I took a few weeks break from my usual passive aggressive blog, but you know, I needed to get back to some more silly server stories so here’s this week’s memories:
Seriously I have never had someone ask me, even before they ordered their food, the following question: “Do you have free refills on soda?”
Not only have I never been asked that as a priority question, I personally have never even thought about free refills when I go out.
I did tell the woman yes we do, but I have to say, I was wondering if the dumb bread discussion was going to come again since that’s how we started our interaction together. Fortunately, she and her husband had a lovely lunch and everything worked out well.
A table of 6 came into the restaurant, 3 couples. Anybody who has ever been a server knows that when a table this size wants to have separate checks, it’s going to be “oh so fun” to serve them. There was one woman that was particularly well, not demanding, but high maintenance. When I originally approached the table the woman was putting in packets of Crystal lite tea into her water. When she ordered she requested a cup of clam chowder and a Crab Caesar Salad with no dressing. The rest of the table essentially ordered soup and sandwich combinations and some other basic lunch items.
As the self elected spokeswoman for the table, our discussion went something like this:
“Which chowder would you like, Manhattan or New England?”
“Oh, Manhattan of course that New England is fully loaded with so many calories, I mean who can eat that!”
I was thinking to myself wow, nice way to make anyone within ear shot feel guilty about eating their New England clam chowder and insulting our soup, but you know ok, you are entitled to your opinion.
“Now on your salad, you said dressing on the side yes?”
“No. No dressing at all.”
I was thinking wow, it’s going to be a dry salad, but that’s what she wants.
“Should I bring bread for the table?”
“No. She jumps in.”
“No bread right? You don’t want bread it’s so fattening.”
Guess not. I mean if I was at that table, I think even if I wanted it, I wouldn’t eat anything but lettuce and water in front of her. It must have been a super fun day out for the rest of them.
“Ok great. I will be back with your soups.” I said.
I came back with the soups for the table and they began eating. Out of my peripheral vision I see a hand waving me down as if she was calling a cab:
“Excuse me Miss…. Excuse me….. Excuse me Miss?”
“Yes…”
“Does this Manhattan chowder have any wine in it?”
“Yes, it does.” I replied.
“What?” She drops her spoon as if she had been stabbed in the heart….
“Who puts wine in chowder?”
“Well our Chef does Mam.”
“Well, I can’t eat this, I am allergic to wine. You should have told me it had wine in it.” She said.
“I apologize; I will take it away and off your bill Mam. I wasn’t made aware of your allergy to wine.”
So she continued to rant and rave about how we put wine “FOR SOME UNKNOWN AND ACCORDING TO HER, UNCESSARY REASON IN OUR CHOWDER” while everyone else ate their chowder in virtual silence.
The remaining food arrived and here’s the best part of the whole story. She puts another Crystal lite in her water and from her purse on top of her Crab Caesar Salad she busts out a bottle of Ranch dressing. She then proceeded to use the ranch dressing on the salad. I swear I have never seen anything like that. I wasn’t sure if it was the fact that she put Ranch dressing on the salad or the fact that she had her own personal bottle of salad dressing with her.
Anyway, I was so happy when they left and those 3 separate bills were only a couple of dollars difference. I don’t know why I could have just paid the bill with 3 cards rather than creating 3 separate checks.
People are really odd sometimes. Another woman came in with her husband or boyfriend and another couple. They were from New York. I always get along with New Yorkers because they are so straight forward and to the point. They had a super simple order 3 Crab Louie salads and 1 sandwich. The sandwich part is still a mystery to me, but let me mention the issue with the Louie dressing first.
One of the women says to me, and my supportive readers, I am not making this up: “Do not let me see the Louie dressing anywhere near my plate or next to my place setting. It’s going to make me throw up if I see it. I just want lemon, lots of extra lemon.”
Wow! Ok, are we five years old? I was thinking to myself. Immediately, her table mates said, don’t worry, so n so, we will keep it on our side of the table.
But this table get’s better. The guy that ordered the sandwich hated Mayonnaise so he said he wanted a crab sandwich with just crab on bread.
“Sir, are you sure you want that, because you’re sandwich is going to be really dry without any condiment on it. Maybe you could have a Crab Louie with vinaigrette or lemon like your friend and have a little bread on the side from Acme.”
He said, “Nope, I just want a dry Crab Sandwich. I hate Mayo, it’s so disgusting.”
I was like, wow, these two must be together they speak the same way.
I don’t get it though who wants to eat dry crab on a dry sandwich. Whatever, I’m just here to serve. In the end they were really happy so that’s all that matters.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Don’t be a Crabby Trout!
A few weeks ago there was an article in sfgate.com talking about restaurants turning to trout. Trout is a wonderful, tasty, less expensive fish to order when you go out to eat. Many restaurants including yours truly are including trout on the menu.
Did you know Salmon costs up to three times as much as Trout and California is banned from fishing salmon for the third year in a row.
Last week we had a really great fish called Corvina. For those of you that aren't familiar with this fish, it's a type of SeaBass like Bluenose or Striped Bass. It’s found on the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean.
We serve our fish baked in olive oil with simple salt and pepper, some seasonal sautéed vegetables, Japanese brown rice and sliced seasonal fruit. Right now we are serving our fish with persimmon.
Other fish we commonly serve based on availability are as follows:
Sole
Black Cod
Ling Cod
Wild Salmon
(We get it from the Columbia River near Seattle Washington)
Halibut
Mahi Mahi
Moving into November always means 2 of my favorite meals. Thanksgiving and our annual family Dungeness crab feed. Every year my family has a crab feed the day before Thanksgiving. We pick up one crab per person, some nice white wine and some beer add some melted butter, a loaf of Acme bread and get cracken!
This meal is perfect for a few reasons: 1.) There’s virtually no prep if you get your crabs cracked and cleaned prior to bringing them home. 2.) There’s hardly any table set up: A few crackers, poking utensils, a small bowl of melted butter per person, a couple of large metal bowls (figure one bowl for every two people) for catching shells, and you are done.
The whole point of this is to spend quality family time so don’t make it fancy just have a great time. I highly suggest a pair of jeans or sweat pants and simple tee shirt you can down and get crabby!
In San Francisco, our Dungeness crab season is from about the middle of November to the beginning of May.
You can always call us to see if we have whole Dungeness crab in house for purchase.
Originally posted in November of 2009.
Did you know Salmon costs up to three times as much as Trout and California is banned from fishing salmon for the third year in a row.
Last week we had a really great fish called Corvina. For those of you that aren't familiar with this fish, it's a type of SeaBass like Bluenose or Striped Bass. It’s found on the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean.
We serve our fish baked in olive oil with simple salt and pepper, some seasonal sautéed vegetables, Japanese brown rice and sliced seasonal fruit. Right now we are serving our fish with persimmon.
Other fish we commonly serve based on availability are as follows:
Sole
Black Cod
Ling Cod
Wild Salmon
(We get it from the Columbia River near Seattle Washington)
Halibut
Mahi Mahi
Moving into November always means 2 of my favorite meals. Thanksgiving and our annual family Dungeness crab feed. Every year my family has a crab feed the day before Thanksgiving. We pick up one crab per person, some nice white wine and some beer add some melted butter, a loaf of Acme bread and get cracken!
This meal is perfect for a few reasons: 1.) There’s virtually no prep if you get your crabs cracked and cleaned prior to bringing them home. 2.) There’s hardly any table set up: A few crackers, poking utensils, a small bowl of melted butter per person, a couple of large metal bowls (figure one bowl for every two people) for catching shells, and you are done.
The whole point of this is to spend quality family time so don’t make it fancy just have a great time. I highly suggest a pair of jeans or sweat pants and simple tee shirt you can down and get crabby!
In San Francisco, our Dungeness crab season is from about the middle of November to the beginning of May.
You can always call us to see if we have whole Dungeness crab in house for purchase.
Originally posted in November of 2009.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Try something new. It's fun!
I love the nights when a group of people sit down and you ask them what they would like and they say “Whatever you think it good.”
What happens then is a dialogue about food that turns an otherwise ordinary meal into something extra ordinary and special. Last Friday, a really nice group of 4 came in and they started off with our oysters and some wine and sparkling wine selections.
From there they had our Crab Cake, Crab Tower, sautéed Calamari, and a few different types of fish as I recall. I find in general that if I describe something the way that I would describe it if I was talking to a friend, it becomes less esoteric. For example, I could say our Crab Cake is a combination of Dungeness crab, whipped egg blended with mayonnaise, mustard, herbs, celery, and 2 types of Acme bread. It’s then baked in a bit of olive oil and salt and pepper served over mixed greens.
Ultimately folks just want to know, is it yummy? Or not? I just tell them “It’s not a gooey little hockey puck, like so many can be.” And that it’s “High and light, served on a simple bed of mixed greens.”
I often get asked “What should we get here?” I always say our Calamari, or fresh Albacore sashimi, or any of our fresh fish. I always try to get folks to try something that not every seafood restaurant has. Every seafood restaurant has a Louis salad for example or a Crab sandwich of some kind, but I try to steer folks to something they may have never had fresh or something interesting. That’s part of the fun of eating out and part of the joy I experience when I am serving someone something they never had, but really loved.
Anyway, back to my table of 4: The evening was so fun and they tried lots of things all based on what I thought they should have next. They ended with some snuggly fleece blankets, a little port and a yummy sweet treat selection of Pot du Crème and Panna Cotta with huckleberry and elderflower sauce over top. My favorite part of the evening was what the table said, “Everything you chose for us was great!” I was glad that they trusted me and I had a great time serving them.
This week, I wanted to thank all you folks out there that trust your server to steer you in the right direction and challenge you to think outside the box!
What happens then is a dialogue about food that turns an otherwise ordinary meal into something extra ordinary and special. Last Friday, a really nice group of 4 came in and they started off with our oysters and some wine and sparkling wine selections.
From there they had our Crab Cake, Crab Tower, sautéed Calamari, and a few different types of fish as I recall. I find in general that if I describe something the way that I would describe it if I was talking to a friend, it becomes less esoteric. For example, I could say our Crab Cake is a combination of Dungeness crab, whipped egg blended with mayonnaise, mustard, herbs, celery, and 2 types of Acme bread. It’s then baked in a bit of olive oil and salt and pepper served over mixed greens.
Ultimately folks just want to know, is it yummy? Or not? I just tell them “It’s not a gooey little hockey puck, like so many can be.” And that it’s “High and light, served on a simple bed of mixed greens.”
I often get asked “What should we get here?” I always say our Calamari, or fresh Albacore sashimi, or any of our fresh fish. I always try to get folks to try something that not every seafood restaurant has. Every seafood restaurant has a Louis salad for example or a Crab sandwich of some kind, but I try to steer folks to something they may have never had fresh or something interesting. That’s part of the fun of eating out and part of the joy I experience when I am serving someone something they never had, but really loved.
Anyway, back to my table of 4: The evening was so fun and they tried lots of things all based on what I thought they should have next. They ended with some snuggly fleece blankets, a little port and a yummy sweet treat selection of Pot du Crème and Panna Cotta with huckleberry and elderflower sauce over top. My favorite part of the evening was what the table said, “Everything you chose for us was great!” I was glad that they trusted me and I had a great time serving them.
This week, I wanted to thank all you folks out there that trust your server to steer you in the right direction and challenge you to think outside the box!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Random thoughts of food and people or things that make you say wait what?
Why is it that no one can accept change?…. Some folks just complain for the sake of complaining. Yesterday we changed our Louie Salad by adding a few things to it. The day before a woman came in and had the Louie Salad and really liked it. The next day, she came in and she ordered it and then said that it’s not the same and she wasn’t happy. We of course said it’s the same salad, it just is on a bigger plate with added carrots, hard boiled egg, cucumber and additional tomatoes. She asked us to put all the new items on a separate plate.
The funny thing is, this customer comes in every so often and apparently always complains about something each time she comes in. I think it’s odd that she keeps coming back, but true that you just can’t please everybody.
