a Waiter’s Point of View

Concerning William Meecham’s remarks on restaurant rudeness (Letters, July 13): I submit that a server’s asking if you’re done with your meal usually has little to do with the management wanting to clean up and a lot to do with wait- ers not being mind readers. We servers are constantly reminded to treat our patrons as we’d want to be treated ourselves. I’d personally prefer to have a soiled plate out of my way as soon as possible. (Most patrons seem unaware that placing their silverware across the plate signals that they are finished.)

Time is tight with most servers, who go to school or hold down two jobs. Perhaps if Meecham had let the restaurant know that he might be running overtime with dinner, management could have accommodated him by arranging to have a server stay longer.

Karen M. Shoop

Long Beach