You've finished your dinner and wonder why the "mesero" (waiter) doesn't bring you the check. Answer: Maybe you didn't ask for it. In Latin America, it is considered impolite for a waiter to bring the check without being asked (like telling you, " You're done, Get out of here.&quot. Ask for the check, in English or Spanish "La cuenta, por favor." If he is to far away and you cannot ask, but you can get his attention, just making a writing motion in the air with your hand (with a smile) will do and he or she will be happy to bring it to you. With so many Americans there, this may have changed somewhat in Cancun. I don't know; I only pass through it.

Norm

Becasue Latin America restaurants' owners and staff KNOW the meaning of hospitality.

In the US, I refuse to go back to any place where the waiter/waitress brings me the check before I finish a meal. I seldom tip them when that's the case.

J.

Other than fast food joints, I can't remember ever receiving the bill before finishing my meal in the USA. Guess I'm dining in the right kind of establishments.

In my hometown it's clear that once your finished it's time for you to leave. Even in the better restaurants. They don't bring your check until you ask but the waiters start circling around your table making it clear that they'd really like another paying customer in your spot. I think it's an American thing fueled by greed.

I don't mean to hijack this thread but I've dined in many different countries across Europe, Asia, Latin America, etc. and I too have only encountered waiters who bring the check before being asked in the US. It bothers me a lot. My other pet peeve (again encountered only in the US) are waiters who hover around so close in order to clear your dish even before the fork hits the table after taking the last bite. This is especially bothersome if others at the table are still eating. I'm a fast eater so I've gotten into the habit of leaving a morsel of food on the plate and moving it around every once in a while so my companions can finish their meal without feeling rushed by some over zealous waiter. All this reminds me of my first Thanksgiving in the Army when the Senior Drill Instructor stood up in the mess hall, said the blessing and told everyone to "Eat up and get the **** out!"

Wow! Some of you live in some really unpleasant places for dining out. Waiters hovering around, checks brought before you've finished dining. Where do you live? I want to be sure not to visit wherever it is.

Knob Hill, San Francisco.

N

One of the joys of Mexico is their politness in this matter. Never making you feel unwelcome. We often joke how long we could sit before we would be asked to leave. The answer is most likely forever.

LOL! I agree with your reply Sunnyboy. When my husband and I eat out, he usually finishes first. A huge pet peeve of mine is when the waiters clear away his dish and I have to sit there eating alone. He does the same thing with pushing his last bit of food around to make me more comfortable. There are true gentlemen out there!

Obviously, none of these replies could possibly be from a wait staff employee. What are you people doing AFTER dinner/lunch? Just hanging around chit chatting? Sipping coffee? Go home after your meal! A good server knows when to bring the check...If you've been sitting for two hours at a cleared table with a cold cup of coffee...yeah, the wait staff will bring you your check. If you are drinking or having desserts, the server wants you to stay. It's their job..it's how they make their living..Try filling one of their shoes for an hour. Otherwise, reliquinsh your table and give a paying customer the space...you haven't rented the table for the evening just because you've had a meal there. This is someone's job to serve you food and drink, and they depend on the turnover of tables for their livelyhood.

Hovering over an unfinished plate deserves a ten percent tip as opposed to one higher for a server with patience. The knowledge to know who's going to pay for that extra table time is a judgement call.

I've been an educator for many years, but I put myself through University on tips. saervers are paid less than minimum wage and depend on the turnover from tables and tips to get by. Complain, if you must, to the management for not having enough wait staff or tables, don't take it out on your server.