As customers, we're used to seeing servers and bartenders come and go at our favorite restaurants and bars, especially in a city like Santa Fe, which is an alluring yet oftentimes transitional place for many free spirits. However, there are servers and bartenders here who have been with us for many years — even decades. We feel at home with them, although perhaps not quite like the bunch from television's Cheers.

Our servers can become true confidants, providing great connections and insight into our surroundings. These are people we talk to about what's been going on in the world when there's no one else to listen at breakfast, lunch, dinner or happy hour — people whose names we know, not just because they have taken the time to learn ours, but because they make our dining experience that much more enjoyable and memorable. TASTE recently sat down with two local service professionals who exemplify great service and a dedication to their singular brands of culinary art and craft in Santa Fe.

Barbara "Babs" Jaramillo

315 Restaurant & Wine Bar

315 Old Santa Fe Trail

986-9190, http://www.315santafe.com.

Barbara "Babs" Jaramillo has been a server and sometimes-manager at 315 Restaurant & Wine Bar for 15 years, and she has no plans of retiring. "I love this place," she said. "It reminds me of my favorite bistros in Paris."

Jaramillo is glad that, generally, people no longer look down on those working in the service industry. "People's attitudes have changed, and I have no qualms about telling people what I do," she said. "I'm proud of it. The profession has that element of theater, and that is invigorating for me." Jaramillo, who was born and raised in Santa Fe, has a long background in dance and theater. Years ago, she taught dance at Santa Fe Prep School for Santa Fe Children's Theatre (she was also once a choreographer for TASTE editor Rob DeWalt). She also enjoys painting in the expressionist style.

Jaramillo is a creative spirit in all areas of her life. She sees elements of art all around her. "Every day I look outside and feel blessed," she beamed. To get down to the nitty gritty of the service industry, if Jaramillo has any qualms, it is with some customers' concepts of tipping.

"I don't think many people know that the word "TIPS" is an acronym, which actually means 'To Insure Prompt Service,' " she said. Luckily, being tipped well is commonplace at 315, Jaramillo added. "You're sort of at the mercy of the customers. Business is slower in a bad economy, but my tips have been consistent." Jaramillo has many regular customers who visit 315 not only for its exceptional cuisine and elegant atmosphere, but to see her as well — to be served by an expert in the art of making people happy. "You can be an order taker, or you can make people's dinner more enjoyable," she said. "To me, it's my profession. I study food and wines, and it's a good feeling when people put their dining experience in your hands."

Jaramillo's first encounter with 315 was as a customer back when it was named Bistro 315. Then she fell in love with the restaurant, and the rest was history.

"I just can't imagine having a desk job now," she said.

To spend quality time with Babs Jaramillo, it's best to make a reservation, although the wine bar is always open to passers-by. You will definitely run into her if it's her shift, and if you don't strike up a conversation, it's almost a guarantee that Jaramillo will.

Dustin Capps

Pranzo Italian Grill

540 Montezuma Ave.

984-2645, http://www.pranzosantafe.com.

Originally from Tulsa, Okla., Dustin Capps has also worked at the same restaurant for 15 years. He is one of Santa Fe's favorite bartenders at Pranzo Italian Grill, a place whose popular happy hour provides the perfect dimly lit, relaxing atmosphere for those wishing to gather at the end of a long workday.

"When I first started, I was pretty green in the bar industry," Capps admitted. But you wouldn't know that now, as Capps can shake and mix a martini with the perfect amount of ice crystals and pour a few glasses of wine in less than two minutes.

Like Jaramillo, Capps has no plans to leave his current position at Pranzo. "If you find something you're good at, why change?" he asked. "Plus, I get to hang out with a bunch of good people, both the customers and the employees here." When Capps first started at Pranzo, he thought, "I'll do this until I figure out what I want to be when I grow up." But since he hasn't grown up yet (by his own admission), it's clear he's still having too much fun doing what he knows and loves.

One of Capps' finest work attributes is his memory. "I try to learn every person's name by their third visit," he said, which is why he is confident that he's on a first-name basis with about 75 percent of the customers in the bar at any given time.

One common conversation for Capps at Pranzo is, of course, about the restaurant's wine selection. And this has become a more pressing matter for bartenders since customers are now much more knowledgeable about wine than they were in the recent past. "For instance, many people come in knowing what a Malbec is," Capps said, "and that wasn't the case years before." So, to keep things fresh, Capps tries to introduce new wines to customers on a regular basis. "People rarely order merlot anymore," he said.

During the declining economy, Capps has noticed that many people might spend less, but their tip percentage is always accurate (18-20 percent for good service), which he greatly appreciates. "Customers seem to be pretty conscientious about taking care of the server," he said. "People tend to spend and tip within their means."

Capps moved to Santa Fe in 1991 just out of high school, and matriculated as a theater major at the College of Santa Fe before going into the restaurant business. An avid golfer, he often plays at Pueblo De Cochiti Golf Course, Marty Sanchez Links de Santa Fe, and the Towa Golf Course at Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino. He's also an avid motorcycle rider who enjoys taking to the open road with his father for the annual rally in Sturgis, South Dakota. Although Capps is perfectly content with his position at Pranzo Italian Grill, if he wins the lottery, he said, his plans are to buy a condo in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and move there with his significant other. And, he would buy an apartment on a cruise ship that travels to ports worldwide.

But right now, Santa Fe is his favorite place to live, and he can't imagine living permanently anywhere else. If you haven't yet met Dustin Capps, stop by for Pranzo's happy hour from 5-6 p.m.

You've Been Served appears monthly in The Santa Fe New Mexican and focuses on the service side of local restaurant life. If you would like to share a story about your service experience at Santa Fe's bars, restaurants, diners, cafés, etc., or if you're a server with a story to tell, e-mail taste@sfnewmexican.com or call 986-3039.