How can FOH staff build rapport with regular customers?

Building rapport with regular customers is fundamentally about creating a personal connection and making them feel valued and recognized. Learning their names and their preferred orders is a powerful way to achieve this connection. When FOH staff recognize customers personally, it fosters a sense of belonging and familiarity, which can enhance the overall dining experience.

Customers appreciate being remembered, and it indicates the staff's attentiveness and care, which can lead to increased loyalty and repeat visits. Such interactions can transform a routine meal into a more enjoyable outing, as customers feel that their preferences matter to the staff and the establishment.

The other options do not effectively contribute to building rapport. Ignoring customers, even in the context of professionalism, can make them feel unappreciated. Offering discounts might be a financially driven tactic that doesn't necessarily create a personal connection. While optimizing table turnover is important for operational efficiency, it is not related to building meaningful relationships with customers.