Restaurant service: Sick and tired of being sick and tired
Posted by Alex McPeakMay 18th, 2008
Memphis restaurants are not known for their outstanding customer service. To some, bad service is even a point of local pride. I used to be in those ranks, but I have to say I’ve finally had enough.
I recently walked into a restaurant that I visit about once a month and waited 25 minutes before even being acknowledged, and that was just the beginning. Service has declined the last several times I’ve been there, and I like the food, but the food quality has finally dipped below my tolerance for the wait staffs’ attitudes.
I’m not a prima donna or anything. I don’t expect to be waited on hand and foot. Ambiance, customer service and all of that are a distant second for me to the actual food. I don’t even want the servers to shower me with those fake “customer service” slogans that their managers force out of them. All I want is efficient service from people who have some idea of what the hell they are doing.
A professor of mine thought that everyone should have to work in the service industry for at least one year, so they would get a better idea of how poorly we treat one another. People are a-holes. They want the world for nothing. I’m sensitive to this. I empathize. I want to smack the people at fast food restaurants that expect to be treated like royalty for buying a crappy $5 combo meal.
I believe, strongly, that you get what you pay for, and you are not entitled to throw a fit in a Wendy’s because they put ketchup on your burger when you asked for mayonnaise. Either hand it back and make them fix it or shut the eff up and eat it. That’s it.
I even subscribe to the belief that you should always tip, at least 15% no matter how poor the service, because the job is tough and putting up with people deserves at least that.
My only experience in the food industry came many years ago when I worked at Taco Bell. I wasn’t the sickeningly sweet person who asked if you needed some extra of this or wanted to try a such-and-such today. I was polite but not too friendly, offered my advice when asked, made sure you got what you ordered and received the proper change. That’s all I ask in return. I’ll take competence over congeniality every day of the week.
But for the love of god, Memphis restaurant owners, don’t act like you’re doing me a goddamned favor by being open. Like my life is somehow better because you let me in the door and will, eventually, maybe, grudgingly bring me my food and drink refills.
June 6th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
There are places I like to eat in Memphis but it has never been about the service. However, good service goes a long way and more in the tip say 20%-25%. Thanks for pointing this out Alex.