Do you know how to order when dinning out?

Question

when a server aproaches your table with a greeting do politely listen or jump in cut in immediately interrupting? when you hear hi, i'm so and so, i'll be taking care of u , how's everyone tonite... do you say great thanks or do u respond gimmie a coke! how about this one: your server asks what you would like to drink your response... is it an actual drink order or would you like to order your food now even though no one else with u is ready to order the meal yet???

Answer 1

Jennifer

You are always polite when speaking with your server.  They are being "friendly" in an effort to make your dining experience enjoyable.  When asked for your drink order please give the drink order.  If everyone at the table is ready to place their meal order you may tell the server that you are ready to place your orders.  For many servers they want to get your drinks in place first, then take your meal order and submit it to the kitchen.  You may ask that an entree order be delayed if you are at an establishment that has a salad bar that you will be enjoying before the entree.  tip according to meal and service.

Answer 2

You must be a waitress.

I always smile and make eye contact with my waitress.  I give her my undivided attention.  I always take my table's order,before she arrives. Therefore, on her pause I'm prepared to promptly tell her our drink order. This impresses her, and she gives me an approving smile.

After she returns with our drinks, I warmly thank her.

After our first round of drinks, she returns to take our meal order.Once again I have the order ready for her. I prompty give it to her on her pause. She flashes that appoving smile again. She can tell that I'm no rookie. And "yes", I say to a second round of drinks, again on her pause.

She leaves and returns with our food and drinks. I again warmly thank her....being ever so careful not to interrupt...always waiting for her pause.

A similar procedure takes place for dessert. By now she is very impressed, and undoubtedly is wondering upon seeing no ring on my finger "why is he not married?"

And just before she proposes to me I say, "No,thankyou" to her next question,"Would you care for anything else?". After she asks and pauses for my next replies,I assure her that we enjoyed our meal and will definitely return soon.

I pick up the bill,and leave a generous tip. It is very important to leave a generous tip so that your server will be in a great mood for the next customers. I personally round the bill up to the next ten dollars and divide by 5. That makes it greater than 20% and the math is easy to do in your head.

Careful not to loiter after the meal we soon depart. Time is money and our table has to be prepared for its next customers.

Answer 3

you politely listen and say great thanks you should probably wait for food although i often find myself tempted to order my food and let everyone else order later it really depends on how hungry you are and how desperate you are for food it really could go either way

Answer 4

i say hi, i want this, she'll have that, and it is gonna be separate bills

Answer 5

There are no rules - just be polite and in most cases, you will get that same respect back (sometimes you just get a bad egg...can't help that) Also, most restaurants do take drink orders then take meal orders when serving the drinks, but if you and the rest of the table are ready, politely say you are ready to order your meal and then do it :)

Answer 6

this is not the right way but just to give you an idea.....

group:blah blah blah

server:hello im so and so,what will you ike to drink tonight

(you respond with what you would like then the group you are with or person,then she or he leaves and you go back to your conversation)

another idea

group:blah blah blah

server:hello what would you like to order?

(you respond with what you want then the group and go back to your conversation) then eventually give the waiter/tress a tip :)

Answer 7

When the server asks if you would like to order drinks, it's up to each individual to order a drink if desired. Drinks can be ordered later also.

Food is not ordered until everyone at the table has decided on their  entree from the menu. Then you can signal the server that you are ready to order. If he shows up before everyone has decided what they want, then you simply tell the server your are not ready to order yet..

Answer 8

can i say... RESPECT>. . a lot of ppl dont have manners for waiters and waitresses and i think it is disrespectful... if a restaurant is slow its not necessarily their fault.. or if ur havin a bad day its not their fault so bak off and let them do their job and answer the questions they ask you.... if you have a ques. or wanna go ahead n order AFTER they finish speaking and you have answered there ques. then you do so.... not to offend anyone jus thats my point of view

Answer 9

you always have to be polite, ask nicely. dont say give me, say I would like.  if no one else is ready too order, when she asks say Im ready how about you guys. Dont always think about yourself think about others. hope I helped.

Answer 10

first of all wait until everybody is ready to place their orders and do it all at the same time, Next order your drinks and ask your fellow diners if they want one too. the server will come back with the drinks order and ask if you are ready. Above all be polite to the server, they have enough to do without having to deal with rude customers.

Answer 11

I play it by ear and be nice to the waitress. Works for both of us.

Answer 12

you treat the server as you would like to be treated....with respect...let him/her finish their routine (as it is probably part of how they are to great you) and remember to say please and thank you.

Answer 13

If you're waiting for someone else to join you, and you'd rather wait to order, tell the waiter, "Excuse me, but I'm waiting for someone else to join me.  Could you please come back when they do?"  Of course, you could order a drink or appetizer if you want to.

If you're not ready to order, it might help you to listen to the waiter's spiel about today's specials.  Then say, "I'm not ready to order yet; please return in five or ten minutes."  Or, if he/she mentions something you like, say, "That ____ sounds good.  I'll try that."

If you are ready to order, it's up to you if you want to hear the waiter's announcements, or say, "That's all right; I know what I want."

Be polite to your waiter, but remember it's not your job to impress the waiter; it's the waiter's job to serve you.  Leave a generous tip if she/he does a great job, and if you can afford it.

Answer 14

I always wait until they are finished talking.  It's common courtesy.  And they can spit in your food/drink.

Answer 15

It's a good idea to be polite to the server, if only in the self-interest of wanting this person to want to treat you well.  If there's a reason why you're in enough of a hurry not to have time for polite chit-chat (or you're having a business meeting and would like a minimum of interruptions), say so nicely.

As for ordering, when they ask if you'd like to order drinks, they're normally just asking about drinks and maybe appetizers.  If everyone at the table is ready to order their meals, then you can say so and the server will normally take the order then.  But in some restaurants, they will have one person who takes drink orders and someone else takes meal orders.  (Especially if they have many wait staff that are under 21 and can't deliver your alcohol to your table.)

Answer 16

I think you are overthinking it...

you dont have to be that polite.

but i do think you should only order once all of your party is ready to order, that way your food wont be way earlier than everyone elses'.