One of the things I ask myself all the time is would I say something or ask someone to do something like that for me?
I mean just the other day, I went to dinner with my folks and we had some left overs we brought home. We had a nice dinner and I went to this restaurant cautiously because some years ago I ate there and while I liked the space itself,the food was just not yummy. I was surprised and happy because we all thought it was good.
I brought our leftovers home and my partner said that the short ribs were burnt and we should have sent them back. She said she couldn't eat them. We noticed they were a little "over carmelized" is what my Dad said, but honestly we didn't think much more about it since aside from that, they were good. So I guess it's just not my nature to send food back or be "difficult." When I do send something back though it's got to be horrible.
The other day I was browsing our endless critics on YELP and couldn’t believe that the bread charge is still (my goodness aren’t we over this boring topic yet?) a hot talk topic. Seriously, I thought I had been boring my own readers with it by this point, but people still continue to bring it up.
They likened our bread charge to charging for water and asked if that was next thing we would charge for. This particular critic wanted us to “just add the .50 cent healthcare charge to our overhead somehow.” These are of course the very same people that complain that all our food is too expensive and that they can’t eat in our restaurant for less than $20.00 which I know is in fact not true. Additionally, people are just crazed that we don’t have crackers (Oh Lord!)and they get this desperate look in their eye when I say, "No, we just have bread." I know what they are thinking, "Yea, bread you...... charge for....."
By the way, I thought about crackers for a minute, and I think people who are really into crackers at a restaurant are either a.) cheap and looking for something free or b.) Genuinely into crackers in their soup. It has never occured to me to put crackers in my soup in my life. I think I just don't get it and well, I'm ok with that.
Anyway, lest I digress.... It's so odd to me that you take an item like bread which you can take or leave and charge for it and that offends people somehow. But....some people would rather not know and simply pay more overall for their meal just so they don't have to know about it. Wait what?
Oh, this was exciting in my little world of waitressing at the restaurant. This woman came in and sat at the bar. There was a gentleman on her left and then 2 women on her right separated by 2 seats as I recall. She asked for a Stella and I said we don’t have Stella, the closest we have is Sapporo so she said ok. I walked back to pour the beer and I just felt that something wasn’t quite right about her, but whatever, that feeling happens a lot in the City and I’m used to it.
So I served her the beer, and realized she had a bunch of bloody scratch marks all over her arms and then I was thinking to myself, oh, she’s probably a drug addict, but whatever that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have the right to eat or drink out. While she sat next to the people at the bar, she began singing to herself, but it wasn’t really to herself, because even I could hear her from a good 15 feet away. I decided after a while that all the folks in the bar next to her were definitely uncomfortable and that I should probably have her quietly removed from our restaurant. She was removed about 20 minutes later and the people around her were relieved.
Ironically, the gentleman sitting next to her was a Psychiatrist and I felt badly because he was trying to wait her out, but he just said he needed to leave since she kept singing and touching him with her creepy looking arms and glassy vacant eyes. He said I handled it well given that she was definitely high on something. He said to not to let things escalate is the best move in that scenario. Anyway, it was interesting to have that little scenario happen as one of my first hours back from a holiday away for a week and a half.
After the woman was escorted out about 20 minutes later, a tourist and his wife sat down and ordered a seafood platter, but he wanted to know the size of the prawns on the platter.
I took my pen out and illustrated the size of the prawn and he said:
"Can't you just show me one on a plate?"
I was thinking to myself once again, I so wouldn't ask to see prawn if I was on his side of the counter.
I said, "Ok."
I got a prawn and showed it to him and he said:
"Well it's really a large shrimp, but ok, let's get the platter."
Why do people, complain, and then order the dish when going into it, they aren't happy? Plus I was really thinking what, were you born in a barn, who acts like this in a restaurant(Thank goodness our customers aren't mind readers)?
Anyway, so after that, he said,"you seriously charge for bread?"
I said yes sir "it's for healthcare."
"That's ridiculous" he said.
I said "would you like some bread then?"
He said "No." I was thinking what a shmuck (I was using more explitives in my head though to be honest).
He and his actually ate the platter had some steamed clams and were really happy in the end. I mean I guess so because they bought some of our Hot Lime Sauce and left a nice tip. I don't know like I said, I think some folks just like to complain or perhaps they like to be heard.
This is classic: Now you know I've talked about this concept of outside food, but this story I think is really a self absorbed tale of nonsense and disreguard for any social edicate.There were 4 people inside at 2 two person tables. 2 of the patrons were children about 10 or 11 upon quick evaluation and 2 were older adults. The children had food from another restaurant, I mean burgers, fries, sodas etc. spralled all out and were quietly eating their food. So I came to the two adults and I said "Hi there, tell me are you joining us for dinner?"
The gentleman said "Yes."
I said "Are these two children part of your party?"
He said "Yes."
I said "Well we don't allow outside food and most especially not at a table for two where none of the food is food that we have made in our restaurant."
I went on to say my usual.... "Sir this isn't a food court, this is a restaurant, and we want you to eat our food together."
He said "Well what do you suggest we do?"
"If you would like to sit together, we can do a to go meal for you from our restaurant and you can join the children at the communal tables outside of Peets. It has the same view and then you can all sit together eat whatever you want. Or, we can set up a table for 4 and you can enjoy our food all together."
Can I just tell you that the man looked at me as if I was the most rude person ever and gathered up his family and stormed off. We of course put away the linens the silverware, the water etc. that we had put down for the 4 of them and sat our next patrons. What are people thinking?
Anyway, another day, another dollar.......
The funny thing is, this customer comes in every so often and apparently always complains about something each time she comes in. I think it’s odd that she keeps coming back, but true that you just can’t please everybody.
One of the things I ask myself all the time is would I say something or ask someone to do something like that for me?
I mean just the other day, I went to dinner with my folks and we had some left overs we brought home. We had a nice dinner and I went to this restaurant cautiously because some years ago I ate there and while I liked the space itself,the food was just not yummy. I was surprised and happy because we all thought it was good.
I brought our leftovers home and my partner said that the short ribs were burnt and we should have sent them back. She said she couldn't eat them. We noticed they were a little "over carmelized" is what my Dad said, but honestly we didn't think much more about it since aside from that, they were good. So I guess it's just not my nature to send food back or be "difficult." When I do send something back though it's got to be horrible.
The other day I was browsing our endless critics on YELP and couldn’t believe that the bread charge is still (my goodness aren’t we over this boring topic yet?) a hot talk topic. Seriously, I thought I had been boring my own readers with it by this point, but people still continue to bring it up.
They likened our bread charge to charging for water and asked if that was next thing we would charge for. This particular critic wanted us to “just add the .50 cent healthcare charge to our overhead somehow.” These are of course the very same people that complain that all our food is too expensive and that they can’t eat in our restaurant for less than $20.00 which I know is in fact not true. Additionally, people are just crazed that we don’t have crackers (Oh Lord!)and they get this desperate look in their eye when I say, "No, we just have bread." I know what they are thinking, "Yea, bread you...... charge for....."
By the way, I thought about crackers for a minute, and I think people who are really into crackers at a restaurant are either a.) cheap and looking for something free or b.) Genuinely into crackers in their soup. It has never occured to me to put crackers in my soup in my life. I think I just don't get it and well, I'm ok with that.
Anyway, lest I digress.... It's so odd to me that you take an item like bread which you can take or leave and charge for it and that offends people somehow. But....some people would rather not know and simply pay more overall for their meal just so they don't have to know about it. Wait what?
Oh, this was exciting in my little world of waitressing at the restaurant. This woman came in and sat at the bar. There was a gentleman on her left and then 2 women on her right separated by 2 seats as I recall. She asked for a Stella and I said we don’t have Stella, the closest we have is Sapporo so she said ok. I walked back to pour the beer and I just felt that something wasn’t quite right about her, but whatever, that feeling happens a lot in the City and I’m used to it.
So I served her the beer, and realized she had a bunch of bloody scratch marks all over her arms and then I was thinking to myself, oh, she’s probably a drug addict, but whatever that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have the right to eat or drink out. While she sat next to the people at the bar, she began singing to herself, but it wasn’t really to herself, because even I could hear her from a good 15 feet away. I decided after a while that all the folks in the bar next to her were definitely uncomfortable and that I should probably have her quietly removed from our restaurant. She was removed about 20 minutes later and the people around her were relieved.
Ironically, the gentleman sitting next to her was a Psychiatrist and I felt badly because he was trying to wait her out, but he just said he needed to leave since she kept singing and touching him with her creepy looking arms and glassy vacant eyes. He said I handled it well given that she was definitely high on something. He said to not to let things escalate is the best move in that scenario. Anyway, it was interesting to have that little scenario happen as one of my first hours back from a holiday away for a week and a half.
After the woman was escorted out about 20 minutes later, a tourist and his wife sat down and ordered a seafood platter, but he wanted to know the size of the prawns on the platter.
I took my pen out and illustrated the size of the prawn and he said:
"Can't you just show me one on a plate?"
I was thinking to myself once again, I so wouldn't ask to see prawn if I was on his side of the counter.
I said, "Ok."
I got a prawn and showed it to him and he said:
"Well it's really a large shrimp, but ok, let's get the platter."
Why do people, complain, and then order the dish when going into it, they aren't happy? Plus I was really thinking what, were you born in a barn, who acts like this in a restaurant(Thank goodness our customers aren't mind readers)?
Anyway, so after that, he said,"you seriously charge for bread?"
I said yes sir "it's for healthcare."
"That's ridiculous" he said.
I said "would you like some bread then?"
He said "No." I was thinking what a shmuck (I was using more explitives in my head though to be honest).
He and his actually ate the platter had some steamed clams and were really happy in the end. I mean I guess so because they bought some of our Hot Lime Sauce and left a nice tip. I don't know like I said, I think some folks just like to complain or perhaps they like to be heard.
This is classic: Now you know I've talked about this concept of outside food, but this story I think is really a self absorbed tale of nonsense and disreguard for any social edicate.There were 4 people inside at 2 two person tables. 2 of the patrons were children about 10 or 11 upon quick evaluation and 2 were older adults. The children had food from another restaurant, I mean burgers, fries, sodas etc. spralled all out and were quietly eating their food. So I came to the two adults and I said "Hi there, tell me are you joining us for dinner?"
The gentleman said "Yes."
I said "Are these two children part of your party?"
He said "Yes."
I said "Well we don't allow outside food and most especially not at a table for two where none of the food is food that we have made in our restaurant."
I went on to say my usual.... "Sir this isn't a food court, this is a restaurant, and we want you to eat our food together."
He said "Well what do you suggest we do?"
"If you would like to sit together, we can do a to go meal for you from our restaurant and you can join the children at the communal tables outside of Peets. It has the same view and then you can all sit together eat whatever you want. Or, we can set up a table for 4 and you can enjoy our food all together."
Can I just tell you that the man looked at me as if I was the most rude person ever and gathered up his family and stormed off. We of course put away the linens the silverware, the water etc. that we had put down for the 4 of them and sat our next patrons. What are people thinking?
Anyway, another day, another dollar.......
Friday, September 11, 2009
“No” is not a four letter word
Has life come to such a place that when one hears the word “no” it’s considered rude and shocking. It’s almost as if nowadays if we don’t all agree to let everybody do whatever they want then there is going to be a problem. I think part of this is a result of everybody trying to not step on everybody else’s toes or offend them in anyway.
In our society, rules seem to be loosely open for interpretation, a guideline, not an absolute, rather than something that is in place to keep peace and order. For example, a red light should mean “stop” unless you think it is “pink” which means you can make it through the intersection before it is “really red.” Who hasn’t been with a friend that at some point has said, “that wasn’t red it was pink, I didn’t run the light.”
