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Restaurants (rec.food.restaurants) Providing a location-independent forum for the discussion of restaurants and dining out in general, and for the collection of information about good dining spots in remote locations. |
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Pushy or Pampering?
I enjoy a good meal, fine service, and excellent company when dining out.
One area, for me, that is a high positive for service is the server check-back. I can never have too many. I want the server there, asking if I want more bread, refilling my glasses with more wine or water, checking to see if the meal I received was indeed the meal I ordered, or up to my expectations. I call this pampering and I forgive many faults if I am. We recently went to dinner with another couple. He raved about this restaurant, how outstanding the service was, the food was divine, its location convenient. On his insistence we made reservations and went there. To say that I was underwhelmed is being polite. The server rattled off the daily specials like he was announcing a tobacco auction. When asked to suggest a meal /he/ would order, he rattled off the entire daily special again, like we'd not heard it the first time. (Well, I didn't hear everything the first time but I found his restating it a bit off-putting.) He disappeared for fifteen minutes and returned to "take our order." We didn't see him again until he dropped off the check. The busboy did everything else, including helping deliver our meals (which was delivered by the server on the other side of the restaurant.) I asked about cocktails and another server arrived to take that order. When I asked what types of single malt scotch they served, the server didn't know but went away to check; that was the last we saw of her. We ordered a bottle of wine from a third server; plonk glasses (the generic 6 oz bubble-bell types with short, stocky stems) were used instead of proper red wine glasses. When we asked for a dessert menu, a food-stained card was brought and set down. The coffees were tepid and flavorless; I commented, "Watch as we substitute their real coffee with Folgers' Freeze-dried Flavor Crystals!" Afterwards, my friend asked how we enjoyed the meal. The main course /was/ good and the couple's company excellent; but my version of the service and his were worlds (probably universes) apart! He happily prattled on and on (and on) about how unobtrusive the servers were, how quick to provide table space, etc. I sat less than 18 inches from him and never once witnessed any of this... This did allow us the chance, at a hotel bar down the street, to talk about our best of class and I worked in my version of what would be stunning service. His simple view: "They'd always be in the way." I just don't understand paying for partial service... The Ranger -- "Grits are akin to Elmer Paste with less flavor and more sand." |
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Pushy or Pampering?
"The Ranger" > wrote:
>We recently went to dinner with another couple. He raved about this >restaurant, how outstanding the service was, the food was divine, its >location convenient. On his insistence we made reservations and went there. Next time...YOU get to suggest the restaurant. A great opportunity to teach your friends how it should be. |
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Pushy or Pampering?
Andrew Hardy > suggested in message
... > "The Ranger" > wrote: > > We recently went to dinner with another couple. He raved > > about this restaurant, how outstanding the service was, the > > food was divine, its location convenient. On his insistence > > we made reservations and went there. > > > Next time...YOU get to suggest the restaurant. A great > opportunity to teach your friends how it should be. As Providence has provided, that opportunity is available. I have already made the reservations. The Ranger |
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Pushy or Pampering?
In article >,
The Ranger > wrote: >Andrew Hardy > suggested in message .. . >> "The Ranger" > wrote: >> > We recently went to dinner with another couple. He raved >> > about this restaurant, how outstanding the service was, the >> > food was divine, its location convenient. On his insistence >> > we made reservations and went there. >> > >> Next time...YOU get to suggest the restaurant. A great >> opportunity to teach your friends how it should be. > >As Providence has provided, that opportunity is available. I have already >made the reservations. So what's the name and locatiob of this full service restaurant? Chuck Demas -- Eat Healthy | _ _ | Nothing would be done at all, Stay Fit | @ @ | If a man waited to do it so well, Die Anyway | v | That no one could find fault with it. | \___/ | http://world.std.com/~cpd |
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Pushy or Pampering?
Charles Demas > wrote in message
... > In article >, The Ranger > wrote: > >Andrew Hardy > suggested in message ... > > > "The Ranger" > wrote: > > > > We recently went to dinner with another couple. He raved > > > > about this restaurant, how outstanding the service was, the > > > > food was divine, its location convenient. On his insistence > > > > we made reservations and went there. > > > > > > > Next time...YOU get to suggest the restaurant. A great > > > opportunity to teach your friends how it should be. > > > > > As Providence has provided, that opportunity is available. I have > > already made the reservations. > > > So what's the name and location of this full service restaurant? http://www.gervaisrestaurant.com/ I've enjoyed many fine meals there. They make a salmon pastry that is well-executed! Their lamb literally melts in your mouth. Service has usually been excellent. The servers also know what liquors they stock and aren't afraid to make recommendations... The Ranger |
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Pushy or Pampering?
