[x-posted to houston.eats]

blake murphy wrote:

> On Sat, 02 Aug 2008 22:54:09 -0700, sf wrote:
>
> > On Sat, 02 Aug 2008 16:06:12 -0500, Janet Wilder
> > > wrote:
> >
> >>sf wrote:
> >>> On Sat, 02 Aug 2008 14:46:12 -0500, Janet Wilder
> >>> > wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> Then you pick up the whole thing with the chop sticks and eat it.
> >>>
> >>> You must have a really big mouth! I've yet to come across a one bite
> >>> roll.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>I take several bites, but the Japanese eat it in one bite.
> >
> > I've tried the one bite method, but it gags me. I don't understand
> > how they can chew so much food all at once!
>
> me either. or a piece of sushi.


Reminds me of a famous "incident" from years ago on houston.eats. "Sheryl"
was a high - strung bitch poster on rec.travel.air and houston eats (of
course she was a nemesis of mine...). She posted this, which became fodder
for much trollerizing by myself and other of her detractors; in checking the
archives I find that I even x - posted it here, some of you kids might
remember it. In any case I felt so sorry for poor Ms. Connie Wong! Hope
Miyako is doing a THRIVING business, lol :

Here's the thread; after this message I've included her original letter to
Miyako Sushi in Houston TX. You can google "Sheryl", "Connie Wong", or
"Miyako" on rec.travel.air or houston.eats and get all sortsa nonsense
(includng my own, natch):

http://groups.google.com/group/houst...ded428a374e266

From: Sheryl >
Subject: Miyako--My Lunch Today
Date: 2000/03/23
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"Just curious if you've been to Miyako in the past few days since you
made this post. If you have, did you mention anything about my
experience? Response?

Earlier this evening I received a phone call from Connie Wong, the lady
to whom my letter was addressed. This is the first contact I have
received since sending my letter one month ago. She stated that she
received my letter and discussed it with John, the owner. They are
reviewing the policy. No apology was offered until well into the
conversation.

I asked her why the policy was in place and her response was that the
appearance is different. I asked her what difference it made as to the
appearance if that's what the customer requested. She talked around
that and never really gave me an answer. I told her that ability to eat
my food without my mouth being totally full was far more important than
the food's appearance, and frankly there is no difference in the
appearance.

I stressed to her how offended I was at the way it was handled and she
said that the new manager was doing her job. I then discussed the
customer service issue and she just offered lip talk. I then told her
that actions speak far louder than words. I also told her that in the
month since this incident, I have been taking special notice at the
customer service I have received at numerous restaurants. I offered
several examples of experiences I've had at restaurants where they
didn't know me from Adam (unlike at Miyako where everyone knows me) and
that in at least 3 instances, I was provided with extremely nice service
and provided with things I never even asked for. One such example was
at La Vista. I placed a takeout order a couple weeks ago. My entree
came with a salad that I knew I would not care for. I told them that I
didn't want the salad included and that I would like to order a caesar
salad. I did not ask for nor did I expect to receive the caesar salad
as a substitution for the salad that was included on the menu. Further,
I asked for extra potatoes and at the same time I said to please charge
me whatever they felt was appropriate. When I was given the check,
there was no charge for either the caesar salad nor the extra potatoes.
I told the order taker that there was a mistake and to please charge me
for the additional items. The manager was standing right there and
said, "there's no charge." I couldn't believe it. I told him I wanted
to pay for those items but he insisted that I pay only for the entree.
I relayed this story to Connie Wong.

So anyway, after a lot of getting nowhere, she again said they were
reviewing the policy and asked what they could do to win back my
business. I told her, at a minimum, that I would like a letter of
apology from the owner as to how I was treated as the owner is who I
wanted to write to in the first place. I wanted to be assured that
there would be no additional charge for cutting a custom order in 8
pieces instead of the standard 6 pieces and that I would like a
complimentary meal to compensate for the ruined lunch I had last month.

She said she would relay my request to the owner and would send me a $25
gift certificate. She then asked if I would return. I told her that I
was not satisfied with only the gift certificate. I wanted an apology
from the owner and the assurance that this would not happen again..."

