Saturday, July 07, 2007

Today's burning question.

Why is it always so freaking hard to get out of a restaurant? Do I really have to sit there for 15 minutes trying desperately to get my servers attention just to get the check?

It used to be if you moved all the plates to the outside of the table, it was a sign you were ready to leave. Not anymore apparently.

You'd think they would want to turn my table over.

5 comments:

  1. Have you seen Microsoft's new surface technology. I think that will help take care of this problem. You'll be able to order and pay your bill from the table and then servers will just bring you the food. It's still a ways away from being implemented, but one of the guys behind Chuck E' Cheese is opening a chain of stores is So. Cal. We already have grocery store self checkout, restaurants are just a few years behind.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes! Now your talking my language.

    But - who do you give the tip to? Because really, we can get robots to deliver the food.

    I'm not anti server - I just tipped one 50% over the 4th of July because she was so good.

    Those times are few and far between.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think the people who bring your food will still expect a tip, except now you should be able to buzz them like you do a flight attendant, when you want your water refilled. I'm not sure how popular it will be because the cost savings have to pay for the technology, but it'd be better as a consumer.

    I used to wait tables and one of the first things they taught me was to put down the check with the meal at lunch, but give the check after the meal for dinner. People tend to be in a hurry during lunch and the last thing you want as a waiter is to miss out on a good tip because you took too long getting them out the door.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Why don't you ask over at http://www.waiterrant.net/ - he's doing an 'ask the waiter' thing lately :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I feel uncomfortable about buzzing servers to my table. Lets face it.. I don't want to do anything that makes them want to spit in my food. The buzzing seems like prime fodder for that. I'm a coward when it comes to restaurants. I know the servers have all the power in the world over me. But I still want my f-ing check.

    ReplyDelete