Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Chatty or Chaste? Is a talkative waitress better, or one who is reserved and just delivers the food?

December 5, 2010 by  
Filed under Restaurant Humor

Kayle M asked:

I am a waitress at a casual fine dining restaurant. We have a lot of repeat clientelle with whom I’m familiar, but we also consistently get a lot of new faces. I’m always friendly and chatty with the people I have served before, as well as new customers.

I was wondering if you think that a waitress who talks to the table and tries to incite a little humor is better, or one who is quiet, leaves the table to their own conversations is better?

Or at the very least, when dining out which do you prefer?

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Comments

12 Responses to “Chatty or Chaste? Is a talkative waitress better, or one who is reserved and just delivers the food?”
  1. I think it is nice when staff take the time out to speak to you when you go into a restaurant, there are to many waitress who will not speak or welcome you, and I think this is very bad, I love people who will talk to me even if I have never been there before it makes you feel so at home, so keep up the good work girl !.

  2. shoechefs says:

    I also work casual fine dining.

    I have found that it really depends on the table. But always just a quick quip, and not an entire conversation. I don’t feel that they are there to have dinner with me or they would’ve invited me.

    Personally when dining out, I like a quiet server, I don’t have much oppurtunity to be with my husband, so I want to visit with him. I have been known to tell servers just that if they start telling me their life story….

  3. I’d go for a middle ground, a cross between the two. I like someone who’s a bit chatty at first, but then leaves us alone except for asking “Is everything alright?” or “Would you like a refill?” and then leaving us to talk. But always said with a smile, not like all of a sudden we’ve become a burden.

  4. When I go into a restaurant I have never been in before, my preference is for a server who greets you, takes your order when you are ready, answers any questions about the menu, and then goes to get your food. The only conversation I want after that is checking once whether everything was OK. I don’t need a stranger to wander by and start a discussion about “How about them Sox?” when I am sitting there chewing my food or when I am in a private conversation. If I need a new fork or a drink refill that is usually obvious and can be delivered without having to chat about it.

    If it is a place we go to often and are recognized, then some talking is OK but we are really there to eat not meet with our friend the waitress.

  5. Yes, I like it when my waiter/waitress is more personable. I always leave a better tip for that type of service. It makes me feel that you actually like me and,you like your job. I feel like you enjoy being there so therefore you will do a better job!

  6. I’m a customer who likes a chatty welcoming server who makes me comfortable when she arrives at my table.

  7. Diners want to enjoy their time out. A waiter(ess) that can help accentuate the DINERS good time will always get the very best tip.

    A friendly, genuine waiter(ess) that provides quality service and goes the extra mile to show me that he/she wants me to enjoy my visit will always get a 50% or greater tip (MY own personal rule).

    Personally, I think comments like: “You two look really good together”, or “You guys have fun and let me know if there is ANYthing you need” go a really long way.

  8. If I am at a restaurant I frequent often I enjoy a SMALL conversation with a waitress/waiter with whom I’m familiar. Otherwise, I like a pleasant greeting, good food, and conversation with the people I came with.

  9. I really prefer someone that is polite first and foremost. I like when the server is smiling, friendly, and can take a joke. A sense of humor never hurt anyone. But, at the same time, I think that there is a very fine line. I can’t stand when they are too friendly and constantly coming over to the table. I especially hate it when the waiter/waitress sits at the booth with me and put their leg up on the chair/ booth.

  10. I would rather have nice polite waitress and some one who does a good job. They can talk if they want.

  11. I’D RATHER HAVE A SERVER SEEM INTERESTED THAN NOT INTERESTED. THOSE ARE THE ONES WE LEAVE FAT TIPS TO.

  12. Chatty . . . I consider my waitresses my friends . . . and I like to talk to my friends!

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