Probably the only real reason I like to eat out is the fact that I don't have to do the clean up.
My actual preferred type of eating establishment is cafeteria style where one simply chooses the food oneself without a barrage of questions regarding sauces, up sizing, or extras.
But as cafeteria style food isn't always available or the preferred social milieu of one's companion, sometimes I have to acquiesce and actually go to a sit down restaurant and participate in the socially accepted interaction between the servers and myself.
There seems in our society that there is an automatic expectation, an unwritten contract if you will, between restaurant management staff and their clients that has somehow evolved that implies that the number of times a waiter/waitress interrupts a conversation to ask 'if there is anything more you need?' is equal to the value and efficiency and ultimately to the enjoyment of the eating 'out' experience.
I think it is time these restaurants realize that an enjoyable dining out experience is more than having a someone hover over you as if you are going to somehow crash and burn because your every culinary need or whim is not immediately met. It is time they realized that good service means sometimes no service in the sense that too much of anything, in this case 'hovering' is often intrusive and ultimately really annoying.
How does one get the best service ever in a restaurant and at the same time have a pleasant conversation with your supper date without being either ignored or pestered by the servers you query?
Give the waitress/waiter $5 the very first time they approach your table with menus. Explain that your goal that evening is a long and intimate conversation with your companion with whom you haven't seen in several months (even if it isn't true). You could even suggest that you have to discuss serious private matters concerning your recent Lotto winnings, or that you are meeting this person on important government security business. This all helps to impress the server that your goal of conversation is more desired than any type of service they may render.
Inform this person in a polite and straightforward manner that you will not be annoyed in any way if you have to stand up and wave to them if you would like more coffee or if you require a clean fork or would like to order off the desert menu.
Tell them that you don't even care all that much if the food isn't just perfect, the exact preferred temperature, or even if it isn't what you ordered.
Tell this person whose feet probably are already tired and hurting, who has dealt with annoying and demanding customers as well as their own supervisors for the past five hours, that if need be, you will tell their boss that you have specifically asked to be somewhat ignored.
You can make little rules between you and the server regarding fresh coffee needs and/or when more water or another order for food would be welcome by leaving empty cups or dishes at the edge of the table to indicate that , "Yes, you may now come and see if we need anything else."
"If I ever own a restaurant, I will never allow the waiters to ask if the diners like their dishes. Particularly when they're talking." - Orson Welles quotes from BrainyQuote.com
My actual preferred type of eating establishment is cafeteria style where one simply chooses the food oneself without a barrage of questions regarding sauces, up sizing, or extras.
But as cafeteria style food isn't always available or the preferred social milieu of one's companion, sometimes I have to acquiesce and actually go to a sit down restaurant and participate in the socially accepted interaction between the servers and myself.
There seems in our society that there is an automatic expectation, an unwritten contract if you will, between restaurant management staff and their clients that has somehow evolved that implies that the number of times a waiter/waitress interrupts a conversation to ask 'if there is anything more you need?' is equal to the value and efficiency and ultimately to the enjoyment of the eating 'out' experience.
I think it is time these restaurants realize that an enjoyable dining out experience is more than having a someone hover over you as if you are going to somehow crash and burn because your every culinary need or whim is not immediately met. It is time they realized that good service means sometimes no service in the sense that too much of anything, in this case 'hovering' is often intrusive and ultimately really annoying.
How does one get the best service ever in a restaurant and at the same time have a pleasant conversation with your supper date without being either ignored or pestered by the servers you query?
Give the waitress/waiter $5 the very first time they approach your table with menus. Explain that your goal that evening is a long and intimate conversation with your companion with whom you haven't seen in several months (even if it isn't true). You could even suggest that you have to discuss serious private matters concerning your recent Lotto winnings, or that you are meeting this person on important government security business. This all helps to impress the server that your goal of conversation is more desired than any type of service they may render.
Inform this person in a polite and straightforward manner that you will not be annoyed in any way if you have to stand up and wave to them if you would like more coffee or if you require a clean fork or would like to order off the desert menu.
Tell them that you don't even care all that much if the food isn't just perfect, the exact preferred temperature, or even if it isn't what you ordered.
Tell this person whose feet probably are already tired and hurting, who has dealt with annoying and demanding customers as well as their own supervisors for the past five hours, that if need be, you will tell their boss that you have specifically asked to be somewhat ignored.
You can make little rules between you and the server regarding fresh coffee needs and/or when more water or another order for food would be welcome by leaving empty cups or dishes at the edge of the table to indicate that , "Yes, you may now come and see if we need anything else."
"If I ever own a restaurant, I will never allow the waiters to ask if the diners like their dishes. Particularly when they're talking." - Orson Welles quotes from BrainyQuote.com
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