Most restaurant patrons think that being nice to the chef will ensure that they get great service, the best table in the house, and even a free meal. However, industry insiders know that it’s the waiters and waitresses who wield the power in any restaurant.

A few waiters and waitresses shared a few restaurant tips and secrets with Today, and most of the tips are incredibly useful, especially if one is concerned about getting good service while dining.

JR, a waiter at a fine-dining restaurant said that to get good service, use your waiter’s name. So if your waiter says, “Hi, I’m JR, and I’ll be taking care of you,” say something like, “Hi JR. How are you doing?”

Chris said they always know if you’re lying about knowing the chef. If you ask your waiter if the chef is in and claim to be a good friend, chances are your waiter won’t believe you, as a real friend would have the chef’s number.

If you’re dining out with your children, beware of the kids’ meal. One server said that it’s likely that anything labeled as a kids’ meal will have extra sugar in it. A server told ABC that they even put extra sugar in the pizza dough for kids so they’ll like their food more.

If you’re dining at a steak house yet claim to be a vegetarian, expect that your vegetarian soup will contain meat stock, and not vegetable stock like you requested.

Though servers won’t spit in your food, they can find other ways to humiliate you, especially if you’ve been rude to them. Some will try to embarrass you in front of your date by claiming that your credit card has been denied.

Don’t order the fish on Sunday or Monday, as fish deliveries are usually done twice a week. Tuesday through Friday are great days to order the fish special.

Finally, if you wonder why the after meal coffee tastes strange, chances are, you’re drinking decaffeinated coffee. Most restaurants typically make only one pot of coffee after 8 p.m., so if you want a real caffeine fix, better head to the corner coffee house for coffee and dessert.

For more, check out Jobs & Hire’s report on the secrets that flight attendants reveal about their job.