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Blog
What Servers Should Never Do
November 2, 2009
I would have posted this note as soon as I spotted Bruce Buschel's "dont's" list on his blog "The Art of Running a Small Business," but I didn't take my computer to Denver last week, where a bunch of editors, operators and sponsors gathered for our annual conference, Chain Leader Live.
It was a good one, by the way, with presentations ranging from Granite City Brewery CEO Steve Wagenheim on cost-cutting tactics to Denver Mayor and former operator John Hickenlooper, who reminisced about opening his first restaurant (a brewpub) 20 years ago.
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| See numbers 12 and 13. |
In fact, it may have been the best meeting yet given the downturn's impact on restaurants and the willingness of operators to share with attendees what they've been doing to keep sales and profits strong, and employees in place.
Anyway, I didn't have a computer on October 29 and missed Buchel's post titled "One Hundred Things Restaurant Staffers Should Never Do (Part 1)." Part 2 is the second 50. Stay tuned.
You'll first want to scan the list for behaviors your employees may exhibit--and then to wonder at neophyte Bruschel's audacity. After reading the misbehaviors below or the entire list (the link is above), tell me whether Buschel is on track. Sure, some items (like #12 ) are obvious no-no's, but others (#42) are iffy at best:
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9. Do not recite the specials too fast or robotically or dramatically. It is not a soliloquy. This is not an audition. 10. Do not inject your personal favorites when explaining the specials. 11. Do not hustle the lobsters. That is, do not say, “We only have two lobsters left.” Even if there are only two lobsters left. 12. Do not touch the rim of a water glass. Or any other glass. 13. Handle wine glasses by their stems and silverware by the handles. |
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41. Saying, “No problem” is a problem. It has a tone of insincerity or sarcasm. “My pleasure” or “You’re welcome” will do. 42. Do not compliment a guest’s attire or hairdo or makeup. You are insulting someone else. 43. Never mention what your favorite dessert is. It’s irrelevant. 44. Do not discuss your own eating habits, be you vegan or lactose intolerant or diabetic. |
Posted by David Farkas on November 2, 2009 | Comments (1)
Reader Comments
at 11/6/2009 2:55:35 PM, Harold Paxton commented:
Thanks for the link. I think number one is probably one of the most important things on the list. I don't get the one about not announcing your name. I often want to know the name of the server. But I am a bit a of people person. Overall it's a pretty good list.