3 Steps to Better Service

As you already know, the service you experience when eating out is far more important than the food.

Here's the problem: sometimes the service isn't any good. In fact sometimes it's pathetic and irritating. You know it's really bad when you spend more time talking with your date/friend/lover about the server over dinner than anything else.

In times like these when you're "selectively" going out more than ever before, you can't afford to have a bad experience. It's a waste of your money and your time.

Below are 3 simple steps you can take to make sure you have amazing service every time you go out.

1. Anticipate: Before you visit any restaurant - set your expectations. You're expectations might change depending on whether you're visiting a fast food restaurant, fast casual or a casual dining restaurant like Olive Garden. Here, your expectation is that you will have prompt, friendly service, and your order will come out right. You also have to anticipate when the best time to visit a restaurant is. It's likely that you will get better service at 5:30pm on a Saturday night than at 7:30pm (when they're on an hour wait and the servers are as busy as mad men.). The opposite is true for some place like Panera. You're going to get far better service at 1:30pm in the afternoon than you would at 11:55am when the line is out the door. So, anticipate the best time to go and you're already one step ahead.

2. Communicate: The server's job isn't to read your mind. You have to tell them what you want, how you want it and when you want it....Communicate your Expectations! I have found that by involving the server in the over all dining experience it's likely they will pay more attention to you, listen to your requests and deliver. By communicating with them and empowering them, no longer are they just an innocent by stander who happens to be taking your order - now they are a part of your meal and they care about your experience. It begins though, with communicating what you want. Don't be afraid! If you want EXTRA ice with your tea - TELL THEM! If you want a drink to go - TELL THEM! If you want no lettuce, tomato, and extra cheese on your burger - TELL THEM. Clearly explaining what you want is half the battle.

3. Appreciate: No one likes working an 8 hour shift with no appreciation. If your server meets your expectations, thank them. If they go beyond what you asked for, thank them even more. Not only will they appreciate you doing this - it also further binds them into your dining experience.

That's it: Anticipate, Communicate and Appreciate. Easy to say, easy to remember, easy to do - and it delivers powerful results.

Next time you go out Anticipate how you want the experience to go and plan accordingly. Once you arrive, Communicate to the server clearly what you're expecting and what you want (in a nice way of course). Appreciate and thank the server while engaging them in the overall experience.

These three things combined will give you Amazing Service each and every time.

Guaranteed.