</>

Sheryl Mexic's original letter to Miyako Sushi:

:As I've commented on houston.eats several times in the past, I'm a
regular at lunchtime at Miyako on Kirby. Looks like today was my last
visit. I'll let my letter to Ms. Connie Wong explain. I got Ms. Wong's
name when I called the Westheimer location asking for the name and
address of Miyako's owner, who I know by sight from various times he's
been in the particular Miyako location where I was eating at the time.
Whenever he sees me, he always acknowledges me. Unfortunately, I was
told that Ms. Wong is in charge of all the restaurants and that I should
write to her. The nature of my request was known since I was forthright
from the beginning of the phone call. I immediately identified myself
by name and said I had a bad experience at the Kirby location earlier
today and I wanted to inform the owner about it.

Ms. Connie Wong
Miyako Restaurant
6345 Westheimer
Houston, TX 77057


Dear Ms. Wong:

My lunch hour today was an experience I hope to forget, as it was quite
unpleasant. Some background is in order, so first, I want you to know
that my first time ever eating sushi was at Miyako on Westheimer in
1985. I've been hooked on sushi ever since, regularly having dinner at
the Miyako on Westheimer, the Little Miyako that was located in the
Village about 10 years or so ago, and then when that location closed,
the Kirby location. In the mid-1990s when the downtown location opened,
I began having lunch there at least once per week, every single week,
until I began working in Greenway Plaza in January 1998. Since that
time, until today, I've had lunch at the Kirby location at least once
per week, every single week. So a reasonable estimation would be that
I've eaten at Miyako more than 500 times in the past 15 years.

I arrived at the Kirby location at 11:35 a.m. today and took my usual
seat at the sushi bar. Being that today was a federal holiday and many
offices were closed, there were only two others at the sushi bar, and
over the next 10 minutes, a total of about 5 tables were occupied.
Still, just the one couple and me at the sushi bar. In other words, not
very busy.

Among other sushi items, I ordered the Miyako Special maki. As I always
do when ordering the Miyako Special maki, I asked that it be cut into 8
pieces, rather than the usual 6 pieces, because when cut into 6 pieces,
a single piece is too large for me to eat without biting into it, and
then it completely falls apart. About three minutes after taking my
order, the waitress returned to say that I would be charged $1 for
cutting the maki into 8 pieces instead of 6 pieces. I looked her
straight in the face and told her that I was highly insulted by that
comment and told her of my frequency of visits to Miyako. She told me
that it was the manager's decision to charge me $1. I asked to speak
with the manager. The manager, who I recall previously as a waitress,
came from the kitchen area with a very sour look on her face. I then
reiterated to the manager what I told the waitress of how insulting the
idea of charging me $1 to make two slices with a knife. I also reminded
her of my very frequent visits to Miyako, which I knew she already knew,
because every single employee who works outside the kitchen knows me by
my frequent visits.

She told me that mine was a special request and there would be a $1
charge. I then told her that I guessed she had no idea what the notion
of customer service was and that she had two choices. She could either
charge me $1 for her employee to make 8 slices instead of 6 slices and I
would never again set foot in Miyako, or she could change her mind and I
would remain a customer. She stated once again that there would be a $1
charge. I then turned around, picked up my magazine and walked out of
the restaurant. Mind you, I had ordered a Coke which had already been
served to me and which I had partially consumed. I did not pay for it
nor was I followed and asked to pay for it.

I am truly saddened to have to make the decision to no longer have lunch
at a restaurant that I so much enjoy at least once per week. But then,
it's a sad day when $1 is more important than the loyalty I've shown
Miyako over 15 years and thousands of dollars.

/s/

P.S. As a final comment, I thought I'd offer that sometimes I order the
daily special, even when there is a piece of sushi that I do not care
for, typically squid. Whenever squid is on the daily special, I tell
the sushi chef he can just leave it off my plate, something I consider
to be quite thoughtful. Miyako can re-sell it to someone else, charging
the normal per piece price, and I've not wasted any food."


END OF LETTER

</>