I've noticed this trend a lot lately and, yet more often than not they return to the table to 'clarify' the order or worse yet - get it wrong altogether. It's annoying as hell.

I think restaurants should take a tip from the old chinese restaurants. Number everything. Then you could order "I'll have the number 5, but not too spicy!"

The only place that I've ever been where this really worked was North Woods. Their wait staff was unsurpassed. Most other places wait staff do not have the level of expertise or professionalism that the wait staff at North Woods had.

Our server took about 12-15 orders without writing anything down and every order was correct and delivered to the correct orderer.

I think that restaurants think it makes them appear chi chi to have the wait staff not write orders. When the staff doesn't have the "talent" for even remembering what the days specials are or what kind of beer is on tap, they need to think again!

I think it also depends on the number of diners. When I was waiting tables, I could easily remember the order for a 2-top, and for a 4 most of the time. For more than that, I definitely wrote it down.

We once were a table of eight at Sabatino's on a very crowded Saturday night. Our waitress "remembered" our orders by moving the several rings she was wearing to different fingers on either hand.

Her system worked - everyone's order was perfect.

I see this quite a bit, and as a picky eater, it is very frustrating.

To recall a prior post - if I order something and the waitstaff doesn't write it down and gets it wrong (bell peppers and onions are problems for me) can I send it back? What if it's the right dish just not prepared how I wanted - i.e. no onions?

I will confess that I have stretched the truth at times to prevent seeing raw onions on salads...when you say you're allergic, they tend to pay more attention!

Memory doesn't waste paper, it's mad green yo.

I still do not understand why waitstaff do not write down orders. Most who do write orders down have a type of shorthand to indicate dishes ordered and changed needed to a dish. Of course whether or not the kitchen staff reads the order (from a paper or from a computer screen) and acts on the orders properly is a different issue.

I had a teacher who was able to remember all the names of the students after just one introduction..
Same skill set???

Tennisgal,
Exactly. The Return For Clarity -- definitely a trend. It's a double-edged sword. On one edge, I delight that they're trying to get it right. On the other, what happened the first time? What about "bacon" is so hard to remember?
But I can't leave it at that. I believe it has happened that I or one of my dining companions has from time to time NOT mentioned something we wanted and then got upset when we didn't get it. I know I've seen this happen a couple times in the past year or so.
Of course with no written record ....

Of course with no written record...

there can be no subpoena.

This happens to us all of the time. My husband is lactose intolerant and so when he places an order he always asks for any cheese that comes with the dish to be omitted. About half of the time they forget so he either has to wait for his meal to be redone or try and scrape it off/eat around it.

I admit that I'm also really impressed when they don't write anything down and then get it right. There are some waiters that you just know are going to get it wrong from the moment you see them, and others that make you feel confident that they are paying attention and are going to provide great service.

If you really have reasons for special orders, even if its just finickiness, a solution might be to get one of those small voice recorders and make sure it is on when ordering. That way when the server says "That's what you ordered," you can play back what you really said.

It's simple. As long as my order's right (and I AM one of those picky ones) I don't care if they don't write it or write it on their forehead. As long as I get what I ordered, the way I ordered it, it doesn't matter. If I don't get it the way I want, it goes back. Regardless if they wrote it down or not.

The picture looks like it was taken at Kiko's in Perry Hall. I miss them!!

RiE, I think recording the evidence is a little extreme here.

I'm impressed when wait staff doesn't write it down and gets it right, but when there are two of us, we both order unmodified items and both are wrong, that is a problem.

The optimum solution is for the server to have a hand held device that they can enter the order on and it would go directly back to the kitchen.

Currently most places the server has to take the order and then run over to a computer and enter it there. Then they forget some part of the order and have to return to the table or just guess.

And I think most people rather see the order written down and get it right rather than trying to remember 4 orders and getting only some right.

Yes, Lissa, it is a little extreme. Depends on how much you need the modifications.

Of course there are the times when the kitchen staff goof up though the order was properly placed. I was at a local (for me) place a few weeks ago and ordered my entree with mashed potatoes and gravy. When my order came I noticed that the potatoes were a little "thin" and creamy. About then my waitress comes over and says "Don't eat the potatoes!" Seems the guy in the kitchen scooped out some of their cream of crab soup (which is thick for soup [though not for potatoes] and creamy) instead of the potatoes. They brought me a dish of "real" potatoes and gravy.

I'm far too passive-aggressive. I realize this is a problem, and I'm working on it.

When a server tries to go by memory and brings the wrong order out, it's rarely something I absolutely will not eat.

They apologize. I smile, and shrug it off.

Inside, I'm thinking how far below 15% will be reasonable.

I have to admit, I do it alot. not because I am trying to impress, or test my skills, hell at my age i'm lucky to remember to put on socks before I leave the house. I do it because being a bartender, my hands are always wet. I am constantly making drinks and washing my hands, by the end of the shift, I am soaked. anyway, has anyone been to ann's footlongs out front of marley station mall? I have gone in to purposely try to get them to mess up my order, they never write anything down and in 30 years they have not once messed up even a little bit. plus the shakes are awsome!

B'moron:

I have to admit, my expectations of bar service are different. If a bartender is serving me food, it's often the sort of place that I won't mind a little extra communication to clarify things.

If it's the kind of place where I'm honestly just soaking up the excess alcohol, you could probably bring me a dishrag with ketchup and I'll high-five you for it.

I've had servers try and pull off the 'memory' game in fine dining establishments, only to fail spectacularly. I generally don't mind -- but it seems like the sort of unnecessary risk that backfires more wonderfully in context.

Gah, I'm rambling.

the baltimoron wrote hell at my age i'm lucky to remember to put on socks before I leave the house. This reminds me of a somewhat spacey cousin who was very excited about her first day on a new job. She said goodbye to her husband, who said "Dear, are you going to work now?" "Yes, dear!" "Don't you think it would be good to put on your skirt?"

That is Kiko's for sure :(

The optimum solution is for the server to have a hand held device that they can enter the order on and it would go directly back to the kitchen.

Rich- some places do use that kind of device. I know that The Tower in Bel Air does, and it is genius!

you guys are funny! I seem to find a genuine laugh on this site every day, thanks general and dahlink! high five for a dishrag and ketchup, now thats just plain funny.