People also like to ignore rules or comments in print. People will say things like “oh, I didn’t see that sign” or “I didn’t read that.” The assumption is that it doesn’t apply therefore. I missed it or didn’t see it so it doesn’t apply to me……
How does this relate to the blog this week, well I’ll share my inspirations for this week’s thoughts:
4 people came to the restaurant sat down and ordered ice teas and beer. After the server gave them their beverages, he asked them if he could get them something else and they said, “no, just the drinks” and then proceeded to open 4 togo boxes.
The server was new, and our Manager asked him why the whole table was essentially picnicking at our restaurant. She said, “Remember no outside food in our restaurant.”
She went over to the table and she said, “I’m sorry no outside food.”
The people said, said they had purchased the drinks.
She said “I’m sorry I can pack your drinks in a togo cup for you, but not the beer.”
The gentleman at the table said “You are rude.”
She said I am sorry it’s stated on the menu “no outside food.”
He repeated “You are rude!”
Why is it so hard to simply say “Oh, ok, didn’t see that and can you tell us where we can go to eat our lunch?” And besides that, who would think it is ok to bust out an entire meal for 4 in a restaurant from another restaurant?
Our Manager was baffled to say the least, and quite frankly so am I, even still. Are we not allowed to have our own rules in our own restaurant? And if you don’t like them, then do you just ignore them? If we call you on it, then we are the bad rude people.
I don’t get it.
In our society, rules seem to be loosely open for interpretation, a guideline, not an absolute, rather than something that is in place to keep peace and order. For example, a red light should mean “stop” unless you think it is “pink” which means you can make it through the intersection before it is “really red.” Who hasn’t been with a friend that at some point has said, “that wasn’t red it was pink, I didn’t run the light.”
People also like to ignore rules or comments in print. People will say things like “oh, I didn’t see that sign” or “I didn’t read that.” The assumption is that it doesn’t apply therefore. I missed it or didn’t see it so it doesn’t apply to me……
How does this relate to the blog this week, well I’ll share my inspirations for this week’s thoughts:
4 people came to the restaurant sat down and ordered ice teas and beer. After the server gave them their beverages, he asked them if he could get them something else and they said, “no, just the drinks” and then proceeded to open 4 togo boxes.
The server was new, and our Manager asked him why the whole table was essentially picnicking at our restaurant. She said, “Remember no outside food in our restaurant.”
She went over to the table and she said, “I’m sorry no outside food.”
The people said, said they had purchased the drinks.
She said “I’m sorry I can pack your drinks in a togo cup for you, but not the beer.”
The gentleman at the table said “You are rude.”
She said I am sorry it’s stated on the menu “no outside food.”
He repeated “You are rude!”
Why is it so hard to simply say “Oh, ok, didn’t see that and can you tell us where we can go to eat our lunch?” And besides that, who would think it is ok to bust out an entire meal for 4 in a restaurant from another restaurant?
Our Manager was baffled to say the least, and quite frankly so am I, even still. Are we not allowed to have our own rules in our own restaurant? And if you don’t like them, then do you just ignore them? If we call you on it, then we are the bad rude people.
I don’t get it.
I'm going to write a letter to someone!
I'm going to write a letter and tell people about this!
So a few weeks ago there was this guy that said he was going to write a note to "someone" (unclear who that someone was….), because after he ate with friend, we wouldn't let him save another seat at our bar for a friend that was coming at some point to join the two of them in the Ferry Building. In otherwords, they had paid, and were just sitting there for an undetermined amount of time until the friend appeared. They may or may not stay at our restaurant since they didn't know what the friend was in the mood to do.
I just don’t get why folks get so upset when they can’t save a seat. This gentleman additionally crowded in a chair from the opposite side of the bar and then proceeded to crowd the rest of the patrons enjoying their meal.
We didn’t fully understand where Miss Manners was at that moment, but we sure could have used her guidance. In the last few weeks, I have become quite infuriated with the lack of understanding and respect that people show to others. As you know if you've followed my bloggy thoughts over the last few months, I have been on a tirade that people haven't got a clue how to act appropriately in public anymore.
Here are this week's thoughts:
I am sure that saving a seat on a crowded day at the Ferry Building with many people waiting to eat is not ok.
I am sure that intruding upon the space of others while trying to squish in an additional chair for your friend is not ok.
I am pretty sure that pulling chairs away from another area of the bar while paying no attention to the inconvenience caused on that side of the bar with the lack of that chair is not ok.
I am most certain that generally announcing that he would write a letter of complaint because we told him he couldn't save the seat should someone need it prior to the arrival of his friend is not our problem and is rude to other folks that are present and waiting patiently for a seat.
As a side note, shortly after that incident, we did have to post a sign stating that we wouldn't seat a table outside until the whole party is present and ready to sit.
I think I am going to approach another topic, with utmost caution since many people seem to think that the behavior/activity I am about to describe is totally acceptable.
In a crowded space, (let me be specific: A restaurant where a line of patrons are waiting to eat that is appx. 10 to 15 people deep) it is generally pretty rude to pay your bill and then sit for another 30 minutes or more especially in a small restaurant, and most especially if you have a party of 4 or more. I mean really, can't you continue your conversation at a bench outside or sit next to the water or sit at the open tables next to Peets.
Here's another one that happens constantly to many restaurants in the Ferry Building unless you chairs are bolted down. It's not ok to take a restaurant's chairs and make a camping spot for you and your friends to enjoy your picnic of items purchased from all the vendors in the Ferry Building. We need the chairs for our customers and they aren't communal. Why do you people who do that feel that's ok to do?
Perhaps I can illustrate this in a different way: Let's say you are on Valencia St. where there are may places to eat and drink next to each other.....and let's say that you and a couple of friends are short a chair, but you want to sit at Blondie’s for a beer. Do you really go to Luna Park and get a chair from them and bring it back to Blondie’s? Think about it...... The only difference between that scenario and the Ferry Building is that those two places are on Valencia. Where as in the Ferry Building we just don't have a formal doorway entrance and we are all under one roof. Seemingly, this doesn't even phase people who do this.
You know I even saw a guy hanging out at The Gardener the other day, for at least 30 minutes having lunch in their display Adirondack chair and he couldn't have been happier. He didn't think this was inappropriate at all and he had to have been in his middle 30s. Seriously, hello?, your are eating your lunch on someone's display chair!
I don't know, I have talked a lot about how somehow, the Ferry Building is perceived as some kind of giant food court and I feel as though I really need to remind visitors that it's a building that houses individual restaurants, and stores so just pretend you are walking down a street and act the same way you would on a street as you do in the Ferry Building.
Oh I get it now........
That’s why bars have the seats bolted to the floor. Note to self: bolt chairs to floor should we ever get different bar stools.
So a few weeks ago there was this guy that said he was going to write a note to "someone" (unclear who that someone was….), because after he ate with friend, we wouldn't let him save another seat at our bar for a friend that was coming at some point to join the two of them in the Ferry Building. In otherwords, they had paid, and were just sitting there for an undetermined amount of time until the friend appeared. They may or may not stay at our restaurant since they didn't know what the friend was in the mood to do.
I just don’t get why folks get so upset when they can’t save a seat. This gentleman additionally crowded in a chair from the opposite side of the bar and then proceeded to crowd the rest of the patrons enjoying their meal.
We didn’t fully understand where Miss Manners was at that moment, but we sure could have used her guidance. In the last few weeks, I have become quite infuriated with the lack of understanding and respect that people show to others. As you know if you've followed my bloggy thoughts over the last few months, I have been on a tirade that people haven't got a clue how to act appropriately in public anymore.
Here are this week's thoughts:
I am sure that saving a seat on a crowded day at the Ferry Building with many people waiting to eat is not ok.
I am sure that intruding upon the space of others while trying to squish in an additional chair for your friend is not ok.
I am pretty sure that pulling chairs away from another area of the bar while paying no attention to the inconvenience caused on that side of the bar with the lack of that chair is not ok.
I am most certain that generally announcing that he would write a letter of complaint because we told him he couldn't save the seat should someone need it prior to the arrival of his friend is not our problem and is rude to other folks that are present and waiting patiently for a seat.
As a side note, shortly after that incident, we did have to post a sign stating that we wouldn't seat a table outside until the whole party is present and ready to sit.
I think I am going to approach another topic, with utmost caution since many people seem to think that the behavior/activity I am about to describe is totally acceptable.
In a crowded space, (let me be specific: A restaurant where a line of patrons are waiting to eat that is appx. 10 to 15 people deep) it is generally pretty rude to pay your bill and then sit for another 30 minutes or more especially in a small restaurant, and most especially if you have a party of 4 or more. I mean really, can't you continue your conversation at a bench outside or sit next to the water or sit at the open tables next to Peets.
Here's another one that happens constantly to many restaurants in the Ferry Building unless you chairs are bolted down. It's not ok to take a restaurant's chairs and make a camping spot for you and your friends to enjoy your picnic of items purchased from all the vendors in the Ferry Building. We need the chairs for our customers and they aren't communal. Why do you people who do that feel that's ok to do?
Perhaps I can illustrate this in a different way: Let's say you are on Valencia St. where there are may places to eat and drink next to each other.....and let's say that you and a couple of friends are short a chair, but you want to sit at Blondie’s for a beer. Do you really go to Luna Park and get a chair from them and bring it back to Blondie’s? Think about it...... The only difference between that scenario and the Ferry Building is that those two places are on Valencia. Where as in the Ferry Building we just don't have a formal doorway entrance and we are all under one roof. Seemingly, this doesn't even phase people who do this.
You know I even saw a guy hanging out at The Gardener the other day, for at least 30 minutes having lunch in their display Adirondack chair and he couldn't have been happier. He didn't think this was inappropriate at all and he had to have been in his middle 30s. Seriously, hello?, your are eating your lunch on someone's display chair!
I don't know, I have talked a lot about how somehow, the Ferry Building is perceived as some kind of giant food court and I feel as though I really need to remind visitors that it's a building that houses individual restaurants, and stores so just pretend you are walking down a street and act the same way you would on a street as you do in the Ferry Building.
Oh I get it now........
That’s why bars have the seats bolted to the floor. Note to self: bolt chairs to floor should we ever get different bar stools.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
The blog you love to hate, or love, or hate, or love?
Dear sweet Paolo, I believe I am in love with you! Whether you hate us or love us your comments about our blog are just what I needed. Thank you!
So this week I have all kinds of things to comment on, some of which are inspired by the comments on sf.eater.com. Many of you seem to think our blog is about posting a list of complaints about our customers. Actually, I started the blog because I really didn’t believe half of the stories I had heard about customers until I lived them myself. You see, I’ve only worked in this one restaurant and yes, as if that wasn’t odd enough, it’s not even my primary profession. What I am is an absolute food lover and honestly, if my pocket book could afford it, I would eat out 5 days a week. I’m the kind of person that sets up whole vacations around food.
Having said all that, I want to address the servers in the world and support you for all that you do. I can’t speak for all jobs, because anyone who has to deal with people on a daily level, has their own set of stories, but I think there’s this thing that happens when one is serving food.
I don’t think I have ever thought of this before, but a restaurant serves food and that’s something personal, something important, something that can change, alter or destroy or improve your mood. People get engaged at restaurants, break up at restaurants, celebrate, birthdays, anniversaries and even deaths at restaurants. So yes, I believe that serving food and working in a restaurant is in fact different than any other profession.
Additionally, whole families can come to a restaurant and trust me, some of those families don’t get on well with each other and guess what, servers often bare the brunt of their discontent.
Our blog is a highlight of the most challenged serving experiences because it is my personal crusade to have people relax and understand that honestly we care a lot that you are having a good time and when you don’t we want to work on it, but some people just need to read about their own messed up patterns of inappropriate behavior to really “get” how offensive they are for all our sakes (regardless of what side of the table you are on).
Love us or hate us, come in to visit us. If your experience was fun and yummy then you will really see how irrational the folks we mention are. Or, you may find out we are totally annoying and our food and our attitude are just what you thought, inappropriate.
If you’ve read the blog before, you may recall my entry where I mention the comment cards we have. This weekend the same server had what I would call a “hate card” and a “love card.” I was just laughing and laughing about this. It’s actually turned into a game I play with myself to see how many good comments I can accumulate in a day.
