\"How was everything tonight??\"
 

More a rant on a silly little thing that obviously is completely unimportant in the grand scheme of things but maybe others will want to share similar experiences or opinions.


GF and I have dinner tonight at an O'Charley's near the mall (not sure if this is national, it's pretty much like an Applebee's or TGIF's or something similarly lame).
Quick and easy to get a salad or chicken-fingers or something after she's out of work.

They have about 2 hostesses and 2 managers typically milling around and almost all of them greet you on your way in or out.

We've laughed before when a manger would come up to our table and ask how everything was and then 1 minute later our server would swing by and ask the same question. "Ummm, still fine just like we told the other guy!!" (no, we don't really say that to them of course).


This time on our way out we walked past one of the managers mid-way between the bar and the front-door and he asked us if we both enjoyed our meal.
2 seconds later we walk past one of the hostesses who asks the same question.
Then 1 second later a different hostess sees us and is holding the door for us and is more direct, "Was everything okay tonight? Did you enjoy your meal?" "Yup, everything was great. thanks."


Note, they didn't do this because they had reason to suspect we weren't satisfied customers or anything. They obviously get told at O'Charley's to bombard their customers with "How is everything?" questions.

Also obvious was that none had any idea that we had just been asked the same Q by someone a few steps in front of them. So for them it was completely natural and they were just doing what they were supposed to do.

GF and I had laughed at how ridiculous it was on previous occasions.
So tonight after getting the line of 3 straight employees in 10 seconds giving us the 'inquisition' on our way out the door we couldn't help but crack-up when we finally got through them all and got outside. It was just so ridiculous I can't help but laugh a little right now just thinking about it.

I'm not annoyed or bothered because I can be so easily amused by such things. But I can't help but wonder if this is really a good strategy for them.
Shouldn't they realize that some customers probably don't want to be pestered over and over again like that? It just seems so bizarrely weird a lot of the times that we go there but this one was definitely the weirdest.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

The waiters want tips, the managers don't want complaints.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

I went to an O'Charley's when I visited some of my wife's family in WI a little while ago. We got the same treatment - everybody and their brother was stopping by our table every 5 seconds to give us the inquisition. Alright, that's annoying, but whatever. What got me was this, though - my brother-in-law asked where the restroom was and they insisted on ESCORTING HIM TO THE [censored] BATHROOM. I don't know how you all feel, but that's a bit over the top for my taste. I thought this was just a brand-new franchise with an overzealous new owner/manager, but it looks like it's a corporate thing. Wow

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

MicroBob,

I bet all of them were wearing a lot of flair.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

Nothing worse than over eager service people. I feel your pain.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

I'm more amused when they ask you this when the food arrives ("... um, well my food LOOKS OK, thanks - haven't tasted it yet").

Or annoyed when the questions are asked a lot, then the server mysteriously disappears after I realize my steak is cold in the middle...

It's funny how this varies only slightly from the attention you get in a fine restaurant. Where they watch from afar, wait until you need something, then ask. Versus blindly asking everything / everyone that moves around them...

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

This is an example of the idea that in the US we "eat" but if you go to Europe you "dine". Europeans just don't get the idea of waitresses coming over every 3 minutes and asking if all is well and can they fill your drink. Quite frankly I agree with them.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

heh, manger

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

Patrick -

While GF and I were cracking up in the aftermath I said, "Alright, I just might have to take this one to OOT!!"

GF will die of laughter when I tell her of your brother's experience. And yes, it definitely seems like a corporate thing. We have two of these things near us with completely different personnel at each but they all definitely read the same employee handbook. Exact same over-the-top questioning at each.

observation I had is that I would almost be doing them a favor if I mentioned to one of their managers that they are way overdoing it on the "How was everything's".
I really think too much friendliness like that can put off your customers and I think somebody should tell them that at least one customer thinks it would be wise for them to chill. Getting the door and welcome you to the place is one thing. having to give your undying approval to every single thing they are doing every 5 seconds is another.


