Restaurant Lingo?
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I also cringe with "Have a good one!" "Are we cool?" and "That gotcha?"
Mam'm, hey there, "your alone", peace and my favorite, have a good one (one as in)?
Live consciously....
> 1. Why do all servers refer to my wife and me as
> “You Guys?”
This is one of my biggest pet peeves. I can't stand that term, and especially detest it when it's a party of women!
> 6. I don’t understand why when I am handed my
> change and I say Thank you, it is immediately
> followed with, “No Problem.” (Does that mean there
> might have been a problem?)
The "no problem" one is also problematic for me. One grocery store I shop has that phrase listed as "does not count as a response," and I was so happy to see that. I do think there is likely a lack of training from the employer as well as at home (for the younger generation), and I wish they'd do something about it. What a turn-off!
> “You Guys?”
This is one of my biggest pet peeves. I can't stand that term, and especially detest it when it's a party of women!
> 6. I don’t understand why when I am handed my
> change and I say Thank you, it is immediately
> followed with, “No Problem.” (Does that mean there
> might have been a problem?)
The "no problem" one is also problematic for me. One grocery store I shop has that phrase listed as "does not count as a response," and I was so happy to see that. I do think there is likely a lack of training from the employer as well as at home (for the younger generation), and I wish they'd do something about it. What a turn-off!
"No problem" seems to be the response when they think they're too cool to say, "You're welcome."
I prefer, "My pleasure". The folks at Chik Fil A are taught to say that, when the owner noticed it being used at the finest establishments like the Four Seasons, etc. He realized it costs nothing and adds to the customer experience.
I hate when the server comes over and says, "You still working on that?" I'm kind of a slow eater, and it's not a construction project!
I prefer, "My pleasure". The folks at Chik Fil A are taught to say that, when the owner noticed it being used at the finest establishments like the Four Seasons, etc. He realized it costs nothing and adds to the customer experience.
I hate when the server comes over and says, "You still working on that?" I'm kind of a slow eater, and it's not a construction project!
Kona Kathie
Flash's "Have a good one" ~ ~ ~ I have a friend from India who uses these four words way too often. But, when she says them, with her accent, it makes English-speaking people everywhere laugh.
I do a shop whose report specifically asks if "you guys" was uttered by the server. Kudos!
I do a shop whose report specifically asks if "you guys" was uttered by the server. Kudos!
It's all in the dialect and partly slang depending on where you are.
I hate when I ask someone how they are doing and they say, "I'm Blessed" and then as the conversation goes on so do the curse words.
I hate when I ask someone how they are doing and they say, "I'm Blessed" and then as the conversation goes on so do the curse words.
When the "my pleasures" at Chick-fil-a come off as genuine they are great but most of the time they don't. When I first noticed them saying it, one employee handed me something and said "my pleasure" after I said "thank you." Then, just a few seconds later another employee handed me something and I said "thank you" which resulted in another "my pleasure." So, there ended up being two "my pleasures" from two different employees within seconds of each other. A bit of overkill if you ask me.
Of course I grew up with "you guys" being a quick identifier that a person was from the upper midwest and I heard it often enough that it really does not resonate wrong. I can't say that I prefer "you folks" or "ya'll". But of course in all of these I am looking for the friendly sincerity. I have certainly heard "You are welcome!" stated in a manner that it would be equally appropriate to substitute the words "Drop dead!"
Any time I hear "you guys", I promptly respond that I am not one. The people who use it don't seem to understand. I lived through the women's liberation movement, and, while I don't fit in with everything they were trying to do, I certainly don't want to be lumped in with a bunch of men.
"Have a good one" also bothers me, but I usually don't catch it until I've said, "You, too." Then it's too late.
It's possible that "no problem" developed in Spanish-speaking areas. I think that this is a proper response in Spanish when someone thanks another, meaning that they do not consider it a problem to serve the other person.
"Have a good one" also bothers me, but I usually don't catch it until I've said, "You, too." Then it's too late.
It's possible that "no problem" developed in Spanish-speaking areas. I think that this is a proper response in Spanish when someone thanks another, meaning that they do not consider it a problem to serve the other person.
My Spanish is virtually non-existant, but I believe the appropriate response to 'Muchas gracias' is 'de nada', which I believe translates to 'it was nothing' rather than 'no problemo', which is slang meaning 'no problem'. On the other hand, how does 'You're welcome' make a whole lot of sense to 'Thank you' anyway?
And, of course, a monotone,lackluster, staring at the floor response of "Have a nice day." should be added to the list.
Prettyguf1....We have many "Born agains" in my town and Blessed is a normal word, but I hate it. When I hear it in a restaurant (not often), I think it should not be said to the majority, as Jewish and ethnic folks don't use that word. How do they know we want to be blessed. What's wrong with "Have a nice day or Thanks for coming in". There are many Spanish speaking folks working in L.A. (so close to the border), and I never mind their using slang.
