That looks good, I especially like Jennifer’s suggestion. The only thing I disagree with is this point:
“Never leave a customer more than 5 minutes with a menu without checking they are ready to order.”
I don’t think there should be a hard and fast time limit here. It can take quite a while to choose what to eat, especially if meeting friends for a meal and everyone is chatting at the same time as looking at the menu.
I think a better idea would be to look out for signs that people are ready, eg. menus closed, laid down etc. and take their order when it is clear everyone is ready.
Being rushed into ordering is worse than waiting to order in my view.
Oh! I forgot to comment the first time, but don’t leave your diners waiting at the end of a meal. I HATE when you’re either waiting for the bill, or waiting to pay for it and all the staff have that special technique of avoiding your stare turned up to 10.
I think we need a “Waiter Service Charter” next to tell diners how waiters want them to act – I was struggling to get the attention of a waitress on Mon night, until hubbie suggested closing the menu! Waitress was there within a minute to take the order!
Glad to see guidelines for prompt delivery of the bill. Often you’re rushing to catch am event or meet friends and it’s so frustrating when you have to wait for the bill, then wait for the money to be collected, then wait for the change or for the card machine to appear.
A nice touch would be if the card machine was delivered with the bill so it could be paid immediately. A waiter should use common sense though to judge if a group is going to split the bill or a date is going to have an argument about who is paying and in that case leave the bill for a few minutes.
Wednesday 22 June, 2011 at 3:15 pm
That looks good, I especially like Jennifer’s suggestion. The only thing I disagree with is this point:
“Never leave a customer more than 5 minutes with a menu without checking they are ready to order.”
I don’t think there should be a hard and fast time limit here. It can take quite a while to choose what to eat, especially if meeting friends for a meal and everyone is chatting at the same time as looking at the menu.
I think a better idea would be to look out for signs that people are ready, eg. menus closed, laid down etc. and take their order when it is clear everyone is ready.
Being rushed into ordering is worse than waiting to order in my view.
Wednesday 22 June, 2011 at 3:24 pm
Oh! I forgot to comment the first time, but don’t leave your diners waiting at the end of a meal. I HATE when you’re either waiting for the bill, or waiting to pay for it and all the staff have that special technique of avoiding your stare turned up to 10.
Wednesday 22 June, 2011 at 5:29 pm
I think we need a “Waiter Service Charter” next to tell diners how waiters want them to act – I was struggling to get the attention of a waitress on Mon night, until hubbie suggested closing the menu! Waitress was there within a minute to take the order!
Wednesday 22 June, 2011 at 5:38 pm
How customers should behave in restaurants? Good idea Elly!
Thursday 23 June, 2011 at 9:44 am
Glad to see guidelines for prompt delivery of the bill. Often you’re rushing to catch am event or meet friends and it’s so frustrating when you have to wait for the bill, then wait for the money to be collected, then wait for the change or for the card machine to appear.
A nice touch would be if the card machine was delivered with the bill so it could be paid immediately. A waiter should use common sense though to judge if a group is going to split the bill or a date is going to have an argument about who is paying and in that case leave the bill for a few minutes.