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Waiting tables has its perks: flexible hours, free food and maybe, just maybe, a five-figure tip. But there are some downsides, too.

We asked the Web's best hospitality bloggers, like waiterrant.net's Steve Dublanica, author of "Waiter Rant," to describe the worst types they deal with. Their suggestions? The 16 unbearable people described below.

(And FYI, restaurantgal.com helpfully suggests: "My standard tip is 30 percent. Because I figure the server is only getting about 60 percent of that, after tip-outs to the bussers and back waits.")

Did we leave a particularly pesky patron off the list? Tell us in the comments!


The Most Annoying Customers

    The Very Important Person
    Some charmers can't even take 30 seconds to place an order without taking a cell phone call. "I can't say how many times I want to take that phone and drop it in their water glass," says Steve Dublanica of waiterrant.net and writer of the best-selling book: "Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip - Confessions of a Cynical Waiter."

    Brian Indrelunas, Flickr

    The Finger-Snapper
    Let's get one thing straight: A server is not the same thing as a servant. The immediate neediness the act displays alone is enough. "Don't make your waitress run around like you're the only people in the restaurant!" says "Bitter" of bitterwaitress.com. Ali of ev-boulevard.blogspot.com has even had customers whistle to get her attention.

    CarbonNYC, Flickr

    The Mind Readee
    The person who is ready to order but continues to read the menu and is annoyed when it takes the waitress longer to check in. This is the same person who is likely to be offended if you check in on them too soon.

    radiospike photography, Flickr

    The Square Peg
    Strict vegans who are angry when a steakhouse can't accommodate them are barking up the wrong tree. "Let's put the shoe on the other foot," Dublanica says. "I walk into a vegan restaurant and I say I want a porter house." Doesn't work so much, does it?

    ckpicker, Flickr

    The Caste-Off
    This snob blatantly talks down to their waiter or waitress or becomes aggressive when something is wrong. "Seriously, getting on like someone has just shat in your lap isn't going to make the waiter move with any greater urgency," says Manuel of welldonefillet.blogspot.com. If it's a bad idea to bite the hand that feeds you, it's equally dumb to insult the hand that brings you the plate.

    MBIMOTMOG, Flickr

    The Dieter
    It's one thing to be a picky eater, but put the brakes on unreasonable requests. Greens instead of the side of roast parsnips? Probably fine. But the chef can't magically extract the cream and olive oil from the alfredo sauce that was pre-made for the night.

    malias, Flickr

    The Potlucker
    Customers who bring their own food really shouldn't even be called customers. As one Insane Waiter (allprowaiter.blogspot.com) blogger states, "a customer spends money." You don't go to a boutique to try on your own clothes, so don't go to cafe to eat your tuna fish sandwich. There are park benches just begging for your company.

    dannybirchall, Flickr

    The Breeder
    Kids can be cute, but pair noisy or rambunctious ones with oblivious parents and you've got a recipe for angry patrons. Especially when it's a Saturday night. The restaurant is rife with people who are hoping to get laid later - they don't need have the mood killed by a screaming, sauce-smeared reminder of the consequences.

    wakkysweet, Flickr

    The Delicate Flower
    We feel sorry for people who have terrible allergies, but not when they fail to communicate that fact until after the food has been served. "Don't say 'I'm allergic to pine nuts' after you start eating the pesto," says Dublanica.

    justpat, Flickr

    The Lingerer
    Catching up with your friends? Fun. Sitting around long after you've finished, even though it's the height of the dinner rush? Jerk move. "If there's no one in the restaurant and you're making goo goo eyes at your boyfriend, that's fine," says Dublanica. But if there's a wait at the door, you're keeping others from their meal and your server from their next chance to make money.

    Becca Bandit, Flickr