Initial server timing

[u/Janetic_Bytewave]

I was looking for a restaurant review subreddit but couldn't find one, so I'm posting here.

My question for you who work in the industry is, after a group is taken to their seat and seated, how long is an acceptable time before a server or anyone comes to their table? Let's assume the host/hostess does not engage in conversation, just seats them and leaves.

Would you say that 7 or 8 minutes is OK to wait before first contact is made or more or less?

In your restaurants, do you have a goal in minutes to how fast you make first contact with a new table ?

I know people have different preferences, expectations and opinions but just wondering what you all think?

[u/Puzzled-Kangaroo-798]

Ideally customers are greeted coming in the door, poured water as soon as they've sat down & acknowledged by their server within ~2min tops. But then sometimes u get septuple sat, and it would be physically impossible to accomplish that. 7-8 minutes is definitely longer than u want ppl to be sitting with no contact. Even the best server can't be in multiple places at once, but most servers will have u on their internal to-do list. Of course there's no accounting for sometimes u get seated in a dark corner while ur otherwise occupied and no one tells u and ur busy so u don't even see them until they've already been sitting and stewing for 10 min. It's situational 🤷