I think it depends if you go to a young place, those kids speak their own language like, later, hey, groovy or catch you.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2011 10:46PM by Irene_L.A..
I think it depends if you go to a young place, those kids speak their own language like, later, hey, groovy or catch you.
Live consciously....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2011 10:46PM by Irene_L.A..
Depends on which area in L.A. you go too...we have a little of everything. Leftover hippi's in the Venice beach area, they are hipper in the Melrose, grove area, where Mario Lopez hosts E entertaiment, more conservative to normal in the Palisades and Brentwood, and, snootier in Bev. Hills.
Live consciously....
Irene, I thought I had figured out why Jewish people don't say "blessed" after reading your comment but I decided to double check it. I was wrong. I googled and came up with God telling Abraham about blessings. (Gen. 12:1-3) So do Jewish people just not say that to each other? And what about the ethnics? What ethnics? I'm of the opinion that everyone is ethnic in one way or another. I love all the social sciences so this is very interesting to me. Ok, we're not on "restaurant lingo" but this is related--it's about words.
Flash, you have it right, also in my lenguage: Castillian Spanish (Castellano), we use the words 'No hay de que', it mean 'You are welcome', it can also mean 'Oh it's nothing'or 'It was nothing', we never use the 'No problema' it's a slang used in other Spanish speaking Countries, generaly speaking the words are 'No problema mi amigo/a', it mean 'No problem my friend'.
Isabel
Enjoy Life
Isabel
Enjoy Life
I did a shop at a storage facility once where the "guy" who was an elderly man was so "down home" I had to make believe I was talking to my grandfather and lapsed into the "y'all", droppin' the g's off of everythin' and even watched him spit into a cup. lol
Didn't bother me a bit. I reported what happened. It was small town Kentucky. I couldn't say nuthin' bad about it. That's the way we talk here. lolol
Didn't bother me a bit. I reported what happened. It was small town Kentucky. I couldn't say nuthin' bad about it. That's the way we talk here. lolol
As is obvious, my English is not proper, but I wanted to add my 2 cents worth. If I am shopping Marriott or The Ritz Carlton, I expect a higher level of "proper English" than if I am in a grocery store.
Just an opinion from a small town Southern guy Y'all.
Just an opinion from a small town Southern guy Y'all.
I am often told, "have a blessed day". (One day I hit another car in the parking lot leaving the store.)
Haha, RJR I got a good laugh out of that. It's so true.
But I do have to disagree with most of you:
"Does anyone speak proper English anymore, or is it just me?"
I'm of the opinion that what is considered proper language is "descriptive" and not "prescriptive", and changes with the time. What you consider "proper" English is not proper in England. What you consider "proper" English would not be considered proper 200 years ago.
Now, of course, the language being used should match the atmosphere that the establishment wants to try to create. That being said, I don't want the kid working the register at an urban fast food restaurant to greet me, "Good afternoon, sir. How may I be of service?" And close, "Thank you very much for your business." It would sound disingenuous.
When I'm evaluating costumer service, the tone and feeling is far more important than the actual words being said.
Companies take our evaluations seriously, in terms of deciding who gets promotions, bonuses, and who gets reprimanded. I don't want to ding some poor kid because he uses a bit of slang.
Hell, I take it as a compliment when the younger generation talks hip to me
But I do have to disagree with most of you:
"Does anyone speak proper English anymore, or is it just me?"
I'm of the opinion that what is considered proper language is "descriptive" and not "prescriptive", and changes with the time. What you consider "proper" English is not proper in England. What you consider "proper" English would not be considered proper 200 years ago.
Now, of course, the language being used should match the atmosphere that the establishment wants to try to create. That being said, I don't want the kid working the register at an urban fast food restaurant to greet me, "Good afternoon, sir. How may I be of service?" And close, "Thank you very much for your business." It would sound disingenuous.
When I'm evaluating costumer service, the tone and feeling is far more important than the actual words being said.
Companies take our evaluations seriously, in terms of deciding who gets promotions, bonuses, and who gets reprimanded. I don't want to ding some poor kid because he uses a bit of slang.
Hell, I take it as a compliment when the younger generation talks hip to me
No one has ever told me to have a blessed day. Since I have never heard that, I think I would perk up and notice right away. Over here, it's
"have a good one", and I always wonder exactly what the good one is???????????????
"have a good one", and I always wonder exactly what the good one is???????????????
It seems like waitresses in my are are stuck on "honey" and "sweetie" to all male customers and a few females.
When a waiter calls me either I run like the wind.
When a waiter calls me either I run like the wind.
You must not live in the South ... in the deep South everybody is honey and sweetie....and in Texas the guys call each other "Hoss" and "Ace" while women call them "Dude." Men call the women "Sugar" and "Honey." And everybody and anybody is "sugar-pie" and "honey-pie" .... and I'm not talking about the lingo used by the younger generation ......
Wow, somehow I don't view myself as a "Hoss." 
I am far from the south but love the people there when I visit.
I am far from the south but love the people there when I visit.
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