Waiters, they say, are trained to be discreet and look towards the male of a couple. In my case, they do take it to ridiculous lengths, even if I dine alone. When I'm with a group, I usually raise my hand to call the attention of a waiter, any waiter, busboy, maitre d', anybody and I wouldn't get so much as a response. But if my companion even twitches his arm upward, you have a solicitous server whispering sweet delectables in his ear. Thus, I have learned to ask whoever I'm with for whatever I need to order. You do what you have to, to survive.
Which brings me to another problem. When I used to date -- back in the Upper Cretaceous-- I found that I tended to date guys who are irresistible to waitresses. They would banter with my dates, bring them water, unasked. We would get extra cream, sugar, freebies, and they would get some boyish smile in return. Usually I didn't mind, until one time, the waitress asked if he wanted take-out. She meant herself, of course. But she doesn't want him now that he's missing all his front teeth.
Which is why I love fast food places. They actually see me there. I love how when I walk in they call me "M'am/Sir" or that they ask me three times what name they would call me -- I usually respond with something strange like, "Marian Rivera" or "Demi Moore." When I'm in a particularly loving mood, I give my name as "Loch Ness" and then they go out of their way to deliver the food to my table, instead of calling me over to pick it up. Sometimes they add a funny toy to keep me quiet. Maybe they're hoping I won't break out of my lucid interval.
So there really is a lot of fun to be had in dining out. And its not always about the food, either.
2 comments:
I agree with you Trixie, that eating out is not always about food. Often, with my friends and families, we just have a good time keeping up with the current events and what not. If the food or service happens to be bad, we make sure to write down the name of the place and never return. The waitresses usually pay more attention to the men because they knew who is picking up the tab.
Food servers are trained to look towards the person picking up the tab, yes so its not really their fault.
The great majority of food servers are patient, though much put upon people. The few exceptions who seem to be trained to ignore the companions of those picking up the tab, fail to realize that we (comnpanions) do have an opinion on their tip. :)
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