Restaurant Service

Articles about restaurant service

Social 121 in Plano is Riding on the Struggle Bus

Oh, shoot. Teresa Gubbins has word that Social 121 in Plano discharged its kitchen staff, including recent hire Christopher Short, manager Abe Aguirre, and chef Jason Skinner. The staff was dismissed in early March, shortly after our contributor Andrew Chalk revisited the bar/restaurant for a second tasting and declared, “Almost one year after its opening, I can report: it’s solid, man.”

Apparently, not as solid as he’d thought. Teresa writes:

Aguirre said that the restaurant side of Social 121 had been struggling. “The bar side took over the restaurant side,” he said.

Now the restaurant is operating as a bar with a “lounge menu.”

posted by Carol Shih | May 10th, 2012 11:03am | filed under restaurant business news, restaurant service | 2 Comments »

Spring Menu Released at Pyramid Restaurant in Dallas

Scallop Crudo with Wasabi Tobiko and Kiwi-Yuzu Emulsion

The Pyramid Restaurant and Bar at The Fairmont Hotel in Dallas hosted a media dinner to showcase their spring menu. Chef André Natera is using more than just seasonal ingredients to create special dishes. His inspiration comes from Spring, a time of renewal, warmer temperatures, and growth. The rooftop garden at the hotel is starting to bloom and this is affords him the opportunity to extend the range of produce consistent with his emphasis on local ingredients.

Jump for the glory of Spring. (more…)

posted by Andrew Chalk | March 19th, 2012 9:31am | filed under Andrew Chalk, Restaurant News, restaurant service |

Restaurant Review: The Commissary at One Arts Plaza in Dallas

Dripping cheese by Kevin Marple.

In the October issue of D Magazine, Teresa Gubbins tells us what she thinks about The Commissary.

In a profession loaded with bad boys, chef John Tesar stands out. Mercurial, dismissive, he’s a hyperactive hothead with a self-destructive streak so legendary that his old pal Anthony Bourdain has written about it. Tesar is so good at embodying the tantrum-throwing temperamental-chef stereotype that D Magazine made him the subject of the September cover story, titled “The Most Hated Chef in Dallas.”

But there is the man, and then there is what he puts on the plate. From his early days at a French restaurant called Pierre’s in Westhampton to his stint at RM Seafood in Las Vegas, he has impressed discriminating palates, including the folks who hired him in 2006 to be executive chef at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, where he took on the intimidating task of replacing longtime fixture Dean Fearing.

She’s got a lot more tosay.

posted by Nancy Nichols | September 28th, 2011 12:03pm | filed under Bacon, Burgers, Celebrity Chefs, Cult Cuisine, Nutjobs, Peripatetic chefs, Restaurant News, Reviews, Skinny bitches, restaurant service | 8 Comments »

Point CounterPoint: Should Dallas Restaurants Have a Time Limit?

"Hello, beautiful lady. My name is Jason. I'll be your waiter tonight. You'll have 2 hours to complete your meal. And your time starts ... NOW"

[Ed. note: George poses this, in my opinion, stupid question. I am challenging him with, in my opinion, a smarter one.]

George: A couple of weeks ago, a Zagat survey reported that 60% of dinners in New York supported a time limit which allows the restaurant to boot you from your table so they can seat another party. But we’re not New York. So let’s ask the question to Dishers. Would you mind a time limit?

Nancy: George, you ignorant cluck. You are right on one point: we are not New York. I hate rushed service. Take MiCocina (beat, beat). Those waiters aren’t servers they’re animal trainers. They can turn a table of six in 40 minutes. It drives me nuts. I get the same vibe at Houston’s. Every time you sit down you can feel the beat: water, menus, drinks, order, eat, dessert, BOOM. Maybe, just maybe, we are eating out to have a conversation that doesn’t fit into the restaurant’s time frame. I think no time limit is best for the customer.

George: You can’t have a conversation in under 2 hours? Are you sitting with your fork in one hand and Blackberry in the other? Talk, talk, tap, tap. Assuming your waiter greets you in a timely manner, takes your order, and serves you your drinks and food, you really can’t finish in 2 hours? If not, move to the bar. I think it’s good for business.

Who is right?

posted by George Lewis | September 15th, 2011 12:06pm | filed under Bring it!, Cheap trick for comments, Contests, Cult Cuisine, Food Fight!, Slow News Day, make mine a double, restaurant service | 46 Comments »

I Wish To No Longer Be Called “Beautiful Lady.” Is That Too Much To Ask?

