Displaying posts tagged with 'service'

Few things are as likely to ruin a pleasant night out as the bill arriving and discovering that there is a mix of ‘tippers’ and ‘non-tippers’ in your midst. Attitudes to tipping vary around the world – in the US, it’s ‘the norm’ to tip at least 20%. This is true but many waiters and waitresses in the states earn minimal basic wages. In fact most earn under $3 per hour – that’s about £1.90. The bulk of their income comes from their tips and, when eating out, Americans will factor ‘the tip’ in. This said, many US waiters and waitresses do make a good living – probably earning more than their British counterparts who probably only earn the minimum wage (£4.83 for 18-21 year olds) and get less in tips.

People tend to have strong views either way and – due to the fact that it is a perennial conversation – clearly there is no ‘right’ answer. With this in mind, we thought we’d take a look at some of the arguments on either side of the fence, and put a few of the myths to bed…
Continue reading “To tip or not to tip?” …

It is a British diner’s worst nightmare. Going out to a restaurant ought to be one of life’s pleasures, plus it can be an expensive event and often the focus is on a special occasion or catching up with family or friends. In short: it’s not an experience that you want to be soured. So, if you’re chicken looks a bit pink, or your pasta’s definitely on the ‘not cooked’ side of al dente then it can leave you in a genuinely difficult position and dampen an evening’s enjoyment.

As Brits we know that our expectations can verge on the side of the neurotic, so perhaps the first thing to ask yourself is: ‘is it really an issue?’ If the restaurant is packed and you’ve had to wait 40 minutes for your starter then, if you’re having a glass of wine and catching up with friends: has it really detracted from your enjoyment of the evening? If you had to remind the waiter about your drinks, and they were genuinely apologetic for forgetting them, then is it just one of those things?

Continue reading “How to complain in a restaurant” …

At thefoodplace.co.uk we like to think that we make ourselves useful by letting you know where you can eat in a certain area, the types of restaurant about and – in a lot of cases – we can even help you to book online. So, whether you’re in the mood for standard Pub grub or Nepalese take away, we can generally help you out.

There is only so much that we can do though… we can find the restaurants, make sure they’re on the site, get some pictures and get the restaurant to write their ‘blurb’. What’s missing from the equation is the factor that makes the whole system work: you, the customers! We all know that fancy menus and classy decor can be ‘spirited up’ with a few well-spent quid, but a perfectly seared and seasoned tuna-steak takes far more than an open cheque book to get right.

Continue reading “How to write a great restaurant review” …