This day, my co worker got a hideous review and even one that said she ignored them because “they didn’t order any wine, forgot her tomatoes and didn’t bring the bread they wanted.”
By the time I got to them, they seemed to be less frustrated, but I assured them it had nothing to do with whether or not they ordered wine. About 2 hours later however, she got a review that said she was basically “the most kind, thoughtful server the family had ever had and that they had a great time during their meal and didn’t want to leave.”
Oh, but wait a minute, it was a pretty manic Saturday now that I think about it. I remember two other polar opinions about her…..
One table said that she was rude, short and inattentive while yet another table said they come for raw clams to our restaurant and loved them so much that whenever they are in town, they come by as much as possible.
So, thank you again sf.eater.com, Paolo Lucchesi, and all that have read our blog and commented on it. We appreciate you and hopefully you can’t wait to read our next blog since we can’t read to hear your next round of comments.
Oh and remember, EAT FISH!
So this week I have all kinds of things to comment on, some of which are inspired by the comments on sf.eater.com. Many of you seem to think our blog is about posting a list of complaints about our customers. Actually, I started the blog because I really didn’t believe half of the stories I had heard about customers until I lived them myself. You see, I’ve only worked in this one restaurant and yes, as if that wasn’t odd enough, it’s not even my primary profession. What I am is an absolute food lover and honestly, if my pocket book could afford it, I would eat out 5 days a week. I’m the kind of person that sets up whole vacations around food.
Having said all that, I want to address the servers in the world and support you for all that you do. I can’t speak for all jobs, because anyone who has to deal with people on a daily level, has their own set of stories, but I think there’s this thing that happens when one is serving food.
I don’t think I have ever thought of this before, but a restaurant serves food and that’s something personal, something important, something that can change, alter or destroy or improve your mood. People get engaged at restaurants, break up at restaurants, celebrate, birthdays, anniversaries and even deaths at restaurants. So yes, I believe that serving food and working in a restaurant is in fact different than any other profession.
Additionally, whole families can come to a restaurant and trust me, some of those families don’t get on well with each other and guess what, servers often bare the brunt of their discontent.
Our blog is a highlight of the most challenged serving experiences because it is my personal crusade to have people relax and understand that honestly we care a lot that you are having a good time and when you don’t we want to work on it, but some people just need to read about their own messed up patterns of inappropriate behavior to really “get” how offensive they are for all our sakes (regardless of what side of the table you are on).
Love us or hate us, come in to visit us. If your experience was fun and yummy then you will really see how irrational the folks we mention are. Or, you may find out we are totally annoying and our food and our attitude are just what you thought, inappropriate.
If you’ve read the blog before, you may recall my entry where I mention the comment cards we have. This weekend the same server had what I would call a “hate card” and a “love card.” I was just laughing and laughing about this. It’s actually turned into a game I play with myself to see how many good comments I can accumulate in a day.
This day, my co worker got a hideous review and even one that said she ignored them because “they didn’t order any wine, forgot her tomatoes and didn’t bring the bread they wanted.”
By the time I got to them, they seemed to be less frustrated, but I assured them it had nothing to do with whether or not they ordered wine. About 2 hours later however, she got a review that said she was basically “the most kind, thoughtful server the family had ever had and that they had a great time during their meal and didn’t want to leave.”
Oh, but wait a minute, it was a pretty manic Saturday now that I think about it. I remember two other polar opinions about her…..
One table said that she was rude, short and inattentive while yet another table said they come for raw clams to our restaurant and loved them so much that whenever they are in town, they come by as much as possible.
So, thank you again sf.eater.com, Paolo Lucchesi, and all that have read our blog and commented on it. We appreciate you and hopefully you can’t wait to read our next blog since we can’t read to hear your next round of comments.
Oh and remember, EAT FISH!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
You Know there are Rules to Eating Out
This weekend started off a bit bumpy, but ended up sorting itself out as it usually does.
This story strikes me because it calls to question so many different things about people.
Some people move through the world trying to get something for free. They can’t help it, It’s in their fundamental character. Here are a couple of examples of what I am talking about:
We have all seen people comb the aisles of Costco who bring their friends and family and hit all the tasting stands to get a free meal. It never really matters what it is as long as it’s free. So they will have some kind of yogurt drink and a chicken sausage, a dried blueberry, a cracker and a hot chocolate.
How about friends who have a closet full of odd clothes because they got it “for free” or someone gave it to them and instead of turning it down graciously since it’s not their style or they don’t like it, they accept it and then never wear it.
Or there are people who will buy something just to get the rebate or the coupon. These are the folks that don’t care what it is it’s just a sport or a game to them.
I myself am all about the 2 for one or buy one get one free, but this is when I am at Safeway which is something we all are used to seeing. I am not looking for it at Whole Foods, because it’s not one of their marketing strategies. It’s kind of like there’s a time and a place to be price savvy and driven and then there’s the time to relax and just shop for what you need or like.
Having said all of this here’s the latest:
A woman came in with friends and ordered a series of oysters and clams on the half shell, some wine, some chowder and a crab cake. All of these items are cold and the soup is ready in a hot pot all day long to go out immediately. The crab cake on the other hand needs to cook, so it takes a bit longer. The table got all of their food with the exception of the crab cake which came 10 minutes later. The woman got very upset and said it took too long. So as a gesture, we didn’t charge her for the crab cake. Without the crab cake the bill came to appx. $68.00. She looked at the bill and wanted more taken off because she repeated that the crab cake took too long! We said we felt that 10 minutes was reasonable to cook it, we already took it off the bill and truly this was asking too much. Please, take care and have a good day.
Here’s the oddest part, remember when I said to some people getting something for free is just a game. One would think that after she appeared so upset, she wouldn’t tip……. well, she did, she actually even tipped.
I don’t understand why, if you were so upset, why you would tip at all. If I was at the table, I would be embarrassed and I can say, I don’t think I would go out to eat for a while with that individual. Oh my gosh, here’s my other pet peeve when I go out to eat with people or if I am the server who has to split this all up.
New story……………….
When folks go out to eat, why can’t people do their own math and simply divide a check into 6 and pay for the bill. Quite frequently we get people saying “we want separate checks” so each time you come to the table, you need to add the next item on the proper person’s bill. Trust me, it’s always on a table of like 5 or 6 people or more. What is that?
Why can’t people get the bill and just divide it by the number of people and pay it. Why do people have to nit pick over which person had the Mimosa vs. the glass of Vin Gris? 99% of the time, if we don’t split it up individually into separate checks the price difference is typically 1 or 2 dollars tops. Can’t people just get that when you are in a large group of people, it’s not the time to work your server over or work over your guests to try and divide everything up exactly down to yes, you’ve guessed it, who had 3 pieces of bread not 5 pieces of bread. Who had a 5.00 dessert vs. a 7.00 dessert. It’s just so tacky! I am pretty sure when they developed the saying “we are going Dutch treat” the term referred to 2 people not 5 or 6 or more. Good Lord! To top it off you don’t necessarily know if you are sitting at a table with these kind of people or not until the end of the meal when some says….. Um, excuse me, “Sorry, can we please have separate checks?” That’s when I’m like wait, I wasn’t keeping track of how many bites of so and so and so’s dessert I took or how many glasses of wine I had.
I do have a personal story about this. One night many years ago, I went for a lovely holiday dinner with two alcoholics one of which had a double addiction to food and all of us knew each other because we were all working on our addiction to spending money. We went to Zuni as a celebratory special dinner. I love! Zuni. So when I go, I always have a lot of cocktails and a lot of food because it’s so yummy. So the conversation went something like this to my best recollection:
“Isn’t this nice to finally have time to visit and during the Holidays? What a lovely idea.”
“What are you going to have to drink? Oh, I’ll just have water, I don’t drink.”
“Yeah, I um I’ll just have water as well. I don’t drink either.”
“Ok, well, I’m going to have a Bloody Mary.”
The drink comes………
“So, what looks good to eat to you two?”
“Um, well I can’t have anything with gluten.”
“I can’t have anything with sugar.”
“I can’t have anything with carbs.”
“I don’t eat meat.”
“I don’t eat chicken.”
“Actually, I am really trying to focus on being vegan.”
I’m thinking to myself, oh God, this is going to be some night! I want the anchovies appetizer, then the Caesar salad, then the roasted chicken, then the flourless chocolate cake and by the way if anyone will share, I’d love to have some oysters as well to start. Then, with each of those, I think I will have a glass of Riesling with my anchovies, a nice buttery Chardonnay with my Chicken and glorious Sauterne with my chocolate cake.
They looked at me like I had four heads and 6 arms….. I swear it.
Let’s just say that I don’t know what the heck they ate. I am sure that it was like a Caesar salad with no dressing, croutons or cheese and 6 oysters. ……By the end of the meal, when “the separate checks were requested,” I want to get out of there so fast! I might as well of dined alone with a fantastic book it would have been way more fun! Oh and by the way, our conversation was all about how maybe I have some issues with drinking and over eating. I’ll tell you more about that another time……..I’m telling you, I have never had a bad time at Zuni, but this one, Lord I barely escaped with my left over chicken alive!
So here are my rules when eating out with friends:
Go out with people who can afford to go out to the restaurant you choose. Don’t bring your friends to Quince if they can only afford McDonalds it’s going to be uncomfortable.
Go to places where there will be something to eat for everyone: Don’t go to House of Prime Rib with some vegans or vegetarians, they are going to flip out and the salmon is going to suck!
Narrow down what your friends like to do, if your friends don’t drink, then Absinthe is probably not a great choice of restaurant.
If you eat everything, let the friends with the most special needs choose the restaurant so that you don’t get the blame should they not be able to find something to eat.
Lastly, don’t try to convince your non foodie friends of your foodie ways, they just won’t get it. If every time you want to visit a friend and they suggest a hike and you would rather have a lovely dinner, maybe go on a walk and through a power bar in your back pack, because trust me, dinner will not be fun!
This story strikes me because it calls to question so many different things about people.
Some people move through the world trying to get something for free. They can’t help it, It’s in their fundamental character. Here are a couple of examples of what I am talking about:
We have all seen people comb the aisles of Costco who bring their friends and family and hit all the tasting stands to get a free meal. It never really matters what it is as long as it’s free. So they will have some kind of yogurt drink and a chicken sausage, a dried blueberry, a cracker and a hot chocolate.
How about friends who have a closet full of odd clothes because they got it “for free” or someone gave it to them and instead of turning it down graciously since it’s not their style or they don’t like it, they accept it and then never wear it.
Or there are people who will buy something just to get the rebate or the coupon. These are the folks that don’t care what it is it’s just a sport or a game to them.
I myself am all about the 2 for one or buy one get one free, but this is when I am at Safeway which is something we all are used to seeing. I am not looking for it at Whole Foods, because it’s not one of their marketing strategies. It’s kind of like there’s a time and a place to be price savvy and driven and then there’s the time to relax and just shop for what you need or like.
Having said all of this here’s the latest:
A woman came in with friends and ordered a series of oysters and clams on the half shell, some wine, some chowder and a crab cake. All of these items are cold and the soup is ready in a hot pot all day long to go out immediately. The crab cake on the other hand needs to cook, so it takes a bit longer. The table got all of their food with the exception of the crab cake which came 10 minutes later. The woman got very upset and said it took too long. So as a gesture, we didn’t charge her for the crab cake. Without the crab cake the bill came to appx. $68.00. She looked at the bill and wanted more taken off because she repeated that the crab cake took too long! We said we felt that 10 minutes was reasonable to cook it, we already took it off the bill and truly this was asking too much. Please, take care and have a good day.
Here’s the oddest part, remember when I said to some people getting something for free is just a game. One would think that after she appeared so upset, she wouldn’t tip……. well, she did, she actually even tipped.
I don’t understand why, if you were so upset, why you would tip at all. If I was at the table, I would be embarrassed and I can say, I don’t think I would go out to eat for a while with that individual. Oh my gosh, here’s my other pet peeve when I go out to eat with people or if I am the server who has to split this all up.
