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Restaurant shop where you must visit bar

August 19, 2023 01:53AM
I’ve always hesitated performing a mystery dinner shop where you are required to visit the bar for drinks and then eat a meal at a table. One time, we were the only couple in the restaurant and it was very awkward. What do you do if the restaurant isn’t busy? Isn’t it completely obvious you are a shopper? I completely understand if it’s busy and you are waiting for a table to sit at the bar and order a drink.
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August 19, 2023 04:28AM
I doubt this is obvious at all to those who like to have a drink before and maybe after dinner. Many of these shops allow the bar part to be after dinner if that feels less obvious to you. When I did these with my husband I would enter the restaurant about 20 min to a half hour early and if anyone was at the host stand I would tell them I was meeting my guest at the bar. He would take a walk after parking and then come in 5 or 10 minutes later. I had already ordered my drink by then. Sit and chat for a while and/or order a second drink if required and when the reservation time comes move on over to the restaurant. If you feel challenged to eat because tables are empty just say you had a hard day and need to relax before dinner.
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August 19, 2023 01:58PM
Plenty of people go to a bar, planning on just having a drink and decide to stay and have a dinner in the restaurant. It's not that unusual. Or they want to sit at the bar and watch the game or the news or whatever first.
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August 19, 2023 03:33PM
Most restaurant/ bar shops are upscale and don't have the game on. And if you're there to watch the game why would you leave first dinner?

They don't have TVs.

Waiting on a friend would work

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/19/2023 03:36PM by wrosie.
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August 19, 2023 04:21PM
BWW upscale??

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/19/2023 04:22PM by Boutique.
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August 19, 2023 07:39PM
Why do you care if they know you are the shopper? In the example you gave...it would be obvious. But that is NOT your problem. You are following the guidelines and did what you were supposed to do.

I doubt a business that was struggling that bad would even pay for mystery shopping services.

@las30 wrote:

I’ve always hesitated performing a mystery dinner shop where you are required to visit the bar for drinks and then eat a meal at a table. One time, we were the only couple in the restaurant and it was very awkward. What do you do if the restaurant isn’t busy? Isn’t it completely obvious you are a shopper? I completely understand if it’s busy and you are waiting for a table to sit at the bar and order a drink.
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August 19, 2023 09:31PM
@wrosie wrote:

Most restaurant/ bar shops are upscale and don't have the game on. And if you're there to watch the game why would you leave first dinner?

They don't have TVs.

Waiting on a friend would work

Most bars have some kind of game on if you're in a big city. And plenty of people go and watch a few minutes of whatever's on the TV before grabbing dinner. Plenty people go and sit and have a drink and then go have dinner regardless of what's on the TV in the bar.

It's not unusual to visit both in an upscale restaurant for whatever reason.

The only people that have a problem with that are mystery shoppers. Plenty of regular people do it all day long. The servers are used to it. They don't even question it.
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August 19, 2023 11:36PM
I appreciate the responses. I hadn’t thought about my husband and I entering the restaurant separately. I will try that.
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August 20, 2023 02:43AM
When I visit with DH, Sandy's method is the way we go. Granted, he does not take a walk after parking or if there is valet parking but the few minutes is good. No need to ever explain. When I go with DDs or Mom, we just go straight to the bar. I must say fine dining places usually do not have TVs playing at the bar. I recall one shop where we did visit after dinner as the bar was packed when we arrived. I know we were spotted. Server observed us, whispered, everyone at attention with complimentary shots to boost, lol. Never again!
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August 20, 2023 05:33PM
At the end of the day, the MSCs, in collaboration with their customers--the restaurants--are the ones who design these shops. Is the bar + restaurant visit a little distinctive, in ways that might raise suspicions that someone is a mystery shopper? Probably. But if the MSC and restaurant decide that's how they want the shops done, I'm not going to fret. I'll do what they ask, do my best to make it seem natural, and report what happens.

If the restaurant staff notice that people who hit both the bar and restaurant are disproportionately mystery shoppers and are a little more attentive than normal, so be it. If MSCs have an issue, they're welcome to pay for separate bar and restaurant shops.
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August 20, 2023 08:48PM
I do have a friend who works as a hostess, and the restaurant group is mystery shopped, if someone checks in and then goes to the bar everyone is put on high alert to hit the training expectations. Might be a great way to get great service when you are not shopping...
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August 20, 2023 09:40PM
When dining at an upscale restaurant with my hubby when not on an MS, we almost always go to the bar for a cocktail before dinner because we may be waiting for friends to arrive or just to chill for a bit before dinner, or we're waiting for our table to be ready. I don't think it's unusual at all. Going after dinner I think might be more of a red flag.

