Tell me more ×
English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 1 down vote favorite

Basically, I want to say this:

I went to that place for brunch with my girlfriend last weekend, the service was pretty fast, and the food was good too.

I want to say that the service was good in that it was pretty fast, without a delay, etc.

share|improve this question
3  
You can say fast or prompt which means 'without delay'. – z7sg Ѫ Jul 28 '11 at 14:57
2  
Your original sentence is perfectly fine. Why do you need a different word? – JSBձոգչ Jul 28 '11 at 15:45

6 Answers

up vote 3 down vote accepted

Synonyms I can think of for "fast" in similar context:

The service was:

  • expeditious
  • prompt
  • attentive
share|improve this answer
1  
I think unless it was a facetious usage, expeditious would be a bit "flowery" to use in a sentence that also includes the word brunch. – FumbleFingers Jul 28 '11 at 16:55
up vote 0 down vote

Lightning Service should please the waiter, steward, bartender, manager or whoever served you.

share|improve this answer
up vote 0 down vote

I would say that the service was swift.

share|improve this answer
up vote 0 down vote

I'm not sure why you don't want to say "fast", but other words would be "speedy" and "efficient". (I also second "prompt" and "attentive" from @KeithS.)

share|improve this answer
up vote 0 down vote

Synonyms for "pretty fast":

  • Quick
  • Prompt
  • Speedy
share|improve this answer
up vote 0 down vote

I typically hear the phrase timely for service:

They have excellent food and timely service.

share|improve this answer
1  
I think "timely" has more conotations with "serendipity", and is more often used in contexts where something "just happens to happen" at exactly the optimum time. You might even perhaps say it about slow delivery of food if that gave you more time for a pre-prandial aperitif, and you valued that. In an eaterie with OP's context I think "prompt" is far more appropriate. – FumbleFingers Jul 28 '11 at 15:18
1  
@Fumble: Timely is used this way where I live and where I grew up. So... regardless of connotations, my suggestion is accurate. See also: timeliness, which we use to refer to someone's ability to always be on time. – MrHen Jul 28 '11 at 15:32
Perhaps it's a regional thing. To me, someone's timeliness might easily suggest an (uncanny?) ability to exercise "appropriate timing", which might not be the same thing as their punctuality. – FumbleFingers Jul 28 '11 at 16:53

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.