jmcquown wrote:
> Kate Connally wrote:
> > jmcquown wrote:
> >>
> >> My point is, there is a reason for some tables sitting empty for 10
> >> minutes before they are seated, especially on a busy night. And I
> >> think it was Lisa-Ann who pointed out, sometimes the manager didn't
> >> schedule enough servers, or, thinking it was going to be a slow
> >> night, cut a couple of servers and closed some stations early only
> >> to find a sudden influx of unexpected customers. This is why we
> >> estimated and informed customers of "wait times". They could leave
> >> or they could wait. There wasn't much to be done about that.
> >>
> >> Jill
> >> --
> >> I used to have a handle on life...but it broke off.
> >
> > Jill, I appreciate all the points you make about why the
> > customers might not be seated right away in the empty
> > table, however, I don't agree that any of those are valid
> > reasons to keep someone waiting. Especially if they have
> > to stand around. I would rather be seated asap and have
> > them explain that they're extremely busy and that there
> > will be a slight delay or something to that effect. I'd
> > sure as hell rather wait sitting than standing. And I don't
> > particularly like sitting at the bar while I wait (if that
> > is an option). And it just looks bad to have someone standing
> > (or whatever) waiting for their table when there is a
> > table "available". The customer doesn't care about all
> > the back of the house "reasons" for making them wait.
> > And I certainly don't mind waiting to be served once I'm
> > comfortably seated and the delay is explained and apologized
> > for. It's the manager's job (and the other employees, too)
> > to make everything work out without inconveniencing the
> > customers unnecessarily.
> >
> > Kate
>
> Point taken. However, still from the other side of the fence, once a
> customer is seated they get more antsy than if they were told there is a
> wait and are still in the lobby (btw, there were always seats in the lobby
> where I worked except perhaps on a busy weekend night). They want drinks,
> they expect service within minutes of their butts hitting the chair. They
> do not appreciate being seated at a table and then told, "you'll have to
> wait, sorry". (And yes, as a hostess I ran drinks when the servers were in
> the weeds.)
>
> Maybe it's psychological but the affect of seating someone is to say "you
> will now get service", not 10 or 20 minutes later.

I disagree. There's is no excuse for totally ignoring a recently
seated patron for more than 3 minutes... sure you can scream "busy"
(damn well hope yer busy, or the joints a bummer) but there is never
any excuse not to immediately take the drink order and then deliver the
drinks within 5 minutes or less... especially at a high priced joint.
I don't think folks want their order taken within minutes of being
seated, most folks don't like to rush while making their menu choices,
and then most folks don't want their food served within minutes of
having their order taken, I know I wouldn't, that means it's a fast
food joint, with dishes previously prepared. When I'm paying over $150
for dinner I don't want any stinkin' salad that's been preped in the AM
and sat in the fridge till the PM... then it may as well be served in a
styrofoam clamshell from McD's. You can get away with making the
patrons wait till the grits butted waitresses at your local greezy
spoons finish discussing the day's Soaps but that is considered
uncivilized at a 4 Star restaurant. I don't want any waitperson
informing me or apologizing, I want none of your conversation
whatsoever... just shut up and serve, and move like you're alive, and
soon as you've laid down the last dish get the F outa my sight...
you'll know when I need you again, you'll see my head move 20=BA to the
right. And don't you dare tell me your name, not unless you you also
tell me your price, when, where, and what.

I'm beginning to think none of yoose ever been to a 4 Star
restaurantt... probably think the diner at the edge of town puts down
genuwine checked cloth on the tables at 6PM it's high fallutin'... I
mean like 4 Star restaurants don't have Bottomless Bowl Pasta Nite. LOL

Sheldon