After a wonderful dinner and sublime service at Liberty Bar, the pretty, pink ex-convent in San Antonio, we couldn’t wait to return. Unfortunately our much-anticipated follow-up meal was a disaster.
From the moment our disheveled waiter appeared and mumbled his name, to the second time my sweetie had to go find him to correct our bill, nothing went smoothly.
We weren’t angry, who knows what was going on? But we were certainly disappointed… So much so that I wrote an eloquent letter to the manager, sharing the details and what could have made our experience better. No reply. None!
Yesterday, back in Austin for a while to see our children and attend to some business, we decided to take a break and go out to lunch. We chose Cover 2, our favorite upscale “sports bar.” The food is always delicious, the service prompt, and the staff are friendly and helpful. I’d been craving a burger, and theirs are superb, so I ordered the Hickory Burger, NO BUN, since I’m allergic to wheat.
The good news: That is exactly what I got. The bad news: It arrived to the table as ugly as sin!
There it sat, right in the middle of a small side-plate, a brown burger with orange cheese, brown bacon, and brown hickory barbecue sauce. Not a leaf of lettuce, nor a tomato for garnish.
When I whined to my sweetie, he told me that was the way they always came when he and his friend were doing the Paleo diet. Had I known it would be served, looking so unappetizing, I would have asked for a leaf of lettuce and slice of tomato. Despite its looks, it was delicious.
This time I didn’t bother to complain, and next time I’ll know to ask them to “dress it up.”
But restaurants, take note! If a lady orders something without its bun or bread, just know she’s giving something up. Something she may, or may not want to give up. It costs so little to dress a plate with lettuce and tomato or a sprig of fresh parsley.
Make it up to her by making it pretty! In the name of all that is holy… Please… Just make it pretty!
XO Donna
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