Consumer

Two-three years ago, Golden was in town visiting Kortney and the three of us went to the Shore House diner in Long Beach. I remembered it since then (it's located in the Belmont Shore neighborhood which has become such a string of douchebaggery over the last few years, I tend to avoid it). And I think what I remember most about that place during that first visit is the waiter guy. I think he was Hispanic because he had a thick Spanish accent but he had green/gray eyes, maybe middle-aged, and I remember him because he was incredibly nice to the three of us. I mean, neither Golden nor Kortney nor I are high maintenance customers but at the same time, I felt like my patronage was appreciated.

Years ago, before our trip to Philadephia and Seattle, Golden and I went to the mall for things to wear. And I remember very clearly we went into the Gap store despite my own reservations so Golden could get something. At the register, the girl took what Golden was buying and started ringing her up. The cashier did not once say hello and she did not make eye contact until, Golden, seeing what was happening, courteously but audibly said hello to the cashier.

Recently, Corey and I have been going places that unfortunately remind me more and more of the latter example than the former. And then it made me think yesterday, as Corey and I left Basix in West Hollywood, as I'm typing a quick complaint email, as to whether or not I'm a demanding customer.

I think at restaurants, when I order and I don't like what comes - either because I don't like it, or because I order something familiar sounding but is not what I want - I'm willing to chalk that up to adventurous ordering. When I go places I've never been with people who have, of course I ask what's good. And everything is up for grabs except seafood and curries. Most recent example was at the aforementioned Basix. Corey and I went for breakfast after church service and I ordered huevos rancheros and the plate was disappointing in size and flavor. Not sure how that's possible on supposed eggs sunny side up. But that's fine: I knew I would probably not like it and I stuck with it.

What puts me off more than bad food choices (and even bad food) is the service. Yesterday, we took a bit to place our order. We always do and the servers always keep coming back and I wonder how frustrating that may be for them. The service sector is about turnover right? So, we finally placed our order and the guy who was our waiter suddenly stopped coming. He didn't even bring our food out; someone else did that so where was our waiter? He didn't come back until Corey stopped him to ask for water and syrup. And then he returned when it was time to pay. I asked Corey whether or not he was going to leave a tip for the waiter because I was not.

Of course, it always reminds me of Mr. Pink in Quentin Tarantino's RESERVOIR DOGS. And then Mr. Blue asking Mr. Pink if a waitress taking him out back and giving him a blow job would be enough to garner a tip. Anyway...

I've been to two places Corey's suggested and the service has been, in my honest opinion, abysmal. As I mentioned before, it wasn't the food that put me off, or even the highly pretentious atmosphere at the other place, Rocksugar in Century City, but rather the terrible waiters we've had. Corey's mentioned he's okay with that because the ambiance and food are what he's there for. That's what people do, I think. So why do I even bother going out to eat anywhere? To be fair, Corey and I went to the Pho Cafe in Silver Lake and while the food wasn't what I was expecting, the guy who served us was pretty awesome so I would definitely go back there and try something else.

It leads me to ask this question about me: am I too demanding a customer?

I've often said I wouldn't ever work in the food service industry precisely because of people like ME. Why is that? Do I expect too much? What do I really want? If it isn't the food nor ambiance, then what is it I go places for? To berate the waitstaff once it's out of earshot? Hm,

Which also reminds me of Mr. Pink when he goes on to describe how many times his cup of coffee must be refilled in ratio to the time he's spent at the table.

My odd expectations at restaurants seems to be all consuming for me as soon as I walk in: am i greeted, did the hostess cop an attitude, did we have silverware at the table, did someone come for my drink order, did I get what I wanted fast, is the waiter friendly, is he knowledgeable, how many times will I have to ask for something, how many times am I asked if I'd like anything else, is the waiter visibly impatient, did I get everything I ordered when I ordered it, am I thanked, am I offered dessert even though I don't like them? And I'm sure there are more in this already-long list. And I think as soon as at least two of these are not meant, the only conceivable reason for it is our waiter, and by extension, the restaurant are not worth my time and money.

Who the hell am I? A customer. But, as the boyfriend's said before about other circumstances, am I human?

Corey's said at this rate we're not going to have very many places we can go to. He's right and I am wrong. Because, well, why should I hold a weirdly arbitrary standard to people who're doing a job even I wouldn't do?

There will be more about this, to be sure...