Third time with the same waiter at a fine dining restaurant

Just my luck, we got the same waiter for a third time at a fine dining shop. He was great the first 2 times. He was REALLY off his game this time. The service was awful. It's going to be hard not to compare him to our previous experiences. He did not indicate that he recognized us which is guess is good. Has anyone had a similar situation?

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No, but I have had to do 2 reveals at an Italian restaurant and it was the same waiter both times. He gave no indication he remembered us.

I have had situations where they not only were the same person but remembered my order from the previous times. So much for acting like it is your first time with menu questions and such....I do not think they knew I was the shopper but just in case did not schedule that location again for a while.
And what about that question they often have about how good directions are over the phone when you make a reservation and then they evidently type you into the computer, see your last few visits, ask you if you would like the same server and table as before, as the past 5 x before maybe, and then you need to ask how to get there? There are only so many variations on that question I can come up with.

You know the Drill:

"Report only on this shop and not previous visits or experiences."

It was a bad day for him and we can only "guess" what was going on in his personal/work life....

But, giving an honest report, is especially important because what IF it was not you, but another customer experiencing your waiter's poor service on that day?

I think this was the first time "based on this dining experience" that I rated I would not return or recommend. That was kind of sad because it has been our go to special occasion restaurant. Everyone is entitled to have a bad day but there were several other factors that made it a disappointing experience.

beatlesfan1964 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think this was the first time "based on this
> dining experience" that I rated I would not return
> or recommend. That was kind of sad because it has
> been our go to special occasion restaurant.
> Everyone is entitled to have a bad day but there
> were several other factors that made it a
> disappointing experience.

Just think if you hadn't been on a shop and this was you first time there and you were celebrating a special occassion. Think how disappointing it would have been then and chances are you would never go back. If that happens to enough people, the restaurant ends up on one of those reality show were they bring some "expert" in to save it before it goes out of business.

Just focus on the important service you are providing in showing the restaurant where they need to improve things. Maybe the server just needs a reminder that he needs to be on his game every night.

I've had the same waiter twice at a FD steakhouse. He's good, but he works ALL over the floor. I don't know if he has that many regular customers who request him or if they assign him to anyone they suspect is a shopper. I'll find out the next time I do the shop. As a matter of fact, we always get the same booth, too...hmm.

Edited to add:

He asked if we had ever been there before and we said that we hadn't, per the shop instructions. He said that he was SURE he knew us from somewhere and was CERTAIN we had been there before!

*********************
I'm "Sandi" in the Middle!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/05/2014 11:40PM by SandiAigo.

I know ~ I hate when they make us do stuff that's almost impossible, especially when they want us to keep going back! Like the stuff about asking directions or always saying you've never been to the place before when they *know* you have.

Although once I freaked someone out... it was only a McD's... but because of time constraints I had to do the DT 1st (always do other way around unless running late)... there were only 3 employees and hardly any customers for some reason. I waited the 5 minutes between... then went in. The gal said something about having just seen me at the DT... I acted like I didn't know what she was talking about... she insisted it was me... I insisted it wasn't... she got all freaked out about dopplegangers. heh.

Practitioner of the Nerdly Arts.

Apple ...

first time he spilled a plate of food ALL OVER the table and my friend.

he NEVER cleaned up the table

he NEVER told the mgr, NOR did the mgr come by ever

it was a ruckus and embarrassing

Next visit, SAME WAITER, didn't remember us, thou we
actually ordered the same foods ...

Did get a comp meal frm the mgr online

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Third time with the same waiter at a fine dining restaurant

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