Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 8, 1994 TAG: 9405210002
SECTION: DISCOVER NRV PAGE: 74 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: LINDA JILK CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
They're sure to serve up some local gossip along with the food.
Theresa Graham is a good example. "She's always cutting up with you and joking and is real good at serving you, and in the meantime is asking how you're doing," said Elliston resident Barbara Dillard.
"She knows my mother and brother and asks about how they're doing, and if she's seen someone from school."
New River Current readers responding to our recent Discover poll endorsed Graham and "everyone at Hale's" among their favorite waiters or waitresses.
"They are always so nice," wrote a Christiansburg resident.
"I've been doing it so long. It's just in the blood," said 11-year Gale's veteran Cledith Akers - nicknamed "Flo" after the waitress in the old television sitcom "Alice."
Akers estimates that 75 percent of the family-run restaurant's customers are regulars. "We all must be good," she said. "They keep coming back for more."
Lots of waitresses and waiters were cited in the Discover survey as reader favorites. "There are just too many courteous and efficient ones to pick out one and not mention the others," wrote Dean Shufflebarger of Pulaski.
In Christiansburg, Xiu Shujing Chen at the Hunan House Restaurant wears a welcoming grin as she greets customers at the door.
Her broken English doesn't stop her from describing the meal choices in detail.
"Sometimes I go from one end of menu to other and explain to customers what is in all dishes," said Chen, a native of China.
"If their order is not fit for them, I make suggestions. They trust me."
Chen may serve as many as 30 tables on a weekend night and says she walks several miles per evening going from table to table.
"To make the customer feel good is good. We do everything for the need of the customer. If customer happy, we're happy, too," she said.
In Blacksburg, Anne Campbell, an analytical chemist, moonlights in the lounge at Maxwell's several nights per week.
"I enjoy working with and dealing with people. That's why I do it, in spite of having a full-time job," said Campbell, a waitress for 10 years. "It gives me a social aspect to my life that chemistry doesn't provide."
One of Campbell's regular customers said appreciatively in the survey that she gets to know customers "and knows their likes and dislikes."
"This is a 'Cheers' kind of place. Everybody knows everybody's names," she said. "I'll have a stack of tickets at the register with everybody's names on their tickets."
Among those also cited were:
Whitney Game at the Farmhouse Restaurant in Christiansburg, who is "cute as a button and knows how to serve a crowd," said survey respondent Arnold Mink.
Scott Harvey, who was complimented for his attentiveness to his customers at the Cellar Restaurant in Blacksburg. "He keeps my beer glass full," said Barry Stewart.
Leslie Beauregard, a cross-country runner who gives her legs a workout dashing around Blacksburg's Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea. She's referred to by regulars as the Mill Mountain psychologist. "She'll listen to all our stories," said Guillanume Bernardeau.
Amid the diversity of responses, our readers agree that a positive attitude is the main order for any good waitress or waiter.
John Rupe of Pulaski wrote that waitress Rose Meade's warm laughter makes Jim's Steakhouse "a fun place to eat."
But our nominees said rude customers, cheap tippers, messy children, aching backs and sore feet can get even the cheeriest server down.
"Sometimes it gets hard, but I try to always be friendly to people," said Jackie Perdue, recognized as a "helpful and upbeat" waitress at Christiansburg's Country Kitchen. "It's the only way to keep the customer happy."
by CNB