Before You Get Mad at the Waiter for Slow Service, Consider These 5 Things
Is the service actually slow or are you just hangry?
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Have you ever eaten in a restaurant and wondered what’s taking so long? Slow service can be exasperating, especially when you’re hangry. That’s the combination of hunger and anger that makes us irrational and moody but can dissolve into nothingness after a single bite of a Cheddar Bay Biscuit.
When we’re on the verge of physical pangs, time seems to move as slowly as a geriatric sloth riding on a molasses covered glacier. And before you complain about the 45-minute wait for your food, please know that pretty much everything you do in a restaurant is timestamped, so don’t quote times unless you’re sure of them. Your server will know if you’re exaggerating. It’s always easy to assume that slow service is their fault, but that’s not always the case.
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The whole dining room filled up at once
Sometimes it’s slow because everyone came into the restaurant at once and the staff is struggling to keep up. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve worked a shift where the restaurant overflows within 10 minutes. This was particularly problematic when I worked in Times Square and the entire place would fill up between 6:45 and 7:00 because everyone had a show to see at 8:00. No amount of preparation can handle an onslaught of 100 people that all arrive within 10 minutes of each other. If it’s crowded, it’s going to take longer. It’s no different than the traffic on a freeway.
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One person ordered a dish that takes longer
Sometimes the long wait for your food is because of what you ordered and how many people are in your party. A rare burger cooks a lot quicker than a well-done one and a cold salad can be prepared even faster than a rare burger. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link and a six-top is only as fast as the one item that takes the longest to prepare. Five people might have entrees that can be done in half the time as something else, but all six items are going to come out at the same time. Don’t blame the kitchen, blame that one friend who insists their steak be cooked very, very well done.
"Don’t blame the kitchen, blame that one friend who insists their steak be cooked very, very well done. "
Darron Cardosa
Drinks take time, too
It’s not just the food that can slow down service, drinks can too. Ordering iced tea is quick because there’s probably a pitcher of it ready to be poured. Hot tea is a different story. Ask any server how they feel about it and they’ll agree. It requires a mug, a saucer, hot water, a spoon, tea bag, lemon or milk, and sugar and/or honey. Multiply that by four hot teas and it feels like we’re rebuilding the ancient pyramids.
On a bitter, cold day when you want hot coffee administered intravenously, you’re probably not the only one who feels that way and there’s a good chance the coffee pot is empty because of continuous use. Brewing a fresh pot of coffee can take 5-7 minutes, but will feel like an eternity when you want it right away. And ordering a cocktail that needs a blender is going to take longer than a pint of beer or a vodka and soda.
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OK fine, sometimes waiters forget
I won’t pretend that sometimes slow service isn’t strictly the fault of the server. You might ask them for a water refill and then see them chatting at the bar with a coworker, inches away from a pitcher of water that would soothe your parched tongue. Or maybe the reason your food is taking so long is because they forgot to place the order. That happens less these days as so many restaurants use tablets while at the table, but if they forgot to hit send, it’s still a possibility.
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Is the food actually slow, or does it just feel that way?
My pet peeve as a diner is waiting for the check after I’m done. If you’re the same way, ask for it when your plates are cleared and forego the “Did we save room for dessert?” routine. Slow service can really affect how you feel about a restaurant, but slow is also a perception. It might seem like it took forever for something, but the hangriness can really do a number on your brain. Eat a complimentary Cheddar Bay Biscuit and reevaluate how slow the service truly is.
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