Being Prompt
Being prompt doesn't mean rushing or hovering, but it does mean taking care of customers' needs in an appropriate time frame. Having to wait 10 or even five minutes for drink refills, butter, sauce or the check can quickly make a good dining experience turn sour. Customers can feel awkward when wondering if they should remind their servers about the request. They may even eat food without the proper condiments or a beverage -- something no restaurant owner wants. Restaurant owners can encourage their employees to offer prompt service by asking them to keep lists of customer needs or to care for one customer before moving on to the next.
Being Friendly
Good service in the restaurant industry means friendly, welcoming service. A restaurant owner should not strive to avoid bad service, but she should strive to encourage the exceptional service that occurs when service workers take a genuine interest in their customers. For example, waiters and hosts might ask customers about their day, help them make food choices and give customers compliments. Restaurant owners can encourage this kind of good service by honoring employees who are exceptionally gifted in this area and having them train others.