Ken wrote:
> Everyone,
>
> I usually lurk here, but since I just posted, I figured I'd start a
> thread. This is mostly for those of you who own a restaurant or work
> in food service.
>
> A couple of weekends ago, I was meeting friends for dinner and then a
> night at the local symphony. I was told we had reservations at 6:00
> about half a block down from the theater, and the symphony started at
> 7:30. The time would be tight, but it would work.
>
> We meet at the restaurant, one of the best in the area, were seated
> fairly promptly, and ordered at about 6:15. I had never eaten there
> before, but my friends were all regulars and on a first name basis with
> the staff. The waitress kept coming by and apologizing that the
> kitchen was backed-up, and they'd get our food soon. (I later learned
> that the waitress owned the restaurant with her husband, the chef.)
> After quite a while, I told my friends we should leave and get a quick
> snack somewhere close and get to the symphony because they're not going
> to seat us until the intermission. My friends told me not to worry
> because it's just a local symphony, no ushers, no doors to lock. We
> can seat ourselves any time. The staff was very aware we were headed
> to the symphony and we needed to go. One of my friends even got up,
> got the check before the food was served, and we paid in advance so we
> could leave right after our meal.
>
> The food finally arrived at 7:20, over an hour after we ordered.
> Needless to say, I didn't enjoy a fairly pricey dinner which I had to
> wolf down in ten minutes. We were charged full price, but the
> waitress/owner was very apologetic, as were my friends to me, and said
> we should come back after the symphony and dessert was on the house.
>
> We came back and had dessert. This time, we had a waiter and he told
> us how nice and understanding we were, and of course dessert is comped.
> And then he put down the holder for the bill. I thought this a bit
> odd since it was comped. I saw paper sticking out and thought maybe
> there was a thank you note or something inside. So I look inside and
> there's a bill for $4.40.
>
> The desserts were comped, but not the two coffees. I couldn't believe
> it.
>
> My friends insisted on paying full price for the desserts since they're
> regulars and have had great service many times. They just wrote it
> off. It was my first time there, and let's just say I'm not rushing
> back any time soon.
>
> I just thought some of you in the food service business might want a
> reason to shake your heads in amazement. Comped deserts, but not the
> coffee. That's a good one.

Why don't you tell us the name and location of this place?

My wife was bumped because she's a local (from the neigborhood) the
other day, so the guy could serve a first-time customer first. He
comped her entire order, but told her not to tell anyone about it, so I
won't mention the place's name.
>
> Ken

--Bryan