A busy New York Restaurant posted how their patrons have changed in the last ten years. The culprit, time spent using their cell phones (the breakdown at the end of the article). This time ranged from early customers with WIFI issues asking for help, to taking photographs of food, to interacting with social media services. All of which took time away from other customers, and allowed their food to get cold while they attempted to get the “perfect” photograph of the latest dish.

They calculated the average time from start to finish with the cell phones was an extra 55 minutes – almost double from what it was ten years before.

Do you want to be a restaurant critic? Do you wish your reviews to have a bit of “pop” to them? Here are a few tips from people who really do this for a living:

ORDER FOOD BEFORE YOU BREAK OUT THE CELL PHONE

Get your menu, look it over and order from it. Once you are waiting for the food is the time to break out the cell phone to check for WIFI, check-in on your favorite social media site, check email, and take photographs of the restaurant.

Checking in after you place the order for the restaurant is good manners

DON’T USE FLASH

When the food comes if you must take a photograph of it do not use flash. If the restaurant is dark inside then use of a flash is rude to other customers. Iron Chef, Mario Batali doesn’t mind you photographing his food, but prohibits the use flash in his restaurants.  Ask any professional food photographer – flash distorts the look of food and often the color.

WHEN THE FOOD ARRIVES AT THE TABLE EAT IT DON’T MAKE IT POSE FOR YOU

When the food comes to the table it is the ideal temperature to consume- the longer you wait the colder the food will get. Try a bite – it won’t ruin your photograph, in fact, it will enhance it.

The world needs to see your photograph of the Kale Salad – Don’t use a flash

ASK FOR GROUP SHOTS AHEAD OF SEATING

Want a group shot? The time to ask is before you are seated. There are a number of people who work for the restaurant, from the owner, host, captain, waiters, bus boys.  Let them know ahead of time you want a group shot when it is convenient for them- not in the middle of a busy service.

WHEN THE CHECK COMES BE READY TO PAY

Put the phone away, pay the bill, thank the place for a fine service, and leave. Don’t walk out and try to text, or post your comments. Don’t text and walk, don’t text and drive.

IF YOU HAVE A BAD SERVICE TALK TO SOMEONE

Do not post a bad review if you have not made an attempt to talk to the staff. Especially if the issue is the service. Although, sometimes it is difficult to get the service people to pay attention to you.  In fact, do not post a bad review unless you know the issue cannot or will not be solved:

(a) The food isn’t made to order. That issue is an endemic problem with many restaurants and there is little excuse. If they call something fresh salmon and it is frozen, or they have frozen pasta instead of freshly made- that is something you should alert other diners to.

(b) The quality of the food is poor (typically from above).

(c) Sanitation issues. You should bring these to the attention of the staff immediately, and they should be included in a review.

If you want a powerful review- visit the restaurant several times- order a variety of items, and discuss them. Have your fellow diners also order a variety of foods to enjoy. Get a true flavor of the restaurant.

Here is what the restaurant noted when comparing old tapes from 2004 to new tapes from 2014. Note the amazing amount of time taken up with people on phones.

7 out of 45 customers spent time with their waiter demanding help with WIFI – taking up about five minutes of the waiter’s time.

26 out of 45 customers spend an average of 3 minutes taking photos of the food.

14 out of 45 customers take pictures of each other with the food in front of them or as they are eating the food. This takes on average another 4 minutes as they must review and sometimes retake the photo.

9 out of 45 customers sent their food back to reheat. Obviously if they didn’t pause to do whatever on their phone the food wouldn’t have gotten cold.

27 out of 45 customers asked their waiter to take a group photo. 14 of those requested the waiter retake the photo as they were not pleased with the first photo. On average this entire process between the chit chatting and reviewing the photo taken added another 5 minutes and obviously caused the waiter not to be able to take care of other tables he/she was serving.

Given in most cases the customers are constantly busy on their phones it took an average of 20 minutes more from when they were done eating until they requested a check. Furthermore once the check was delivered it took 15 minutes longer than 10 years ago for them to pay and leave.

8 out of 45 customers bumped into other customers or in one case a waiter (texting while walking) as they were either walking in or out of the Restaurant.

Average time from start to finish: almost two hours

Average time ten years before- start to finish one hour

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