What a crappy day!!!

[Barbie]

I treat Kristine to dinner (out) once a week. She chooses.

She choose Montana's.

I've never liked Montana's really - the food isn't all that great.

But yesterday??

Our server didn't even come to our table for about 15 minutes AFTER we arrived.

You know...it's Stampede time...it was pretty busy...so I was patient and understanding.

Two groups of people sat 1/2 hour after we ordered. They were served (by the same server) almost immediately.

(the rush must have let up)

Finally - (45 mins later) our Appetizers arrive.

Another table is sat and ordered.

The first table (group of 8) were served their dinner.

The second table of people were served their dinner.

Remember: they ordered 20min/30 min after we did.

I call for the server: she immediately knows why I'm calling for her...by the way...I'm smiling, I'm being nice...I understand.

"I'm really sorry, your dinner will be out shortly...the burger is taking a little longer"

Bullshit

"Okay"

15 minutes later, it showed up. Mike's garlic toast was burnt - and not just a little, it was REALLY burnt.

Kristine's chicken was like rubber.

My burger (which apparently was the last to come off the grill) was burnt and dry.

While the other tables were onto dessert, we couldn't even get our server to bring us our bill.

Then the Manager comes out and talks to the table behind us to let THEM know that their dinner was going to be a bit longer (the salmon was frozen you see) and would they like an appetizer on the house.

I waited at the till to talk to the manager and described all that I just did to her. I told her I didn't know if it was the server...who was by the way, very nice...she was busy...maybe it was the kitchen staff that sucked.

I told her our service was lousy. Terrible. We would not be returning. I didn't want to fill out a comment card, but that I wanted her to let her staff know right away. I was very polite. I was very nice.
I told her that I would not be leaving a tip. She said she understood why. She was very sorry.
She took 25% off the bill.

I left with one comment: Please tell your prep staff to watch how the food goes out: the garlic toast was burnt.

Our 1 hour dinner turned into 2 1/2. TWO AND A HALF HOURS??

I didn't ask for anything off the bill. I just wanted to let her know about the shitty service and tell her I wasn't leaving a tip.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We got home and were ready to go to sleep. We had been in bed for about 1/2 hour...those zzzzzzzzzzz's were seconds away.

The phone rings.

It's the same lady who has been dialing the wrong number for her sister for the last 4 1/2 years! Come on lady. I'm not patient today.

"Hello?"

"who's this?"

"What do you mean, who's this? You tell me who you are?"

"Whos' this?"

"Lady - you have the wrong number....again."

"oh Sorry"

(her part of the conversation is all half english/half Hindi)

Finally - 1/2 hour later - zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's

4:30am - phone rings:

Startled, "HELLO?"

(See, my best friend Kara is having a baby soon...could have been last night)

"Who's this?"

"WHAT???"

"Oh, wrong number." click.

I have been up since 4:30 am.

I am so tired.

Then at 5 somthing, I got a massive leg cramp in my calf. (That hasn't happened since I was in the hospital with a clot)

"Shit!"

"Barbie, what's the matter."

"Mike...I'm going to buy a gun."

"Okay Barbie."

At 6AM I called this lady back.

"Hello?" (or something like that...it was in Hindi)

"Stop calling my fucking house. It's been four years! Don't you know the phone number of the person you are calling by now? Don't you have speed dial? Why would you call ANYONE at 4:30am?? Don't call her again - EVER!"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was trying to call the temple..." blah blah blah

"I don't care who you were trying to call..don't call me!"

Click

I"m a bitch today...

What the hell?

The rest of the day better be better or I'm going to kick some ass.

There...that is my vent!

ps. I 've never complained to a Manager before in my life...nor have I ever threatened anyone on the phone before...until now...

stupid hrt

[Mudflap]

You're supposed to be off work today, celebrating our independance.

:p

[Koliedrus]

My 79-year-old mom just called and told me that she had one of her eyes repaired. The other one will be done on Wednesday.

Today ain't all that crappy.

20-20 at 79?

I grinneth :)

[Billyman]

Barbie, mama said there’d be times likes this, there’d be times like this my mama said………

Just go out and kill someone for the hell of it. I meant, take a nice bubbly warm bath, tomorrow cometh and hopefully a better day. :)

[SimpleSimon]

I sympathize with your dining experience.

