Wow it has been a while! Sorry I have not been around. Miss me?
Ever wandered “where the heck is my waiter, hang on, who is my waiter!?”- We all have. We have all had that moment of sitting down, ordering the most fabulous cocktail or meal leaving your mouth watering while the wait commences but no idea of where your waiter is- or who they are.
Well, here are some hacks to shed some light on this annoying (but ‘normal’) issue.
1: How many times have you moved until your bum feels at home?
Walking onto the deck, checking the view and the other half advises “here?” Yeh, why not. Needless to say, after being seated in said spot for 5 minutes, it’s not quite hitting the spot. So you move. Fantastic, your happy… or…not. Drinks arrive, you move again. You felt a bit too much breeze on your skin and the umbrella is covering you with way too much shade. Table number 3!
~STOP!~
Not everyone will agree with me on this one, everyone changes their mind like the wind, but moving table is the gold winner of the ‘unhappy with service conversation’. Musical chairs in a busy lunch rush or height of high season is not going to make your visit smooth runnings- instead more of a chaffing down a sand dune type feeling!
Rather, pick a table from the start and stick to it. If you cannot guarantee your wife or kids not having a melt down, try taking the waiters name when they seat you. That way they can be informed of where you’ve gone.
2: “Vinho please, no Merlot, wait… I’ll have a beer”
As a customer but also working in Hospitality I have seen and heard some hilarious stories. Nothing though quite matches up to the ‘indecisive customer’.
Order placed, waiter on it…. but then the mind change comes! You see someone sitting slurping on something that moves your taste buds…. well, people, try advising your waiter before they bring the original drink to the table that you changed your mind.
Indecisiveness is a real thing, with all the stress and strain of this world we live in- it is only normal. Don’t be hard on yourself, but seriously- get your waiter to change the order before it’s made. Better yet, try and stick with your original and then have something else after your meal? 🙂
3: So you remain seated, you have your drink- SPILLAGE!!!!
Oh dear, you’re a clutz. Me too!
Water? No problem. Coke? All good. Milkshake and sauce- WTF!! Spillages are the norm, that’s why cloths were invented but wiping with a mound of tissue and leaving on the table, goey and sticky is just gross. Communication works well during most instances.
~“Mr waiter, I need a cloth”. “A wet one”.~
Maybe also try not letting your 2 year old play with the milkshake- just a thought
4: The dreaded payment
Ever wandered why it remains a mystery when a waiter (or general member of staff) does not know what you’re talking about when you list what you ate including extras and want to pay- it is possible this person you’re talking to is not your server, or even general waiter…or a member of staff!
~Yes, it has happened~
“Sorry, I don’t work here”, an un-assuming guest explains whilst on his way to the bathroom…
So imagine lunch. 100 odd customers are eating, drinking and being merry. 5-10 waiters running around wandering why the heck they chose Hospitality, plus general cleaners, kitchen, bar and more. Who is who!? Refer to point 1 people. Stick to where you sit, know your waiters name and bobs your uncle!
“Hi there, my waiter is Gill and I would like to pay for Table 12”
Success!
5: The meticulous extras!
Rump- sounds good, with extra chips and a side portion of veg- brilliant! The order comes but now you want vinegar- Gill runs to grab for you. But wait, you need water. Gill arrives and immediately sent back for water. Oh &6%$ you don’t have a side glass of ice.
~A waiters job is hard.~
Harder than most people would guess, so do be nice and provide your shopping list of extras at one time so they may have all at the table quickly, ensuring they can also focus on other customers instead of wandering if they ever took the single toothpick wrapped in a serviette with a side portion of 1 -medium grilled, no spice, no fat-chicken strip, oh and water, but not just any water- no lemon, 1 cube of ice served in a wine glass for extra etiquette!
There you have it. A 5 point guide to not p$ss$ng off your waiter and having a stress free, family lunch by the beach.
What are your thoughts? What are you guilty of?
Fill us in!
Bye for now
Santos Writer
