sleepydog25
Been here awhile
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 8,470
All the posts on here have made me realize that each person likely follows a different set of criteria when dining out. Further, the criteria likely change depending on the type of restaurant you visit. With that in mind, here are my criteria. Can you think of any others and, if so, why is it important to you? This includes any restaurant you patronize, not just those at WDW.
Table Service (buffet)
1. Warm food should be warm; cold food should be cold
2. Server should greet you quickly and be friendly
3. Shouldn't have to wait on plates when you get to the buffet
4. Plentiful supply of whatever food item you're dishing (nothing worst than
getting the dregs of a pan)
5. If server dispenses the drinks, then you should have prompt refills
6. Dishes cleared in a reasonable amount of time (e.g., before you arrive
back at the table with another plate)
7. Check arriving within a few minutes of being requested and promptly
settled
Table Service (non-buffet)
Items 1 and 2 above plus. . .
3. Drinks refilled in timely manner, especially on hot day
4. Dishes cleared before bringing out next course
5. Knowledge of the menu on the server's part with smart & honest
suggestions if asked. Same goes for wine list.
6. Decent memory. I shouldn't have to repeatedly ask for that extra butter
7. Meals cooked as advertised on menu and delivered as requested
8. Prompt attention to check when requested
9. If requesting non-smoking section, not seated right next to table in
smoking section
Table Service (upscale)
All the immediately above criteria plus. . .
1. Nicer ambience than average sit down restaurant
2. Better presentation of food (hey, I know it's a small thing, but if you're
paying big bucks, at least make it look pretty!
)
3. Quality wine list (beer if you're a beer person)
4. Some unique menu items not available at typical TS restaurant
5. Excellent customer service which usually means more back up help for
the servers; accomodating simple requests such as dressing on the side,
substituting veggies for baked potato, etc.
6. Nicer dinnerware/flatware
7. Calm. Doesn't necessarily have to be quiet, but not hectic either
8. Kind greeting by host/hostess upon arriving and leaving
I know I've missed a few, but these are the biggies to me. I purposefully avoided cost-value ratio since that is even more subjective than my other criteria admittedly are. (I hate to pay what I consider high buffet prices at some eateries as I'm not a big eater. On the other hand, paying a premium for a perfectly cooked filet delivered by an exceptional server in a romantic atmosphere is well worth the cost.) So, what sayest thou, oh posters of the DIS?
Table Service (buffet)
1. Warm food should be warm; cold food should be cold
2. Server should greet you quickly and be friendly
3. Shouldn't have to wait on plates when you get to the buffet
4. Plentiful supply of whatever food item you're dishing (nothing worst than
getting the dregs of a pan)
5. If server dispenses the drinks, then you should have prompt refills
6. Dishes cleared in a reasonable amount of time (e.g., before you arrive
back at the table with another plate)
7. Check arriving within a few minutes of being requested and promptly
settled
Table Service (non-buffet)
Items 1 and 2 above plus. . .
3. Drinks refilled in timely manner, especially on hot day
4. Dishes cleared before bringing out next course
5. Knowledge of the menu on the server's part with smart & honest
suggestions if asked. Same goes for wine list.
6. Decent memory. I shouldn't have to repeatedly ask for that extra butter
7. Meals cooked as advertised on menu and delivered as requested
8. Prompt attention to check when requested
9. If requesting non-smoking section, not seated right next to table in
smoking section
Table Service (upscale)
All the immediately above criteria plus. . .
1. Nicer ambience than average sit down restaurant
2. Better presentation of food (hey, I know it's a small thing, but if you're
paying big bucks, at least make it look pretty!
)3. Quality wine list (beer if you're a beer person)
4. Some unique menu items not available at typical TS restaurant
5. Excellent customer service which usually means more back up help for
the servers; accomodating simple requests such as dressing on the side,
substituting veggies for baked potato, etc.
6. Nicer dinnerware/flatware
7. Calm. Doesn't necessarily have to be quiet, but not hectic either
8. Kind greeting by host/hostess upon arriving and leaving
I know I've missed a few, but these are the biggies to me. I purposefully avoided cost-value ratio since that is even more subjective than my other criteria admittedly are. (I hate to pay what I consider high buffet prices at some eateries as I'm not a big eater. On the other hand, paying a premium for a perfectly cooked filet delivered by an exceptional server in a romantic atmosphere is well worth the cost.) So, what sayest thou, oh posters of the DIS?
