Ciao! Feb/Mar 2016 Digital Issue | Page 11

Photo by David Lipnowski atyourservice service excellence by Joelle Kidd Connoisseurs of Winnipeg’s top-notch restaurant scene know that the difference between a delicious meal and a memorable experience is exceptional service. Servers guide customers through their dinner, anticipating needs and offering expertise. L i a m E d g i nton- Gre en t a ke s t h i s responsibility seriously. In his three years of serving at Hermanos Restaurant & Wine Bar, he has come to see his knowledge as a server as one of the most inf luential and helpful elements of the business. This means knowing the menu backwards and forwards, tasting dishes to accurately describe flavours and recommend wines, and having good communication with the kitchen. A keen observant eye and his years of experience help Liam tailor his serving style to diners’ needs. Business lunches, for example, appreciate comprehensive yet unobtrusive service. Out of town visitors like to interact with their server, looking to enhance their dining experience. “Being a server is like being a mirror,” Liam says. A good server responds to and reflects the customers’ energy, upgrading the energy of the room when needed. This careful consideration of customers’ needs is one of the reasons that Liam’s name appeared most often on ballots for a contest during last year’s Ciao! Dine About Winnipeg event. Tools like social media have given rise to a wave of diners who are more informed than ever before, entering restaurants with high expectations and anticipation. Servers have the responsibility of delivering an experience that is positive and memorable. Liam knows that star service shapes the identity of a restaurant, and helps it build a good reputation. ciao! / feb/mar / two thousand sixteen 9