Overbearing service in restaurants

[craigjm]

This weekend I have been to a local new Indian restaurant that has only been open a week and to Blacklock and Simpsons in the Strand in London. They all shared one theme in common which I feel is becoming more of a thing in restaurant eating. The service was totally overbearing. Now I can kind of understand that in the local new Indian because they are anxious that they are getting things right and you will come back and not run away and plaster stuff all over social media that its not great etc. The other two though were in a league of their own. Ive been to Blacklock many times and Simpsons in its previous incarnation and found them a nice experience.

Very similar pattern this time. Welcomed into the venue, great in both, handed over to a server and shown to your table and then it starts.... Really in depth waffle about specials, drinks lists, waters etc. very little time given to just look at the menu and decide before suggestions are being made, comments made on what you are ordering while you are ordering it, checking on satisfaction with the wine a moment after being poured and left alone, checking on food more than once, offering advice on how to eat the food and drink the alcohol (yep seriously) and it went on and on in both until the very end.

Is it just me or is it becoming more of a thing. I want to be shown to my seat, told anything important, left alone to think, order taken, food delivered and asked once if its ok etc through to the bill not constant yak yak yak

Must be getting old ill get my coat

[some bloke]

And then when you want to get the bill so you can pay and leave you get completely ignored.

[55palfers]

Understand a new restaurant.

The rest is just trying to justify a 15% service charge.

[Soloman Dodd]

That's the sort of treatment I associate with US restaurants.
Tip begging.

[Badda]

Just didn’t you politely ask them to leave you alone. Why sit there putting up with it? They don’t want to do it and you don’t want it so it’s a mutually agreeable thing to do.

[Arrivalist]

Badda said:

Just didn t you politely ask them to leave you alone. Why sit there putting up with it? They don t want to do it and you don t want it so it s a mutually agreeable thing to do.

I agree. Was out for lunch yesterday with Mrs A and when we had our starters we simply told the waiter that we would be having a nice gap between starters and main and we’d let them know when we were ready. Admittedly the staff were great anyway but you do need to sometimes set the rules to ensure you have a good time.

[LooneyTunes]

Getting service right is really important, that's a large part of why MrsLT and I tend to go to places we like on a repeat basis.

For me the key to good service is down to the team picking up on subtle cues and honing things accordingly - all whilst remaining authentic.

It's really hard for them to get right and I have immense respect for those places that manage to make it look easy.

For example, some people want/need/like detailed wine explanations, others don't. At somewhere new, you have to give them something to work with to figure out what you want, but without giving the wrong impression.

t really is the fine details that, when you've been somewhere really good, you notice other places don't manage to pull off.

[NSNO]

some bloke said:

And then when you want to get the bill so you can pay and leave you get completely ignored.

Haha, that is so true. They hover about all meal and then right when you want to get your attention, they are nowhere to be seen.