A question for servers and or restaurant operators

[Uncleromulus]

I would imagine the increasing use of "runners" has added a new twist to all of this. I'm certain that in both of these restaurants, our server had no idea that the apps and entrees had even been served.
And I'm also seing the "group" server approach. Recently at Ruby Tuesday's, our server took our order, and delivered our first drinks. Apps were delivered by a different server. Second drink by a different server. And entrees by yet a third different server!! We really didn't see "our" server again until it was time to ask about dessert and the check!! And these weren't "runners" , but servers who actually were waiting on other tables. And I saw our server delivering food to different tables.. but not ours!!

 

[suzannews]

And I'm also seing the "group" server approach. Recently at Ruby Tuesday's, our server took our order, and delivered our first drinks. Apps were delivered by a different server. Second drink by a different server. And entrees by yet a third different server!! We really didn't see "our" server again until it was time to ask about dessert and the check!! And these weren't "runners" , but servers who actually were waiting on other tables. And I saw our server delivering food to different tables.. but not ours!!

This is called "full hands in, full hands out". Doesn't matter if its your table or not, if the food is ready, you run it.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Unless, of course, you are at V&A.

All the servers (one butler, one maid) work in pairs. There are no busboys or runners. Sometimes (for a group) they will borrow other servers so all people at your table get their food together.

 

[jimmysmommy]

In all my waitressing days, we timed the meal...Put in the dinner order once apps were on the table...Unless the party asks you to hold the dinner order...I didn't have this happen much at the family Italian restaurant I worked at, but it did happen alot at the Country Club...Those people made their before dinner drinks a course in itself!!

 

[Nanajo1]

We were at Coral Reef for dinner. Our appetizers were served within an acceptable timeframe but before we could eat them our entress came out. There wasn't room on the table and we weren't ready to eat them. Our server immediately came over he seemed surprised to see our entress out so soon. He told the runner to take the entrees back. He told us he would reorder our dinners so they would be fresh and not kept under the "lights". Our meal was good thanks to the observant server.