How Waiters Read Your Table

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 81364.html

Called "having eyes" for a table, or "feeling" or "reading" the table by restaurant workers, it's how the best waiters know what type of service you prefer before you tell them. From fine dining to inexpensive chains, restaurants are working to make service more individualized as the standard script ('I'm so-and-so and I will be your server tonight") is sounding dated.

Justin, I read this last night. A million years ago, I spent a decade waiting tables. I saw a lot of truth in this article. Good servers do develop a Sixth Sense about the clientele. I really liked the idea of calling it "reading the table".

Sadly, there are a lot of servers out there who will apparently never have a clue about these things.

I wish more restaurants would do something like Applebee's is doing. I haven't been into an Applebee's to see how it's executed, but having something that makes it clear I'm ready to get my check and go would be really nice when I have my 6 month old with me! I can tell when he's getting ready to cross the border from kinda bored and getting fussy to the terrifying nuclear meltdown stage and I've had far too many servers lately leave us in check limbo where one of us has to leave while the other waits on the check. That's a serious tip reduction if it could have been prevented by getting us our check in a timely manner.

Chi Chi's did a check back check down at lunch time to allow people to pay early. Otherwise I think it would be up to the customer to tell a server that you won't be needing anything else and they can bring the check when they have a chance. And again, we prefer the bar so we don't usually have that issue.
Dont forget last Friday trolley hop tomorrow...Frankfort Avenue.

Chili's has put tabletop touchscreen kiosks with card readers on all the tables. In addition to being able to read the news and play games on them, you can also view and pay for your bill right there without having to wait for the server to bring a check.

I am surprised that at least the busy chain restaurants in the US haven't adopted to portable credit card machines that are widely used in Europe. It seems to be a real time saver for a waiters that normally have to make so many round trips to the register.

Chili's has put tabletop touchscreen kiosks with card readers on all the tables. In addition to being able to read the news and play games on them, you can also view and pay for your bill right there without having to wait for the server to bring a check.

Just what I want while I'm trying to enjoy my food and conversation. thanks for the warning, Jeff. I 'm sure some people love it, but in our case we will avoid it like the plague with our 7 year old....

Deb

Reading the table is the foundation of excellent service. You can't treat everyone the same. Really good servers do this from experience. It seems like a good idea to me to try and quantify the principles and use it to train newbies.