I am apparently invisible to wait staff. I can be the only customer in an otherwise unoccupied major restaraunt, and will receive no service till I deliberately call a waiter over for service. Thereafter, service will be slow, forgetful, and piss-poor.

On the other hand, when I am looking for a parking spot 9/10 of the time one will be available within at most 3 spaces of the entry to where I want to go - and I am not talking about handicapped spaces, either.

[Barbie]

This was my first poopy experience at a resturant (that I can recall)

The weekend shall be better.

It will involve alcoholic beverages.

And sex

[MrsKol]

The manager of the restaurant should have given your meal on the house. That has happened to me once before, and manager approved a no charge for the meal. Another time I got food poisoning from an upscale restaurant. A friend and I had the exact same thing and we were both sicker than dogs. I called the manager to let him know and for him to let his kitchen staff to be more careful when cooking seafood. He sent me a gift certificate for 50 dollars.

[Barbie]

Mike (my painter person > aka: Husband - ya, you didn't know that...now you do)
anyhoo.

Mike, told me that I should have filled out the comment card that the manager asked me to fill out. I didn't want to...because I wasn't looking for a free meal...I just wanted someone to apologize.

Now...I want a free meal!

[MuffyTheVampyreLayer]

Is tipping expected in Canada?

I thought the idea of tipping was to ensure good service. I wouldn't tip unless I thought there was something to tip for - prolly why no-one likes us foreigners :p

Damn - I used to love American customers, the used to leave me up to $20 just for doing my job.

Tipping is weird.

Sorry - went off on a tangent. It's cold. There is snow outsided!

[Billyman]

Originally posted by MuffyTheVampyreLayer
I thought the idea of tipping was to ensure good service. I wouldn't tip unless I thought there was something to tip for -

*scratches head*

Are you saying that you guys tip before the service?

[Barbie]

I'm saying that it's implied that a tip is coming.

Tipping in Canada (Alberta at least) doesn't go to the waitress..it's goes into a huge pot and than once a week is divided up amongst all the kitchen staff, hostesses and waitresses.

[Venus]

I think most of America is expected to tip. I know I expected it when I was bartending. Now I realize that service makes the tip. I'm the same way, but these people make about $2.50/hour. They count on tips to make up the rest of the pay.
Barbie, I in no way think it was wrong for you to not leave a tip. I myself have been known to not tip for shitty service. I'm pretty picky though. Usually someone else has to pick up the tip so they think it's fair.

[Barbie]

I ususally always leave a pretty good tip. MIke in fact, gives me shit of giving more than he would normally give...but the this time, the service was just lousy.

I used to be a server..(back then the term we waitress, but with all the PC now...) and I used to make awesome money in tips...BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT SERVICE.

[squee]

There is a tapas joint here in Norfolk called Crackers which has excellent food. But it's small. There's a bar and three tables...the place can hold maybe 20 patrons.

So, sometimes you go in and it's full. You come back some other day.

And then sometimes you go in and they have one person seated at each table...and people spaced out at the bar, not talking to one another...and you have a few people in your party.

This is where the server says "Hold on one moment," and tries to figure out a way to get you seated so you can eat and then give them some money for the food and service.

Unfortunately, Cracker's is trendy and cool enough so that the server (there is only one) feels she can be a bitch and just stare at customers.

So, what happens is, I go away grumbling, and that night they do not get my money in exchange for food and service.

If they didn't have such good food I'd stop going back :)

[Billyman]

Originally posted by Venus
I think most of America is expected to tip. I know I expected it when I was bartending. Now I realize that service makes the tip. I'm the same way, but these people make about $2.50/hour. They count on tips to make up the rest of the pay.
.

When I enter a bar and order my first beer (which ranges from $1.25 to $3.75 depending on where I am and what I order) I pay with a 5 note. If the beers are $3.75 I try to continue paying with 5 notes. If they are less, I pay at least 4 smalls at a time. For some reason, I never have to wait long for a beer. :)

[MuffyTheVampyreLayer]

Originally posted by Billyman


*scratches head*

Are you saying that you guys tip before the service?
You don't tip in NZ. At all.

[Barbie]

how come?

[Lady Sianna]

they probably have some sort of living wage in NZ, even for the service industry. *gasp* what a radical notion! paying people enough money to meet basic survival needs. those wacky New Zealanders. :D

pardon the cynicism, but i happen to be one of the countless unemployed just now & it's hell trying to land a job. waitressing 2 days a week at a local burger joint just doesn't cut it. grrrr.

