What constitutes superior service from a server at a restaurant?

Question

When you go to a restaurant, what are some things the server could do that would make you tip whatever your max. percentage is for superior service? Also what are some of the most common mistakes or pet peeves you have when dining out?

Answer 1

That's a subjective answer. I've had wonderful service at Denny's and terrible service at a four star French restaurant. The server needs to know the menu, be attentive without be invasive and to make sure that your needs are being met. That is an extremely difficult job to do while holding down five or six tables at once and dealing with people who are often rude and even abusive. That plus deal with an often more abusive kitchen staff. A good server earns every penny.

Answer 2

Superior Service:

Be attentive.

Be caring.

Make no mistakes or if there are any mistakes, apologize.

Finding out what you want and how you want things, in other words NEVER ASSUME something such as that customers don't want a dessert if they ask for boxes.  We have asked for boxes to make room in our tummies for dessert and took the leftovers home.  Don't assume things about customers.

Bring things in the most timely manner possible.

GET THE ORDER RIGHT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

CHARGE the customer correctly, in other words, no overcharges.

Bringing extra napkins.

Coming to see if your food is correct by asking you if everything is ok.

Common mistakes or pet peeves:

1. Assumptions about that EVERYONE WANTS whatever instead of finding out first.  An example would be everyone wants refills, well not everyone does and not everyone wants the same drink the next time either, so you should ASK instead of ASSUME.

2. Bringing out the order wrong that is really obvious such as wrong food or missing condiments.

3.I HATE when servers BLAME the kitchen staff when they could *SEE* the mistake without touching the food such as one time a waiter told me "the kitchen forgot" when I had ordered some sides of mayo, mustard, and ranch, which is untrue, because since the waiter brought out the food, he could have NOTICED that those condiments weren't on the plate.  It's not the kitchen staff that brings me the food, so there's no possible way that type of situtation could be the kitchen staff's fault.

4. Overcharging you and acting as if they could care less about your money, but they want you to care about theirs.  Some servers don't say they are sorry even.  There goes their tip for being uncaring and stealing.

5.Doesn't WRITE the orders down, then ends up forgetting.

6. Doesn't repeat the order, so then the server gets it wrong.  A couple of times I asked for 2 sides of bbq sauce with my ribs, well they ASSUMED or THOUGHT I wanted NO bbq sauce on the ribs, just "ON THE SIDE", which is NOT what I had ordered. I ordered 2 sides of bbq sauce, which was extra along with the bbq sauce on the ribs, which ribs do taste different when the bbq sauce is cooked on.

7. Bringing the check before you are ready without any explanation.

8. No noticing you have no utensils to eat with or a napkin to speak of.

9. Not asking for a comp from the manager when major mistakes happen like a wrong entree.  The server should report that type of stuff, but most don't.

10. There is a such thing is being too attentive to where if you cannot eat without your server coming at you every moment, that is a bit irritating. I'd rather a server like that, than an non-existant server, but still, if the server is too attentive, it's annoying as well.  Try to find a common balance of letting the customers be alone sometimes.

11. Has to come back to the table after leaving the table with the written order due to not writing all the details down.  That's an unnecessary interruption.  A server should only have to go back to the table to find out something if the kitchen staff is out of an item or if there is something wrong with what was ordered.  The server should have gotten ALL SPECIFICS of the order the VERY FIRST TIME AROUND.  An example that's minor, but irritating, I tell my server I want salt on my margarita when I order it, but I have had quite a number of servers come back to our table to ask if I said I wanted salt.  The server shouldn't have to come back to the table and should have gotten that detail when she or he took the order originally.

Answer 3

A server that is very polite and exceeds the expectations would get a maximum tip from me. My pet peeves include being rude, making you wait, not cleaning up the table or refilling your drinks ect.

Answer 4

a server should be neat and put together, polite and eager to assist you the customer with any request you might have, and willing to go the extra mile no matter how much of a pain in the *** it might be for them to go out of the way.  they should be friendly but not too personal, funny but you're not paying them to stand around and entertain you, and they should ALWAYS inquire about your experience and the food.  if something is not satisfactory and you need to send it back or get a replacement, the server should handle all of that with ease and understanding, not a flippant attitude.  if a server shows you ANY attitude for ANYTHING during his/her actual service to you, no tip is required.  it is your duty as a customer to tip handsomely if the service is superior, but it is on the same coin the servers duty to be helpful and respectful, they're not serving you as a favor.  its their job.  if they have a problem with the job they took, they should get a new job.

once i went into a ruby tuesday and, on the way in, the group i was with walked past the salad bar.  on the salad bar was a bottle of olive oil.  now, someone in my group has severe allergic reactions to certain fats and different foods and can't have butter or dairy of any kind.  this person ordered a baked potato plain with olive oil on the side.  the order was brought out with no olive oil and the waitress said they didn't have any.  we confronted her with the fact that we knew they had some (being a group of cooks, we all knew they had not just the little bottle on the salad bar, but probably a large bulk container in the kitchen itself) and she gave us a huge sigh, eyeroll and stormed off back to the kitchen.  while she was gone, i went and got the bottle off the salad bar for my friend and by the time the waitress returned still all pissed off, we were all set.  we left her a single penny on top of our bill which we paid by credit card, which to me is more of a flip-off than leaving nothing at all.  it lets them know that you didn't just forget to tip, you were really unsatisfied.

Answer 5

A waiter should be attentive (refill drinks, check on you occasionally, etc.), but not too intrusive. It's horrible when a waiter or waitress comes up to your table every minute or so to see how you are doing. Being friendly and funny is also a plus for a waiter. My biggest pet peeves when dining out are as follows: (1) when a waiter doesn't ask how your food came out. My husband and I ate at a restaurant once where our food came out cold, the waiter never came back to see us for a long time, so long that we just gave up and ate our food. (2) It is really irritating when a waiter rushes you. You'll barely be done eating your meal and he will show up with the ticket, and he doesn't even ask if you want dessert!