The Roanoker - November/December 2019 - 87

What makes dining
out so special is the
humanity behind
the hospitality.
throughout the shift," Sallade reveals.
"We'd rather you find a wine you really enjoy and
order multiple glasses than sip on one you don't just
to be polite."
When it comes to beer or wine, Sallade recommends
sampling two that you find most appealing or asking if
wine or beer flights are offered.

Be adventurous!
The thrill of discovery can help you break out of a
dining rut.
"Go to a restaurant you're most comfortable with and
order the thing that sounds the most different," Quincy
Randolph, co-owner of RND Coffee, advises. "Or go to
a restaurant that's outside your comfort zone and order
what you'd normally gravitate toward."
For example, Patrick and Jessica Ohpark, co-owners
of Hanu Truck, have found many meat-and-potatoes
types return for their Korean-street-food-inspired
noodle and rice bowls.

Become a regular.
"When you're a cook, chef or baker, there's a 90%
chance that you want to be generous and please people
by feeding them. If you really like your job, you enjoy
serving people and it makes you want to go the extra
mile," says Alex Eliades, owner of Bread Craft, who
sends out a little something extra on regulars' birthdays.
At Jerry's Family Restaurant, owner Jerry Lamb
says servers have regulars' coffee waiting for them
and know what their usual is. Once a staff gets to
know your preferences, they can better curate your
dining experience.
"It's fun for us to be able to pick out a wine, dessert or
dish that we just know certain tables will love," Byrd says.

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Follow your fave spots
on social media.
Besides finding out about special events, deals and
new dishes, social media can also teach you more about
your favorite foods.
Carolyn Kiser, who co-owns Blue Cow Ice Cream Co.,
says following them on social media is great for learning
more about what's in your cone (not to mention when
fan-favorites like banana puddin' are back).
Eliades loves to post behind-the-scenes videos to
show fans all the love and detail that goes into Bread
Craft's hand-made goodies.

Tip as generously as you can.
Tipping 15-20% on the check total is still the norm,
though it skews closer to 15% for counter-service spots
and 18-20% for higher-end spots.
Restaurateurs agree that a tip is discretionary, but it
doesn't hurt to remember that most servers receive a
minimal paycheck before gratuities. And if you're paying
with a gift card or receive a special discount, you should
still tip based on what the total bill amount would've been.

Remember that hospitality
is a two-way street.
What makes dining out so special is the humanity
behind the hospitality.
"People working at restaurants are people, too, and
everyone is always doing their best," Randolph says.
Acknowledging your server with eye contact, a smile
or even a "hi, how are you?" goes a long way to set the
tone for a positive dining experience.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

87
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The Roanoker - November/December 2019

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