Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Seating and Wait times

Ok! So, this is a subject matter that I am convinced the average restaurant going person just does not pay attention too. 
First of all, let’s cover seating in a restaurant. 
What most of you may not understand or pay attention to, is the day of the week and how many servers a particular restaurant has working that evening.
In a typical restaurant, a server on a day shift is given a 5 table station and at night the station usually consists of 4 tables. 
When a host/hostess seats you, there IS a rhyme and a reason for where they put you. This is typically based  on the number of people in your party, the strength of the server AND the location of the particular section that that server is in, in the restaurant.
On any given day/night of the week, there are a certain number of servers working. You can be assured as a customer, that the only times that the ENTIRE restaurant is being utilized is Friday-Saturday. Any other day/night there are limited servers on the floor. This applies to both day to evening shifts as well. 
Typically, there will be fewer servers on during the day versus the night.
Now you might ask, What does all this mean?
Well, quite simply, if you want GOOD to GREAT service, you will sit where your host/hostess seats you. This will optimize your experience. When you ask to be sat ‘out of the way’ or ‘in a quiet corner’, you have honestly gone to the WRONG restaurant for your intended experience.
That is not meant to be harsh. We are a business that relies on all the same things that any other does. PROFIT. Let me be honest, servers want to make money, just like anyone else. We rely EXPRESSLY on the tips we receive, to pay our bills. SO WE WANT TO DO WELL FOR YOU!!
LET ME REPEAT
FROM A SERVERS POINT OF VIEW:
WE WANT TO GIVE YOU EXCELLENT SERVICE!!!!! 
The way to make this happen is to work within the confines of what that particular restaurant provides!!
Will this happen everywhere you go? Absolutely not. But here’s the thing….. YOU as the consumer, HAS to be willing to accept the pitfalls that goes with NOT adhering to that particular restaurants business model. 
NEWS FLASH!!! YOU will not get EVERY type of experience you’re looking for in EVERY restaurant you go to. Would you expect McDonald’s to provide you with the perfect ‘date’ experience? Probably not! Would you expect Olive Garden to provide you with a ‘kid friendly’ experience every time you go? I doubt it.

WOW, that was a LOT, just about where you can be sat in terms of location in the restaurant!!!
What happens when you have to wait? Well, lets start with WHY you have to wait! Refering back to what I’ve talked about earlier in this post; There are usually a limited number of servers on the floor. 
When you DO ask for ‘special seating’ if will likely take a bit longer to be waited on, based on just that alone. 

HERE IS THE BIGGEST PIECE OF THE PUZZLE!

A wait, in a restaurant, is NOT…… I repeat NOT an exact science. There are MANY factors that go into the time that is quoted you. The most significant of which is and ESTIMATION of what the current customers in the establishment are at. For example: How many tables still have menus on the table. How many tables are still eating their entrees. How many tables have finished or are close to finishing their entrees. How many tables are eating desserts. How many tables are just sitting and relaxing after breakfast/lunch/dinner. 
And THEN you get into the important questions. What shift is it? How many servers are on? Is it the start/middle/end of a shift? 

NONE of this is the same from day to day, from shift to shift, or from week to week!!! There is a certain amount of patience that is REQUIRED and I even dare say DEMANDED, in order for YOU to receive the service you want. 

So please, when you go out to eat…. be AWARE of what is going on around you. PLEASE plan certain types of visits to restaurants accordingly. If you have a date, plan it out. If its a lunch with co-workers, think about it. If you need to have a ‘power lunch’ with a client, understand where you are going! 

NOTHING is the restaurant industry is the same from day to day. And though you might not think that affects YOU, Joe Q. Comsumer, it does. At least if you are expecting a certain level of service. 

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