Our BetterMost Community > The Polling Place
Dining Out - Pleasurable or Painful?
underdown:
Actually, I could say more in a poll about the positive experiences of dining out.
In my experience, small portions and crowding are very common.
The overall experience in most Sydney restaurants, however, has been excellent.
We have some of the best food available in the world, and the waiters/waitresses are usually pretty good.
Kelda:
Tables together. If I'm out at a restaurant I want to enjoy spending time with whoeverI'm with and be able to alk freely. And I don want to hear what he other table is talking about either!
Lynne:
I chose over-attentive servers, tables too close together, and rude staff.
I dine out way too often, because that's just part of living alone and the walls close in if I spend too much time at home. So, if I'm alone, I usually have a book with me, and the over-attentive staff get annoying. I served during school, so I appreciate that table turnover is a factor in earnings and I tip to compensate for that, particularly if a restaurant is busy.
The tables too close together is annoying not just from the conversation point of view when you're dining with friends, but also it feels awkward and rude to negotiate yourself into your seat (and out again, maybe more than once) when it's crowded.
Rude staff I don't have much sympathy for...busy, harried staff OK - as I said, I've been there, but rudeness makes no sense when one's earnings are pretty directly dependent on a customer's goodwill and generosity.
southendmd:
Kerry, you naughty boy, your description of an oyster gave me a fit of apoplexy! (I happen to love oysters, ahem. Excuse me, I have to blow my nose. There, that's better.)
In the US, a service charge is only tacked on if it's a large party, and it's usually pretty clear when that happens. I've never heard of charge for water, and there's no bread and cover charge.
It's inattentive service that bugs me. I expect to be greeted (with water, perhaps) and asked for my drink order as soon as I am seated. I'm not too fond of the "My name is Jason and I'll be your server" routine, but I don't much care if Jason gets the job done.
If there's bad service, I won't go back to a restaurant. I was at one place known for its wine. The wine I ordered was unavailable; many, many minutes later, I was told the second wine I ordered was unavailable. And I was led to believe it was my fault! "You seem to order all the ones we don't have!" Jason said. Gee, Jason, how come you don't know what's available? And why does it take twenty minutes to find out? "Do you have this one?" I growled, pointing at a third. When it arrived, the meal was half over. I haven't been back.
Here in Boston, the restaurant scene is very competitive, so it pays to have good service.
Lynne:
--- Quote from: southendmd on January 11, 2009, 12:22:10 pm ---It's inattentive service that bugs me. I expect to be greeted (with water, perhaps) and asked for my drink order as soon as I am seated. I'm not too fond of the "My name is Jason and I'll be your server" routine, but I don't much care if Jason gets the job done.
--- End quote ---
Have you noticed this tendency for the server to seat him/herself across from you to take your order? After they've introduced themselves, naturally. Maybe I'm being snobby, but this seems overly familiar. Though in sympathy, you know their feet hurt, but it's not enough of a break to make a difference. Plus, in my day, I would have been fired!
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