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> the serving experience is a really important part of the encounter. Almost all of it, in fact. For me, it's not so much the serving experience, but the exper

by wenc 8y ago

> the serving experience is a really important part of the encounter. Almost all of it, in fact. For me, it's not so much the serving experience, but the experience of eating with and around others in a "third place". I did a little thought experiment: would I prefer to eat with a restaurant full of people and 1-2 mediocre servers, or be lavishly served by impeccably trained waitstaff in a restaurant with only a few patrons? I concluded that the former would be my preference every time. I figured my interaction with servers is typically less than 5 minutes in duration, but my interaction with the restaurant environment is often about 1-2 hours.

esotericn 8y ago
It's a balance though, right? The limiting case would be McDonald's. Which has it's place, but is hardly a place to go for a social occasion.
- wenc 8y ago
  You're right of course. No service would definitely diminish the experience, especially if one is dining with family or significant other. I wouldn't take my significant other to an automat for a date... But in my opinion (and it's just me -- I do see your point of view and it does make sense to me), service itself is only a small part of the experience. I just got back from dinner at a sit-down Indian restaurant where service was minimal but the food was amazing. I had a good time. My expectations may be cultural however. Most Asian restaurants have minimal service, and I usually hardly notice if the food's good. There's still service in a sense (the busboys bring out the food) but interaction is minimal. All that said, I still want humans in the picture... p.s. this is an aside and has nothing to do with your observations, but there is one McDonald's where it wouldn't be inconceivable to go for a social occasion: the McDonald's HQ in Chicago, where they serve an international menu. Interestingly, though you order on a touch-screen, bussers bring out the food to you at your table, like at a restaurant.
- hopler 8y ago
  People line up at elite food trucks for social occasions.

by wenc 8y ago

esotericn 8y ago

It's a balance though, right? The limiting case would be McDonald's. Which has it's place, but is hardly a place to go for a social occasion.

wenc 8y ago
You're right of course. No service would definitely diminish the experience, especially if one is dining with family or significant other. I wouldn't take my significant other to an automat for a date... But in my opinion (and it's just me -- I do see your point of view and it does make sense to me), service itself is only a small part of the experience. I just got back from dinner at a sit-down Indian restaurant where service was minimal but the food was amazing. I had a good time. My expectations may be cultural however. Most Asian restaurants have minimal service, and I usually hardly notice if the food's good. There's still service in a sense (the busboys bring out the food) but interaction is minimal. All that said, I still want humans in the picture... p.s. this is an aside and has nothing to do with your observations, but there is one McDonald's where it wouldn't be inconceivable to go for a social occasion: the McDonald's HQ in Chicago, where they serve an international menu. Interestingly, though you order on a touch-screen, bussers bring out the food to you at your table, like at a restaurant.
hopler 8y ago
People line up at elite food trucks for social occasions.