If You’re Not Ready to Order, I Promise I’ll Come Back!
It is not OK to hold your waitress hostage at your table. As I have reiterated in previous posts, you really aren’t the only customer in the restaurant! That sounds like such a ridiculous, common sense concept to have to constantly explain. But trust me, so many RCs have blinders on, and they do not see anyone else in the restaurant. Just them, and their waitress, and a whole bunch of other waitstaff who couldn’t possibly have several tables of their own. I mean, we shut the entire joint down just so we can all focus on you and your family! I would be laughing as I type this if it wasn’t such a typical attitude with RCs.
If a table has no idea what they would like to order, I will offer to answer any questions that they may have about our menu. I will also offer to make suggestions. If you have no questions, and you do not want my helpful suggestions, then I will offer to get your beverages, so that you can have a few moments with the menu. If you don’t know what you want to drink, don’t want beverages at this time, or I have already secured your beverages for you, then I will still offer to return in a few minutes while you peruse the menu. I am trying to be helpful to you, but I am also trying to be helpful to the other customers I am taking care of. NO ONE has time for me to stand there while you verbally brainstorm about what you should eat for lunch.
“Do I want steak today?” How should I know?
“Or do I want chicken? Oh, wait, I had chicken last night, I really don’t feel like having chicken again.” Then don’t!
“But I really don’t want to eat steak this early, its so heavy! I wish you guys had spaghetti!” We’re a steakhouse. I usually hit up an Olive Garden when I have a taste for spaghetti, but that’s just me.
“I would get a salad, but I’m not going to eat again until late, so I really need something more substantial…”
After these fascinating musings, I inject with my offer to give you a few moments. What is the RC response to my polite suggestion? “No, because I’m in a hurry, so I need you to get my order in.” Then I will need you to ORDER something in order to expedite this for both of our sakes! But no, because the RC expects me to stand there while they continue to go through every single item on the menu, expounding the pros and cons of each one. I could have taken another tables order, brought drinks to an additional table, and cashed out a third, all while you’ve held me captive at your table.
Also, I do not have time to wait while you have a dialog with each and every one of your six children about what it is that their little hearts desire for dinner tonight. When it’s time for me to take your order, we need everyone to be on the same page. It doesn’t count that you and your husband know what you want if I have to stand there and endure this:
“Johnny, you can have the hamburger, but you can have broccoli or carrots with it. No, broccoli or carrots. No fries. No, no fries. No, no fries. No, you cannot have shrimp because you are allergic. No, you are allergic. No, you are allergic. Fine Elizabeth, if you don’t want the chicken fingers anymore, what do you want? No, they don’t have hotdogs. Because, they don’t have hotdogs. Because they don’t. Because they don’t. No, Johnny, you are allergic to shrimp! No, you are allergic. No, you are allergic. No, broccoli or carrots. Broccoli or carrots.”
This is a family discussion, so when I offer you a few moments, you need to take it, and get your family’s order together. When you, and/or your loved ones are undecided about the meal, and do not want my input on the matter, then let me go attend to other guests. I promise I’ll come back!
“sara”
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