My theories?
 1. "Family Day". More kids than usual, causing more special requests, more  stressed out parents and more untamed, ill-mannered behavior.
 2. Tomorrow is Monday.  Everyone is thinking about that crappy job they  have to go back to tomorrow.  Puts them in a bad mood.
 3. The staff is tired and not sharp from having worked Friday and Saturday.

Anyone got any more reasons why Sunday sucks?  How about ways to make it not suck so bad!??

Todd

I manage an Italian restaurant.

My Sundays are dead until 1:30-3 p.m. Why? Church. I say the reason why you get the most trouble on Sundays is because the lunch crowd is the after church crowd and many church-goers are holier-than-thou arrogant yuppie-types who expect to be waited on hand and foot by workers who treat them like kings (or at least Norma Desmond).

- Cliff

Add to the reasons, family has to take out Mother/grandmother who is a pain to begin with and wants to be sure everyone knows how seldom they visit.  If they switch seats twice because of the AC, you know you're in trouble.

- Paul

Because many Sunday diners feel that it is "National Jack Ass Eat Out Night!"  Not only are Sunday diners picky and complain until they are blue in the face they become nearly impossible!  "Well, last time this dessert had whipped cream on it."  "I'm sorry but none of our desserts come with whip cream!"  "Yes, they do..." "No.." "Yes.." "No.."  It's like talking to to a Jack ass, who doesn't understand a word you are saying!

-Michael
(8/31/01)

Usually "Sunday's Suck" because the staff has already reached the conclusion that it's going to be that way. There is an ever present sense of doom and gloom that the staff brings to work on Sundays. The attitude, tempo, and sense of urgency that exists on Friday and Saturday are noticeably absent on Sunday.  

I've noticed that Sundays seem to lack the cohesive teamwork usually there. It's "every man for himself". For example, upon arrival for the shift very few staff are checking stock at the beginning of the shift. As a result, in the middle of the crunch needed supplies (ice, glassware, napkins, coffee, ice-tea, etc) are not available. The same applies to restocking during the shift... not restocking when you take the last one. 

Sundays are also noted for having a lot of new staff on the shift (kitchen included) whose professional skills have not reached a level to expertly handle the dining rush. Sundays are typically the third highest sales day of the week for most operations and my income reflects that financial opportunity for that day... I aim for my standard percentage goal and am usually able to attain it.  

All of these elements are just added self-inflicted chaos for all during the shift. I suggest that "Sundays can Suck" because it is somewhat predetermined by the staff. 

Sincerely, 
Paul C. Paz
WaitersWorld 
(9/1/01)

Here are my short top 10 reasons why I hate Sunday:

10. People order hot tea on Sunday!
9. People order iced tea on Sunday!
8. The words "I'll have a cocktail" are never said on Sundays.
7. The words "I'll have a bottle of wine" have never been said on a Sunday.
6. Terms like "Here is my entertainment card,"  And, "Does my dinner come with salad and coffee and free dessert?" are spoken on Sunday.
5. "Do i need a reservation?" has never been spoken on Sunday!
4. People say "Put grandma here."  And, "Do you have a highchair?"  (to which I quickly respond,  "What is that?")  Or, "Do you have a children's menu?" (At that time I look at another server and say,  "I beg you, in the name of god, please on bended knees take that table or ill just go in the kitchen and stab my self with a bread knife.")
3. "Do you have an early bird special??"
2. AARP card and senior citizen discount and AAA discounts are spoken like preachers speak of heaven .
1. 20% doesn't even stand a chance on Sundays. 

The Funky Monkey Café
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
funkymonkeycafe@mindspring.com
(9/2/01)

Whoa.. Sundays..... The (most) dreaded shift after Monday evenings.

Personally, I think Sundays are the worst.  Most of the waiters went out on the town, they come into work smelling like bottles of Booze, they eat up all the breath mints to cover the smell of their beer breath, and well that means none to give to the guests.

It just makes things worse, they stand in the Front of the busiest areas while waiting for tables (getting in the way) and generally make the poor manager really stress out, who in turns takes it out on anyone closest to him/her.

So Sundays consist of dodging beer breathed staff members, dodging the manager, balancing plates while trying to side step dozing waiters and all the time trying to serve your guests.  OHHH Hum...