Tub - They don't wear flair at O'Charley's.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
Nothing worse than over eager service people. I feel your pain.

[/ QUOTE ]

Eager good. Overbearing bad

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

Beats applebees last night. My buddies burger is dropped off then all employees vanish until he is finished. They come to get his empty plate. I have to ask them where the hell is my food? I guess it never occurred to them that we wouldn't be sharing his plate and I might have ordered something too. I didn't tip.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

This is similar to walking into retail stores (I've found Best Buys to be the worst) and be asked by EVERY [censored] EMPLOYEE if I need any help finding something.

No, god damnit, I don't. I'm not retarded. I wish your corporate overloads would realize I want to shop in peace.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

I have experienced this "quality of service" lately at Safeway. It has gotten so bad that I don't go anymore (probably not what they were hoping for). Every two freakin' seconds somebody in the produce section is asking me how my day is going and if I am finding everything alright. I can tell they are forced to ask every customer who comes within 20 feet of them. I am a single, bitter male who is just trying to buy some apples. Assuming you are not a hot female between 18-32, I don't need you to be my Safeway buddy.

Then the cashier asks me if I found everything I was looking for today. It's a little late at this point if I didn't. I have told them on many occasions about their lack of Old El Paso fajita mix, but actually listening to the response from the customer is not part of the experience.

Puf2003champ

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
Beats applebees last night. My buddies burger is dropped off then all employees vanish until he is finished. They come to get his empty plate. I have to ask them where the hell is my food? I guess it never occurred to them that we wouldn't be sharing his plate and I might have ordered something too. I didn't tip.

[/ QUOTE ]you're allowed to stand up and ask someone.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

I hate the ones that scream a welcome at you when you walk in the door - Arby's and Moe's - like there was a study and people said a friendly greeting was a key consideration in deciding where to get some food.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

I agree, racers. But those places haven't been nearly as bad, in my experience, as Cici's. It's a super cheap pizza buffet where the employees yell greetings as you come in and salutations as you leave. [censored] them and their stupid ass greetings. [censored].

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

I'm reminded of my recent trip to a new place called FireHouse Subs (seems like it's a chain).
I walk in and 1 or 2 people behind the counter say, "Welcome to Firehouse." No biggie, I get in line and order a sub.

While I'm in line and later waiting for my sub there were 6 or 7 different people that walked in the door and EVERY time somebody walked in all 4 or 5 them behind the counter would give their "Welcome to Firehouse."

They didn't all say it once. A couple of them didn't see the new customer at first so they echoed the first Welcome-to-Firehouse's.

They had all done it so much that they really didn't have a lot of enthusiasm to it anymore.

For every person that walked in they would be greeted by 4 or 5 half-dead and unenthusiastic, "Welcome to firehouse" and I almost laughed right there in the place because it was so ridiculous.

I felt like I was in a bizarre Saturday Night Live sketch. Except that this situation was actually funny.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
I am a single, bitter male who is just trying to buy some apples.

[/ QUOTE ]


this line made me laugh.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

ha, this annoys me too, but what annoys me more is what they do here in australia. In most stores, they practically ignore you so that sometime you have to wander around looking for a salesperson. Though I guess there are days when this is good.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

You should dine with my husband who counts these among his pet peeves.

"So, how is everything?"

"Well, peace in the middle east would be good."

"Can I get you anything else?"

"No."

When they bring the check, "No. I said we didn't want anything else!"

The day to day minefield of living with a literalist.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

Yikes.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

WOW

What nits!

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
You should dine with my husband who counts these among his pet peeves.

"So, how is everything?"

"Well, peace in the middle east would be good."

"Can I get you anything else?"

"No."

When they bring the check, "No. I said we didn't want anything else!"

The day to day minefield of living with a literalist.

[/ QUOTE ]

did you know he was like this before you married him?