New story……………….
When folks go out to eat, why can’t people do their own math and simply divide a check into 6 and pay for the bill. Quite frequently we get people saying “we want separate checks” so each time you come to the table, you need to add the next item on the proper person’s bill. Trust me, it’s always on a table of like 5 or 6 people or more. What is that?
Why can’t people get the bill and just divide it by the number of people and pay it. Why do people have to nit pick over which person had the Mimosa vs. the glass of Vin Gris? 99% of the time, if we don’t split it up individually into separate checks the price difference is typically 1 or 2 dollars tops. Can’t people just get that when you are in a large group of people, it’s not the time to work your server over or work over your guests to try and divide everything up exactly down to yes, you’ve guessed it, who had 3 pieces of bread not 5 pieces of bread. Who had a 5.00 dessert vs. a 7.00 dessert. It’s just so tacky! I am pretty sure when they developed the saying “we are going Dutch treat” the term referred to 2 people not 5 or 6 or more. Good Lord! To top it off you don’t necessarily know if you are sitting at a table with these kind of people or not until the end of the meal when some says….. Um, excuse me, “Sorry, can we please have separate checks?” That’s when I’m like wait, I wasn’t keeping track of how many bites of so and so and so’s dessert I took or how many glasses of wine I had.
I do have a personal story about this. One night many years ago, I went for a lovely holiday dinner with two alcoholics one of which had a double addiction to food and all of us knew each other because we were all working on our addiction to spending money. We went to Zuni as a celebratory special dinner. I love! Zuni. So when I go, I always have a lot of cocktails and a lot of food because it’s so yummy. So the conversation went something like this to my best recollection:
“Isn’t this nice to finally have time to visit and during the Holidays? What a lovely idea.”
“What are you going to have to drink? Oh, I’ll just have water, I don’t drink.”
“Yeah, I um I’ll just have water as well. I don’t drink either.”
“Ok, well, I’m going to have a Bloody Mary.”
The drink comes………
“So, what looks good to eat to you two?”
“Um, well I can’t have anything with gluten.”
“I can’t have anything with sugar.”
“I can’t have anything with carbs.”
“I don’t eat meat.”
“I don’t eat chicken.”
“Actually, I am really trying to focus on being vegan.”
I’m thinking to myself, oh God, this is going to be some night! I want the anchovies appetizer, then the Caesar salad, then the roasted chicken, then the flourless chocolate cake and by the way if anyone will share, I’d love to have some oysters as well to start. Then, with each of those, I think I will have a glass of Riesling with my anchovies, a nice buttery Chardonnay with my Chicken and glorious Sauterne with my chocolate cake.
They looked at me like I had four heads and 6 arms….. I swear it.
Let’s just say that I don’t know what the heck they ate. I am sure that it was like a Caesar salad with no dressing, croutons or cheese and 6 oysters. ……By the end of the meal, when “the separate checks were requested,” I want to get out of there so fast! I might as well of dined alone with a fantastic book it would have been way more fun! Oh and by the way, our conversation was all about how maybe I have some issues with drinking and over eating. I’ll tell you more about that another time……..I’m telling you, I have never had a bad time at Zuni, but this one, Lord I barely escaped with my left over chicken alive!
So here are my rules when eating out with friends:
Go out with people who can afford to go out to the restaurant you choose. Don’t bring your friends to Quince if they can only afford McDonalds it’s going to be uncomfortable.
Go to places where there will be something to eat for everyone: Don’t go to House of Prime Rib with some vegans or vegetarians, they are going to flip out and the salmon is going to suck!
Narrow down what your friends like to do, if your friends don’t drink, then Absinthe is probably not a great choice of restaurant.
If you eat everything, let the friends with the most special needs choose the restaurant so that you don’t get the blame should they not be able to find something to eat.
Lastly, don’t try to convince your non foodie friends of your foodie ways, they just won’t get it. If every time you want to visit a friend and they suggest a hike and you would rather have a lovely dinner, maybe go on a walk and through a power bar in your back pack, because trust me, dinner will not be fun!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Watch out Low Flying Ducks!
Some days, we end up being some kind of wharped dumping ground for people who have had a bad day or simply woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I have to say, that until I worked here, I never knew how many odd ducks are wondering the streets of San Francisco.
I have to believe this is not exclusive to our town, I’m sure even in well, Omaha, yea, yea Omaha, they even have their fare share of odd ducks….
So, with that, here’s an odd duck story. By the way, I swear, I don’t make this stuff up:
A patron ordered a Crab Sandwich. The Sandwich arrived and she said that’s not what I ordered….. The server said you said you wanted a Crab Sandwich….
I do, but I want a Crab Sandwich with cheese.
Oh… So you want a Crabmelt (She shows her the menu).
Yes she says.
The Crabmelt arrives. I want it open face…..
The Server says, Ok…. you want it open face.
Yes, I want it open face.
So our Manager overheard the conversation:
Would you like me to remove the top for you?
She said no…. I don’t want it anymore.
Our Manager said, Alrightly then.
So she just gave her the bill.
Seriously, how can a sandwich get soooooo complicated!
I have to believe this is not exclusive to our town, I’m sure even in well, Omaha, yea, yea Omaha, they even have their fare share of odd ducks….
So, with that, here’s an odd duck story. By the way, I swear, I don’t make this stuff up:
A patron ordered a Crab Sandwich. The Sandwich arrived and she said that’s not what I ordered….. The server said you said you wanted a Crab Sandwich….
I do, but I want a Crab Sandwich with cheese.
Oh… So you want a Crabmelt (She shows her the menu).
Yes she says.
The Crabmelt arrives. I want it open face…..
The Server says, Ok…. you want it open face.
Yes, I want it open face.
So our Manager overheard the conversation:
Would you like me to remove the top for you?
She said no…. I don’t want it anymore.
Our Manager said, Alrightly then.
So she just gave her the bill.
Seriously, how can a sandwich get soooooo complicated!
That’s it, I’m moving!
I think I may have to move out of California since people’s senses of humor have just gone and left!
We wanted to get more feedback from folks who have visited the restaurant after they ate. So we came up with a short and sweet comment card. Now who doesn’t hate a comment card, but honestly it’s been really helpful, and important for us to review.
When we developed the comment card, we wanted to at least make it sort of cute and funny to encourage people to fill it out.
Here are the multiple answer questions we asked.
Was your server pleasant and helpful in describing the menu?
Very Helpful Sort of Helpful Not Helpful at All
Was your server pleasant and helpful in describing the wine list?
Very Helpful Sort of Helpful Not Helpful at All
Was the service timely?
Very Fast Ok I was starving by the time it came
How did you enjoy the food?
Super Yummy It was alright definitely not my favorite
Did the fact that we have heated outdoor seating play a part in
why you chose to dine with us? (circle one of the options below)
Very Important Somewhat important Unimportant
How likely are you to return to our restaurant?
Very Likely Possibly Unlikely
A few weeks ago we got a comment card back that said the patron was totally offended by the language we used when we said “I was starving by the time it came.” He said he
doesn’t believe this generation has faced starvation in their lives. He went on to say I have been there..... and starvation is not a funny subject and I am offended by statement.
My Manager came to me and mentioned the comment and we both were quite taken back to say the least. I just don’t know what has happened to everyone’s sense of humor. Are we really truly becoming a society of people that can’t take a light hearted approach to life. Life is serious as it is, but when a comment card becomes offensive I think we need to take a deep breath and relax. RELAX……………RELAX…………..RELAX……..
We wanted to get more feedback from folks who have visited the restaurant after they ate. So we came up with a short and sweet comment card. Now who doesn’t hate a comment card, but honestly it’s been really helpful, and important for us to review.
When we developed the comment card, we wanted to at least make it sort of cute and funny to encourage people to fill it out.
Here are the multiple answer questions we asked.
Was your server pleasant and helpful in describing the menu?
Very Helpful Sort of Helpful Not Helpful at All
Was your server pleasant and helpful in describing the wine list?
Very Helpful Sort of Helpful Not Helpful at All
Was the service timely?
Very Fast Ok I was starving by the time it came
How did you enjoy the food?
Super Yummy It was alright definitely not my favorite
Did the fact that we have heated outdoor seating play a part in
why you chose to dine with us? (circle one of the options below)
Very Important Somewhat important Unimportant
How likely are you to return to our restaurant?
Very Likely Possibly Unlikely
A few weeks ago we got a comment card back that said the patron was totally offended by the language we used when we said “I was starving by the time it came.” He said he
doesn’t believe this generation has faced starvation in their lives. He went on to say I have been there..... and starvation is not a funny subject and I am offended by statement.
My Manager came to me and mentioned the comment and we both were quite taken back to say the least. I just don’t know what has happened to everyone’s sense of humor. Are we really truly becoming a society of people that can’t take a light hearted approach to life. Life is serious as it is, but when a comment card becomes offensive I think we need to take a deep breath and relax. RELAX……………RELAX…………..RELAX……..
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Are we really talking about the 50 cent bread charge again? Seriously?
From 07/13/09
Just when you thought it was safe to poke your head out and see what Yelpers are saying, BLAM, another odd comment I’ve got to address.
Here’s what the Yelper said:
Get ready for shockingly small $16 portions.
$5 for a cup of chowda. $0.50 for a piece of bread?
I don't get it.A little too gimmicky.
I know the rent there must be outrageous, so I understand.
In these hard times, it's tough sell.
Here are my thoughts: $5.00 for a cup of chowder is pretty reasonable for a daily soup with fresh clams in it. Have you been to a movie lately sir, you can barely get a soda for $5.00 which comes out of soda machine, no one made it!
Ah yes, fish is expensive and I have honestly not heard anyone ever complain about our portion size. I was trying to figure out what this gentleman had for $16.00, but alas, I can’t. I feel as though our portion sizes are appropriate for the average eater, but maybe he should have had a crab melt or something heavier. His comments seem to be driven primarily by portion and price. Anyone who has been to the Ferry Building knows, that’s not the scene at the Ferry Building.You have to pay $10.00 for two fish tacos and a drink at Mejita. That’s not a mission price, it’s a quality price.
Who lives in San Francisco and hasn’t heard of the City’s healthcare initiative? Even my beloved Zuni finally started charging 4% of the overall bill to cover healthcare. Our restaurant charges for bread which I am sooooo tired of talking about, which is the least expensive approach to assist the restaurant in covering this overhead. Plus…… it’s a choice to eat bread not a flat rate like most restaurants attached to your bill. My kind Sir, healthcare is not a gimmick and neither is our 50 cent charge for it.
Having said all that I shall move on from my rant with the following closing thoughts, before you write a review of a restaurant, identify what you look for in a great dining experience before you take cheap shots like complaining about bread being 50 cents. Just say, when I ate at “blank” I went in looking for a cheap quick meal…… Or, when I ate at “blank” I went in looking for some really great clean fish with good flavors…..
No one owns a restaurant and doesn’t care about the product they put out and yet, we are a business and we need to tow the line between the product and the price every day.
Think before you write a review, think about the surroundings, the kind of people, that go there, the type of food you are looking and the staff that serves you. From there, take time to write an accurate, thoughtful review.
Thank you Yelpers. As usual, whether I am either pleased, or frustrated I am provoked to respond and think about what you all have to say.
Just when you thought it was safe to poke your head out and see what Yelpers are saying, BLAM, another odd comment I’ve got to address.
Here’s what the Yelper said:
Get ready for shockingly small $16 portions.
$5 for a cup of chowda. $0.50 for a piece of bread?
I don't get it.A little too gimmicky.
I know the rent there must be outrageous, so I understand.
In these hard times, it's tough sell.
Here are my thoughts: $5.00 for a cup of chowder is pretty reasonable for a daily soup with fresh clams in it. Have you been to a movie lately sir, you can barely get a soda for $5.00 which comes out of soda machine, no one made it!
