List for Cranky People
Aug 20th, 2003, 10:31 AM
#122
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Ok I know this applies more to the Europe board than the US board...
and I am a dog lover to boot...
but....................................I still have yet to understand the French and their attitude of letting dogs into eating establishments. It just doesn't really help my appetite.
and I am a dog lover to boot...
but....................................I still have yet to understand the French and their attitude of letting dogs into eating establishments. It just doesn't really help my appetite.
Aug 20th, 2003, 10:41 AM
#124
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Scaahlet, yes we Crankies will party--IN the burbs of course. You know the spot. And Ahhnold, definitely bring Uncle Ted. He sounds as if he's good for some giggles--he gave me a few this morning anyway! 
Don't know about the Chivas though--that rarely travels well beyond the borders of the Big City dontchaknow--he may have to come down a few steps and join us Commoners, er Crackers. Heheh...am sure we can find some local variety that will keep him happy.
Don't know about the Chivas though--that rarely travels well beyond the borders of the Big City dontchaknow--he may have to come down a few steps and join us Commoners, er Crackers. Heheh...am sure we can find some local variety that will keep him happy.
Aug 20th, 2003, 11:04 AM
#126
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I'm surprised no one has mentioned this one (or else I missed it.......)---waiters who "up-sell" cocktails. When you order a Margarita, for instance, and they try to intimidate you into up-grading the tequila to a Premium brand.
As for experiences, it's hard to top this one: we were having lunch at a very nice restaurant when a table of 4 was seated near us. They got on a cell phone to describe their lunch, the view, and everything else to their friend on the other end. They then proceeded to remove the centerpiece, put the cell phone face up in the center of the table, and they all yelled into it (with the person on the other end yelling back) to plan what they were going to do next, where they should meet, etc. These were 50-somethings, so not kids. Everyone in the restaurant was shocked. We said something to the waitress and to the manager, and they both said that it is "a real problem, and they don't know what to do about it"!
Another experience that is right up there: we were with a group having dinner in a very beautiful winery in Sonoma. A group (again 50-60-somethings) came in carrying brown paper bags, and proceeded to unload several bottle of Two Buck Chuck onto the table. I don't know what the corkage fee was, but it was a pretty incredible thing to do in a winery!
As for experiences, it's hard to top this one: we were having lunch at a very nice restaurant when a table of 4 was seated near us. They got on a cell phone to describe their lunch, the view, and everything else to their friend on the other end. They then proceeded to remove the centerpiece, put the cell phone face up in the center of the table, and they all yelled into it (with the person on the other end yelling back) to plan what they were going to do next, where they should meet, etc. These were 50-somethings, so not kids. Everyone in the restaurant was shocked. We said something to the waitress and to the manager, and they both said that it is "a real problem, and they don't know what to do about it"!
Another experience that is right up there: we were with a group having dinner in a very beautiful winery in Sonoma. A group (again 50-60-somethings) came in carrying brown paper bags, and proceeded to unload several bottle of Two Buck Chuck onto the table. I don't know what the corkage fee was, but it was a pretty incredible thing to do in a winery!
Aug 20th, 2003, 12:21 PM
#128
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I totally second those who complain about the waiter repeatedly INTERRUPTING conversations to ask a question, etc. -it's forgivable in an inexpensive place where they are not staffed to deliver absolutely impeccable service, but in a truly "good" restaurant it's inexcusable (and yes I spent my grad school years working part-time as a waitress so I AM qualified to
criticize!) Excellent service is unobtrusive - if you've experienced it you know what I mean. The servers materialize as if by magic just one nanosecond BEFORE the thought is beginning to cross your mind that you want something. They don't impose themselves on the situation in any way and completely minimize their conversation/interaction with you - geez, your dinner out isn't about THEM for heaven's sake. If they anticipate most of your needs correctly, there isn't much that needs saying anyway!
I have encountered very few restaurants that achieve that level of service (and most of those have been in Europe or Japan) but it truly is a memorable experience when it happens. The first time I encountered it here in the States was in a restaurant in Aspen years ago, and while I've forgotten totally what I ate that night, I still remember the service to this day!
Thanks for this thread - when I saw it was for cranky people I knew I was among friends (albeit cranky ones)!
criticize!) Excellent service is unobtrusive - if you've experienced it you know what I mean. The servers materialize as if by magic just one nanosecond BEFORE the thought is beginning to cross your mind that you want something. They don't impose themselves on the situation in any way and completely minimize their conversation/interaction with you - geez, your dinner out isn't about THEM for heaven's sake. If they anticipate most of your needs correctly, there isn't much that needs saying anyway!
