When dining out, what happened to service?

Question

I have travelled a lot and in my opinion service is unheard off. I'm talking about sit down dining. It seems that fast food places are offering better service in the long run.

Answer 1

thrown out the window LoOooooong ago!

Answer 2

This is true, I find myself hoping for a good server so i can leave a good tip, me being a former server myself i know how hard you have to work just to earn $2 from some people. Where i used to work, if u go in the morning you get great service cause all the older servers are working, and during the afternoons you got all the high school kids working. Most of the blame should go to the owners and managers of the establishments cause they do not train people well. They also don't recognize when someone is more suitable to being a dishwasher the a server

Answer 3

I've noticed that too, It seems to be the most expensive places and the cheapest seem to have the best service where the medium priced places have the poorest. Perhaps it's tipping? The expensive places seem to have gratuities added and hire good servers, the servers in the cheaper places probably really work hard because they really depend on those tips to make ends meet where the ones in the middle seem to feel entitled to receiving a good tip for even the most basic service.

Answer 4

I have noticed that too. So, we only go to places where we get excellent service. If the service is sub-par, we don't go back. Now that we are regulars at a few places, and tip well for good service, we never have an issue. I have also noticed, though, that customers are increasingly rude and demanding, and are awful tippers. If I were a server, I'd probably be in a foul mood too.

Answer 5

as a server, i always tried to give the best service possible. i've also noticed that in F&B, there are a lot of drugs being used. I know that when i first started working at my last serving job, it was great because everyone worked together and we were like a happy little dysfunctional family. but then some servers started doing a certain white powder and then more servers started doing it and eventually, i was the only server not recovering from the night before. its a sad fact, but restaurants are full of drugs and a lot of times when you get bad service its because the server is hung over.

Answer 6

Forget the big chains, find a mom and pop place that depends on word of mouth for business. You'll find the service and generally the food much better! You'll also be support the local economy instead of a CFO / CEO six digit bonus at the end of the year.

Answer 7

i don't think you can make that generalization as i highly doubt that you have eaten at every restaurant. i get awesome service 90% of the time, and that is also due to the fact that i am pleasant and actually treat the server like a human being unlike most i observe. another thing that cracks me up is when people have horrible service somewhere and then continue to go back and complain

Answer 8

My opinion is most are teenager and couldn't give a darn, they just want the tip (which won't show a lot, because they don't care and reflects in their service.) A nicer place with older servers, they actually do a good job. I kind of disagree with the fast food analogy, they can't even understand me and I can't understand them. How many times do I have to repeat "4 egg McMuffins and 2 iced teas"?

Answer 9

I know what you mean, I think it is because wait staff is not trained properly anymore. There was a time when wait staff was trained to recognize the needs of their customers, and to anticipate them.
The turn over is so great in the food industry now, that the skill accquired skils are never sharpened to become an exellent wait.
Those that are good, usually tend to babble on about there name and hoover around the table so much it makes for uncomfortable dining . I dont mind my wait staff being friendly, but I dont like them eating dinner with me.

Answer 10

I highly recommend going to fine dining establishments.
The servers are trained to be more accomodating than say, places like Olive Garden, Chilli's, Applebees or Friday's.
But expect to pay more for this added hospitality.

Answer 11

probably because a lot of servers are young and are only working a little to pay for their cell phone bills. it's like that where i work and these girls are annoying. If you have a server like that and you can't seem to find her she's probably yakking away on her phone. i need a new job because of this. whenever these girls get a free minute, instead of cleaning up or paying attention to their customers, it's off to the phone. and the managers aren't saying anything even though it's policy to put your phone away unless on a break.