| By :
Mark Etinger
I consider myself somewhat of a foodie. I love going to different restaurants and trying new cuisine. I don't have any skills in the culinary arts but I think I know a good restaurant when I see one. Everything needs to be perfect, and not just the food. Of course the food is the number one priority, but there are several factors that differentiate an okay restaurant from a superb one. Atmosphere is definitely one of those factors, but what really matters to me is quality service. I think we all know what it's like to experience poor customer service, and not just in restaurants but in stores as well. You feel neglected and like your business does not matter. When at a restaurant, you just want to eat something delicious. You shouldn't have to feel like a bother or a nuisance when you ask your waiter the specials again or if you could get a different vegetable with your meal. But you do because the waiter gives a long sigh and rolls his eyes. He can't believe you had the nerve to make a special request because this means he has to jot down another note on the guest check presenter. And watch out if the chef screws up your order. Somehow it magically becomes your fault and you receive even more attitude when you ask for your meal to be corrected. All these incidences just make the whole experience an ordeal rather than a pleasure. Even if the food ended up being delicious, you wouldn't be inclined to go back there. You'd ask for the guest check presenter before dessert is even offered. The restaurant could be rated five stars, your drinks served to you on leather coasters, and the chef a real Parisian, but it won't matter to you (and it doesn't to me) if the service was terrible. Equally as bad as a waiter full of gall is one who is completely inattentive. Just getting him to take your drink order turns into a big hullabaloo. You can forget about him checking up on you mid meal to make sure everything is alright. No second drink for you or a new napkin. When you're finally ready to flee this disaster, you'll wait an eternity for the guest check presenter. Then you'll wait even longer to hand it back to him and get change. With all these little annoyances, it's not hard to see why good customer service can sometimes trump the food. There are many restaurants that don't have the greatest food, but at least I know when I go there I'll be greeted with a warm smile and service that outshines even the best of restaurants.
|
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.nextlevelarticles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
