's also received hundreds of comments from other alleged servers who felt compelled to share their greatest work-related pet peeves, suggesting that many restaurantgoers may need a lesson in proper etiquette.

"What's your biggest pet peeve as a server?" Swan asks her co-worker, Elizabeth.

"Being snapped at," Elizabeth responded. "We're not dogs."

Meanwhile, Swan's co-worker Tyler shared that he hates being snapped at by customers when he's carrying a "tray full of plates and an arm full of cups."

Other pet peeves of Swan's co-workers include being interrupted, ordering water with fountain drinks and being told a table is ready to order when "they're clearly not ready."

Of course, not every pet peeve mentioned in the video was customer-related. Swan's co-worker Ken said his greatest pet peeve as a server is not being cut when managers "know d**n well you should be cut."

Writing for Thrillist, C.A. Pinkham, a former server, said it's important for restaurant customers to treat the waitstaff with respect by saying things like "please" and "thank you."

"You'd be shocked how many people don't seem to understand the basic niceties of human interaction," Pinkham wrote. '"Server' does not mean 'servant.'"

The Etiquette School of New York also told customers to "engage in the bare minimum of pleasantries."

"Don't respond to 'Good evening, how is everyone tonight?' with 'I'll have the Riesling,'" the school said. "Be polite."

And when it comes to getting a waiter's attention, Reader's Digest advised against calling for a server from across the restaurant. Instead, "silently signal" for them, but don't snap, said Eat This, Not That.

As previously stated, Swan and her co-workers aren't the only servers with customer-related complaints. Hundreds of former and current restaurant workers took to the comments section of Swan's post to share some commonly held pet peeves that weren't mentioned in her video.

"I HATE when I come up with my arms full of plates and someone says 'oh we had another thing too' like yeah...I only have two arms bro," wrote Sheenashiree.

Savvv said she's not a fan of "tables who don't look at you when they are speaking to you."

"My biggest pet peeve when I worked in restaurants/bars is when they finish their entire meal and decide to complain about it afterward," added Ashley Marie.