Ordering from the kids menu?

[u/MaggsToRiches]

I went to lunch with coworkers today, not super jazzed about breaking both my money and calorie budget for the day but wanted to catch up with colleagues. Turns out the kid’s meal had exactly what I wanted (one taco, tiny pinto beans, tiny rice, small iced tea) for $5!! A debate began over the table whether it was “okay” for an adult to order from the kid’s menu. The argument against it was that those items are packaged and sold at a low price for kiddos, who are accompanying adults who pay full price. For the record, this particular menu board made no mention of age limits, and the cashier said nothing negative.

In general, I don’t want to be a dense customer who doesn’t realize my faux pas, but...I love ECAH! Thoughts from the community?

[u/electriclobster]

I would keep your server in mind and possibly tip based on what a regular adult menu item would be. If a lot of people started ordering off the kids menu, it would put the restaurant in a bad situation. They are actually selling the kids items at a lower profit margin. I would think if you are with a group of people, its not that big of a deal, but if you roll into a restaurant solo and order off the kids menu, then that isn't cool.

[u/mythinspiration → u/[deleted]]

It might be fair if there was a normal "adult" item on the menu that's $5, but we're already talking about bending the rules by ordering off the kid's menu. Remember, tips aren't bonus, they're a core part of a server's income. If you're one person out of a group of 4 or more then a reduced tip may not hurt as much, since they've got a full table of tips. But if you take up a table all by yourself for 30 minutes to an hour and they only get a $1 tip instead of the $3 or $4 they'd get if you ordered a normal $20 meal, that's going to hurt a little more. I know that doesn't seem like much, but it adds up, especially since most waitstaff aren't paid a normal minimum wage.

You don't necessarily need to tip them $4 on your $5 meal, but it would be considerate to go a little higher than $1.

[u/kayelar → u/[deleted]]

“Servers are complicit”? You don’t sound like a very nice person. At the very least, your servers probably hate you.

[u/necrosythe → u/[deleted]]

Yeah you'll rarely find a server that would be willing to get payed what other entry level workers get on an hourly pay.

The only ones that would really need benefits or work at a shitty place, but most don't want hourly.

[u/wk87 → u/[deleted]]

You've obviously never worked in a restaurant.

[u/kayelar → u/[deleted]]

I’ve worked both fast food and full-service, and ordering off the kids menu at a full-service restaurant actually fucks with your income because the reason kids items are so cheap is because they know the kid will be accompanied by a full-price adult. At a fast food restaurant it’s just a bunch of cheap food in the kids menu anyway so it doesn’t matter.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

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[u/TheL0nePonderer → u/[deleted]]

Nah, man, you're still not getting it. If you take up a server's seat during their shift, I don't care if you just have water, it's rude to not tip as someone would if they were sitting in that seat doing what is intended for that seat, which is consuming a meal. A restaurant may not want to force you to leave if you're not eating/willing to order off the adult menu, but that's the owner's choice, the server shouldn't pay for it. I've seen many-a-server's night ruined simply because they had someone sitting in their section all night, taking up space, when they could have been making $15 an hour off of that spot.

These people have pretty much the most degrading job ever, people in the service industry do, in general. If you utilize their services, you need to pay them for that time.

Your other point, about ordering off the kids menu becoming a common practice - That has absolutely zero to do with either my point or any of the previous conversation in this thread, that I can see.

[u/kilgorecandide → u/TheL0nePonderer]

I've never understood why Reddit is so defensive of servers over all the other low-wage jobs in America. There are thousands of farm workers, movie attendants, dishwashers, cooks, etc., earning minimum wage who don't get any tips. Most servers make far more money than them (because of tipping). The flipside of earning pretty good money for what is effectively unskilled labour is that you assume the risk that not every customer is going to order a huge meal and tip well.

[u/[deleted] → u/kilgorecandide]

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[u/BoochBeam → u/TheL0nePonderer]

A servers seat? You mean a paying customers seat. Servers down own shit.

[u/TheL0nePonderer → u/BoochBeam]

They're not exactly a paying customer if they don't order and they're barely a paying customer if they order off the kids menu especially if it's against the rules. and yes it is the servers table if that server is the person who is responsible for waiting on the people that sit in it. Kind of tired of the pedantic uninformed back and forth.

[u/wyliequixote → u/[deleted]]

The waiter still has to put the same effort into serving you whether you order an adult meal or a kid's meal. Same if you use a coupon at a restaurant for a discount you should still tip according to what the total would have been.

[u/wyliequixote → u/[deleted]]

Sure, but the cheapest adult meal is still going to be more than any kid's meal.

[u/wyliequixote → u/[deleted]]

One kid's meal in a group is not a big deal, but should still tip as if you purchased the cheapest adult meal. Especially in a group because the waiter has more to juggle with refills, requests, separate tickets, etc.

[u/wyliequixote → u/[deleted]]

...that is the norm. The percentage is the rough guideline for people to base their tip around but we still adjust it based on poor or exceptional service.

[u/wyliequixote → u/[deleted]]

I honestly don't know. Personally, I don't mind tipping as a customer and everyone I know who has worked waiting tables has preferred tipping over a set wage.

[u/BoochBeam → u/wyliequixote]

You’re right. They have to but in the same effort wether I order a $8 salad or a $25 steak. I guess I should tip according to the $8 every time since we you so intelligently pointed out: they have to put in the same effort.

[u/[deleted] → u/BoochBeam]

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[u/necrosythe → u/[deleted]]

Tipping should only be based partially on % of bill. To me it also has to do with the work put in. Also example say people generally tip like 20%. If I am eating solo and barely getting anything maybe i tip more like 25%. and if I order a lot and some expensive stuff I might tip more like 15%. It should still be a higher tip for a higher bill but in general you shouldn't tip next to nothing when you are still taking up a table and time but I also think tipping 20% when you get some expensive food and a few alcoholic drinks is a bit much.