With two guys in my Entrecard queue who love to post about the food they eat and the restaurants they eat in (John Chow’s advertising here today, Alan from Affililate Confession is tomorrow), it seems like as good a time as any to post this…
From time to time, all of us eat out in restaurants.
I’d be willing to bet that you’ve had many experiences where you want something and your waiter or waitress is nowhere in sight.
Maybe you would like a refill of your drink. Maybe you’d like more bread. Maybe you just spilled something and need some more napkins. Maybe you have to leave but you can’t get anyone’s attention to get your check.
In my (fictional) restaurant, each table would have some sort of a switch built in. Keeping your switch in the “off” position means that everything’s great and would be akin to hanging a “do not disturb” sign on your hotel room door. Flipping your switch to the “on” position means that you need service. When your switch is flipped, a light with your table number would illuminate in the back and a server would immediately come to help. When they arrive at your table, they’ll flip the switch back to “off” and ask what they can do for you.
Think for just a minute how much better a simple little switch would make everything!
Whenever you want something - anything - just flip the switch and someone will arrive to your table within seconds. From the customer’s perspective, the service in this restaurant would be unparalleled.
The waiter/waitress would have better tips, due to the undoubtedly improved service they would be able to provide, not to mention the fact that they would be less stressed and actually be able to have some time to relax in the back instead of constantly walking around looking for people giving them the “we need something” look.
It would also be useful to keep servers away, because sometimes we all want and need a little bit of privacy. Have you ever been in a deep conversation or at the crucial point of a date or business meeting only to be interrupted by a talkative server?
Maybe it’s just me, but I would rather eat in a mediocre restaurant with instant on-demand service than a great restaurant where I have to wait 5 minutes every time I need something. And if you combine the great restaurant with on-demand service…hell I’ll go there every night!
Why doesn’t this exist? Or does it? I know I’ve never seen anything like it.
If you’re in the restaurant business, feel free to take my idea. Just invite me to the grand opening and credit me somewhere on your menu 
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Entries (RSS)
January 31st, 2008 at 9:33 pm
This is a great idea Walt… I don’t know if it does exist. I have however been to a restaurant w/ small paper circles for each customer (green on one side / red on the other) and when the customer has the green side up, the waiters come offer more food / services and when the red side’s up the waiters know that the customers don’t need any service.
February 1st, 2008 at 5:56 am
Walt….this is a sick idea. I have worked in the restraurant business before and understand how uncomfortable things get when you interrupt during a deep conversation just to ask if anyone needs something. What is great idea!
February 1st, 2008 at 9:13 am
It does exist in Asia and I’m actually working on a similar idea. Just better. However, I’m stuck as I’m looking for funding.
February 1st, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Glad you like the idea Sports, and it’s good to see that some restaurants are already doing something similar like Andrew mentioned. I really can’t think of any reasons NOT to do this, so I hope that it spreads! Good luck with the funding Larry!
February 5th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Actually, the majority of restaurants here in Japan have a bell on the table and the staff only come when you call them or they are walking past and it’s clear you have an empty plate they can take back to the kitchen. It’s great.