*puts on optimistic zen hat*

patience, grashopper. the right job will come for you...

[MuffyTheVampyreLayer]

Minimum wage (which is what you usually get in the service industry) is about $4 USD. We're just expected to live less extravagent lifestyles. Grass skirts don't cost much and with all the cannibalism there is never really a food shortage.

[BeanCasserole]

Now now Muffy... you know that's not true. Grass skirts cost a bloody fortune. Luckily my meals usually come wrapped in one ;-)

[MuffyTheVampyreLayer]

And who would you be then Mr. Casserole?

[BeanCasserole]

If I have one bean... then add another bean... what do I have?

[BeanCasserole]

Ha ha ha.. isn't this facade of anonymity just the cake for voyeurs and closets alike... rich... as if there's some morbid comfort dwelling behind an alter-ego pseudonym. Interesting. Still... this is new to me, so... when in Rome ;-)

Think I might linger for a while.

[Barbie]

2beans? or not 2 beans? That is the question?

[MuffyTheVampyreLayer]

Originally posted by BeanCasserole
If I have one bean... then add another bean... what do I have?
An evasive little son of a bitch it would seem.

[BeanCasserole]

Nope.... a very small bean casserole. :-)

[Billyman]

Originally posted by MuffyTheVampyreLayer
An evasive little son of a bitch it would seem.

You know his mother?

[Koliedrus]

I've never noticed before but some beans resemble nuts. I wonder if they're related... Cashew <--> Lima

Eh... I'll see if I can get MrsKol to tell you about the roadside diner in Baja. Talk about some confused waitresses..

[Venus]

Now, why do people feel the need to hide behind an alter ego? I mean come on, all it does is allow you to talk out of your ass without having to take any credit for the stupid remarks.

[SimpleSimon]

<center> Venus
WrenchWench</center>

<center>SimpleSimon
Captain Hook</center>

We all do it.

[Barbie]

I don't...my name is Barbie. Pure and simple.
Barbie.

[Venus]

I'm sorry, should I change my registered name to Carol?

[Barbie]

are you asking me?

I'm telling Simon that we don't all "hide" behind a name, as he is suggesting.

[SimpleSimon]

I never said "hide". I simply refer to the fact that, at least to some extent, we all present on the internet (and IRL) "alters" - partial personas which may or may not reflect who we "really are".

Neither judgement or condemnation - just observation.


[edit: You may note - I include myself therein. I am neither simple nor simon.}

[Barbie]

:) You are silly

You are all silly

[MuffyTheVampyreLayer]

You really start to worry when your b/f starts calling you "Muffy" away from the forum :p

[MuffyTheVampyreLayer]

Hahahah - I know who beancasserole is now. :D
Doh! I should have worked it out.

Friends, let me introduce Tim. Tim has a bad habit of getting falling down drunk, indulging in far too many mind expanding substances, and falling asleep in the gutter and talking to God (a snail)....or at least he used to until he grew up, got married, had children and became a computer geek :p.

Anyway, Tim is absolutely one of my most favorite people ever! Be nice to him.

He also broke my heart when I was 17. Wanker!

[MAC]

:o

did you break anything of his?

welcome tim, we're all recovering muff-addicts here...one way or another

another kiwi huh?
do they really use sheep for toilet paper over there like muffy says?

[PrinceOfStorms]

Welcome to THT Tim. :wavey: What took you so long?

[BeanCasserole]

Hi all.. thanks for the welcome. I don't usually have anything intelligent to say ... so .... gooney goo goo.

Oh.. Mac.. naa we don't use sheep much these days, they tend to wriggle and protest too much, particularly if you had a hot curry the night before!

PrinceOfStorms (can we call you POS for short? or Prince?): Now that's a question I've not been asked before... I'm guessing you're a guy (I mean... when was the last time a woman asked you that ;-) he he he

[PrinceOfStorms]

Originally posted by BeanCasserole
PrinceOfStorms (can we call you POS for short? or Prince?): Now that's a question I've not been asked before... I'm guessing you're a guy (I mean... when was the last time a woman asked you that ;-) he he he

*shrug* You can call me POS (following a short-running joke) or Prince or any number of other names. I'll leave the choice up to you.

I look forward to your Blackadder references, of which there are not nearly enough here. :)

[SimpleSimon]

Boys! Play nice.