Want good service at a Restaurant? Don't be rude!

Here's something that I have been wanting to address for quite sometime, and I often wonder when people complain about service at a restaurant and then take to a food forum such as uh hmm, Trip-advisor, to slate them off - are they being reasonable?

Now I know that most of the time on trip advisor people have very valid reasons to complain. I agree waiting a long time >=45 minutes for a main with no attention from staff is unreasonable. Cold, poorly cooked food = unreasonable. Ignoring customers, and excessive bills for rubbish food is unreasonable. But for everything else, try to see it from their point of view. I think it really helps when you are out dining, and it doesn't matter if you are visiting a greasy spoon or a Michelin restaurant that you first and foremost pick the right restaurant, secondly exercise a little patience, and thirdly BE NICE.

I have seen dining patrons imposing themselves and barking out at the waiting staff, clicking their fingers at them every five minutes for attention. Friends turning up mid meal, which in itself is fine, but then blaming the staff they've not got any food or utensils etc. Now this can be remedied simply by asking staff 'nicely' to get what you need. On the odd occasion staff just need reminding to be a bit more vigilant when serving, that's all, and this should be done by their manager, so if its a real problem simply let their manager know and get on with your meal. 

This is the thing about dining, being overly angry and rude to staff can make you look bad and embarrasses people with you (unless you are waiting over two hours for a mains, and if you're anything like me, I'd be ready to lynch mob the place), fair enough? But for the simple things, just let it go, there are always going to be mistakes when you're out dining, it's just the nature of being human, nobody's perfect and how YOU handle mistakes is what matters. 

Now how to get good service? If you can, try to exercise patience, and be friendly from the time you step through the door to the time you leave. My biggest tip, after picking the right restaurant, is greeting them with a smile, as if you're excited to be there (I actually always am excited). It works for me every-time and you'll 99% of the time get good services with friendly happy wait staff - if YOU are friendly and happy. Also, if the staff aren't initially friendly or happy back - ignore it, it has absolutely nothing to do with you, we've no idea what's going on in their lives, we all have our off days, and more often than not they will soften throughout the evening if you kill them with kindness and return it with good service.

If it's exceptionally bad service and food, and you are already dealing with a senior staff, I just never go back and they never get mentioned. We all know there are plenty of advisor forums you can voice your discontent on and if you must vent feel free, but please leave these places for me to scrutinise and recommend. 

In the meantime:

1) Pick the right restaurant 
2) Walk in with a smile  
3) Be nice 

If you do these tips your dining experience will improve ten fold. :) 

Happy eating! x

For a list of some of the best performing restaurants in Richmond Borough