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

I'm not annoyed or bothered because I can be so easily amused by such things. But I can't help but wonder if this is really a good strategy for them.

A good manager will have it synchronized so you only get asked once and it will seem sincere.

Overkill kicks in after two times out the door.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
I really think too much friendliness like that can put off your customers and I think somebody should tell them that at least one customer thinks it would be wise for them to chill. Getting the door and welcome you to the place is one thing. having to give your undying approval to every single thing they are doing every 5 seconds is another.

[/ QUOTE ]
I learned this the hard way when I waited tables. There's a fine line between "perfect service" and "too much service" and when I was new to the gig, I didn't recognize where the line was. Being two feet up customers' asses didn't get me good tips.

You've got to have a customer profile when you wait tables. Couple on a date, businessman on his cell the whole time — leave them alone. Old ladies, families with 3-4 kids — be there all the time.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
You should dine with my husband who counts these among his pet peeves.

"So, how is everything?"

"Well, peace in the middle east would be good."

"Can I get you anything else?"

"No."

When they bring the check, "No. I said we didn't want anything else!"

The day to day minefield of living with a literalist.

[/ QUOTE ]

did you know he was like this before you married him?

[/ QUOTE ]

He'll only do this occasionally in a joking manner. It's not as bad as it sounds.

The literalist part is dead on though and it's generational, Sr., Jr., III, and my son the IV. Heaven forbid you should "jump" in the shower or "run" to the store around this crowd.

As far as personality traits I can think of much worse. I'm sure I have plenty myself that are no picnic to live with.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
I thought this was just a brand-new franchise with an overzealous new owner/manager, but it looks like it's a corporate thing. Wow

[/ QUOTE ]

The O'Charley's in question in the OP is about 2 months old, and they don't get very good business. So the training is still fresh in their minds, they probably still have some sort of head regional manager on the lookout there to make sure it's running smoothly, and they get so few customers that they cherish each one. Give it a few months, and it'll be like every other O'Charley's: they won't give a sh!t if you like their food, service, dead roaches on the floor, etc.

O'Charley's is far and away my favorite restaurant and has been since I was ~12 (10 years ago), and this is definitely abnormal behavior. If you want your usual crappy dining experience, try any of the other ones around and about Memphis. But for me, all the extra questions and caring = nice, not annoying, in a typical American chain restaurant. I made a strange request for a Chicken Tender Salad there a few weeks ago, and when it came out wrong the Manager looked like he was going to cry. He really took it to heart.

Maybe it's because I dress like a 22-year-old frat boy who stiffs waiters (I don't), but I never get asked at any restaurant if I enjoyed my meal. Screw you old-timers, Patrick and Bob.

Brian

P.S. Bob, I live like 5 minutes from that O'Charleys, holla next time you're out here.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
You should dine with my husband who counts these among his pet peeves.

"So, how is everything?"

"Well, peace in the middle east would be good."

"Can I get you anything else?"

"No."

When they bring the check, "No. I said we didn't want anything else!"

The day to day minefield of living with a literalist.

[/ QUOTE ]

ugh

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
This is an example of the idea that in the US we "eat" but if you go to Europe you "dine". Europeans just don't get the idea of waitresses coming over every 3 minutes and asking if all is well and can they fill your drink. Quite frankly I agree with them.

[/ QUOTE ]
This is a valid point and was necessary to contribute to this thread.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
This is similar to walking into retail stores (I've found Best Buys to be the worst) and be asked by EVERY [censored] EMPLOYEE if I need any help finding something.

No, god damnit, I don't. I'm not retarded. I wish your corporate overloads would realize I want to shop in peace.

[/ QUOTE ]

The only thing worse than this is when the same employee asks you several times. If anyone at OOT works in Best Buy once I say I don't need help the first time, I don't need help unless I decide to ask someone. It isn't that [censored] complicated.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

Hmm

Its funny when I visit stateside, I actually quite like this. Yeah sure its fake and people are being forced to do it.

