Friday, June 09, 2006
It Pays To Complain
I had to do some grocery shopping after work today. I knew I wouldn't be up to cooking dinner after working all day and shopping for groceries, so I decided to stop by and grab something to eat at the local diner before going to the supermarket.
I ordered the prime rib dinner. The steaks at this diner are really good. At least, they used to be.
When the dinner arrived, the steak was so thin that it looked like a slice of roast beef lying on the plate. I've been going to this diner for years, and I know the manager by name. I called the waitress over and asked her about the steak. She looked over her shoulder to make sure no one was within earshot, then she leaned closer to me and whispered, "It is a little thin, isn't it? Would you like me to take it back?"
I was in a hurry to get my grocery shopping done, and I didn't want to wait for them to cook another meal. However, I did want to voice my concerns to the manager. I said, No, but can you send Mario out here? I gotta bust his chops."
The waitress said, "Mario retired. He sold the business to his son."
"Oh, that explains it then. What's his son's name, then?" I asked.
"His son's name is also Mario," she said.
"OK, in that case, I said, "can you send 'also' Mario out here?" I rolled my eyes.
"You got it, sir," she chuckled.
A minute later, also Mario shows up. "Is there something I can do for you, sir?" he asked.
I explained to also Mario that I had been coming to his dad's diner for years, and have usually been very happy with the steaks. I let him know that I was disappointed that the prime rib was so thin.
'Also' Mario apologized and said that he had tried out a different supplier, and said he was disappointed with the cuts of meat that he got from them as well (or should I say 'also'?)
"I'm going to go back to ordering from our old supplier, so this shouldn't happen again," he said. "I'll be happy to take back the steak and make you something else, if you like."
I told him that wouldn't be necessary. I said I was in a hurry.
He said, "Can I get you a slice of apple pie on the house? It was made fresh this afternoon."
"Apple pie," I exclaimed. "Now you're talking. Sure."
"I'll let your waitress know," he said.
I said, "Thanks." Then I added, "Good luck with your business."
Mario smiled and said "Thank you. I hope to see you again." I felt a little silly compaining and wishing him luck in the same conversation, but I think that also Mario did a pretty good job addressing my concern.
When I finished my meal, the waitress brought me a slice of apple pie as promised. I was going to take a picture of it with my camera phone, but once the smell of that pie hit my nostrils, I dug right in and inhaled that thing. It was like a choir of angels singing on my tounge. As you can see, I took a picture of the aftermath.
Darn good pie!
- Bernie ¶ 5:15 PM
I ordered the prime rib dinner. The steaks at this diner are really good. At least, they used to be.
When the dinner arrived, the steak was so thin that it looked like a slice of roast beef lying on the plate. I've been going to this diner for years, and I know the manager by name. I called the waitress over and asked her about the steak. She looked over her shoulder to make sure no one was within earshot, then she leaned closer to me and whispered, "It is a little thin, isn't it? Would you like me to take it back?"
I was in a hurry to get my grocery shopping done, and I didn't want to wait for them to cook another meal. However, I did want to voice my concerns to the manager. I said, No, but can you send Mario out here? I gotta bust his chops."
The waitress said, "Mario retired. He sold the business to his son."
"Oh, that explains it then. What's his son's name, then?" I asked.
"His son's name is also Mario," she said.
"OK, in that case, I said, "can you send 'also' Mario out here?" I rolled my eyes.
"You got it, sir," she chuckled.
A minute later, also Mario shows up. "Is there something I can do for you, sir?" he asked.
I explained to also Mario that I had been coming to his dad's diner for years, and have usually been very happy with the steaks. I let him know that I was disappointed that the prime rib was so thin.
'Also' Mario apologized and said that he had tried out a different supplier, and said he was disappointed with the cuts of meat that he got from them as well (or should I say 'also'?)
"I'm going to go back to ordering from our old supplier, so this shouldn't happen again," he said. "I'll be happy to take back the steak and make you something else, if you like."
I told him that wouldn't be necessary. I said I was in a hurry.
He said, "Can I get you a slice of apple pie on the house? It was made fresh this afternoon."
"Apple pie," I exclaimed. "Now you're talking. Sure."
"I'll let your waitress know," he said.
I said, "Thanks." Then I added, "Good luck with your business."
Mario smiled and said "Thank you. I hope to see you again." I felt a little silly compaining and wishing him luck in the same conversation, but I think that also Mario did a pretty good job addressing my concern.
When I finished my meal, the waitress brought me a slice of apple pie as promised. I was going to take a picture of it with my camera phone, but once the smell of that pie hit my nostrils, I dug right in and inhaled that thing. It was like a choir of angels singing on my tounge. As you can see, I took a picture of the aftermath.Darn good pie!
- Bernie ¶ 5:15 PM
