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Waiters just can’t win with timing

3 min read
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As I write this, I am eagerly awaiting vacation. I’m using that as an excuse not to grocery shop or cook anything this week since I don’t want to leave food in the refrigerator while I’m gone. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

The truth is I’ll use any excuse not to cook. Some of my friends love to cook, and I’ve even heard them say they don’t enjoy eating out because they believe they make better food at home. When they say this, I try hard not to roll my eyes or burst out laughing because, to me, it takes a lot of hubris to believe you cook better than a professional chef. I’m certain some of them do, but I guess it depends on whether they’re comparing themselves to Michelin chefs or short-order cooks. All I know is my favorite thing to make for dinner is reservations.

Because of this, I’ve been to a lot of restaurants, and I’ve noticed that servers must have an unwinnable job. I have never worked in the food-service industry, so I have no idea what they teach the staff. Greeting customers immediately is always a priority with businesses, but I often chuckle when you sit down at a bar or table and the bartender or waiter/waitress immediately asks what you’d like to drink – I mean, within five seconds of being seated and before you’ve even seen a menu or had time to remove your coat. It’s a fine line between efficiency and speed and what many people call being rushed in and out the door. The second timing issue I find amusing is when the server checks to see if your food is OK. Some ask if you need anything else then leave for a bit. Sometimes, they return to ask how everything is just as you’ve taken a big forkful of food. How are you to respond? Answer with your mouth full? A nod? A few times, a server has asked how my meal is before I’ve even had a bite. In that instance, I tell them I will let them know as soon as I taste it. I know servers have to juggle multiple tables, and how they get the timing down amazes me. If you wait too long to check on a customer, they get annoyed. If you check too often, they also get annoyed. I don’t envy them that juggling act.

A friend told me she gets annoyed when servers try to take her plate before she finishes eating and gets irked when they ask, “Are you still working on that?” She often replies, “No, I am actually enjoying my meal rather than working on it.” I’ve noticed many servers use that phrase and would guess there has to be a better way to ask that question. I’m not sure what it is, but I’m still working on it.

Kristin Emery can be reached at kristinemery1@yahoo.com.

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