Just a rant about work...

echoofformless

echoofformless

Peat Advocate & Defender Of Snails
Oct 1, 2005
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Phil Uh Del Feeya
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I work at a chain restaurant whose name I won't disclose.

They decided a few months ago to take away the descriptions of all of their salads on the menu. So people just get:

House Salad
Caesar Salad
Wedge
Chopped Salad
Signature Salad

etc

Their reasoning? Because they want us (the servers) to have to describe the salads to people if they ask. They honestly think people would appreciate this.

When I protested this and insisted it was idiotic, the managers rolled their eyes at me and said "Don't be so lazy, it's not that much work to tell people some salad ingredients."

When I tried to explain that it wasn't laziness but my sense of marketing that motivated such feelings, they dismissed it and laughed. Some of these salads have a great deal of ingredients.

So my question for all of you: would you rather be able to relax and read a menu that tells you what's in something (after all the whole rest of the menu describes the items - that is why I suspect corporate just wanted to save space and made up a lame excuse) or would you rather have to ask your server and then listen to them rattle off a whole bunch of boring..."mixed greens, chopped peppers, diced tomatoes, cheddar cheese, hard boiled egg, bacon and your choice of dressing..."


In addition, the company also "feels" that having a picture dessert or drink menu isn't as lucrative as making servers describe desserts. Someone once asked our regional during one of his visits why they feel that way and his honest answer was, "It's up to you to sell desserts - people don't respond to pictures, they respond to their server using words to make the picture."

This is the same guy who yells at the kitchen to make sure the plates look perfect before they come out because people "eat with their eyes."


Go figure.


I go to other restaurants all the time and see these great menus with lots of well written descriptions, appetizing photographs and a good selection of appetizers. (Another issue - we don't have wings, potato skins, etc. Just onion rings and chili cheese fries that are made with cheese that isn't melted.) It really agitates me.


So I guess I'm just asking for your general opinions since I'm sure many of you don't work in the industry but I am sure you eat out, so perhaps you can help me to figure if I'm the crazy one or the people who run my restaurant aren't that interested in turning some real profits.
 
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personally i like to know what i want to order and not have to ask the waiter what is in the in the salads even a simple description it doesn't have to be all that accurate.


Desert wise I think its good to have a desert menu at the table at all times, for me the pictures do nothing because in real life I know thay never turn out that way.
 
Personally, I think the server spouting off menu items is a HORRIBLE idea. I wouldn't want to do it if i ever had to be a server, and frankly, I don't want to sit there and listen to you (no offense) monotonously or otherwise read the menu to me, I'd rather pick what I want to eat, and tell you, and have you bring it. Sitting there listening to a list of items being told to me does not allow me to compare them as reading would, and I find it quite awkward because I don't want to ask to hear the first 3 choices again.

as for desserts and other foods, I get a much better appetite seeing the photo, than I do having it described to me. I am a very visual-minded person, and being told something tastes good doesnt convince me, I want to SEE it.
 
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If you have that much of a problem with doing it, Maybe you should find work where you would not have to rattle off the ingredients in a salad
 
Echo, I vote for "yr mgr/chain are idiots." What's the fastest road to more traffic/greater profit: Table turnover. That's why they give patrons uncomfortable seats, constant pestering by servers with "Can I' bring you anything else?" and the like.

You name five salads and hint there are more than that. How long does it take to read all those? Then answer the questions of "Now was the crumbled bacon on the House or the Signature, and which one had the chopped egg, because I can't eat eggs, and tell me what was in that third one again and ...."

It takes a whacking lot longer than it does to give people the information in print and picture and let them weigh all the variables for themselves like grownups, is how long it takes.
 
I'd much rather know what's in the salads so I can order rather than listen to the waiter/waitress list all the ingredients to every salad before I can make a decision. Just a waste of time.

As for desserts, if I want to know the servers opinion (this goes for anything actually) I will ask. I'd much rather be able to make the decision for myself and get reassurance from the person, even though you know what the answer will be.
 
When servers tell me the special of the day, it goes in one ear and out the other. I smile and nod, and when they're done, I have no idea what they just said :)
So, in my case, I would much prefer being able to read the salad ingredients on a menu.

As for the dessert, that guy sounds like he lives on another planet, no offense. I mean, of course, people are more tempted by pictures of desserts than by verbal descriptions.

I did a quick google search and turned up an article titled "5 Low-Cost Ways to Increase Dessert Sales." This article does not mention painting a picture with your words :) It says:

"4. The dessert card This one is a no-brainer for a casual restaurant, but really, every restaurant should think hard before dismissing the suggestive selling power of the nicely photographed dessert card positioned on the table."

-- http://hubpages.com/hub/5-Low-Cost-Ways-to-Increase-Dessert-Sales-and-Increase-Guest-Check-Averages
 
I for one cannot follow a long monotonous litany. I need more than "ample time" to try to make a decision. Most of the time I need to hear what others are having or my wife tells me if my favorite foods are on the menu. I need the visual to help me to make a decision. Very often I have to point to a picture and ask what it is. I am sure the servers think I must be challenged and rightfully so. I don't need 5 or 10 salads to pick from. If you don't have the salad I want but otherwise have great service and food, I will be back. Your salad choices are not going to impact my patronage.

With your descriptions remember K.I.S.S. - Keep It Short and Sweet, or Keep It Simple Stupid. No need to go through the entire list of ingredients for each one. I may ask the server which they like and if they like it I just might give it a try.
 
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