I just love this. I saw this happen the other night when I was out to dinner with my daughter. The restaurant was full, so they seated us at the bar. I thought that was a bit weird since my daughter is only 18, but who am I to argue? Apparently they have a license…
Bon Jour Madame
Whenever I have friends going to Europe, I always give them this piece of advice: When you walk in to a bar, don’t just plop down on to a stool and order a drink. First you must say hello to the bartender, and then you can sit down. When you walk in to a shop, don’t…
Tale of 2 Clients #2
Since starting this blog, I have had more than a handful of consulting clients reach out to me. Most of them for different reasons, but let’s face it, it usually comes down to the same reason: Bottom line. These restaurateurs simply want to realize more profit. Restaurant #1 I meet with the owners. I look…
Tale of 2 Clients #1
Thank you Maxine Borcherding of ‘Taste and Compare,’ for this great blog post idea. Restaurant #1 They have a thriving business. They are selling about $3 million a year and things appear on the outside to be great. However. They are not paying attention. They are not keeping an eye on their growing costs. Their…
Made Up For It
I went out to dinner this weekend with my wife and another couple. Those who know me know that that alone is an accomplishment. I don’t do the double date thing very well–even when the other couple are dear friends. I probably should own up to the fact that I went in to this experience…
My Wife Gets Mad at Me
Okay, by now you have some idea of what a freak I am. Of how critical of service I can be. And how difficult it is for me to keep my trap shut. My wife gets mad at me Well, sometimes. Usually when we go out to eat. Or drink. She accuses me of getting…
I Know You Want to Go Home, But…
I worked in restaurants for many years, and I have always been sensitive to the fact that at the end of any given night, the employees want to be done (yes, I know that food is done, people are finished). They want to go home. Or they want to go somewhere else–anywhere–they just want to…
Out of the Gate
I don’t know if any of you happened to see the Kentucky Derby a few weeks ago, or if you are even fans of the horse racing game, but I took a bit of interest this year. Only because there were 2 horses with ‘Tom’ as part of their names. Mo Tom, and Tom is Ready….
Today’s Lesson
Today’s lesson is to stay relevant. What are you doing in your place? Are people still coming in and excited by what they see? If not, you may want to take a look around to see what is happening out there. I don’t know if you have noticed, but people are actually getting younger–not older….
The Challenge
The challenge for freaks like me–incredibly impatient ones who for some reason still manage to have high expectations–is that there does not seem to be an answer. Where does someone like me go from here? (I imagine some of you answered that question with, “To hell.”) I have mentioned before that I refuse to be…
Tell the Front!
I have worked in many restaurants where folks in the back-of-the-house have tried to run the floor. From the kitchen. It doesn’t work. There is a reason that those folks are in the back creating, while the others are out front, presenting and selling. It has been set up, and has worked that way for centuries. They…
Sorry, Not Sorry
People are constantly reminding me that I should keep these posts more positive. That I come across too crabby and negative. I suppose. I am at least willing to admit that I am often critical of my dining experiences. But I understand that my standards are high. Perhaps. It is even more likely that my expectations…
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