To ask how you'd HONESTLY react if a waiter spilt beer all over you and your phone

[EnlightenmentwasaPassingPhase]

Was in a pizza and pasta chain restaurant the other day. The hapless waiter dropped a glass of bear on a table with a family at it. The glass smashed and one of the diners (woman with young kids) got absolutely drenched. Whilst she didn't exactly laugh it off, she calmly wiped herself down with napkins, dried her phone and her kid's tablet, then sat down and waited for her meal without a face on.

Hopefully, the meal was on the house but I was impressed with the way she handled it. I was with my SiL who said "by God I would've kicked off BIG time"

And she would indeed. Once she'd finished creating a scene in the restaurant, she would have been on Twitter, FB and TripAdvisor.

I’m terribly British, I would have probably apologised to him for getting in the way...

I think I'd do the same . Would feel very sorry for the waiter.

This happened to me quite recently the waitress was collecting glasses and one of the first ones she picked up was a pint glass with about half a pint left in it. She lost her grip on it and dropped it onto my table as she walked past, then she panicked and dropped another glass on the floor. Both of them smashed and both caused a shower of beer dreggs and broken glass, covering me and my stuff. Not sure what I'd have gained from kicking off about it though, she was mortified and it was obviously an accident

Similar happened to me and I reacted as the woman did. Your sister in law doesn't sound very nice.

Happened to me on holiday in Greece! The poor girl was so mortified and apologetic. I left a large tip, mistakes happen to all of us. I've been a waitress and it's a hard job.

I'd be stressed to the max that my phone was knackered as we can't afford to replace it easily, and even less so the tablet. But I doubt I'd have a go at the waiter, it was an accident. I wouldn't make a scene but inside I'd be wailing

I’d have been pissed off, especially if I had planned to go outanywhere else after the meal, but accidents do happen to all of us

Your SIL sounds like a nightmare. It was an accident, the waiter apologised. Why kick off and behave like a twat.

Accidents happen. I’ve never seen waitresses/shop workers in similar situations who weren’t acting very embarrassed and apologetic. A waitress bumped DS2 who had escaped softplay (with me in hot pursuit) and I had to console her more than DS2. I remember accidentally treading on a small child while shelf-stacking and being so upset I kept saying sorry while the mum calmed me down.

As long as the phone was still working, I’d smile and shrug it off and try to reassure the poor waiter! Even if the phone wasn’t working though, I’d certainly look frustrated but would never dream of causing a scene.
It’s tough working in a restaurant and these things happen.

Your SiL sounds utterly unpleasant. Accidents happen and I bet the waiter was absolutely mortified, of course it's natural to be miffed but shouting and embarrassing someone over an accident is plain mean. I once spilled chilli sauce over one blokes lap and have seen another waitress spill a bottle of red over a table/the customers, we wanted the ground to swallow us up and my colleague was so upset and embarrassed about the wine she cried.

Gamer what a delightfully British response what would you say if a waiter mortally wounded you? 'I'm ever so sorry but I put my head in the way of your axe and you have cleft my head in twain'

I would do the same, what’s the point in kicking off over an accident?

This happened to me on holiday last year. The waitress spilt a full pint all over me, I was lucky it was just the pint as there were 8 drinks on the tray, plus she narrowly missed my 12 month old who was sat beside me. The girl was about 18 and the owner who looked like a bit of a dragon, she had already been incredibly rude to our party. I didn’t “kick off” in fact I just wiped myself down, swapped my chair and carried on (soaking, stinking of beer and slightly cold as the sun had gone in). I have to admit I expected a free glass of wine as an apology but it didn’t come and our bill came without any discount. I didn’t want the young girl to get into trouble so I didn’t say anything, I imagine if I’d been given a free drink/money off it would have come out of the girl’s wage, it was an accident. I did a bit of waitressing as a teenager, I know how she will have felt!

"Hapless Waiter" How pleasant you are.
Accidents happen and you have to accept that. Your SiL sounds delightful.

My Sister in law had a glass of soda dropped down her back an apology offered but no free meal during a large family meal I felt terrible for her and angry with management

I’d remember all the times I’d dropped things as waiting staff and all the people that didn’t kick off. I don’t even know I’d want the meal on the house, maybe some desserts.
People who kick off at waiters (for accidents, wait times or similar) always going in a special category in my head. Category isn’t named but is vaguely “people who think they are better than other people, is this only people doing menial work or everyone”.
Phones and tablets can survive a quick covering.
Maybe op and her SIL will reflect on this for the next tine.

It’s happened to me several times. Ranting and raving won’t change it. When it was mushroom soup at formal hall at Oxford, I laughed it off. I was a bit more annoyed when it was red wine on my ski trousers in France but it mostly came off in the loo basin with some salt from the kitchen whilst I stood around in my leggings. When it was white wine on a black dress in a London sushi restaurant we got free deserts and all of our drinks taken off the bill so apart from stinking of booze I was actually pretty pleased! Your SIL sounds rather unpleasant.

I'd be outwardly fine and friendly but I would inwardly seethe, as getting beer spilled all over you does sort of ruin your meal. The pp who said they would leave an extra tip - I think that's taking the 'accidents happen' tolerance a BIT far!

I think as long as it is a genuine accident kicking off is unfair.

I would have checked no one was caught by the glass or drink and may have left to change- depending how wet i was. But what's the point in kicking off at an accident?

We had glasses once smash, dropped on our table in a restaurant. No one lost their temper but we did have to have words with the manager as the waitress refused to get us new food dishes, despite there being glass in a couple on the salads. She didn't think it warranted it, the manager disagreed especially seeing the glass herself. Though to be accurate, the waitress was useless beforehand and too distracted by her own phone.

Honestly, I’d have been upset as I hate the smell of beer and have a nasty scar from broken glass on my leg. I’d have probably quietly left before it was cleaned up, rather than stayed for the meal but wouldn’t have kicked off or given bad reviews.

I have had a waiter drop an entire large bottle of ketchup on me. Dropped it on the ground, it shattered and the ketchup all went in my direction.

The restaurant paid for my dry cleaning and I moved on.

Many years later, I was at a work party and ended up with bleach stains all over my clothes. They had wiped down the chair improperly. I sighed and moved on. The restaurant’s gave me the cash to buy a new outfit.

Accidents happen.

If it was a genuine accident and not outright stupidity I’d just reassure them it was fine if I thought it might cause damage to my phone I’d ask for an accidental damage form. Just in case.

But I’d never cause a scene or ‘kick off BIG time’ it’s not my style at all.

I’ve had far worse than beer tipped over me, that wouldn’t bother me at all 🤷🏻‍♀️

A waitress dripped redcurrant coulis all over the shoulder of my brand new bloody expensive cream jacket once. I may have whimpered silently, but the poor girl was absolutely mortified and almost in tears about it. Also, it was a family party and I would never have made a scene. I managed to smile and reassure her it wasn't a problem.

Dry cleaning got rid of it.

If it was a restaurant I went to regularly I would probably leave a slightly larger tip to make sure they knew I knew it was just an accident

Now that would just be daft Whilst I would have been pleasant about it, I wouldn't be leaving any tip if I'd be left stinking of beer!