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| The
100 Best Restaurants in Portland |
Waiter of the
Year >> BY LINDA KNITTEL In Portland, as in any culinary hot spot, waiters and waitresses are a dime a dozen. But a good server, one who can actually improve the dining experience rather than detract from it, has become virtually priceless. Along with the plethora of cafes, bistros and fine-dining houses that have sprung up all over the Rose City, there has also emerged a demand for experienced servers, a need for those who can explain the difference between a coulis and a jus while they attend to several tables with a confident smile. For eight years, Zefiro's Carrie Birrer has been wowing diners with her food and wine knowledge as well as with what one loyal customer calls her "intuitive sense of what needs to be done at the table." Drawing upon a professionalism that is beyond reproach and a certain shy charm, Birrer has found the perfect balance between being completely unobtrusive and amazingly attentive. Getting over the fear of certain ingredient combinations is one of the pieces of advice Birrer has for restaurant customers, along with having faith that your server will take care of you. "Customers should view their waiter as someone who can enhance their dining experience," she says. "Diners should not try to control the situation. They should sit back, relax and let the evening unfold." When you have a server like Birrer, that's good advice. With her culinary knowledge, strong work ethic, profound interest in food and years of experience, it is likely that she has a better idea of what diners want than they do.
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