Just wanted to bring up the little things that matter and can really put you off a meal, and maybe by sharing this, you may think "Hm, I didn't realize that" or "I never thought about that" so here goes...
Took someone out to a very popular diner style restaurant yesterday in another town.
He ordered "homemade beef and vegetable" soup. It arrived lukewarm. After flagging down the waitress, she grabbed it, yes grabbed the bowl and no she was not busy, and took it into the kitchen and we heard beep beep beep as she microwaved it and brought it back. Never apologizing or saying a word.
Wanting some hot sauce and seeing the bottles on the shelf, we requested hot sauce (of course she never asked "Is there anything else I can get you?" Or we would have said YES! HOT SAUCE!)
She brought over a bottle that had about two shakes left in it, and when it was uncapped it was all crusty and gross.
Small small things, but when that is the only thing you ordered, you notice stuff. Slapped the check on the table and never came back. She was wearing mocassins that made a shuffle shuffle sound and she dragged her feet around this very small one room restaurant.
This is typical service in the south (edited to say - not touristy South - touristy has FINE SERVICE!!) We've come to realize that mediocre service is a eureka find. This is very sadly the truth. We never ruffle feathers, we are always ABOVE AND BEYOND polite, and we are the ones paying their bills, the one tipping. It never ceases to amaze me...
So don't give customers bottles of ANYTHING nearly empty! If it is nearly empty like ketchup - give the guest a "serving" in a small bowl or something, please!
Took someone out to a very popular diner style restaurant yesterday in another town.
He ordered "homemade beef and vegetable" soup. It arrived lukewarm. After flagging down the waitress, she grabbed it, yes grabbed the bowl and no she was not busy, and took it into the kitchen and we heard beep beep beep as she microwaved it and brought it back. Never apologizing or saying a word.
Wanting some hot sauce and seeing the bottles on the shelf, we requested hot sauce (of course she never asked "Is there anything else I can get you?" Or we would have said YES! HOT SAUCE!)
She brought over a bottle that had about two shakes left in it, and when it was uncapped it was all crusty and gross.
Small small things, but when that is the only thing you ordered, you notice stuff. Slapped the check on the table and never came back. She was wearing mocassins that made a shuffle shuffle sound and she dragged her feet around this very small one room restaurant.
This is typical service in the south (edited to say - not touristy South - touristy has FINE SERVICE!!) We've come to realize that mediocre service is a eureka find. This is very sadly the truth. We never ruffle feathers, we are always ABOVE AND BEYOND polite, and we are the ones paying their bills, the one tipping. It never ceases to amaze me...
So don't give customers bottles of ANYTHING nearly empty! If it is nearly empty like ketchup - give the guest a "serving" in a small bowl or something, please!