Service with/out a smile

Outings are meant to make us happy especially when celebrating special dates with friends. One such outing proved to be great. Not only was the food delicious at Pizza, Pasta e Basta of the Corinthia Palace, Attard, but the service came with a smile. The young waiters/waitresses made us feel special by their courteousness. Moreover, they seemed to be enjoying their world. They proved they were also honest when, on finding my mobile phone, which I had left behind on the table, they phoned to let me know it was safe.

I wish to know what moulds this positive attitude of personnel at eating places. Is it the management's attitude, the training, the salary...? If some research could be done among clients as to grades of satisfied service one could maybe come to a conclusion about the ingredients necessary for a good service. It could then be passed on to the management of restaurants and bars where the service is such that clients get the message they are just about tolerated.

At one such place in St Julians, the waitresses/waiters were so careless and straight-faced they didn't speak to us but only waited for our order. They brought our dishes without even looking at us. They sort of slouched about with never a "hello" or a "thank you". To me this indicated a dissatisfaction with their job for whatever reason and it certainly did not make our evening. Needless to say we left no tips.

An association of restaurants, if it exists, would do well to listen to clients' satisfaction or otherwise and take necessary measures to correct where necessary. This would also help our suffering tourist industry.