Originally Posted by
exerda
IMHO, good service manages pacing properly. They don't rush you; they don't descend like vultures to clear the table and immediately bring out the next dish... but they also don't leave you twiddling thumbs for long periods.
Well put. I expect a Michelin-starred restaurant to be attentive to the pace the diner sets. If the diner wants a slow, leisurely meal, the server should notice this by the diner's behavior and adjust. If I finish my plate quickly and am looking around the room bored, they should adjust to that as well. Also, if I'm in a hurry, I tell the waiter at the beginning -- "We would like to be finished by 8:00 as we have theater tickets this evening" for example.