Okay, so look I get it. The restaurant you're in is on a hour wait and you're starving. Granted it's 6:30 on a Saturday night but I can understand your frustration. You're hungry and there isn't a Snickers bar in sight. But your lingering hunger is no excuse for rudeness. Perhaps you should have planned ahead. But here's the thing. I have a job to do. Most restaurants have a sequence of service. I'm trying to make your experience a pleasant one. The least you can do is be pleasant back.
What the hell am I talking about? There is nothing worse than approaching a table with a positive attitude and a bright smile to get ripped a new one or ignored all together by the occupants of the table. So, let me give all you diners out there a piece of advice...Open your ears and use some politeness and you might have a different experience the next time you dine out.
Scenario #1: The Miss America answer
" Hi, folks. Welcome to (insert restaurant here). My name is Sinful and ill be taking care of you. How are we doing this evening?"
"Two waters with extra lemon, extra ice and a straw."
What you can't even say please as you avoid my question all together. I get that you are above simple pleasantries, but for flip sake. I've never been two waters with extra lemon, extra ice and a straw. No wonder you're such a frigid, sour Nancy. I attempted to set the tone of your experience as a nice one, but you just can't have it that way. No, instead you just compiled more attitude on top of the other crappy people that sat before you. Next time try this response. "We're great Sinful. We'd love two waters with extra lemon and ice." There's no need to ask for a straw unless of course you also feel fit to ask your server to place the water in a glass too. I'm a server, not stupid.
Scenario #2: I'm a big fat liar that wants my server to get weeded.
"Folks are we all set to order or do we need a few more moments to decide?"
"Yes, we're ready. Jim what are you getting? Are you getting the fish. I can't decide between the chicken and the steak. If you get the fish, then I'm going to get the steak. But if you get the steak, I'll just have a bite of your steak and ill get the chicken. Ooooo. Or do I want a salad? This salad sounds great..."
Now, imagine this conversation continues for about two more minutes while Jim and his lovely bride rap back and forth over whose getting what. In the meantime, I'm standing there because YOU SAID YOU WERE READY. I gave you the option. Guess what? I'm gonna come back WHEN YOU'RE READY. In the three minutes it takes these two goons the time to decide, I could have gotten bread for table 45 and refills for table 46 and put in the appetizer for table 35 AND ran a tray a food. You see my job doesn't just entail me taking the order for YOUR TABLE. I have other customers and other things to do. So the next time your server asked you if you are ready, answer with some honesty. We're not going anywhere. Much to our dismay.
Scenerio #3- I'm in a hurry...to sit and take my time.
"Would you like to start with an appetizer?"
"Yes, we'll have the fried food lovers heart attack platter." (I look around to see drinks need to be refilled for table 45, the manager staring at me because my food for table 35 is ready, and table 32 who has a screaming child that are clearly ready to order)
"Great! I'll go ahead and get that started for you. I'll be right back to take your answer any questions and take your entree order"
" We're also ready to order our food. ( insert 10 questions about the entrees that need and an order with 20 modifications here). Meanwhile the weeds are growing around my feet. "Oh, and please don't rush us, the last time we were here everything came out way to fast. We'd like to enjoy ourselves."
Okay, lookie here ants in your pants, there's a reason I wanted to go and place your appetizer order. I have other stuff to do. If you're in such a rush to order, when all you want to do is sit and relax, is it so much to ask that you give me three minutes to go do a few things first. We try to be nice as servers. I'm not going to look at you and say. " I got some shit to do, slow your roll and we'll talk about your entrees after I get your appetizer order in." But that's what we mean when we tell you " Ill go and get that started for you."
Listening is a great skill. I'm here to do just that. I'm gonna listen to you complain about the last time you we here, how you "know" the owner, and how that other restaurant has a better happy hour. Here's a clue: I'm not Janie, I know our owner too ( he signs my paycheck) and that better happy hour is across the street. I don't make the decisions. I'm just a server after all. But try to preschool skill of closing your mouth and opening your ears.
More than listening to your server I recommend that most customers listen to themselves. Would you want someone coming into your place of employment barking orders at you, assuming you have no education, and telling you how to do your job. I assume that wouldn't go over to well.
So be kind. As my mother would say "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar" The same goes for service. And after all, you really should be concerned with how you treat the people that handle your food. Just saying... Now, pray for me. It's Friday night!
So true
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