Tuesday, February 13, 2007

What happened to service with a smile?

I am publicly declaring that I must have a sign on my forehead that says "Please let strange things happen to me....I like them"! Literally, it seems that everywhere I go, it can't be a normal experience. I guess people know that I blog and need things to write about!!!! ;) Anyway, I ask the question again....What happened to GOOD service? I am talking about the kind you expect to receive when you eat out. Does anyone else feel my pain? Let me set the stage for you......Saturday afternoon, it was 1:45pm and the girls had just finished their soccer game. We were in high spirits because they had just won their game and played really well! We ran into some good friends of ours and ended up deciding to go get a late lunch. The first place we went to was closed at 2pm so our friends suggested we try a new place that has just opened up in our town. Surely, with it being so late, we will be able to get in and out quickly. We arrive and get seated. A waitress comes over to take our drink order. TEN minutes later and we do NOT have drinks nor have we given our food order. Frustration is setting in but I try to overlook it and just be glad that we are dining out with some adults. By the way, the kids were playing in the arcade area in case you were wondering! Finally the waitress appears and tells us that it is not us but she has too many large tables and another girl is going to handle us. OK!!! Well another 10 mins and the manager comes over to see how we are doing. We tell him that we haven't even gotten our drinks so he runs off and hurries the girl along. We get our drinks and place our order. I am thinking that since the manager knows that we are frustrated , then our food will be quick. WRONG ASSUMPTION! FORTY FIVE mins later.....NO FOOD. To make matters worse, we notice that tables that arrived AFTER us are already eating. Greg had ordered an appetizer too and we didn't even have that. We AGAIN complain to the manager who does nothing more then apologize and run off. I was inwardly FUMING. I just don't understand! FINALLY, we start to get our food delivered. By this I mean, they bring it out in shifts. Is that hilarious or what? They brought the guys food and 3 of the four kids meals. Oh and they brought out the appetizer with it too( I generally prefer my appetizer BEFORE I eat my meal....I must be really picky)!!!! Another 10 mins go by and finally I get my food. Another five mins and my friend gets hers. By this point, Greg was livid. He is in sales so this was completely unacceptable. The manager is summoned and he again APOLOGIZES only. He doesn't offer us any compensation whatsoever! My husband tells him that anyone can apologize but we ought to be offered something in return for this terrible service. The manager smiles sheepishly and says we can have 20% off!!!!! Wow, how generous!!!! The food was nothing to write home about, so after finishing up, we ask for our check. Would you believe that it took our waitress over 15 mins to get our bill to us? We watched as she stood at the register waiting for someone to come help her. We actually contemplated just leaving because at that point I felt like our meal should have been comped!!! FINALLY, the manager brings us our bill and makes sure we notice that he gave us the 20% off and begs us to give the place another try!!!! Yeah buddy, thanks a bunch for the 6.00$ off our meal! Horrible service = 6.00 off.....hmmmmmm, what is wrong with this picture???? Needless to say, I won't be going back there anytime soon and I am going to scrub my forehead with a really good cleanser before I darken the doorstep of anymore places! Then again, maybe this is just a sign from above that I eat out entirely too much!

5 comments:

Diane said...

A- I"m with your sister! Weird things always happen to me too. Some sound so weird and so far fetched that I keep them to myself so people dont' think i'm fibbing! LOL

Diane

Jennifer in MS said...

Andrea, I love you girl! I'm regretting not knowing you better when I lived by you!

I don't know what is wrong with some people! This is certainly not a good start for a new business!

Thanks for the flattery on my blog today, LOL. I had to go back and look at my picture wondering, "Do I look skinny???" I've been exercising for a while now, but have no scales. I still have my baby belly flab (X 4)), unfortunately! :0) Though I'm feeling better in my clothes finally!

Christy said...

Okay, I am dying to know...

WHERE DID YOU GO!?!?! Since I live near you I need you to save me the experience LOL.

I would have been livid too.

Andrea said...

Beef O'Bradys!

Christy said...

Thanks!! I am adding that to my "I will never eat there" list