2nd Position: Bakerzin's Millenia Walk
What's up with the "I dont' serve water policy?" Oh well. Bakerzin almost tied with Menotti Raffles City [which is not in this list] except for one thing. Inflexibility. After a lunch with 4 others at Bakerzin, I ordered desserts for everyone and one of my guests requested a cup of warm water to take with medicine. Guess what the response was? "We ONLY serve Evian. Do YOU want a glass of WARM Evian?" (emphasis denoted). Well, for Bakerzin, they lost business of 5 desserts (approx $25) and 5 potential long-term customers over a glass of warm water. Poor business sense.

3rd Position: Pasta Fresca Salvatore, Siglap
I didn't exactly encounter bad service here at Pasta Fresca, but I saw the receipe for disaster - unhappy service staff. For those in the service line, it doesn't help to call your staff stupid over any matters. When my order was taken, I informed the staff to tell the kitchen to go easy on the garlic. However, the staff mistakenly told the chef, "no garlic" and got a tongue-lashing - the word stupid cropping up. When a staff scooped an extra half ladle of soup into a bowl for another customer, the manager of the restaurant scolded the staff stupid. How wrong! The Number One Principle of good service delivery: Happy staff.

I did call the manager to my table and said that that was one thing that must not be done and I even submitted a comments form. I never received a reply.

4th Position: Crystal Jade Suntec City
Oh yes. The all-time "favourite". Notice that the staff never smiles when taking orders? They are always looking around, distracted. And never never tell your customer "No More" without even looking at them. You could even take the initiative to recommend something else. Oh, I remembered, the time Lorraine requested for red cut chilli. The manager brought both red and green chilli, and when we kindly told them that we didn't need the green, she grabbed the saucer, and threw (YES! Literally threw!) it into the container that I was seated beside. How very rude.

5th Position:Ritz-Carlton Singapore, Chihuly Lounge (High Tea)
Yes yes, I see many people gasping already. Yes, nothing wrong with your screen, the RITZ-CARLTON. Oh well, I arrived early for high-tea and the staff was reluctant to seat us. We were told "Oh, we don't start yet." When we insisted on sitting to wait, the least you could do was offer water. You are after all, Ladies and Gentlemen serving Ladies and Gentlemen. Oh, and good service delivery means that your cucumber sandwiches are not soggy and stuck to the dishes, and that your scones are properly baked thank you. I must admit, the service recovery of the Ritz Carlton was excellent and I still visit Summer Pavillion (Chinese restaurant). But yes. Even the Ritz Carlton can end up in such a spot if it isn't careful.

And The Service Winners...

I found significant difficulties in ranking them in order of merit. Good service is all about the staff and some can be friendly and warm, while others professional and unobstrusive. Both makes dining a pleasure. To ease into this, I shall opt for the alphabetical order.

Conrad Hotel Lobby Lounge (High Tea)
Tea at the Conrad is really a time to relax and enjoy a little personal time on your own. Yes, although I don't really like the fact that their teapots take up too much space on the table...hehe... I like the fact that the staff are always professional and unobstrusive. They glide around making you feel as though you are in your own little lounge at home, enjoying a cup of brew with your friends and your memories.

Imperial Treasure Ngee Ann City, Takashimaya
Imperial Treasure doesn't deliver over-the-top service but it sure understands that their core business is to deliver good food. Once, when we told a staff that our oyster porridge was way too salty, they immediately brought a brand new bowl for us. This despite that they needed to clear the room that we were seated in by 2.30pm for the second seating. By the way, it was nearly 2pm when that happened.

One-Ninety, Four Seasons Hotel Singapore
If you've read our previous entry on One Ninety, you'd have thought that there was nothing much to service for a buffet. Not true. How about the manager explaining to you about the special dishes? Or the fact that everytime you left the table, your plates would be cleared, your napkin placed on the handles of the chairs AND your water topped up? How about observent staff who notice that you're ready to move on to your main dish and your desserts, providing the necessary cutlery to do so? That's the Four Seasons for you.

The Regent Hotel Tea Lounge
High-tea at the Regent is truly a test of mettle. There is nothing on display but instead, service staff walk around with huge silver trays of culinary delights of Smoked salmon, cold cucumber and tomato sandwiches, piping hot scones with luciously whipped fresh cream. And yes, I digress. Throughout tea, the staff will offer you the delightful morsels for their huge polished trays, and never once do they flinch or give you a dirty look for eating too much. That's not only all. In fact, the staff even noticed what each of us enjoyed, and offered to get us more from the kitchen whenever it came out fresh! How nice of them.

Valentino
Being in Valentino's is like being in the kitchen of an Italian family. Friendly and warm. Like I always say, food and company.

Zambuca, Pan Pacific Hotel Singapore
A friendly restaurant manager, a magnificent cellar and the most welcoming sommelier. You know the tension that rises when you want to order wine but you don't know which one to order. Plus, you do have a budget don't you? It doesn't help that the staff usually recommends the most expensive.

Well,at Zambuca, it was just the opposite. Wonderful wine with our food without having to rob a bank. $100 just for wine for 6 to 7 people. Recommended by the sommelier who shared with us the entire process of how he choose the wine. Not too bad don't you think?

And there. I hope to be able to update this post from time to time, so that those faring not so well, do get a chance you move out of the list. Have you encountered good or bad service?