"How was everything tonight??"

[MicroBob]

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.

[danlux]

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

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

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

[tuq]

MicroBob,

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

[Phil153]

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

[Uncle_Billy]

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...

[ncboiler]

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.

[eviljeff]

heh, manger

[MicroBob]

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.

[ncboiler]

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

[/ QUOTE ]

Eager good. Overbearing bad