But for some reason I like this from people in the service industry.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
You should dine with my husband who counts these among his pet peeves.

"So, how is everything?"

"Well, peace in the middle east would be good."

"Can I get you anything else?"

"No."

When they bring the check, "No. I said we didn't want anything else!"

The day to day minefield of living with a literalist.

[/ QUOTE ]

did you know he was like this before you married him?

[/ QUOTE ]

He'll only do this occasionally in a joking manner. It's not as bad as it sounds.

The literalist part is dead on though and it's generational, Sr., Jr., III, and my son the IV. Heaven forbid you should "jump" in the shower or "run" to the store around this crowd.

As far as personality traits I can think of much worse. I'm sure I have plenty myself that are no picnic to live with.

[/ QUOTE ]

He sounds like an amazing man.

EDIT: THe worst for me is the "Hi! Have you ever eaten here before!?" from the Waitress. Nope. Never eaten at Chili's before. I'm 28 years old, and this is my first time out of the cave in 11 years. Can you show me how to operate the fork, please? RARRRRR URRRR GGGRRRAAAAA ME HUNGREEE!"

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

Brian - Every time we've been there it's pretty busy actually.
We usually end up going on either Saturday nights or Monday nights.

Not as crowded as the nearby TGIF's. But definitely seems to do okay business for an almost hidden-off location.

Pretty much the same amount of business as the older O'Charley's further down Germantown Road which we used to go to.

Also, we had similar "How was everything?" type issues at that O'Charley's too.
Not as bad as yesterday. But enough where it was already an inside-joke of ours long before we had ever gone to the new one.


GF works at St. Francis-Bartlett hospital and I live in the Wolfchase area too. If you are only 5 minutes from there then that means you, me and NicksDad1970 are all practically neighbors.

2+2 meetup at the hilarious O'Charley's in question before I move to Florida?

Actually, we're way keener on the El Porton mexican restaurant there. Good margaritas and chimichangas.
O'Charleys is only for the days we want to change things up.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

You don't get it.

They are asking for feedback so that they can improve their service.

If you have a problem with something they do then they want to make sure that you have the opportunity to voice your concern so that they could improve.

If you have a problem with the fact that they are too in your face with soliciting suggestions then you should tell them that it annoys you.

They are looking to see if you have any complaints, and you have a complaint about that, so what should you do to help them fix this problem...

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
You don't get it.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, I don't think you do.

Though I agree with you, MicroBob is a major nit. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

There's a not-so-fine line between good service and overbearing. It's not so hard. Once the food comes, ask me once if everything is ok. Then keep an eye on our table if we look like we need something. But don't bug us until a plate or glass is empty. It's not that complicated.

I get so annoyed when I wind up in corporate places that never freaking leave you alone. When I worked at Macaroni Grill they told us it was impossible to check on your table too much, and you should approach the table a minimum of 11 times. Luckily most waiters had more common sense than that.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

cornell - I have considered doing that and I mentioned exactly that in an earlier post.

they are genereally smiling, well-intentioned employees.
So when they are all happy and basically just saying "have a nice day" but in the form of "how was everything" it just feels awkward to essentially say, "It was all great, except for the fact that you guys keep f'ing harassing us!!"

If I'm in a more outgoing mood and feel like chatting with one of them about it when they look available I might do that.
But then that starts a kind of relationship with them that makes things kind of awkward every time we walk into or out of the place.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

You guys are freaking insane. It's great to have people coming back to fill up my water constantly. Is it really that much effort to say "everything is fine" every ten minutes?

I wish more restaurants had service people that were "over eager".

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

Einbert - We literally got asked 3 times in about 10-15 seconds. Way different than every 10 minutes which is far more appropriate.
It's like they are stalking us. It's hilariously over the top.

Re: \"How was everything tonight??\"
 

Let's change the topic, we've already beat this thing to death.

O'Charleys Rolls: does any place beat them?

Brian