James Silverton said...

> Andy wrote on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:00:54 -0500:
>
>>> Andy wrote on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:21:32 -0500:
>>>
>>>>> In article
>>>>> > , Dave
>>>>> Smith > wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> What I would like to know is where the hell they are
>>>>>> hiding when you need them and why you can't catch their
>>>>>> attention then.
>>>>>
>>>>> Smoke break. It would be interesting to see a breakdown of
>>>>> smokers by type of employment. I'll bet restaurant workers
>>>>> are right up there.
>>>
>>>> Dan,
>>>
>>>> There's a restaurant in town that if you don't have
>>>> reservations they put you on the waiting list and give you a
>>>> radio transmitter "hockey puck" that you keep in your pocket
>>>> while you have a cocktail or something, that will vibrate
>>>> when your table is ready! Too bad wait staff don't have to
>>>> wear them in return!
>>>
>>> Again, I'm not trying to start a war but for years I've
>>> considered waiter not to be gender-specific and used it call
>>> male or female staff without problems. I wonder what others
>>> think?
>
>> James,
>
>> Since I'm addressing a broader audience here at rfc rather
>> than my just wait staff for breakfast, I just choose not to
>> take sides. You know what I meant.
>
>> If at the diner I'm waited on by a man, I address him as
>> waiter. If waited on by a woman I address her as waitress.
>> That's all.
>
> It's possible that the fact that I don't raise my voice and usually wave
> when call the waiter avoids arguments but, if I got a feminist lecture
> from a waiter in a *restaurant*, I wouldn't come back :-)


James,

A practice I did adopt early on was, after placing my order, I'd ask the
waitress (for the sake of example) before she walked away, "What's your
name?" After getting a name, I reply "thank you "[name]." I can always make
the girls blush!

Once, I was suffering to finish a Philly cheesesteak and fries once and
Kat, my waitress came over and asked if I was finished and did I wanted to
have the rest wrapped up. I looked up in surprise and said "No... can I
have another one of these?" with my best serious look with a touch of grin.

Kat laughed and said "I wouldn't let you have another!"

I had to laugh along. Couldn't have been scripted it any better!!!

She was too cute and TOO young for me.

Best,

Andy
--
Eat first, talk later.