Last night, after yet another painful waiter experience that started with, “Hello, beautiful lady,” and ended with “Would the lovely ladies like dessert?” I have decided that it’s time to say enough! Enough with the obsequiousness. Enough with the platitudes. Enough! Nancy called attention to the issue of false fawning in her recent review of Marquee, so perhaps we’re all more sensitive to it now. But no one likes to be shined-on. Do they?

Here are the facts: I am neither beautiful nor a lady. Don’t really aspire to be. So why lay it on so thick? (My late-grandmother, by the way, once threw a fork at a waiter who called her “young lady.” She was 92 at the time.)

I can tolerate waiter-interruptus, and I understand that service comes with a fair dose of insincerity, but it’s the bald-faced “lovely lady” lie that’s so grating. Give me a pro, a server I can admire for his gentility. Give me a server who knows his food, who’s willing to give an opinion and make a joke. But leave the buttering-up in the kitchen.

Is it just me? Or do other people long for a end of the pandering, too?

posted by Sarah Reiss | September 9th, 2011 12:34pm | filed under Rants, Really?, restaurant service | 21 Comments »

Week Two: 2011 KRLD Restaurant Week Server of the Week is Connie Frances Forbin of The French Room

Connie Frances Forbin of The French Room is our Server of the Week.

Thanks to all who took the time to recognize their server this week during KRLD Restaurant Week. This week I’m happy to see Connie Frances Forbin rise to the top. No surprise, Connie has been at The French Room for at least 20 years. She is charming, warm, and professional. Connie received several votes but Bethany took a picture and sends this note:

Nancy, I’d like to introduce you to the best restaurant week server I have ever had – Connie at The French Room. She was kind, courteous, full of smiles, knowledgeable, and made the most wonderful recommendations. We appreciated her service so much that we made a reservation to be at her table next week for a non-restaurant week meal. I know now why the French Room is so highly rated – not only is the room beautiful, but the service is among the best I have had in Dallas.

Cue standing ovation. Other shout-outs go to Collin at Bolla in the Stoneleigh (from Jack), Robert at Abacus (from Meredith), and Joel Mendoza at Perry’s Steakhouse (from Jack).

Jump for reader reviews of their servers. Thank you all.

(more…)

posted by Nancy Nichols | August 29th, 2011 11:52am | filed under Celebrity Diners, KRLD RESTAURANT WEEK 2011, restaurant service | 4 Comments »

Table Tales: Hector Garcia Reports Customers From Hell

Last night I received Hector Garcia’s weekly newsletter. In it was this little gem of a story. I thought I’d share.

“We are foodies!” These words scare most waiters, but not because they are afraid of foodies. People who ARE foodies, show themselves by what they order, what they drink, and how they act in a restaurant. Not by proclaiming it.

So when a table of four in the patio (one woman, three men) announced to James that “we are foodies!”, he soldiered on. As he walked away from the table he heard the lady say, “I thought we were coming to a Five Star restaurant.” (more…)

posted by Nancy Nichols | March 3rd, 2011 11:05am | filed under Celebrity Diners, Food Crime, Foodie People, Overprivileged chimps, Restaurant News, restaurant service | 16 Comments »

Splitting the Check in Restaurants, Cont’d

A blurry photo depicting the most beautiful thing I've ever seen: a perfectly split-up check.

I was all prepared to use bb641’s app, You Owe, at dinner Friday night. But I didn’t have to. Wanna know why? Because the server at Komali read my mind and split up my group’s check without even being asked. That, my friends, is service. (I was so excited, I sent the photo to several people who have complained with me about this issue.)

posted by Krista Nightengale | February 21st, 2011 1:22pm | filed under Rants, Silly Reasons to Celebrate, restaurant service | 3 Comments »

An Unbiased, Around-Town Mini Tasting With Chef and Simply Suppers Author Jennifer Chandler

Visiting chef and cookbook author Jennifer Chandler digs Dallas' comfort food.

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of hanging out with my old friend, chef/cookbook author/radio & TV host Jennifer Chandler (in town from Memphis to sign copies of her latest book, Simply Suppers).

I don’t deny that I sweated the restaurant choices a little; after all we only had one day and Jennifer did earn her stripes at Cordon Bleu Paris—but in the end, Jennifer’s predilection for of down-home, comfort food made my job easy.

