It’s been a little over a year since I decided to step down as the lead dining critic at D Magazine. I still write a few reviews, but, for the most part, my outings to restaurants now are social. It’s been a difficult transition. I’ve had to reprogram my brain and focus on my friends instead of the menu, service, price, and overall experience of the meal. I now dine out like a real person.
The reprograming process has been difficult. As a critic, I viewed the negative aspects of the dining experience (particularly bad service) as “good copy.” I always weighed service twice more than the food. Service can make or break a night out. When we dine out, we want to be served, and we want to be treated with respect. So if a server failed or excelled during a review diner, I didn’t take their actions personally, I ticked it off as words to fill my report.
A couple of weeks ago, I met a friend I haven’t seen in ages at a swanky uptown restaurant. She and some friends of ours have had some health issues. Our conversation was extremely personal and serious until the servers attacked our table with military precision. The staff was trained to a fault. They hit at regular intervals and busted into our discussion like robots.
After the fourth interruption, I said something like we need a few minutes and I’ll let you know when we’re ready to order. The reply, “No problem. Take your time.” I can’t tell you what 18 years of hearing that from a server has done to my brain, but I’ll save that for another post.
A few minutes later, I spied the server as she approached our table again. My brain clicked to war mode, and I silently challenged her to a duel. I kept talking as she went through the specials. She did not stop. My friend and I locked eyes and continued our chat. The server completed her duty of delivering the appropriate information and moved away from the table as if we were not there. She’d done her job. The manager roaming the floor was pleased. We were pissed.
When the check arrived, we felt used. The bill was well over $100 per person. The tip close to $45. As soon as we stood up to leave, the bussers hit the table to reset.
I’ve never said anything to a server to alter their method of service. Would you mind telling me how you deal with these monsters robots?
