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What makes a perfect waiter?

Date Posted: 04-01-2008

Welcome to the first blog topic of 2008. We’re kicking the year off by discussing the linchpin of a restaurant, the keystone of dining, the lord of the napkin rings – the waiter. What makes one astounding or abysmal? What qualities should the perfect waiter display? And why is it so hard to find a really great waiter? All we want is someone who is friendly but not insincere, knows what we want when we’re not sure ourselves, is always there when we want them and invisible the rest of the time, knows the detailed ingredients and preparation involved in each dish, can confidently wine-match every menu item, is able to keep their hair and fingers out of the food, and can put a coffee down without spilling half of it into the saucer (thereby drenching the complimentary biscotti). On second thought perhaps that is a lot to ask… We’ve all experienced good and bad service when eating out, so what do you think makes or breaks a waiter?

Posted by: de Groots.

 

manu said...

hello sarah how r u? happy new year to you
anyway i think the service with care,passion for what they serving how they serving,timing control on service,explain skills,wellcome skills,quality control.
i think it's very good feeling that be served by professional waiter staff,it make everything diffrence and it changes whole your night when you dine out.

19-01-2008

ROCKINDOC said...

A simple comment/question during the 'initial encounter' - "Is there anything I can help you with?" - can be reassuring, with hopefully the skills mentioned previously to back him/her up!!!!

JohnG

22-01-2008

Caterina Kirwan said...

If the Waiter/Waitress remembers to just treat the customer/s the way they, the waiter/Waitress, would want to be treated, we can always be reassured of good service.
A smile is the most important initial step to making your customers feel comfortable.
CateZ
19.2.08

19-02-2008

Jackie McMillan said...

I think Justin Wydeman (ex-Pello) now at Gazebo Wine Bar is my idea of a perfect waiter. Warm, friendly, handsome - and check out his knowledge on wine pairings, and the menu. I have never been recommended to go to a restaurant because of a handsome waiter who knows his stuff before, but the lady I met at Le Pelican was correct in doing so when she recommended Pello because of him. Not only did he do his job well, he managed to enhance the food/wine experience, without going overboard and being too attentive. It's a fine line we expect them to walk!

11-03-2008

Arriarne Kemp-Bishop said...

We had an experience with a perfect waitress just the other night, at The Press Club. She was polite, friendly, proficient and helpful. She whowed the utmost professionalism with an underlying warmpth - and you could tell she really was enjoying her role. She knew the menu back-to-front and could explain the minutiae of every single (sometimes complex) accompaniment, side dish and sauce - not to mention having the specials absolutely down pat. She took her time, and was happy to explain the unique traditions of modern and traditional Greek dining as we made our way through a wonderful degustation meal. She helped us with our wine selections and was particularly knowledgeable about the Greek wines she was matching to our meals. And she was there, but not in-your face. I think she had all the elemnts of the perfect waitress!

13-03-2008

marion matthews said...

A great experience a few weeks ago at marque IV in hobart. Fairly pricey restaurant but divine food and the night was enhanced by our fab waiter. Tall well presented, and knowledgable. He was very helpful with food and wine pairings and attentive without being over the top. A really enjoyable night for our last night of our tassie trip.

15-05-2008

Harry Manequin said...

a good waiter knows what not to say. a good waiter knows when not to be there. a good waiter doesnt take shit from anyone. a good waiter is proud enough not to care about the tip.

10-05-2009

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