Ah yes, fish is expensive and I have honestly not heard anyone ever complain about our portion size. I was trying to figure out what this gentleman had for $16.00, but alas, I can’t. I feel as though our portion sizes are appropriate for the average eater, but maybe he should have had a crab melt or something heavier. His comments seem to be driven primarily by portion and price. Anyone who has been to the Ferry Building knows, that’s not the scene at the Ferry Building.You have to pay $10.00 for two fish tacos and a drink at Mejita. That’s not a mission price, it’s a quality price.
Who lives in San Francisco and hasn’t heard of the City’s healthcare initiative? Even my beloved Zuni finally started charging 4% of the overall bill to cover healthcare. Our restaurant charges for bread which I am sooooo tired of talking about, which is the least expensive approach to assist the restaurant in covering this overhead. Plus…… it’s a choice to eat bread not a flat rate like most restaurants attached to your bill. My kind Sir, healthcare is not a gimmick and neither is our 50 cent charge for it.
Having said all that I shall move on from my rant with the following closing thoughts, before you write a review of a restaurant, identify what you look for in a great dining experience before you take cheap shots like complaining about bread being 50 cents. Just say, when I ate at “blank” I went in looking for a cheap quick meal…… Or, when I ate at “blank” I went in looking for some really great clean fish with good flavors…..
No one owns a restaurant and doesn’t care about the product they put out and yet, we are a business and we need to tow the line between the product and the price every day.
Think before you write a review, think about the surroundings, the kind of people, that go there, the type of food you are looking and the staff that serves you. From there, take time to write an accurate, thoughtful review.
Thank you Yelpers. As usual, whether I am either pleased, or frustrated I am provoked to respond and think about what you all have to say.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Dissed By Mean Girls
Waiting in line and telling us how we should set up our tables. Yes, yes, you know who you are……
While waiting in line, some folks get really impatient because they can’t believe there’s a line in the first place, but on Saturdays, in the Summer, in the Ferry Building, outside, there will be a line folks.
Here’s a little side lesson about seating in a restaurant: Most restaurants, unless you are a really regular customer, who orders a lot of food, we don’t prefer (not that we won’t) to sit 2 people at a 4 person table, because each chair makes money. If there is no body in the chair, than it’s wasted space. Generally speaking, we will have you wait for a 2 person table.
So, a gentleman had 5 people and he wanted a table. 5 was a wee bit tricky, because we can’t fit 5 folks at a 4 person table it would be tight. If you want to sit together, which most folks do, we have to get a 2 top and a 4 top together, next to each other to create the table. In the end, he had to separate his children, 2 teenage girls from his son and he and his wife. So we did 3 and then 2. Since seating is not a very compelling topic, I will tell you how I got “dissed” by 2 teenage girls. So I greeted the girls, I am thinking 15 ish and they asked me for my all time favorite thing (not) clam chowder in a bread bowl. Now all of you out there that come to San Francisco, and you are on the hunt for soup in a bread bowl, I swear, I just DON”T GET IT!. Think about it, a gooey soup inside mushy bread. Now once you are done with your chunky monkey soup, what are going to do?, eat the that gooey bread bowl. I typically keep all of these thoughts to myself, because of course, I am a professional, but also because, I try to be pleasant.
“Hi there, what can I get you?”
“Yes, we would like to have 2 clam chowders in the bread bowl please.”
“ I’m sorry we have clam chowder and we have bread, but not the two together.”
Sigh, eye roll, oh, um……. (I so wanted to have one of them flip their hair to one side)
“Is that going to be ok or would you like something else (Secretly I was thinking I am a 41 year old woman who so just got dissed by 2 15 year old girls, It’s like I was just bashed by the “Mean girls!”)?”
“Um, well that’s ok then just the soup and bread then.”
While waiting in line, some folks get really impatient because they can’t believe there’s a line in the first place, but on Saturdays, in the Summer, in the Ferry Building, outside, there will be a line folks.
Here’s a little side lesson about seating in a restaurant: Most restaurants, unless you are a really regular customer, who orders a lot of food, we don’t prefer (not that we won’t) to sit 2 people at a 4 person table, because each chair makes money. If there is no body in the chair, than it’s wasted space. Generally speaking, we will have you wait for a 2 person table.
So, a gentleman had 5 people and he wanted a table. 5 was a wee bit tricky, because we can’t fit 5 folks at a 4 person table it would be tight. If you want to sit together, which most folks do, we have to get a 2 top and a 4 top together, next to each other to create the table. In the end, he had to separate his children, 2 teenage girls from his son and he and his wife. So we did 3 and then 2. Since seating is not a very compelling topic, I will tell you how I got “dissed” by 2 teenage girls. So I greeted the girls, I am thinking 15 ish and they asked me for my all time favorite thing (not) clam chowder in a bread bowl. Now all of you out there that come to San Francisco, and you are on the hunt for soup in a bread bowl, I swear, I just DON”T GET IT!. Think about it, a gooey soup inside mushy bread. Now once you are done with your chunky monkey soup, what are going to do?, eat the that gooey bread bowl. I typically keep all of these thoughts to myself, because of course, I am a professional, but also because, I try to be pleasant.
“Hi there, what can I get you?”
“Yes, we would like to have 2 clam chowders in the bread bowl please.”
“ I’m sorry we have clam chowder and we have bread, but not the two together.”
Sigh, eye roll, oh, um……. (I so wanted to have one of them flip their hair to one side)
“Is that going to be ok or would you like something else (Secretly I was thinking I am a 41 year old woman who so just got dissed by 2 15 year old girls, It’s like I was just bashed by the “Mean girls!”)?”
“Um, well that’s ok then just the soup and bread then.”
Wait are we at Craftsteak and no one told me?
Seriously, unless you are eating caviar or you are having Kobe beef at Craftsteak, who asks how many ounces of something a dish has in a simple restaurant like Ferry Plaza Seafood?
This week I really wasn’t sure what I was going blog about because all in all it was a very mellow, busy, but a mellow Friday and Saturday for me at Ferry Plaza. I have to write about something though so here’s a story.
There were two women who ordered our crab melt sandwich and while one of them seemed to be quite happy with the sandwich, not so much her companion, but her sandwich, the other one chose to pose a complaint. Typically when folks have a complaint, I will ask them what they need to have happen? Change the meal for another one?, cook something again? things like that. Our world is pretty simple at Ferry Plaza considering what we cook and how we cook it, so things don’t come back very often. In any case, the woman wanted to know if there was less crab in the crab melt sandwich than there used to be?
I said no, it’s pre portioned by weight in the morning and has never changed since we started especially since it’s a favorite around here. Now typically that’s when the average person will say, oh, it must be just me or oh, my memory is different of the sandwich or something like that because it seems less, but thanks for letting me know.
I think we even measured it and it’s something like over 2 ounces of crab almost 3 ounces.
So the woman said “ I really think there is less crab meat in the sandwich, I’ve had it before and I’m sure there is less.” At this point she had taken a bite out of the sandwich, so I asked her what she needed to have happen? Would she like another item from the menu?, is there anything else I could do for her?…. that sort of thing.
“No, I just want more crab in my crab melt sandwich.”
I said, “I am happy to do that for you, but we will charge you for the additional crab.”
She said, “Well I don’t want to pay for more crab.”
I said, “Well what can I do for you since you don’t want to pay for more crab, can I bring you something else?”
“No.”
So I excused myself and while I was serving other tables, she continued to discuss, and compare the amount of crab she should of had in her sandwich with every other crab centric item on the menu. So she compared her sandwich and would say “See I am sure this sandwich has less crab than the salad the woman over there has.”
In the mean time, her companion was eating away and letting her rant and be frustrated until the time came for them to depart. My Manager then dropped off the check and she went on about how the crab melt has less crab and she was unhappy and that she had been there before and was disappointed in us and why did we say there was the same amount of crab when clearly there wasn’t and then she said those “just shoot me words” yep, you guessed it, “I think I will write about it on YELP.”
I told you, people are sooooo silly. I think it’s so bizarre to me that you would go on and on about something you didn’t like rather than just switch it out for something else that would make you happy.
My Manager and she went toe to toe on the amount of ounces on the crab salad because she swore it had more crab than the sandwich, but of course it’s displayed differently and so it looks that way, but it’s not and in fact it has less. She still insisted that we were not fessing up to the fact that we have cut the amount of crab in that sandwich. Oh Lord!
The worst part of it was her poor friend had to listen to her the whole lunch. I would have said can you please either get something else or be quiet so I can enjoy my sandwich and this perfect weather!
Once my Manager heard the dread “YELP threat” she said, you know if you feel like you need to write a review on YELP, then get right on it.
Then, about 5 minutes later, my Manager remembered that the very same woman had come in maybe a year before and did the same thing! Can you believe that! She ordered the Crab melt and then complained she didn’t like it.
Some people!
This week I really wasn’t sure what I was going blog about because all in all it was a very mellow, busy, but a mellow Friday and Saturday for me at Ferry Plaza. I have to write about something though so here’s a story.
There were two women who ordered our crab melt sandwich and while one of them seemed to be quite happy with the sandwich, not so much her companion, but her sandwich, the other one chose to pose a complaint. Typically when folks have a complaint, I will ask them what they need to have happen? Change the meal for another one?, cook something again? things like that. Our world is pretty simple at Ferry Plaza considering what we cook and how we cook it, so things don’t come back very often. In any case, the woman wanted to know if there was less crab in the crab melt sandwich than there used to be?
I said no, it’s pre portioned by weight in the morning and has never changed since we started especially since it’s a favorite around here. Now typically that’s when the average person will say, oh, it must be just me or oh, my memory is different of the sandwich or something like that because it seems less, but thanks for letting me know.
I think we even measured it and it’s something like over 2 ounces of crab almost 3 ounces.
So the woman said “ I really think there is less crab meat in the sandwich, I’ve had it before and I’m sure there is less.” At this point she had taken a bite out of the sandwich, so I asked her what she needed to have happen? Would she like another item from the menu?, is there anything else I could do for her?…. that sort of thing.
“No, I just want more crab in my crab melt sandwich.”
I said, “I am happy to do that for you, but we will charge you for the additional crab.”
She said, “Well I don’t want to pay for more crab.”
I said, “Well what can I do for you since you don’t want to pay for more crab, can I bring you something else?”
“No.”
So I excused myself and while I was serving other tables, she continued to discuss, and compare the amount of crab she should of had in her sandwich with every other crab centric item on the menu. So she compared her sandwich and would say “See I am sure this sandwich has less crab than the salad the woman over there has.”
In the mean time, her companion was eating away and letting her rant and be frustrated until the time came for them to depart. My Manager then dropped off the check and she went on about how the crab melt has less crab and she was unhappy and that she had been there before and was disappointed in us and why did we say there was the same amount of crab when clearly there wasn’t and then she said those “just shoot me words” yep, you guessed it, “I think I will write about it on YELP.”
I told you, people are sooooo silly. I think it’s so bizarre to me that you would go on and on about something you didn’t like rather than just switch it out for something else that would make you happy.
My Manager and she went toe to toe on the amount of ounces on the crab salad because she swore it had more crab than the sandwich, but of course it’s displayed differently and so it looks that way, but it’s not and in fact it has less. She still insisted that we were not fessing up to the fact that we have cut the amount of crab in that sandwich. Oh Lord!
The worst part of it was her poor friend had to listen to her the whole lunch. I would have said can you please either get something else or be quiet so I can enjoy my sandwich and this perfect weather!
Once my Manager heard the dread “YELP threat” she said, you know if you feel like you need to write a review on YELP, then get right on it.
Then, about 5 minutes later, my Manager remembered that the very same woman had come in maybe a year before and did the same thing! Can you believe that! She ordered the Crab melt and then complained she didn’t like it.
Some people!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Seriously, you only get 12 minutes of parking for 50 cents in San Francisco
I try to keep everyone up to date on some of my favorite stories from the previous weekend.