Far as I can tell, someone wrote:
>I just don't understand paying for partial service... I, on the other hand, would rather the wait-person be readily available, but not "sharing my table" with me and my guests. Constantly interrupted conversations doesn't make me happy. |
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Pushy or Pampering?
In article >,
The Ranger > wrote: >Charles Demas > wrote in message ... >> In article >, The Ranger > wrote: >> >Andrew Hardy > suggested in message .. . >> > > "The Ranger" > wrote: >> > > > We recently went to dinner with another couple. He raved >> > > > about this restaurant, how outstanding the service was, the >> > > > food was divine, its location convenient. On his insistence >> > > > we made reservations and went there. >> > > > >> > > Next time...YOU get to suggest the restaurant. A great >> > > opportunity to teach your friends how it should be. >> > > >> > As Providence has provided, that opportunity is available. I have >> > already made the reservations. >> > >> So what's the name and location of this full service restaurant? > >http://www.gervaisrestaurant.com/ That link didn't work for me. :-( Chuck Demas -- Eat Healthy | _ _ | Nothing would be done at all, Stay Fit | @ @ | If a man waited to do it so well, Die Anyway | v | That no one could find fault with it. | \___/ | http://world.std.com/~cpd |
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Pushy or Pampering?
"Charles Demas" > wrote in message ... > That link didn't work for me. :-( > > Me either |
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Pushy or Pampering?
"Steve Wertz" > wrote in message ... > Not much there, though. > Doesn't actually seem to have a web site. Probably this whole thread has been a fantasy. |
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Pushy or Pampering?
Charles Demas > posted in message
... [snip] > >http://www.gervaisrestaurant.com/ > > > That link didn't work for me. :-( There's a caveat on the home page of "Best viewed using IE6" so that might be the problem. I understand that not everyone embraces the Dark Side with such openness. The Ranger |
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Pushy or Pampering?
Petey the Wonder Dog > wrote in message
... > >I just don't understand paying for partial service... > > > I, on the other hand, would rather the wait-person be readily > available, but not "sharing my table" with me and my guests. > > Constantly interrupted conversations doesn't make me happy. John? (This is almost verbatim his counter argument.) The Ranger |
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Pushy or Pampering?
Anthony > wrote in message
... > Doesn't actually seem to have a web site. Okay; if you say so. > Probably this whole thread has been a fantasy. It's a shame it wasn't a fantasy; it could have used some help with real magic. The Ranger |
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Pushy or Pampering?
Steve Wertz > wrote in message
... > On Wed, 7 Apr 2004 21:20:53 -0700, "The Ranger" > wrote: > > >> >http://www.gervaisrestaurant.com/ > >> > > >> That link didn't work for me. :-( > > > >There's a caveat on the home page of "Best viewed using IE6" so that might > >be the problem. I understand that not everyone embraces the Dark Side with > >such openness. > > Nah - that's not it. There just don't appear to be any DNS > entries for it. > > Maybe it went under since you were there? ;-) On a hunch, I cleared out all my cookies, then cleared all the off-line cache. Brought up and ran Window Washer as a Salting of the Earth step. Gervais' site's still working -- at least for those of us using IE6. <EG> The Ranger |
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Pushy or Pampering?
Steve Wertz > wrote in message
... > On Wed, 7 Apr 2004 21:41:58 -0700, "The Ranger" > wrote: > > http://www.gervaisrestaurant.com > Any IP caching software installed? Nope; if I have to work at getting to a site, I don't need to go. You can reach it via Yahoo! Yellow Pages or directly by typing the name into any browser navigation bar or clicking on the link above. > From two different DNS servers: > > DNS Lookup Results > No A records were found for gervaisrestaurant.com > > 04/08/04 00:47:17 dns gervaisrestaurant.com > No DNS for this address > (host doesn't exist) Can't help you here. I would /guess/ that someone (or some service) is hosting the entire site for them and Gervais' owners do little to nothing beyond pay the bill. The Ranger |
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Pushy or Pampering?
Steve Wertz wrote:
> Nah - that's not it. There just don't appear to be any DNS > entries for it. ....on the DNS server you are using. The DNS server I use has it. Their IP# is 198.144.215.6, so the following URL will get you there without a DNS lookup: http://198.144.215.6/ |
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Pushy or Pampering?
Far as I can tell, someone wrote:
>John? (This is almost verbatim his counter argument.) Nope. Just someone who feels differently than you about wait service. |
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