Is this something one has to specify at restaurants?

[Guest]

I've had dinner at two restaurants during my conference that did something I find pretty annoying. I ordered a soup and a salmon dish at one, and they brought the two at the same time. Then, 2 days later, I ordered a side salad and a chicken dish, and they brought the chicken less than 5 minutes after the salad (which I wasn't half-way through). Should I be specifying when I order "...and please don't bring the main dish until after I've finished my soup or salad..."? I hate to have to state what I think should be obvious, but I find bringing the main dish while I haven't had a chance to finish my starter quite irritating.

[Jomo]

That's just bad coursing on the restaurants or waiters part. sometimes the kitchen, in less busy times is extremely fast. And, if you were eating French Onion Soup, the waiter should slow his/her roll

[+ azdr0710]

yes, as a waiter during college, I learned that "firing" the main dish in the kitchen required some shrewd timing.....sounds like your chicken was finished quickly by the kitchen staff and the waiter had to bring it out before it got cold.....not quite sure about your soup/salmon, unless that's some tradition at that particular place.....if you like to eat your first course unusually slow, it probably should be mentioned to the waiter.....

 

I remember as a kid a restaurant (I think ?? it was the old "Ore House" chain??) had the distinct policy of having waiters always tell customers that they wouldn't "fire" your main plate until they saw you get up and go to the included salad bar.......

[+ PapaTony]

The restaurants that still exist that conduct themselves in traditional societal norms of etiquette are few and far between.

 

staff at every level is simply not trained properly any longer.

 

another pet peeve of mine is having any plates cleared before all in the party have finished their course(s). No doubt Emily Post is spinning in her grave.

[instudiocity]

It never hurts to classify your order’s order...“For my appetizer I’ll have that youngster in the shorty shorts, then for my main course, bring me that man still somewhat in his jockstrap!”

Edited November 1, 2019 by instudiocity

[+ bashful]

Bad service. Sounds like the server didn't want to get slammed with entrees for multiple tables ready at the same time. A good restaurant will have staff serve hot food when it's ready, no matter who's table it is, so no need for one server to hurry some entrees, or delay others to even out delivery.

[Rudynate]

I've noticed that more and more restaurants don't bother with the idea of courses. They just bring it all at once.

[+ Cock Eyed Optimist]

I find the same is true when ordering drinks. Some servers encourage you to order your meal at the same time as ordering a drink, and then the meal comes out before the cocktail. I always wait until drinks are served before ordering the entree.

[rvwnsd]

This is an annoying trend. At one restaurant, the entree came out before the salad. At another, I ordered a burger and fries (which are typically served at the same time) and the fries came out at least ten minutes before the burger.

[Islesguy]

I wonder where all these restaurants are because I have never had any of these problems. The only issue I have on occasion is waiting forever for the main after an app or a waiter that never comes back so I can get a check.

[Rudynate]

Nice places still serve in courses, but casual places, more and more, are bringing all the food at once. It doesn't bother me that much, although I prefer eating in courses, especially when you pay what restaurants cost in SF.

Edited November 1, 2019 by Rudynate

[+ Charlie]

I wonder where all these restaurants are because I have never had any of these problems. The only issue I have on occasion is waiting forever for the main after an app or a waiter that never comes back so I can get a check.

The restaurants I frequent, at all spots along the price spectrum, almost always bring the salad or appetizer before the entree, although I have noticed lately that the entree may be served before I have completely finished the appetizer/salad.

[+ nycman]

You need to eat at nicer restaurants.

[jawjateck]

Yeah, it's becoming more common at a variety of restaurants. On my recent pass through Vegas, I dined at a snotty place at the Bellagio. The service was screwy, and at one point I had 3 plates in front of me and my companion had 2. I asked the waiter, "look at this table, does this seem off to you?" He was clueless. I've had better service at a roadside Cracker Barrel.

[edjames]

Bad service should be reflected in the tip.

A word to the manager might also help future patrons.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Was this an Applebees-type of place or a higher-end spot?

 

With mass chains, they're now being trained to turn-and-burn. Get em' in, get em' out.

[InterestingGuy]

This happens to me all the time - and it’s beyond frustrating

[BasketBaller]

I think it may be happening because of the growing trend of tapas/small plate menus where dishes are brought out when they're ready. But if it's not that lind of place, it shouldn't happen.

[+ poolboy48220]

I wonder where all these restaurants are because I have never had any of these problems. The only issue I have on occasion is waiting forever for the main after an app or a waiter that never comes back so I can get a check.

I rarely have these problems either, but waiting forever for the check is a pet peeve. I got 'abandoned' in a mall restaurant, in a part of the mall that stayed open later (the movies were there), and by the time I found her I had to leave the mall and walk around the outside in the snow to get back to my car.

[cany10011]

I remember a charming restaurant in the West Village that the servers would coordinate plating and would whisper in your ear the name of your dish. It sadly closed 2 years ago.

[rvwnsd]

Was this an Applebees-type of place or a higher-end spot?

 

With mass chains, they're now being trained to turn-and-burn. Get em' in, get em' out.

In my case, no. However, when traveling for work or on a road trip I've eaten at Chez Chili and every time the server asks whether I want my salad/soup before the meal comes out. I always do, and they always check in with me when I'm about a third of the way through the salad and put the entree order in at the kitchen.

 

This might be a function of poorly designed and/or configured point-of-sale systems.

[MikeBiDude]

This might be a function of poorly designed and/or configured point-of-sale systems.

Or poorly trained employees on said POS

[+ azdr0710]

You guys are eating at too-fancy places with too-high expectations. I go to this cute little ethnic place I discovered called, I believe, Chipotle (such a whimsical name!) and I have my tasty and healthy meal paid for and being eaten in less than cinco minutos.

Edited November 2, 2019 by azdr0710

[+ AntonGraza]

Is it a bad sign if your server takes your order and ten minutes later, looking out the window, you see them drive off before you get your drinks/water?

[Rudynate]

A few weeks ago, a friend treated us to dinner at Cala, an upscale Mexican restaurant where you have to wait weeks for a reservation. Service was excellent - very leisurely. They brought us course after course of some of the best food I have ever had in a restaurant. So, if you go to the right kind of place, they're not in a hurry to see you leave.