Etiquette Tuesday: Honesty.
©JohnnaKnowsGoodFood
The truth is a hard thing to find these days especially in the restaurant scene. Most of us have visited a restaurant and asked the waiter for their honest recommendation on what to get on the menu. When the waiter responds with an “Everything is good here”, I almost always give the side eye. Now there are restaurants where everything is honestly good but some places are less deserving of such an accolade. This week’s Etiquette Tuesday speaks to those that fail to deliver on their promise: tell the truth about the food.
This week’s tip came from one of my readers who visited a restaurant and the waitress narrowed down most of the menu to only two options that were actually appealing. When asked “How is the mac n’ cheese? Ehh, that’s not that great. How about the calamari? A little over cooked if you ask me.” To some this may seem like the worst person you can have working for you but my reader was rather pleased by the waitresses’ candid responses. Why waste my time and money on rubbery calamari when you know the restaurants real specialty is their deep dish pizza?? I appreciate this honesty regardless of whether I become turned off by the menu or not, at least I saved those calories and dollars.
On the flip side, there is a way to be honest without grossing the patrons out and making them not want to visit the restaurant anymore. Suggesting another dish or simply stating “What about the artichoke dip? Some people enjoy that (If that is the truth…), but my favorite dish on the menu is…” is one of the ways to get your point across without being so direct. Honesty will win every time with yours truly. What about you? Let’s discuss.
Category: Etiquette Tuesday
About the Author (Author Profile)
Johnna French is a Harlem NY native with deep roots in Panama, Washington, DC and North Carolina. All four places have heavily influenced her life and the foods she loves today. After graduating Howard University School of Law and beginning her life as a young professional in the city she was led to start Johnna Knows Good Food in November 2007 to keep family, friends and colleagues updated on where to go and what to eat while dining in the nation’s capitol. French, who still practices law, leads a team of three writers to cover the ever expanding Washington, DC food scene. French has been featured in print and television, appearing in Washingtonian Magazine and is a regular contributor to various local TV affiliates including WUSA 9, FOX 5 DC and WJLA (ABC Affiliate) News Channel 8. During the 2016-2017 football season, Johnna aired on Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic (CSN) show, Redskins Life, as the weekly tailgate host. Johnna is currently a regular contributor to the FOX Baltimore Weekend morning show.Subscribe
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