What's with these waitpersons (a.k.a. waiters and waitresses) who insist on kneeling down by your table to take your order--as one young man did last Sunday morning at the Caf? Rani on Magazine Street? Is he too tired to stand up? Is he trying to cozy up to the folks at the table in hopes of getting a bigger tip? Is he trying to show respect by keeping the level of his head lower than that of his customers, as people used to do when they prostrated themselves before royalty?
Here's the deal from my perspective as a former resident of Paris and, admittedly, a bit of a snob where matters of food and decorum are concerned: 1) I think the very least thing a waitperson can do to show respect for his/her customer is remain in a vertical position while taking orders; 2) my wife and I would prefer not to be addressed by twentysomething strangers as ""you guys""; 3) I really don't care to know that my waitperson's name is Hillary or Bruce. Oh, and my wife doesn't like ice cubes in her ice water (but they can't be expected to know that until we tell them). Those are the rules when it comes to making me a satisfied customer. They're not complicated, but there you have it.
Have a nice day!
Pros: Good food, pleasant environment
Cons: Squatting waitstaff
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