*****************************************************************************
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..

Mark Twain
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August 21, 2023 02:15AM
When I have a bar/restaurant to do...I walk right past the host/hostess and don't check in. What is the need to alert them that you are there? That is drawing attn to yourself unnecessarily.
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August 21, 2023 03:10AM
Yes I should have mentioned that as I meant if the host/ess is there and asks for your reservation.
The other thing I did not mention is that if I can on a mystery shop I always start during happy hour if there is one. That way the drink portion is less expensive.
And even tho some of you might think that anyone eating upscale does not want a half price drink at happy hour, the reason some are wealthy enough to eat there is because they watch their pennies...or is it dollars now or maybe their bitcoin? Many restaurants close by in Beverly Hills where the average income is in the hundreds of thousands have a happy hour. If no customers of theirs wanted to save a buck they would not have a happy hour.

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

When I have a bar/restaurant to do...I walk right past the host/hostess and don't check in. What is the need to alert them that you are there? That is drawing attn to yourself unnecessarily.
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August 21, 2023 04:15AM
The majority of the time, the host will make contact. Can't avoid them, but we don't check in. "Going to the bar.".
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August 21, 2023 06:10AM
If you are that worried about it...you can fake that you are on the phone as you are walking past. They are usually not going to interrupt you.

@Madetoshop wrote:

The majority of the time, the host will make contact. Can't avoid them, but we don't check in. "Going to the bar.".
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August 21, 2023 01:42PM
Having a partner/guest arrive separately has an added bonus for the MSC. You get to record an additional transaction for the guest's drink order for the same round of drinks.
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August 21, 2023 08:48PM
I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I have a question that seems relevant.

What do you do if you have to sit at the bar and the bar is mobbed?
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August 21, 2023 08:53PM
most places will tell you to find a table next to the bar if sitting at the bar is not available. It really depends on the client and the MSC. for Texas Roadhouse BAR shop...you have to sit at the bar. So you wait or come back another day.

i had a Mexican restaurant that had a bar attached and it was a friday night and it was extremely busy. People from work came to party it up (bar slammed at 6 PM). There were no chairs at the bar (they had been removed). So I stood there for the required 20 minutes.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/21/2023 08:54PM by hbbigdaddy.
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August 22, 2023 01:44AM
I am so not "worried about it."

quote=hbbigdaddy]
If you are that worried about it...you can fake that you are on the phone as you are walking past. They are usually not going to interrupt you.

@Madetoshop wrote:

The majority of the time, the host will make contact. Can't avoid them, but we don't check in. "Going to the bar.".
[/quote]
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August 22, 2023 06:43PM
@bradkcrew wrote:

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I have a question that seems relevant.

What do you do if you have to sit at the bar and the bar is mobbed?

Stand at the corner or next to a chair and wait till a spot opens. Or stand and observe and order your drink as you stand there depending on the MSC and the client.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/22/2023 06:45PM by foodluvr.
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September 02, 2023 05:11PM
I agree these are always awkward especially in smaller restaurants or when they push you to have dinner at the bar if you did the bar first
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September 07, 2023 04:09PM
I did a 'sit only at the bar' dinner shop on time and it was awful! I had to wait 20 min to get a seat at the bar and there were plenty in the dining area. Talk about awkward! The hostess was so kind and kept trying to seat us. Last bar shop I'll do.
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September 07, 2023 06:37PM
I got caught several times in the past with bar first shops or sit at the bar shops when a crowd has been an issue. Standing near the bar will work for drinks but not dinner. Especially if the bar has big screen tv's check the local ball game schedule before you schedule your shop and DO NOT pick a night when your local talent or any other well followed team will be playing on the Big Screen Those there for the game will not leave until it is over. The other issue with standing near the bar in this scenario is that it is near impossible to hear the verbal exchanges you need to pay attention to.
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September 10, 2023 06:03PM
IMO there is nothing strange or unusual about visiting a bar before or after dining at their restaurant. I sometimes sit at the bar while I am waiting for a companion or wanting to watch a particular game on their TV. I sometimes go to the bar after dinner. This feels more natural than sitting at an empty table and keeping other customers from being seated.
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September 21, 2023 05:25PM
If they identify you as a Shopper, they can’t stop your shopping at that location ever again. Happened to me.
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