This week I thought I would try to figure out why people are so fascinated and crazy about bread? It's really interesting, because I have a piece of bread each day with my coffee in the morning and and there is one restaurant that I have to have bread with this certain anchovy dish that I just love, the crust most specifically, but other than that, I really could care less about it one way or the other. I mean, I don't feel deprived should there not be any bread on the table, or resentful if my basket isn't refilled immediately, I don't even notice. I don't think that I have ever uttered the words "does that come with bread?" When people ask me what I think are some of our best dishes and I don't mention our sandwiches, except for the crabmelt, because it's soooo yummy, they say why didn't you mention any of the sandwiches? I typically tell them that I would much rather have more fish and not fill up my tummy on bread.
I just remembered something, My Mother always said, if you are having a sandwich, , then you don't need bread as well, it's coming with your sandwich. Nope, Mom, not these days, forget the carbs, unless it's January and New Year resolutions are in full force, everybody wants bread for the most part, regardless of whether they are about to have a sandwich. In fact, one of the Pizza places like Dominos or Round Table has a new special, Pasta in a bread bowl with a side of bread, wait what?
So all of this is leading up to an interesting thing that happens virtually everyday at our restaurant. If you've really geeked out on our site you will notice that under our frequently asked questions tab, there is a question that says "why do you charge for bread?" So you can go back to that and read it for the answer, but do look at it, because I actually found out that the charge only covers 1/3rd of our health care for the City of San Francisco and the restaurant picks up the rest in overhead. So we charge 50 cents for bread to help cover the cost of our employees health care. Now in my mind, I really could care less if it was a dollar, two dollars, 50 cents or free, but I have found out that many folks don't think like me. These days a quarter gives you 6 minutes at a parking meter in San Francisco, so really, 50 cents is pretty much nothing comparatively.
Bread is one of those things that when people go to a restaurant everyone expects it to be there and they are genuinely alarmed or put off when it's not there. I've actually read up on this bread topic (ok so I'm a little odd) and people say they "think it's part of the meal" and therefore they shouldn't pay for it. Well, I think a glass of wine or a beautiful gin and tonic is part of my meal, but sadly wine and cocktails aren't part of every one's list. Some customers get grumpy when it's not heated or when the butter isn't soft or when it's not San Francisco Sour Dough. Honestly, I always think that if the bread is heated it's not fresh (PS. most people don't like the sour in the sour dough) Unless the restaurant bakes on the premises or very close to a bakery, It's how restaurants "refresh" day old bread.
This past weekend we sat down a group of 3 or 4 women (I didn't serve the table, so forgive me I can't recall the exact count). One of the women wasn't going to eat, but at the last minute prior to placing the order the server heard her say, "I'll just have bread and water." The server then said, "you know we charge for bread," then she said, "Oh, then I will just have water." Had we not charged for bread, then does that mean she would have just sat there eating bread? I already know the answer "um.... yes......"
I think people don't realize that things have changed in San Francisco that the profit margin restaurants used to have is virtually nonexistent. People are so excited to see reform for workers and health care for all, but for some reason, when it hits them in their pocket book, they aren't so supportive. One time, I didn't get a tip, because I told a tourist that we charge for bread and she said "I've never had to pay for bread." I let her know why we charge for it and asked her again if she would like bread, and she said "two please."By this time she had already convinced herself that the restaurant was pocketing the money, it was a scam to say it went to the San Francisco Health Care program and that she was going to let me know that she was not a supporter, and therefore not going to tip me, because in her mind I represented a stolen 50 cents and she wasn't about to give her hard earned money "to the man" (This woman really sticks out in my mind, because in all my years working at FPS, I have never not been tipped).
On our menu, we specifically state that we charge for bread and the reason we charge for it is to help cover the cost of the San Francisco Health Care program blah, blah, blah. After our patrons place their food order, I always confirm that they want bread for the table. Here are some of the answers to a pretty straight forward question (By the way a simple "yes" or "no" is just fine with me):
"Yes, I guess I want to have one of your 50 cent pieces of bread, but it better be good!"
"Seriously, you charge for bread."
"I see you charge for the bread, would you mind if I just ate the bread I just bought next door instead?" Ok seriously? That is one of the most tacky things I've heard, think about it.
"We would like bread, but only 1 piece because you charge for it." Ok, whatever you say. PS. These folks always want another piece.
"Oh, yes, I would love one of your 50 cent pieces of bread, to support your (wink wink) health care (ha ha ha)." I always get so cranky about this response, because trust me, if you've had something happen to you and you didn't have health care, you can be economically bankrupt within a few hours in an Emergency room. So, I don't get why health care is so funny.
"Oh, yes I would love some bread I think it's great that you charge for it, then it doesn't go to waste." Oh my gosh, I love these people!
This one just happened this weekend:
"Would you like bread for the table?"
"Just 1 please."
"Well, exactly what percentage of the health care is covered with the bread charge in your restaurant(I told you people, are really serious about this subject)?"
"1/3." I said
"Well then if it's actually 1/3, then we will have 2." So these are the folks that are thinking that they are actually making a donation. Seriously folks, I really don't care if you have 1 piece or 700 pieces, it's all 50 cents to me.
I am telling you that I don't make these stories up. Anyway, again, you can read all about the bread charge in our questions tab and for even more unsolicited thoughts, go to http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/28/our-nightly-bread-2/
Who knew?
This week I thought I would try to figure out why people are so fascinated and crazy about bread? It's really interesting, because I have a piece of bread each day with my coffee in the morning and and there is one restaurant that I have to have bread with this certain anchovy dish that I just love, the crust most specifically, but other than that, I really could care less about it one way or the other. I mean, I don't feel deprived should there not be any bread on the table, or resentful if my basket isn't refilled immediately, I don't even notice. I don't think that I have ever uttered the words "does that come with bread?" When people ask me what I think are some of our best dishes and I don't mention our sandwiches, except for the crabmelt, because it's soooo yummy, they say why didn't you mention any of the sandwiches? I typically tell them that I would much rather have more fish and not fill up my tummy on bread.
I just remembered something, My Mother always said, if you are having a sandwich, , then you don't need bread as well, it's coming with your sandwich. Nope, Mom, not these days, forget the carbs, unless it's January and New Year resolutions are in full force, everybody wants bread for the most part, regardless of whether they are about to have a sandwich. In fact, one of the Pizza places like Dominos or Round Table has a new special, Pasta in a bread bowl with a side of bread, wait what?
So all of this is leading up to an interesting thing that happens virtually everyday at our restaurant. If you've really geeked out on our site you will notice that under our frequently asked questions tab, there is a question that says "why do you charge for bread?" So you can go back to that and read it for the answer, but do look at it, because I actually found out that the charge only covers 1/3rd of our health care for the City of San Francisco and the restaurant picks up the rest in overhead. So we charge 50 cents for bread to help cover the cost of our employees health care. Now in my mind, I really could care less if it was a dollar, two dollars, 50 cents or free, but I have found out that many folks don't think like me. These days a quarter gives you 6 minutes at a parking meter in San Francisco, so really, 50 cents is pretty much nothing comparatively.
Bread is one of those things that when people go to a restaurant everyone expects it to be there and they are genuinely alarmed or put off when it's not there. I've actually read up on this bread topic (ok so I'm a little odd) and people say they "think it's part of the meal" and therefore they shouldn't pay for it. Well, I think a glass of wine or a beautiful gin and tonic is part of my meal, but sadly wine and cocktails aren't part of every one's list. Some customers get grumpy when it's not heated or when the butter isn't soft or when it's not San Francisco Sour Dough. Honestly, I always think that if the bread is heated it's not fresh (PS. most people don't like the sour in the sour dough) Unless the restaurant bakes on the premises or very close to a bakery, It's how restaurants "refresh" day old bread.
This past weekend we sat down a group of 3 or 4 women (I didn't serve the table, so forgive me I can't recall the exact count). One of the women wasn't going to eat, but at the last minute prior to placing the order the server heard her say, "I'll just have bread and water." The server then said, "you know we charge for bread," then she said, "Oh, then I will just have water." Had we not charged for bread, then does that mean she would have just sat there eating bread? I already know the answer "um.... yes......"
I think people don't realize that things have changed in San Francisco that the profit margin restaurants used to have is virtually nonexistent. People are so excited to see reform for workers and health care for all, but for some reason, when it hits them in their pocket book, they aren't so supportive. One time, I didn't get a tip, because I told a tourist that we charge for bread and she said "I've never had to pay for bread." I let her know why we charge for it and asked her again if she would like bread, and she said "two please."By this time she had already convinced herself that the restaurant was pocketing the money, it was a scam to say it went to the San Francisco Health Care program and that she was going to let me know that she was not a supporter, and therefore not going to tip me, because in her mind I represented a stolen 50 cents and she wasn't about to give her hard earned money "to the man" (This woman really sticks out in my mind, because in all my years working at FPS, I have never not been tipped).
On our menu, we specifically state that we charge for bread and the reason we charge for it is to help cover the cost of the San Francisco Health Care program blah, blah, blah. After our patrons place their food order, I always confirm that they want bread for the table. Here are some of the answers to a pretty straight forward question (By the way a simple "yes" or "no" is just fine with me):
"Yes, I guess I want to have one of your 50 cent pieces of bread, but it better be good!"
"Seriously, you charge for bread."
"I see you charge for the bread, would you mind if I just ate the bread I just bought next door instead?" Ok seriously? That is one of the most tacky things I've heard, think about it.
"We would like bread, but only 1 piece because you charge for it." Ok, whatever you say. PS. These folks always want another piece.
"Oh, yes, I would love one of your 50 cent pieces of bread, to support your (wink wink) health care (ha ha ha)." I always get so cranky about this response, because trust me, if you've had something happen to you and you didn't have health care, you can be economically bankrupt within a few hours in an Emergency room. So, I don't get why health care is so funny.
"Oh, yes I would love some bread I think it's great that you charge for it, then it doesn't go to waste." Oh my gosh, I love these people!
This one just happened this weekend:
"Would you like bread for the table?"
"Just 1 please."
"Well, exactly what percentage of the health care is covered with the bread charge in your restaurant(I told you people, are really serious about this subject)?"
"1/3." I said
"Well then if it's actually 1/3, then we will have 2." So these are the folks that are thinking that they are actually making a donation. Seriously folks, I really don't care if you have 1 piece or 700 pieces, it's all 50 cents to me.
I am telling you that I don't make these stories up. Anyway, again, you can read all about the bread charge in our questions tab and for even more unsolicited thoughts, go to http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/28/our-nightly-bread-2/
Who knew?
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Do you know how much restaurant folks hate YELPERS?
So I have to admit that I try to go to New York once a year. When I go, I totally dork out on preparing a list of restaurants that I actually divide into certain areas of Manhattan. When I'm wondering about town, I can whip out my list, having previously looked at all the reviews, and choose a restaurant.
To that end, I use several review websites, but I do jump to Yelp first. Yelp has many reviews, but mostly the average Yelper is 20 to 35 with truely nothing better to do than to comment on their latest epicurean adventure.
Actually, when I decided to put a BLOG section on our very own website, I thought I would present a well needed point of view from servers, kitchen staff and all those folks that serve Yelpers and other customers. That was my intention, but I have to admit I also use such rating review sites. Having said that, I feel as though some customers expect dining perfection from McDonalds to French Laundry and within this group of people, only perfection exists.
These are the folks that threaten to "Yelp" you if you don't give them something for free. They will threaten to "Yelp" you if they didn't get asked to get a free refill on Soda or Ice Tea, they will threaten to "Yelp" you because their meal took too long or because the line on a Saturday took to long to wait in.
Since the point of the Blog is to share inside restaurant stories with you here's one of those stories: Two guys came in and said that they wanted two cups of soup and a 1/2 sandwich each. One of the gentlemen inadvertently found a small piece of clear plastic in his soup. Immediately we appologized profusely and then replaced the soup. They finished their quick bite and when the bill came, they were upset because though we gave them free soup, and had replaced it, they also wanted a free dessert and if we didn't give it to them they threated to "Yelp us." I didn't know until I heard this story from the sad server that this "Yelp threat" even existed.
