Listen

Nothing is worse than a server who isn't listening.

It's a busy weekend night and they have a couple things on their mind: how much am I going to make and how fast can I turn this table?

When this mentality sets in, errors start happening.

Tonight, I asked our server for:

1. A glass of Water
2. Iced Tea
3. Extra Sweet n Low

He returned with...............Iced Tea.

When I asked him for the Sweet n Low again, he said, "Oh ya". He returned (not with extra but with enough to last through a couple more drinks).

I never got the water.

What do you think I did? Spent the rest of the night with our group talking about our "server" and his inability to deliver on our requests. The best servers are those that listen, anticipate and deliver results so you as a guest don't even have to think about it.

Walker

Every time you go to a restaurant you should meet the manager.

Not because your food is wrong, your service is bad or your unhappy. But, because the manager is out in the dining room, walking around and talking to guests.

A manager who is out WALKING the floor is a manager who cares. He/She is a manager who understands the importance of GUEST SATISFACTION. A walking manager knows that the SERVICE and EXPERIENCE are far more important than food.

It doesn't matter if it's Chick-Fil-A, Chipotle, Fleming's or Red Lobster. What matters is that the restaurant is run by a manager who gets it.

If you want to know if you're eating in a remarkable restaurant, look around....do you see a manager walking?

Dunkin Battles Starbucks

Does it surprise you that Dunkin Donuts beat Starbucks in a national blind coffee taste test?

I’m not shocked at all. Fundamentally speaking – Dunkin has better tasting good ole fashion coffee.

However, there is one small claim (here) that Dunkin is making that I don’t necessarily agree with: "It's just more proof that it's all about the coffee, not the couches or music."

In fact, with Starbucks it's all about the couches and the music. Yes - Dunkin coffee is better. However when it comes down to making a decision (if price wasn't a factor) I would ALWAYS take service, atmosphere and the way the restaurant makes me feel over taste any day.

Dunkin wins on taste.

Starbucks wins on experience.

Now the bigger question? What sells more coffee? Taste or Experience?

Bacon Appetizer

Today at First Watch I ordered a side of bacon for my wife.

Key Word: Side

We were awkwardly surprised when the SIDE of bacon came out as an Appetizer about 5 minutes before the rest of our food came out.

Talk about Flawless Execution.

Whipped and Chocolate

Want something amazing?

Freeze a mug in the freezer.

When it's frozen, pull it out and make chocolate milk.

Then, use Cool Whip - it has to be Cool Whip and put it on top of the milk

I promise, the most unbelievable snack/treat ever.

Monopoly

McDonalds has been promoting their promotional game Monopoly for years.

I have never played. Why? It seems way to complex for my tiny mind and I don't have any desire to try and teach myself.

If restaurants want to drive traffic, build sales and create loyal customers, don't you think they should make promotions as easy to understand as possible?

Sure Monopoly is popular, but imagine what it could be if every McDonald's customer actually knew how to play.

Are You a Rock Star?

"A rock star is not someone who takes the temperature, who gauges the marketplace before he creates his "art". A rock star is someone who needs to create and is willing to tolerate the haters along with the fans. He’s someone who incites controversy just by existing.

That’s what we lost in the dash for cash. Unique voices. I’m not saying we haven’t ended up with some pleasant music, but it just hasn’t hit you in the gut, it’s the aural equivalent of Splenda, it might do the trick, but it’s not the real thing. The real thing grabs your attention, drives down deep into your heart and lodges itself there.

A rock star doesn’t follow conventions, doesn’t go disco or add drum machines just because everybody else does. A rock star exists in his own unique space, and if you met him you probably wouldn’t like him. Because he tends to be self-focused to the point of being narcissistic. Because he cares. He needs to get his message out." -Bob Lefsetz