Restaurant sign language?

[Moses]

Settle a little family dispute for me.

You're in a restaurant, not too fancy, and you have finished your meal and you are ready to leave, but you don't have the check yet. You see your waiter across the restaurant. He's too far away to yell to him so you raise your hand to get his attention. He looks at you.

Is there anything specific, any small movement of the hand you might make that signals to the waiter that you want the check? If there is, what is it? Be specific!

Thanks!

[lendaddy]

The air scribble. No question.

[RANDY P]

I make draw out a square with my fingers....


rjp

[84porsche]

I'd call the closest waiter and ask him to get your waiter or use a hand signal to call him over.

[Moses]

Originally posted by lendaddy
The air scribble. No question.

Bless you, daddy! The air scribble works every time! Never misunderstood, not unfriendly or disruptive, it-just-works. (Every time I do the air scribble my wife says "look at dad, kids. He's doing that thing again!")

[cantdrv55]

I do the air scribble too! I thought I was the only doofus that did so. I've been to company dinners where the payer waved his Gold AMEX card. Kinda tacky, I thought.

[Hugh R]

Getting up and putting on my jacket and walking towards the door always seems to work well for me.

[dtw]

I feign death.

[bell]

air scribble never fails.
except at a particular local chinese buffet......they just don't understand anything

[nostatic]

Originally posted by bell
air scribble never fails.
except at a particular local chinese buffet......they just don't understand anything

oh, they understand. It's just that you're laowai.

If your wife doesn't like your air scribble, ask her if she'd prefer you elbow her in the ribs and say, "go grab the check, beotch" in a nice loud voice.

drips class, really...

[dd74]

Will the air scribble work in Popeyes?

[cantdrv55]

Originally posted by dtw
I feign death.

LOL!

[Don Plumley]

Yes, the Air Scribble is Esperanto for "Check Please".

Waving the AMEX card is Nasty American.

[jorian]

Air scribble - like pointing at your wrist when you ask a stranger for the time.

[slodave]

Air scribble or fast escape out the back door...

Dave

[sewell94]

I worked in the restruant business for many years :0 alot of people do the air scribble which looks kinda funny but works, i just make an air check, same point with less hand motion.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by lendaddy
The air scribble. No question.

This is universal. Have used it in every country I have visited and they all know what you want.

If they do not figure it out this way then start to leave. Your check will appear shortly before you make it to the door!

[RickM]

I air scribble into the palm of my hand. Not sure if that's what others are saying as well.

Personally I think it's one of the more polite ways of communiucating the "get my check" message.

[gaijindabe]

A knowing nod. Almost Vulcan in its effectiveness..

[yellowline]

I just wait and chill with the girl until the waiter passes by- then I let him know. I never go out to eat without the family or a chick, and all of them like to talk enough...