Should a server sit at your table?
 

I had lunch at Logans Roadhouse today. It was my server's first day on the job and it wasn't going well. When she came to the table to take an order, she sat in one of the two empty seats. It felt odd, like her previous job had been in a strip club. Anyone else experience this?

That's unprofessional and I wouldn't like it, but then again I guess it could depend on the restaurant. Even my friends that have been servers never sat down to take our orders-it just looks bad IMO.

Was she hot? If so, who cares!;)

Did she recognize you? Did you recognize her? :D

I kind of like it if she takes the time to sit and chat, especially if it's not about my order.

I'll invite 'em to have a seat when they're rattling off a long list of specials! Really surprises them! Some do, some don't; but all get a really big smile on their face.....and the service throughout the rest of the meal is outstanding! ;)

I won't be complaining if she was a looker :D

I recall some of the waitresses at Hooters does that all the time... it seems so.... personable :cool: I'd like to help them take a break from all that walkin' in those tight outfits :p

Yeah, it happened to me once at an Applebee's or something like that ... it was initially a little confusing, but there were empty chairs so it didn't really matter in the end. At least she got to take a load off for a minute. :)

An old co-worker who used to work at Outback said that it was required at that time. Doesn't bother me if it's a table but a booth is a little awkward.

It's a bit 1981. Came from the same era that introduced "Hi, my name is *** and I'll be your server."

This is something I notice when travelling to the US in particular. Is there a point of pride about memorising the specials? I can never keep track of them, and would much rather have them written down or chalked up somewhere...

To the OP, I would find it odd, but not particularly objectionable.

Logan's is a casual steak chain. The server was young and attractive. I did not object. It simply felt strange, almost a come-on. She sat next to my co-worker. I'll have to ask his opinion.

I don't think it's a huge faux-pas, but I think it's something that should be avoided.

However, there is one situation where I am fully behind the waiter/waitress sitting down at the table - when there's a group of people who all want seperate checks and he or she has to work out by hand how much everybody owes.

Haven't been to Outback in a while, but I do recall this happening there several times. Since they tended to hire young attractive ladies at the Outback I used to frequent, I kind of enjoyed the booth crashers as well.

I have not been to an Outback since they quit allowing tossing of the spent peanut shells onto the floor. I dont remember them sitting in the booth with the customers.

MisterNice

As I understand it, at Outback they are supposed to sit at your
table to take your order!, asking "may I join you briefly" or the
equivalent before sitting down. Alas, they do not ask "may I serve
you an overcooked to your specifications mediocre piece of
previously frozen beef with some salty crap on it" before doing so.

As far as chains go, Texas Roadhouse has generally better meat
for a generally better price and allows you to throw your peanut
shells on the floor.

I stand corrected. Most of the time 6 of us would go to Outback and actually squeeze into an elevated booth so no room for the order person. Occasionally 1 or of us would eat in the bar area and yes, she would sit down to take the order and test her cheese -covered french fries upsale skills. It appeared to be 8 lb of gooey stuff and served all 2-6 people when ordered.

MisterNice

I experienced it once, and I don't like it any more than I like the bank teller or the supermarket cashier calling me by my first name.

It's just too familiar for my taste.

I was on a bussiness trip, and was eating at the outback for the very first time. The waiter sat on my coat that was on the chair. (I was in a booth):td:

I went into a small frenzy asking what was he doing. He just looked stuned as I told him to get up, and get the manager. I then in a calm manner told the manager how I didn't want the help sitting at my table or on my coat.

I asked him if I was supposed to buy the waiter dinner, because we were such good friends now. he stated that is what we do , and we have never had any complaints. (yea right)

I decided to leave as I wondered what they would do to my food. I have never been back to the outback. :mad: Went to the Texas Road House.^

Yes, your Highness. :D

Lighten up, Francis. :D

OK, I admit, the first one I went to, in Fresno maybe 15 years ago, was
just terrific. Since then, my experience has gone from ehh downward, with
the worst ones in Massachusetts, the ones in Maryland not enormously
better. I wrote this off to expansionitis and have been looking forward with
some trepidation to a similar phenomenon occurring at Texas Roadhouse as
it grows beyond its ability. If you happen to be a shareholder in the parent
of Outback, please be reassured that I have enjoyed my Carrabba's
experiences.

Question: how do you post in that almost illegible blue type?

Wow, you sound just like my late Grandpa. He had such a temper over the littlest things....

Depends on the restaurant, indeed! At a run-of-the-mill chain restaurant it wouldn't look right. But at a finer, more personal restaurant where the host wants to explore your tastes and make appropriate food and wine recommendations (or alterations to menu items ad lib.), and where taking your order becomes a non-superficial conversation instead, the experience can be mind-blowing. Example: Dom's in Boston's North End. It's been around for years, the host sits down with you patiently and helps you customize your meal, you feast and swill, and at the last you and your guests leave mightily fulfilled and cared for.

Every Friday night Mr b1513 and I go out with another couple for dinner, usually to a local Mexican restaurant. The waitress there has gotten to know us because we're there a lot and every so often she'll stand for a long time telling us about what is going on in her life. Last week she hit a deer. We heard every last detail. It makes me crazy, but I'm still polite because she's nice.

ive seen this at plenty of casual places.

seems to me it would be even more common in more rural areas(smaller towns etc), but again its plenty common in DC metro at casual places.

its never bothered me at casual places, whether thats just good timing or they actually try and gauge whether it would be a bother i dont know. so that also makes it hard for me to try and remember if ive seen the same thing at casual places in other areas.

ive certainly never seen it anywhere at a nicer place.

My friend Nicholas and I went to Dom's a couple years ago, after a
long, long hiatus. The guy sat down and (not recognizing us, as neither of
us had been there since his father [?] ran the joint) rather superciliously
gave us a bunch of incredibly palate-dead recommendations. We nodded
politely and ordered what we would have ordered anyhow. The food was
somewhat less than what it had been under Toni-Lee back in the 1970s
when it was the preeminent Italian restaurant in Boston; the rest of the
North End has since caught up and well surpassed it, so we haven't been
again. Terramia (where nobody cozies up to you at your table) is so
much better than Dom's I can't articulate it, and there are now places
nearby that are better still.

I would have reacted the same way. The Server is not an invited part of your party! I've never been to Outback and this gives me a goof reason for not going!

Oh I must have misunderstood. It seems like in all of the posts about Outback this is a normal occurance. Maybe I will try them after all. But if the server decides to make themselves comfy how do you let them know politely that you don't appreciate them joining you?

same here...and I Usually invite them to munch off my plate since they have been working and all...and I sure they get hungry...

I'm not an Outback fan. I think a server has to have a certain personality to sit at your table and avoid awkwardness. When a server sits at my table, my initial reaction is surprise. But if they have the right attitude, I think it can be a really charming way to break down the traditional roles of client and waitron. I almost always like it.

If it is someplace we frequent on a regular basis we don’t mind and sometimes encourage our server if they are not busy. I would not expect this to happen at Bones (http://www.bonesrestaurant.com/) nor The Williamsburg Inn® Regency Room (http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/...ncyDiningRoom/).

the only time I go to a Hooters is when I am travelling on buisiness which means wife is not arouind.....I like to watch the sports there and the food is ok....

Beer is cold though !!!!

Isn't that a little bit like saying "I read PLAYBOY for the articles, columnists, and literary reviews?" ;) :D