Tips for Being a Good Restaurant Customer

I have worked in two different food service jobs. While the majority of my customers have been easy to deal with and friendly when they interacted with me, there is always a small percentage that will be rude, unhappy, and not like the way you are doing your job.

For those of you that have found yourself being ignorant to an employee or feel tempted to take out your emotions on them, here are some ways you can be on your best behavior, no matter where you are a customer.

Put the cell phone away: Today, a cell phone is almost a necessity rather than a luxury. However, that does not make it acceptable to use when doing business. If you are next in line to order food or your server comes to your table, tell the person on the other end of the line that you will call them back, unless this is an emergency call. Nothing is more ignorant than making the employee feel like they are interrupting you and yes, sometimes they will ignore you and skip to the next person in line.

Be patient during rush hours: I work in a college cafeteria during the school year and like many other restaurants; it seems like 95% of college kids eat lunch at noon or go to dinner at 5. If you show up at a busy time, you can expect a somewhat lengthy wait. No matter what, be patient with the employees. They are trying very hard to serve everyone as quickly as possible. Don't complain about the wait and realize that in some instances, orders that take less time to prepare come out quicker than yours if you ordered something that takes a little longer.

Be specific with your order. Don't come up to order something and not know the name of what you're ordering. If you want something made a certain way, tell your server that too. This will make their job easier and it will also prevent you from complaining after you are served.

Speak up when you have a problem. Often times, I've noticed customers complaining about their food after they have sat down to eat. This is not a problem because of course you want your food made to your satisfaction. However, if you do not tell the employee about the problem, it is not going to be corrected. Even if you notice a problem after you receive your food, tell your server and they will be more than happy to fix your food or offer you another item.

Give the employees credit. Food service is a difficult industry and many times, its employees do not receive enough recognition. When you are satisfied with service you have received, make sure to thank the employees and wish them a good day. I remember one day, one of my customers said that he gave me and my coworkers a lot of credit for doing the job that we do. At that point, there was nothing else that could've made my night; his comment did that for me.

When you are a customer, following this advice will make you remembered in a positive way with the employee you are dealing with. Employees are expected to give good customer service, but customers are also required to act in a polite and respectful manner. You need to give respect to earn respect; a rule that should be the same both ways.