I have encountered very few restaurants that achieve that level of service (and most of those have been in Europe or Japan) but it truly is a memorable experience when it happens. The first time I encountered it here in the States was in a restaurant in Aspen years ago, and while I've forgotten totally what I ate that night, I still remember the service to this day!
Thanks for this thread - when I saw it was for cranky people I knew I was among friends (albeit cranky ones)!
Aug 20th, 2003, 04:40 PM
#133
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Scarlett - well, maybe. To be effective for maximum tips though, remember: twirl clockwise north of the equator and counter-clockwise in the southern hemisphere.
Marilyn and cigalechanta, I've never actually been in the presence of a hir-twirling waitress. After a stop at a steakhouse a couple of weeks ago, I'd have preferred it! We ordered a couple of glasses of iced tea, no lemon. Of course, out comes tea with lemon - no worries, just ask if she wouldn't mind bringing some without (I like lemon but not so much in tea). Right at the table, no hesitation at all, she reaches her fingers into the glass, submerged in tea and fetches the lemon wedge out and says "I didn't hear you order it without lemon... there you go!", just as nice as she can be. I swear we weren't being buttheads when we asked. We were a bit after that though. Oh, no... different glasses please. So she carries them off and is back with salad and tea in about 10 minutes. Lemon seeds lounging in bottom of glass.... "but I did pour it fresh!" she says as we stand to go. Hair twirling would have been a little better, I think.
Marilyn and cigalechanta, I've never actually been in the presence of a hir-twirling waitress. After a stop at a steakhouse a couple of weeks ago, I'd have preferred it! We ordered a couple of glasses of iced tea, no lemon. Of course, out comes tea with lemon - no worries, just ask if she wouldn't mind bringing some without (I like lemon but not so much in tea). Right at the table, no hesitation at all, she reaches her fingers into the glass, submerged in tea and fetches the lemon wedge out and says "I didn't hear you order it without lemon... there you go!", just as nice as she can be. I swear we weren't being buttheads when we asked. We were a bit after that though. Oh, no... different glasses please. So she carries them off and is back with salad and tea in about 10 minutes. Lemon seeds lounging in bottom of glass.... "but I did pour it fresh!" she says as we stand to go. Hair twirling would have been a little better, I think.
Aug 20th, 2003, 04:56 PM
#136
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I was at Tantra in Miami and the waiter asked us to move to the bar after our meal because they needed to "free up" the table. It was almost 2 a.m. and we (three people)spent close to $400.00 on our meal! They offered us a free drink as if that would make up for their poor behavior.
Aug 20th, 2003, 05:55 PM
#138
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I think we were just astounded, really. It was just like that commercial where the waitress scrapes the mayonnaise off on the corner of the table. We figured there wasn't much use in the manager, as we sat there with nothing on the table he blew by us and proceeded to chat up the hostess for the entire time we waited. I kind of think sometimes these things start with a certain attitude from above anyway.
We did write an email recounting the incident and actually followup calls from the company. I didn't really want anything from them at this point (free meal? not worth even that!) but I felt it was worth letting them fix their business for the next guy. On the other hand, we walked out and found a new neighborhood place that we hadn't discovered before that we liked a lot. So, as always, life is good.
We did write an email recounting the incident and actually followup calls from the company. I didn't really want anything from them at this point (free meal? not worth even that!) but I felt it was worth letting them fix their business for the next guy. On the other hand, we walked out and found a new neighborhood place that we hadn't discovered before that we liked a lot. So, as always, life is good.
Aug 20th, 2003, 06:50 PM
#139
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Wish I'd posted this right away because it's the one aspect of traveling guaranteed to make me very very cranky:
(let's see if I can write this in such a euphemistic way that Danny's gang won't censor it, because it's a legit peeve)
It's about those female pigs who use public restrooms in such a way that if the light is good and I see what is there, I have to clean up after them -- and if the light is bad and I don't see it, I get a very very narsty surprise when I take a seat.
Warning to those who do this (you know who you are): I always note who is leaving as I go in, and if you've left me this narsty surprise, I will come back out and speak very loudly to you about it! ;-D
(let's see if I can write this in such a euphemistic way that Danny's gang won't censor it, because it's a legit peeve)
It's about those female pigs who use public restrooms in such a way that if the light is good and I see what is there, I have to clean up after them -- and if the light is bad and I don't see it, I get a very very narsty surprise when I take a seat.
Warning to those who do this (you know who you are): I always note who is leaving as I go in, and if you've left me this narsty surprise, I will come back out and speak very loudly to you about it! ;-D
