atyourservice
by Joelle Kidd
serving the city
Photo by David Lipnowski
In a food city like Winnipeg , eager diners seek out the best of the best to put on their plates . While the magic starts in the kitchen , the best restaurant experiences rely on exceptional service . Servers are ambassadors for their restaurant , and even their city .
Excellence in this role is the reason that Eli Desautel ’ s name appeared most often on ballots for a contest during last year ’ s Ciao ! Dine About Winnipeg event .
“ The server is the face of the restaurant ,” says Eli . The University student , who began serving three years ago and has been at Rudy ’ s Eat and Drink since September of 2015 , has quickly learned the importance of service to make or break the dining experience for a customer , and a welcoming atmosphere and knowledgeable staff keeps diners returning . Attention to detail and the ability to listen to and gauge customers ’ needs are important talents for servers .
Eli relies on sharp intuition to tailor his serving style to his customers . Rudy ’ s downtown location means a wide variety of diners : business lunchers , the happy hour crowd , families grabbing dinner before Jets ’ games , and out of town visitors .
“ During the first interaction with them you get a feel for what kind of customers they are ,” Eli explains . Some tables appreciate prompt , unobtrusive service ; others want to joke around . Finding this balance means delivering a good experience for each guest . “ It ’ s about making everyone feel comfortable .”
But beyond intuition , being a server requires knowledge . In-depth familiarity with food being served is key , which is why Eli has tried everything on the menu and can tailor his recommendations to any palate .
Because so many out-of-town guests visit Rudy ’ s , Eli ’ s job also requires knowledge of the city . Visitors asking for recommendations for events to catch and attractions to visit make it part of Eli ’ s duty as a server to be an impromptu tour guide . He accepts this challenge eagerly , keeping up with what ’ s new downtown and sharing and learning about latest discoveries with coworkers , in order to make sure guests ’ experiences of Winnipeg are the best they can be .
10 ciao ! / feb / mar / two thousand seventeen