How long do you wait to be served?

Lunar_Eclipse

Two hours to receive the main course from food ordering.

This was last week, at an Italian restaurant at a 5* resort overseas! We did have a chat to the Manager about the speed of service. The food was fantastic, but they didn't have the staff or kitchen facilities to cope with the bookings (which they shouldn't have taken.)

victory

We went to an italian restaurant by a famous chef and the waitresses were chatting amongst themselves, we sat down, no acknowledgement, we waited, nothing so I got up and left, as we did one of the waitresses dashed over and asked why? we told her, she just listened and almost shrugged , very incompetent service, would never go there again:eek:

aileth

victory wrote: »

We went to an italian restaurant by a famous chef and the waitresses were chatting amongst themselves, we sat down, no acknowledgement, we waited, nothing so I got up and left, as we did one of the waitresses dashed over and asked why? we told her, she just listened and almost shrugged , very incompetent service, would never go there again:eek:

If it's the same italian restaurant chain by the same chef, there is one in my home city and it's staffed by no one older than 17 and the service is renowned for being dreadful! A lot of these chain places seem to have the same problems at lots of branches, which makes you think that the problem lies higher up rather than just a bad day for the staff.

benjus

There is a real problem with restaurant service in this country. It's not just chains, either. I eat out quite a lot in London, usually in independent restaurants, and find plenty of bad/indifferent service.

I think it's a nice bonus if the waiter/waitress is friendly, but above all I want them to be efficient. I'm not bothered if they are a bit curt as long as they can get the job done quickly and without errors. They seem to understand this on the continent...

BugglyB

benjus wrote: »

There is a real problem with restaurant service in this country. It's not just chains, either. I eat out quite a lot in London, usually in independent restaurants, and find plenty of bad/indifferent service.

I think it's a nice bonus if the waiter/waitress is friendly, but above all I want them to be efficient. I'm not bothered if they are a bit curt as long as they can get the job done quickly and without errors. They seem to understand this on the continent...

The worst is kneeling by the table - 'y'alright there guys what can I get ya'. Not writing down your order, gettting it all wrong, forgetting the extra side dish and the water, then still expecting a tip because they've been 'friendly'.

I'm with you - I dont need a mate, I just want quick and efficient service.

Poppy9

Four of us went to a Brains restaurant on a busy Saturday night.

We were seated quite quite quickly but waited 20 minutes before our drinks order was taken. The whole meal was a shambles with very slow, disinterested service, and the dish DD and myself had was downright awful and oneof the vegetable sides wasn't even cooked! I did try to complain at the time but couldn't get the waitresses attention.

In the end OH went to the bar and asked for bill. He wanted to complain but the person on the bar wasn't interested.

I sent an email later outlining my complaint and received a phone call a week later from the new manager. He apologised for the poor service/food etc. said he had reviewed the menu (I had been specific about my complaints) and invited us back for a free meal for four with drinks. We did go back and the service was excellent and the food so much nicer:T:T:T Oh and it was all free:D

Stephb1986_2

Sounds like Frankie and Benny's I've been to 3 different ones and each time the service is poor think I'm not going to them anymore. Much prefer TGI Fridays.

I've waited an hour before now then I just get up and leave.

Steph xx

Torry_Quine

One time I had gone to a restaurant and waited and waited. Several staff free and empty tables but no-one came near us so walked out. E-mailed to complain and got vouchers in excess of what we would spent! Went to the local one and had fantastic service and have gone back. I often think you can tell a lot about somewhere by how they resppond to complaints.

Georgiegirl256

We must be an exception by the sounds of it, we went to a Frankie and Benny's in Newcastle, and service was both prompt and polite, it was our first time in a F&B's, and we loved it....mmmm I could just eat one of their hotdogs right now!

LEJC

Torry_Quine wrote: »

I often think you can tell a lot about somewhere by how they resppond to complaints.

this is so very true...and in fairness the manager was very quick to suggest that we could leave without paying the bill...however as the whole reason for visiting centred around feeding us prior to our cinema visit I was left feeling a little hungry having only had 2 chicken strips for a starter....and not eaten beforehand.

The obvious solution would have been to have the main dish recooked or order something else but by that point we had been in the resturant well over an hour and we didnt want to run the risk of missing the film too!

Clearly there were issues at the resturant last night and I accept that nowhere gets it right everytime, we have eaten at that chain,although not that specific branch quite a few times and usually the quality has been at least good, last night it was clearly not one of the better visits

The bacon sandwich when I got home was however delicious....and the bonus was OH and son cooked it,and washed up....result!