Well Big Brother has taken off in South Africa, and guess what? It has severely affected our night time trade (Shower hour is at 10 in the evening) coinciding with our Late dinner rush which is now dead.  

A few years ago when we were still in the Dark Ages of Apartheid, (Talking 197something), they used to screen Dallas the sitcom on Tuesday nights.  South Africans been so starved for entertainment (Parliament wasn't televised at that time-- would have been comedy hour).  Restaurants used to have to close on Tuesday nights because NO one would go out on Tuesday evenings; they would all be glued to their TV sets.  Looks like Big Brother is doing that again.  I wonder if we can sue for loss of income.  (heheheheh )

On the religious side.  I overhead some guests arguing at a table the one Sunday (those waiter ears again).  They were arguing about a Bible verse in Leviticus stating that all people who work on the Sabbath should be stoned to death.  This got me worried.  Anyone know the verse offhand?  Does this apply to waiters?  Should I also dodge flying rocks at the restaurant?  Should all workers on Sundays be made to smoke huge amounts of Dope (STONED TO DEATH )?  hehehehe

Sundays...OHH Sundays, how I hate thee.  'Tis like burning down one's house to get rid of a rat. Yet I smile when the shift is over.  When I count my cash.  That all makes it worth while....until the next Sunday that is.....

Cheers,

Paul Watson
ratcorp@hotmail.com
(9/2/01)

SUNDAYS SUCK

1. Because everyone is broke from all the partying they did the night before. 

2. They get "tipper's remorse" and suggest to their feeble little minds well... Hmmm...let me come up with an excuse why this dining experience wasn't perfect...Oh yes I had to ask for extra lemons for my WATER because that one bowl just wasn't ENOUGH so I'll not leave much tip. 

3.They had to sit through church with a hangover AND had to spend time AND money on the family !

4. Because people, especially Sunday people, STILL don't get the difference between SERVER and SERVANT!

GREAT NEWSLETTER! 
THANKS!
-Ella
(9/2/01)

Plain and simple - here it is:

This is your Sunday Night Order for a typical party of six.

Server: Here is our special... blah blah blah
Slummer: Sounds great!!! how much is it?
Server: $19.95 (For 12 pieces of pizza)
Slummer: Oh, never mind.
Server: Can I get you some wine?
Slummer: No, we will take six waters with lemon.  Make sure one has no ice; grandma's got sensitive gums.
Server: Can I start you with a salad or appetizer?
Slummer: No!  We have to save room for the small order of spaghetti with meat sauce that we just know will fill all of us up. Oh! We want it with Rigatoni... Our three kids can't swirl pasta. (they have already made a mess of your whole station.... it sure seems like they can swirl something.)  Bring the free bread.... and keep it coming!!!

You don't even ask about dessert because you just want them the hell out of your restaurant.

Total bill for six people..... $13.42
Per Person Average......... $2.24

They will leave you $15.00 and leave so......

Tip... $1.58

That is why Sunday Sucks!

Jason
(9/3/01)

I feel that Sundays are rough only because the attitude going into Sunday is terrible. If your GM commits to working a least 75% of the Sundays and you get a few of the "great" employees to see this leadership, you can make Sunday less stressful and more of an opportunity to create SALES. It is also a great idea to schedule extra staff, so you can cover the restaurant for the inevitable call-ins. These are a few words of wisdom that I have used through the years. 

Hammer
(9/3/01)

Hmmm...lots of theories here on Sundays; may I suggest a compromise?  Sundays definitely suck.  There is a tendency for amateur diners to show up on Sundays; however, the after 7:00pm crowd are usually all pros.  Sunday is the third highest sales day of the week in my business.  As someone who has worked 50 out of 52 Sundays a year for the last three (I don't remember before that), I've run the gamut in my personal attitude on Sundays.  I used to treat Sundays as a day to pull rabbits out of a hat, screw mise en place, I'll just run my ass off.  These days, I tend to come in earlier, do the same prep I would for any other day, and am well staffed in the kitchen.  Still, I can almost never seem to quite get my shit together, even if I didn't party the night before.  It is true, the "B" crew is on the floor Sundays, but that's a hell of a lot better than the "C" crew that is on Monday nights.  Still, I hate Sundays the most, and I can rarely hold it together. The weekend just does me in by Sunday.

Chef Owen Sechrist
(9/6/01)

Any more theories on why Sundays suck?  Send them to Dinersoft.