Business Statistics Group Project
Restaurants Serving Times Red Lobster | 7 minutes | 16 minutes | 18 minutes | 21 minutes | 15 minutes | 14 minutes | Olive Garden | 12 minutes | 16 minutes | 14 minutes | 18 minutes | 15 minutes | 12 minutes | Logan’s Steakhouse | 9 minutes | 11 minutes | 10 minutes | 8 minutes | 13 minutes | 13 minutes | Ruth Chris Steakhouse | 16 minutes | 14 minutes | 20 minutes | 19 minutes | 10 minutes | 15 minutes | Foosackly’s | 2 minutes | 3 minutes | 1 min 45 sec | 2 minutes | 2 mins 30 secs | 2 minutes | Five Guys | 6 minutes | 4 minutes | 11 minutes | 9 minutes | 6 minutes | 4 minutes |

Our group decided to research food service response times for our group project. We timed customers at 6 different restaurants: From the time they ordered their food till it was delivered. We also took note of the appearance of the restaurant, employee attitude and over-all cleanliness. Red Lobster and Olive Garden were chosen because of their similar styles of service, casual dining restaurants. Logan’s and Ruth Chris were chosen because they’re both steak-houses. Foosackly’s and Five Guys were chosen because of similar service styles, grab and go.
Devon recorded the food service response times on Saturday March 24, 2012. His data was collected from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, at the Red Lobster on Airport Blvd in Mobile, Alabama. Devon noted that upon entering Red Lobster that a pleasant smell of butter biscuits was wafting in the lobby and he was greeted immediately by a smiling host. After entering and explaining to the host the project, Devon was lead a table to where he could see 7 other tables and if he looked over his shoulder he could see 4 more. Devon ordered an appetizer, asking his waitress what are some of the factors that affect food services times? She told him that order number, time of the day and staff sizes were the main factors. Devon sat and recorded the service times of 6 different customers, all the while he was evaluating the service of his waitress. She was very nice and checked on him almost every-time she walked by. Before Devon left, he checked out the men’s bathroom and found it surprisingly clean and smelling like Lysol. Over-all Devon gave Red Lobster 9 out of 10 on our food and customer service grading scale.
35 minutes later Devon entered into a somewhat busy Olive Garden. He was greeted by an enthusiastic hostess and after explaining to her our project he was lead his seat. Devon noted that Olive Garden wasn’t necessarily busy with customers but busy with movement. It could have been because closing time was nearing or because that’s the normal work flow but there were people walking everywhere. Once at his seat Devon saw a couple ordering and began timing their service. 12 minutes later, Devon took a bathroom break and found that Olive Garden’s bathroom was very clean. When he returned, Devon ordered a cranberry juice and continued his observations. Devon noted that when the customer’s dinners were served the waiter/ waitresses were smiling and making sure each customer received the right order. Devon waitress’s seemed busy with her tables and didn’t check on him as often he would’ve liked. At one point, he had to wave aggressively at her so he could get a refill on his juice. Over-all Devon gave Olive Garden 8 out of 10 on the food and customer service grading scale.
I was responsible for getting the data from Logan’s and Ruth Chris’s steakhouse. On Saturday, February 25th, I went to Logan’s Steakhouse with a few business associates. We ordered our food and I began timing while we were talking. Our waiter was friendly, patient, and helpful when it came to ordering our food. My order of chicken wings, fries, and salad came first: A minute later my friend’s shrimp plate arrived followed by another plate of steak and potatoes. The food was fresh and hot with steam rising off the plate. The next observations were on a couple sitting across the room from us; when they’re food arrived it had been 13 minutes since they had sat down and ordered. When I checked the cleanliness of the bathroom, there was a strong odor lingering in the bathroom which caused me to exit very quickly without thoroughly seeing how clean it was. Over-all I gave Logan’s 7 out of 10 on the food and customer service grading scale. Sunday, Febuary 26th at 6:00 pm, I entered Ruth Chris Steak-House on Airport Blvd. with a friend of mine who works there. We were greeted by the host and I explained the premise and the project and we were seated quickly and in a prominent position so I would be able to observe customers. After we sat down and ordered our food, I was surprised by how empty the restaurant was. My friend told me that business doesn’t pick up till around 7 or 8 on Sunday’s. We ordered our food and I took note of the time. 16 minutes later our food arrived, steaming hot. Our waiter was very friendly, pleasant and helpful. He showed me where the bathroom was and I found it in excellent condition, toilet seat covers and all. I returned from the bathroom to find a family being seated 3 tables down from us. I recorded their food service times and prepared to leave Ruth Chris.
Richa collected the data from Foosackly’s and Five Guys restaurants March 3rd, 2012. Richa went inside the Foosackly’s on Airport Blvd. at 1:00 pm. Richa ordered a foo box for herself, chose a seat and began observing customers. Richa noticed that the cashiers were friendly and the eating area was clean and didn’t have left-over food or napkins on any of the tables. 2 minutes later, she received her order and began eating. She used a stop-watch to record the times since the service times were much quicker than other restaurants. Richa observed and recorded 5 other customer’s food service times. 3 minutes was the longest service time and one minute, 45 seconds being the quickest. When she checked the bathroom’s they were clean, although the trash did need to be taken out. Over-all Richa gave Foosackly’s 9 out of 10 on the food and customer service grading scale.
Richa entered Five Guy’s restaurant March 3rd, 2012. She ordered a cheeseburger and sat down while her food was being prepared. Richa stated the business was clean except for peanut shells scattered on a few tables and the floor. The cashiers were attentive and were taking orders very quickly. Richa received her order as she was leaving the bathroom. She said the bathroom was not clean, although it smelled like it was. The food service was okay, and for the number of customers in the store the wait was okay. Overall Richa gave Five Guys an 8 out of 10 on the food and customer service grading scale.