100 Things Restaurant Staffers Should Never Do

Interesting list in the "You’re the Boss Blog" on the New York Times. It’s clearly meant for a more fancy restaurant than the kinds we usually visit, but I can’t help wishing all restaurants took these kinds of things seriously. In fact many of the items are just obvious, common-sense, good-manners issues, so it’s sad how many restaurants and servers are deficient in these areas.

Quoting Bruce Buschel:

12. Do not touch the rim of a water glass. Or any other glass.

13. Handle wine glasses by their stems and silverware by the handles.

25. Make sure the glasses are clean. Inspect them before placing them on the table.

33. Do not bang into chairs or tables when passing by.

34. Do not have a personal conversation with another server within earshot of customers.

35. Do not eat or drink in plain view of guests.

36. Never reek from perfume or cigarettes. People want to smell the food and beverage.

45. Do not curse, no matter how young or hip the guests.

47. Do not gossip about co-workers or guests within earshot of guests.

56. Do not ignore a table because it is not your table. Stop, look, listen, lend a hand. (Whether tips are pooled or not.)

62(a). Do not let a glass sit empty for too long.

66. Do not return to the guest anything that falls on the floor -- be it napkin, spoon, menu or soy sauce.

68. Do not reach across one guest to serve another.

71. Do not race around the dining room as if there is a fire in the kitchen or a medical emergency. (Unless there is a fire in the kitchen or a medical emergency.)

77. Do not disappear.

78. Do not ask, "Are you still working on that?" Dining is not work -- until questions like this are asked.