I eat out a lot and I have to say, I have had bad cocktails, hair in my food, painfully slow service, cold food delivered, overcooked this or that, but to be honest, things definetly happen by accident. No one means to serve anything less than perfect, but sometimes things happen. The trouble is, everyone is so bloody full of high expectations that the slightest mistake and people flip out! I have never threated a server or a restaurant with anything. If someone asked me, I would have said, you know it was unfortunate, but we found a small piece of plastic in our soup, but they handled the situation professionally, and the meal was lovely. I would never say what that patron said to the server.
I am not saying that it's ok to have plastic in the soup, but things occasionally happen. We serve 100s of people a day at Ferry Plaza Seafood. To be honest, I don't know why one person can say something out of 98 reviews and it can really bother me. I mean really really bothers me. I think I've figured it out though, I don't think it's about the food or the restaurant, I think it's about the attitude that folks have that the world owes them something. You have to know, how much we try to make your visit to our restaurant as perfect as possible. We have people that live in town that come in at least 2 times a week to have oysters and wine and whatever we recommend that day (Thank you Dick and Barbara). They are like family to us. We also have tourists that have come in to try something different each day of their visit to San Francisco and we just love them so much.
Everybody calm down, be kind, don't be so angry and empowered! Have a glass of wine, and stop with the Twittering, and the Face Booking, Yelping, the Blogging about all the things you hate and are disatisfied about. Remember, having a meal out is an adventure and an experience take time to take in the whole experience and relax.
To that end, I use several review websites, but I do jump to Yelp first. Yelp has many reviews, but mostly the average Yelper is 20 to 35 with truely nothing better to do than to comment on their latest epicurean adventure.
Actually, when I decided to put a BLOG section on our very own website, I thought I would present a well needed point of view from servers, kitchen staff and all those folks that serve Yelpers and other customers. That was my intention, but I have to admit I also use such rating review sites. Having said that, I feel as though some customers expect dining perfection from McDonalds to French Laundry and within this group of people, only perfection exists.
These are the folks that threaten to "Yelp" you if you don't give them something for free. They will threaten to "Yelp" you if they didn't get asked to get a free refill on Soda or Ice Tea, they will threaten to "Yelp" you because their meal took too long or because the line on a Saturday took to long to wait in.
Since the point of the Blog is to share inside restaurant stories with you here's one of those stories: Two guys came in and said that they wanted two cups of soup and a 1/2 sandwich each. One of the gentlemen inadvertently found a small piece of clear plastic in his soup. Immediately we appologized profusely and then replaced the soup. They finished their quick bite and when the bill came, they were upset because though we gave them free soup, and had replaced it, they also wanted a free dessert and if we didn't give it to them they threated to "Yelp us." I didn't know until I heard this story from the sad server that this "Yelp threat" even existed.
I eat out a lot and I have to say, I have had bad cocktails, hair in my food, painfully slow service, cold food delivered, overcooked this or that, but to be honest, things definetly happen by accident. No one means to serve anything less than perfect, but sometimes things happen. The trouble is, everyone is so bloody full of high expectations that the slightest mistake and people flip out! I have never threated a server or a restaurant with anything. If someone asked me, I would have said, you know it was unfortunate, but we found a small piece of plastic in our soup, but they handled the situation professionally, and the meal was lovely. I would never say what that patron said to the server.
I am not saying that it's ok to have plastic in the soup, but things occasionally happen. We serve 100s of people a day at Ferry Plaza Seafood. To be honest, I don't know why one person can say something out of 98 reviews and it can really bother me. I mean really really bothers me. I think I've figured it out though, I don't think it's about the food or the restaurant, I think it's about the attitude that folks have that the world owes them something. You have to know, how much we try to make your visit to our restaurant as perfect as possible. We have people that live in town that come in at least 2 times a week to have oysters and wine and whatever we recommend that day (Thank you Dick and Barbara). They are like family to us. We also have tourists that have come in to try something different each day of their visit to San Francisco and we just love them so much.
Everybody calm down, be kind, don't be so angry and empowered! Have a glass of wine, and stop with the Twittering, and the Face Booking, Yelping, the Blogging about all the things you hate and are disatisfied about. Remember, having a meal out is an adventure and an experience take time to take in the whole experience and relax.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Can you eat and play Musical Chairs at the same time?
So this guy comes in and sits at our bar and decides to have beer, a half sandwich and a cup of soup. I served him the items an about 5 minutes later I saw a woman sitting next to him busting out a full blown meal from another restaurant.
My Manager says, "what's the deal with the outside food at table 22?" I was like "what outside food, holey mackeral, oh, that outside meal." My Manager says "Sir I'm sorry, but there's no outside food, restaurant policy and it stated on the menu."
"Well I'm not going to pay then, since I was never told that" he says. I told my Manager that he never asked and in fact I never knew he was even with anybody. I should tell you that while this arguement is going on at the counter, the wife is shoveling in her food as fast as humanly possible and essentially "weighting herself to the chair." It's like when you were a little kid playing musical chairs and you are so determined to win and no one is going to get you out of the chair you are sitting in no matter what happens.
"Sir?" My Manager says, "You've already finished half your meal you have to pay for it and you need to take her food outside."
"We can put your food in a to go container so you can sit next to the water outside our restaurant and eat together."
At that point the guy guzzles his beer and she jams the last bites of her burger or whatever in her mouth he throws the money across the counter and they leave with a big stir.
Why is it so critical to people to sit at our restaurant and do this every single bloody weekend. I swear it's never even occurred to me to bring food from one restaurant into another restaurant and assume that that it's OK on any level. These people are older than me and I expect more out of my elders. I don't think we look like a food court in the Ferry Building, but I guess people will try anything. I saw my first human anchor though that day and that was pretty interesting!
My Manager says, "what's the deal with the outside food at table 22?" I was like "what outside food, holey mackeral, oh, that outside meal." My Manager says "Sir I'm sorry, but there's no outside food, restaurant policy and it stated on the menu."
"Well I'm not going to pay then, since I was never told that" he says. I told my Manager that he never asked and in fact I never knew he was even with anybody. I should tell you that while this arguement is going on at the counter, the wife is shoveling in her food as fast as humanly possible and essentially "weighting herself to the chair." It's like when you were a little kid playing musical chairs and you are so determined to win and no one is going to get you out of the chair you are sitting in no matter what happens.
"Sir?" My Manager says, "You've already finished half your meal you have to pay for it and you need to take her food outside."
"We can put your food in a to go container so you can sit next to the water outside our restaurant and eat together."
At that point the guy guzzles his beer and she jams the last bites of her burger or whatever in her mouth he throws the money across the counter and they leave with a big stir.
Why is it so critical to people to sit at our restaurant and do this every single bloody weekend. I swear it's never even occurred to me to bring food from one restaurant into another restaurant and assume that that it's OK on any level. These people are older than me and I expect more out of my elders. I don't think we look like a food court in the Ferry Building, but I guess people will try anything. I saw my first human anchor though that day and that was pretty interesting!
Which of your white wines is aged in a steel barrel?
When I was asked this question last week, I nearly fell to my feet.
I mean, I've been around the block a few times on both sides of the counter and consider myself fairly knowledgeable about our wine list. Well, I can qualify which Chardonnay one should drink based on buttery, dry or in between. I can talk about crisp and clean, sweet or not sweet, our dry Reisling vs. our Gruner Veltliner called Mozart with reasonable confidence, but "finished in a steel drum," (while his date giggled and looked clueless) I was absolutely dumbstruck.
I decided as usual to tell the truth and tell him that the person who buys our wine is on vacation and no one else could really answer the question with any level of accuracy. So the gentleman says "all you have to do is read the back of the bottle, it's always listed there." I felt like such a total idiot (Oh yes, and by the way it's so not listed on the back).
After work, I spoke to our General Manager ("the person who buys our wine") and she said that nearly all white wines are finished in a steel drum and that the entire comment was just silly. She also said that essentially reds are finished in Oak barrels and whites in steel drums. At that moment I felt so stupid once again. I pride myself on having pretty good thoughts on my feet, but this was so frustrating that if I had known that, I could have been ever so clever and said well, many crisp, and clean Sauvignon Blancs, Pinot Grigios, Fume Blanc white wines are finished in a steel drum, so do you have any other criteria I can use to find a perfect glass of wine for you sir? Now that would have been hilarious!
Customers are so silly, seriously, people expect so much out of a little restaurant with a few fun menu items, but basically, we are in a fancy building, but not fancy folks and certainly not set up to answer endless wine questions. We aren't a wine bar. Ultimately, what I think is so funny is that this customer only ate 12 oysters and had a glass of wine. It wasn't as if he ordered a bottle or was having an ongoing lucious meal it was a silly dozens oysters.
Lastly, my visit with him and his date couldn't have ended on a better note: "Wait, I'm not at Hog Island Oyster" he said looking blankly up at the sign in front of him that says Ferry Plaza Seafood. I said no sir, you are at Ferry Plaza Seafood. To which he responded, "Oh, well......, that's disappointing." Once again, I nearly dropped to my feet at how rude, abnoxious and to top it all off stunned I was at this parting comment.
Oh well, it's alright, these two folks were nestled right between and amongst a bunch of regular customers of ours and they all said he was just silly! When you come visit us, come with love and understanding and most importantly a fun attitude with every intention of relaxing you will have such a fun time! To that end, I did research the information for this blog and found it most enlightening. So thank you "table 30 and 31." Next time someone asks me about a Steel drum, I will have all kinds of thoughts.
I mean, I've been around the block a few times on both sides of the counter and consider myself fairly knowledgeable about our wine list. Well, I can qualify which Chardonnay one should drink based on buttery, dry or in between. I can talk about crisp and clean, sweet or not sweet, our dry Reisling vs. our Gruner Veltliner called Mozart with reasonable confidence, but "finished in a steel drum," (while his date giggled and looked clueless) I was absolutely dumbstruck.
I decided as usual to tell the truth and tell him that the person who buys our wine is on vacation and no one else could really answer the question with any level of accuracy. So the gentleman says "all you have to do is read the back of the bottle, it's always listed there." I felt like such a total idiot (Oh yes, and by the way it's so not listed on the back).
After work, I spoke to our General Manager ("the person who buys our wine") and she said that nearly all white wines are finished in a steel drum and that the entire comment was just silly. She also said that essentially reds are finished in Oak barrels and whites in steel drums. At that moment I felt so stupid once again. I pride myself on having pretty good thoughts on my feet, but this was so frustrating that if I had known that, I could have been ever so clever and said well, many crisp, and clean Sauvignon Blancs, Pinot Grigios, Fume Blanc white wines are finished in a steel drum, so do you have any other criteria I can use to find a perfect glass of wine for you sir? Now that would have been hilarious!
Customers are so silly, seriously, people expect so much out of a little restaurant with a few fun menu items, but basically, we are in a fancy building, but not fancy folks and certainly not set up to answer endless wine questions. We aren't a wine bar. Ultimately, what I think is so funny is that this customer only ate 12 oysters and had a glass of wine. It wasn't as if he ordered a bottle or was having an ongoing lucious meal it was a silly dozens oysters.
Lastly, my visit with him and his date couldn't have ended on a better note: "Wait, I'm not at Hog Island Oyster" he said looking blankly up at the sign in front of him that says Ferry Plaza Seafood. I said no sir, you are at Ferry Plaza Seafood. To which he responded, "Oh, well......, that's disappointing." Once again, I nearly dropped to my feet at how rude, abnoxious and to top it all off stunned I was at this parting comment.
Oh well, it's alright, these two folks were nestled right between and amongst a bunch of regular customers of ours and they all said he was just silly! When you come visit us, come with love and understanding and most importantly a fun attitude with every intention of relaxing you will have such a fun time! To that end, I did research the information for this blog and found it most enlightening. So thank you "table 30 and 31." Next time someone asks me about a Steel drum, I will have all kinds of thoughts.
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