Buzz
Displaying etiquette and sophistication at a dining establishment commences with your interaction with the waitstaff. Practices may differ, but the general principle is to signal discreetly for assistance.
Steps to Follow
Gently raise your hand, refraining from waving. Despite being occupied, most waiters will attend to you in due time. Exercise patience in crowded restaurants as servers may have multiple tables to manage.
Communicate with your waiter respectfully. Maintain control over your tone and demeanor, avoiding a commanding or patronizing manner of speech. Never resort to shouting or snapping your fingers to attract attention.
Establish visual contact with your server.
Strive to maintain a courteous demeanor consistently. If your server seems preoccupied, exercise patience as they may be juggling numerous tasks and feeling overwhelmed.
Understand that dissatisfaction with the taste of the food does not necessarily reflect on the server; while it's unusual for chilled food to be the server's fault, exceptions can occur.
Avoid actions that might frustrate your server and result in slower service.
- Reversing your decision on dishes after placing an order
- Indecisiveness after prompting the server to take the order, leaving them waiting for 10 minutes
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Bothering other staff or patrons
- Proposing romantic advances to your server
- Gossiping about your server, especially when they're within earshot
- Requesting separate checks after receiving the bill or ordering dessert post-bill
- Repeatedly summoning the server to take your order
Physically contacting any server to demand attention is highly inappropriate. Always refrain from touching your server!
Exhibit proper etiquette upon the arrival of your waiter, especially when dining with a large group; ignoring them is highly impolite.
Pointers
- Educate your children about refraining from snapping fingers or loudly calling out to waitstaff; such behavior is not endearing.
- Clearly communicate any special orders to ensure the waiter understands; specify preferences like well-done steak as waiters cannot intuit your preferences.
- If you encounter exceptionally poor service, address your concerns with the restaurant manager rather than the waiter; it yields better results.
Cautions
- Avoid using terms like 'Garçon' or 'Niño' (both meaning 'boy' in French and Spanish, respectively) or similar nicknames; such attempts at humor are inappropriate, particularly when waitstaff are busy.
- Refrain from shouting or standing up at your table to attract the waiter's attention; it's impolite! Additionally, don't ask for the waiter's name solely to shout it across the room.
- Do not send family members, especially children, to search for the waiter; it can be hazardous in a bustling restaurant environment.
- Avoid inventing cutesy nicknames for waitstaff; they do not appreciate it.
