You enter a restaurant over lunch hour. It is busy. You look around worried you may not get a seat, until you spot one at a corner. With a sigh of relief you begin a mad dash. In the process you almost knock over a waitress carrying a tray, overflowing with food and drink.
“Look where you are going,” you growl, as you elbow her aside.
A moment later she brings you the menu and before she can ask you what you would like, you interrupt her.
“Today’s special and a bottle of water,” you say without looking up; eyes fixed on the newspaper.
In a short while, she returns.
“Your order,” she says, serving the food and water. This time you are on the phone and you immediately note that the water is not your favorite brand.
“Don’t you have Highlands water?” you ask, putting the caller on hold. Without waiting for an answer, you hand back the water and immediately turn away and get back to your call,
“I do not understand why they can’t hire fffing waitresses with some brain matter between their ears. I mean…,” you begin to rant to the caller as the waitress walks away overhearing every word.
She returns back with the water and you immediately begin to whine that the portions of the meal are too tiny for the exorbitant’ price the restaurant is charging.
“Bring me the bill,” you say whilst digging for your wallet.When the bill arrives all hell breaks loose.
“What do you mean the VAT is not included in the initial cost? This service charge is a rip off for the bad service,” you moan.
“Well, it is clearly indicated in the menu,” the waitress informs you.
“I never even looked at the damn menu,” you say adding a couple of expletives.
You pay the bill and dash of to your more important job.
Professionals working in the service industry have loads of horror stories about customers behaving badly while dining out. Often servers are young people who are treated with little respect by customers perhaps due to the assumption that their job is not as important as those of other professionals in the job market.
However they too need your respect. A memorable and enjoyable meal out can only be a reality when the customer and the server work together. Follow these tips for a great experience dining out.
Dos while dining out
Do make way for the server carrying a tray of food to other customers.
Do say hello to your server, make eye contact, smile and refer to them by name.
Do take a moment to look at the menu and make a clear decision.
Do ask questions if unsure of your order.
Do give your full order. Avoid wasting your servers time by sending them back and forth.
Do leave your table as clean as you possibly can.
Do leave a tip
Don’ts while dining out
Do not curse or use expletives at your server if unhappy with the order. Be polite.
Do not use rude words with your dinner companions while referring to the server. They just might overhear.
Don’t whine about not getting what you did not order for. Ask, cut out the whining.