I also waited tables at Sneaky Petes for several months this summer. I quit earlier than I had planned due to several issues. For all the people that complain about slow service, I don't blame you. It is slow. I will be the first to admit that. However, it is not the waitstaff's fault (in most cases). Keep in mind how HUGE this place is and how many people it holds. Now imagine that there are only two soda drink stations and only one bar to get draft beer at. Put on top of that that each waiter has anywhere for 4-16 table sections. Try making each person happy. On top of that the kitchen is in the very back of the restaurant. If a customer out on the lawn asks for mayo, it is much more difficult that one would think to make that request possible. As a server, we do the best we can. Also, keep in mind if the food comes out wrong, or only half comes out, this is not the servers fault. The foodrunners check the tickets and run the food. Also fyi the server is required to tip the runners (along with the bar and the bussers) 1.5% of our sales a piece. That may not seem like much to those non-servers, but look at it this way: If a customer tips the server 20% of their tab, the server is really only keeping 15% of that since they are tipping out the other 4.5%. So, if a customer decides to try to prove a point and not tip, all you really do is make the entire waitstaff hate you because the server is in turn losing money by waiting on you because they are still tipping out the 4.5% regardless of what the server makes off the table.
And contrary to what others say, this is not the first serving job of most of the people there. Because of the high volume and fast pace of this restaurant, the managers are very hesitant to hire ANYONE that hasn't waited tables before. Quite a few of the staff have worked in fine dining. It's not that they don't know how to wait tables, it's the layout of the restaurant that causes service to be slow. Keep this in mind when you are wandering around while waitresses are trying to get around you. MOVE! This is also why the staff seems irritated or not as pleasant as possible. And keep in mind what another person mentioned before, if the staff seems tired, they probably are. You leave at three after a 14 hour shift and must be back at 10 with clean clothes and a smile. It's rough. Not to mention, most of the staff has to drive 30+ minutes to get to Sneakys.
And for complaints about the bar, they pour from a jigger. It's measured. You can watch them if you'd like, but you will witness every bartender pouring into a jigger into the drink. That's their job. Yes, a single shot drink is weak, but they don't make that decision. So, if you want a strong drink, order a double.
Sneaky Pete's is an awesome place to hang out. I've worked there and will continue to go there as a customer. You just have to be patient--bottom line. You are at a bar and should treat it as such. Especially on the busy days. Great place to party and play with family and friends.
Pros: Atmosphere
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