Sometimes you get a waiter that just can’t get over the stumbling block. Words literally trip over each other and contradict themselves. That makes dining a little bit of a challenge and a testimony to how badly you want that cup of coffee. Let me give you a few examples of a simple outing for a cup of coffee and a light dessert.
–”Sure you can look at the menus, but doubt we have much of them.” This led to a long circular course of confusion focusing on what do you have, but what’s this mean, and what about this?
–When we asked if we could order a bowl of berries, the response proved truly elusive. “I guess I could ask for berries, but we have a big bowl of fruit that they may want to send out.”
–We ordered the big bowl of fruit which turned out to be a sherbet cup of Ginsu, razor-thin sliced bites of an assortment of fruits, some of which had more of a winter feel than a truly springtime essence. Yes, there was a strawberry if you count one berry dissected into slivers that encircled the dish! Strawberries have been lush this year and wonderfully priced–not so hard to serve a bowl of berries!
–Taking the order was as confusing as delivering it. There was nothing complex ordered, but the delivery proved elusive: “Who had the tart?”
–Nothing was as complex as the taking of the check. The check was delivered and after several attempts to pick it up, mind you the restaurant was not crowded, we asked if they were closing and if we needed to pay up quickly. “Sadly, someone just showed up so you have at least a half an hour.”
That’s the real takeaway: “Sadly,” he said as in I’m not getting out of here for awhile so take your time.
Maybe it was his delivery or his overall level of confusion. Maybe staff training might make the whole experience easier for him. He was kind; not rude. He was the representative of an enterprise that could not work. Create a menu the staff understands and can deliver. Let the server know what exactly is going on and what needs to be communicated to a guest.
Yes, it is the hospitality industry.
