To think service standards have slipped in a lot of places?

[deb3870]

I went out at the weekend with a small group of friends, my first (non family) night out since pre Covid.

We went to 3 places, service was appalling in each one, and it wasn't a case of being too busy because each place was only 2/3 full at best.

All 3 places were table service only, no app to order from.

First place we were served almost as we sat down. Great start but went downhill from then, waiting staff trying to remove a glass which wasn't finished, and also a half empty bottle of wine (ditto). Had to wait a while to order second drink and even longer to be served. When we came to leave it took 15 mins to pay our bill, and involved 4 members of staff...

Second place - more of the same, we only stayed for 1 drink because it took so long to be served/ being the drinks over!

Third place (where we were having dinner) - our group were put on separate tables (because tables are for 4, and we're a group of 6) which were back to back despite us having requested in advance to be seated next to each other. Eventually they did allow us to swap seats with a lot of huffing and puffing. Brought the wrong drinks twice, and half our group had finished their meal before the other half of us had our main course! We also had to ask 3 times for someone to take a drinks order and in the end one of our group had to get up and pretty much drag someone to the table. Again took ages paying the bill. The food and drink quality was all pretty poor too despite paying £10-15 per drink!

The whole thing just seemed shambolic, I could have understood one place having a bad night but all 3?

Conversely, partner and I last week went to a pub in a well known chain which is usually disparaged on here, placed order via the app, service was exemplary and the food was not only quick but really good quality. Oh and a fraction of the cost too.

Lots of people lost their jobs in hospitality during lockdown, and found work in different areas, so lots of waiting staff etc will be very inexperienced.

Staffing will probably be being affected by Covid and isolation - young people and hospitality workers are at both very likely to be exposed to Covid at the moment, so although the place didn't look understaffed, you might have had a manager who should have been doing paperwork, plus a couple of temporary staff in their first week on the job.

Sounds like a rubbish experience for your first night out with friends!

I can only say that the hospitality industry has been hit so hard, basically so many with experience have had to find other work, that in my personal situation we have no staff for the large number of events that are now happening/ due to happen. We've had to call everyone we know and get them to do the same, to get enough people to help cover the events, but in a lot of cases they've never worked in this environment before.... we've been lucky enough to have some very switched on newbies, maybe in your case there was no strong management or training for new staff and that's what was going on?

To be honest, however inexperienced you are, you'd know not to take away a half finished drink, or that if someone has asked for the bill you don't keep them waiting 15 mins.

The quality of the food, and issues like the table arrangement are just shoddy though. I do sympathise with staffing issues but on a night out I want to eat my dinner at about the same time as my group, not 30 mins later, and I don't want to feel like I've spent my evening trying either to get served, get what I've actually ordered and to pay.

I think people vote with their feet and personally I'll be avoiding the places we went to in favour of a chain which is 1/4 of the price and much better service!

We had an issue in a pizza restaurant chain with Deliveroo orders taking precedent over in restaurant diners. We had almost an hour gap between starters and main course because of it. Reduced capacity in the restaurant because of COVID restrictions but no limit on Deliveroo orders that apparently took priority in the pizza oven. We complained, nicely and politely, and only had to pay for drinks. Not sure we will go back. Manager run ragged but not sure whose fault it is? Surely restaurant could limit Deliveroo? We also had to have a ridiculously early dinner slot as booked up later.

I’ve found the opposite, with restaurant/ pub staff extra helpful and friendly

Certain bank staff very rude. Menacing tone standing on the door in full forensic outfit. 'What do you want?'

Also told I'm creating a queue because they didn't sort out my enquiry quick enough.

Customer service in some organisations has definitely suffered.

I've had the opposite. App ordering is annoying and I've often had issues with it.

@EssexGurl

We had an issue in a pizza restaurant chain with Deliveroo orders taking precedent over in restaurant diners. We had almost an hour gap between starters and main course because of it. Reduced capacity in the restaurant because of COVID restrictions but no limit on Deliveroo orders that apparently took priority in the pizza oven. We complained, nicely and politely, and only had to pay for drinks. Not sure we will go back. Manager run ragged but not sure whose fault it is? Surely restaurant could limit Deliveroo? We also had to have a ridiculously early dinner slot as booked up later.

You can't limit deliveroo orders, and you have to achieve a high volume to make it worthwhile. I guess restaurants are hedging their bets in case of another lockdown, I guess they are quite close to insolvency (at least some of them, anyway)

I had a similar experience at the weekend. Food massively overpriced £15 for a wrap!
Maybe they are trying to make up for lost earnings but I won't be going back.