I thought it would be fun to take her to a couple Dallas favorites and see what someone with no local prejudices or loyalties had to say about them. The following is a edited conversation from our lunch and Meddlesome Moth and dinner at the original Neighborhood Services on Lovers Ln.

jump to read what she had to say… (more…)

posted by Sarah Reiss | January 25th, 2011 9:00am | filed under Chefs, Diets are stupid, Neighborhood restaurants, cookbooks, restaurant service | 2 Comments »

Opening Night at La Fiorentina. Bistecca + Napoleon = Una Buona Serata

La Fiorentina'a crostini of the day with prosciutto, lardo, raosted tomatoes, and pureed cannellini beans.

When La Fiorentina Tuscan Steakhouse opened its doors to the public on Dec. 1, we were first in line. Follow the link for some awesome pictures and to find out what Alberto Lombardi has up his sleeve with his new Tuscan steakhouse.

Click here to go to the full review…

posted by Sarah Reiss | December 7th, 2010 9:00am | filed under Chefs, Diets are stupid, Openings, Restaurant News, Reviews, Steak, Steakhouses, restaurant service | 6 Comments »

Best Server of KRLD Restaurant Week Number Two: Brandon Smoot, Come on Down!

We asked you to pay attention to servers who went above and beyond the call of duty to make your KRLD Restaurant Week memorable. Last week, Amber Zuniga and Johan Mand of Charlie Palmer shared the honor as Best Servers of KRLD Restaurant Week Number One.

The winner for week number two is Brandon Smoot from Dish. (Last week Dish server Ira Steck was a runner-up.) Obviously Dish is providing great service during the hectic time of Restaurant Week. Way to go Brandon! Your public has spoken.

Below you will find other servers who captured your attention during the second KRLD Restaurant Week. Thanks to all who took the time to nominate your server. And thanks to the many servers who work hard to represent the Dallas restaurant business. We appreciate you both. Go. Eat. Nominate. (nancyn@dmagazine.com) (more…)

posted by Nancy Nichols | September 1st, 2010 11:37am | filed under Celebrity Diners, KRLD Restaurant Week 2010, Restaurant News, Restaurant Week 2010, restaurant service | 5 Comments »

SideDish Contest: Best Servers of KRLD Restaurant Week Number Two

Congrats to the winners of last week’s contest. Now, let’s get busy and vote for the server who will take honors next Monday. If you have a server who goes above and beyond the call of RW duty, take a picture and get their name. E-mail details to me (nancyn@dmagazine.com)

posted by Nancy Nichols | August 23rd, 2010 10:27am | filed under Awards, Celebrity Diners, Contests, KRLD Restaurant Week 2010, Restaurant Week 2010, restaurant service | 1 Comment »

SideDish Contest: Pick the Best Server During Restaurant Week

Folks, just a reminder to send in your nominations (complete name with a photo if you can) of a server who performed above the call of duty. E-mail details of your experience to me (nancyn@dmagazine.com. Winner of Best Server of Restaurant Week Number One will be announced on Monday morning. Go. Eat. Report.

posted by Nancy Nichols | August 19th, 2010 1:28pm | filed under Celebrity Diners, Foodie People, KRLD Restaurant Week 2010, restaurant service | 2 Comments »

KRLD Restaurant Week: Good Servers and Bad Customers

Yesterday I asked RW diners to send in the names of servers who performed above the call of duty. Now I’m getting emails from servers who would like a forum to discuss their customers. So, here is your own mini-Bitterwaitress space, dear server. Go. The audience is listening. If you’re really good, I’ll start a weekly post for you. Oh, and name your restaurant or I will delete you.

posted by Nancy Nichols | August 17th, 2010 9:38am | filed under Awards, Foodie People, KRLD Restaurant Week 2010, Overprivileged chimps, Rants, restaurant service | 9 Comments »

Food Feedback Friday: What and Where Did You Eat This Week in DFW

Dang, I probably picked the worst week to start our new feature, Food Feedback Friday. It’s hot, nobody’s hungry, and KRLD Restaurant year month week(s) kicks off this weekend with preview dinners and continues its run through September 5 . I’m sure many of you who have made multiple restaurant reservations probably stayed home this week. (I did not and it was a scary to witness so many empty dining rooms.) Anywhoo, if you have a recent dining experience or complaint you’d like to report, do so below. The audience is listening.

posted by Nancy Nichols | August 13th, 2010 9:00am | filed under Celebrity Diners, Food Feedback Friday, Restaurant News, Reviews, restaurant service | 27 Comments »

Monday Morning Rant: Server Drives Me Crazy

A few weeks ago I was having breakfast at Craft Dallas. There were only three customers in the restaurant which makes me nervous since I’d hate to see Dallas lose this place—the food is really special. However here is the transcript of a conversation I had with my waiter. I pretended to be from out of town.

Jump for the story.