One of the questions that is never truly addressed is this, "what really constitutes complete, proper, good old C grade customer service?" Personally, I expect the staff to be business like but pleasant. Take my food and drink order. Bring the order and verify it is correct before withdrawing. Make at least one check mid-meal to see if we require anything else. Finally, observe when we are finished and bring us the correct bill and follow the restaurants payment protocol. Worse might include rudeness, wrong order, wanting to be overly friendly, or wanting to tell us about their day, and my pet peeve, after ignoring us until we are ready to send out a search party for the server, they show up with fresh drinks that you didn't order just so you will think they were paying attention.
And if they earned a good, solid C, they need do no more. Being mildly attentive (warming your coffee, for example) but not intrusive is good. Too much attention (hovering over you) is intrusive and annoying.
Outstanding customer service? Remember, this is normal average waiter/waitress. Seriously, what is there for them to do in a restaurant? Heinrich maneuver if I start choking, wash my car while I'm eating, or donate a kidney if mine should fail while I'm at their restaurant. Really, "outstanding" service! What can it possibly be in your neighborhood Bob Evans or Chili's?
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