Be A Good Customer

If you’re dining at a good restaurant, the fact of the matter is you’re probably going to have a good experience no matter what kind of customer you are. However, given the fact that your meal goes through a lot of people to get to you, it’s still a good idea to be a kind and gracious customer. Servers, hosts and the chefs from culinary academy all appreciate a customer who appreciates them. Here are tips to be a customer that staff loves to serve:

Do

Understand that people make mistakes sometimes: The server takes your order, then passes it along to the chefs, who then pass the dish back to the server or food runner. There’s a lot of communication involved and sometimes, there may be a miscommunication. If your order is wrong, believe that the staff will do everything in their power to correct it and possibly even compensate you for it.

Know what you’re ordering: If you have questions, ask your server. That’s what he or she is there for. While a restaurant will usually take something back and make you something new if you really just don’t like it, it’s easier for you and the entire staff if you ask what the sauce tastes like before ordering it.

Tip appropriately: Your server is doing his or her best to give you a good dining experience. Let him or her know it’s appreciated. Standard protocol is 15 to 20 percent of the bill, and if you use a coupon, tip on the original amount rather than the lowered price.

Don’t

Shoot the messenger: If you want to use an expired coupon and the server is telling you that you can’t, don’t get upset with the server. Chances are, the rules against using expired coupons came from above, and your sever is just following the rules. Being rude isn’t going to cause you to get your way, as the server will be even less likely to break the rules for someone who isn’t being courteous about it.

Snap your fingers or whistle for your server: Your servers are humans, not animals. A rule of thumb is to never try getting their attention in the same way you’d call a dog over to you. A polite wave and smile is all it takes to get a server’s attention if you need him or her to your table right away.