Restaurant Rants:

Tell me your horror stories, and I, as a server, will try to give you the inside story on why you may be having such bad experiences, and whether its your fault or the restaurant's.
Or I can give you quick tips on how to be a good customer, tipping, and how to resolve problems with your server.


Tip #1 : DON'T EXPECT FREEBIES
Unless you are at a very very hot restaurant. At Matsuri's, for example, if you linger at a table after you have finished eating and paying your check, often times the host or manager will offer you a drink at the bar so they can turn the table for waiting guests.
If you are at a restaurant that isn't the Waverly or Death & Co (one of those places that are booked up for weeks), then don't expect a free drink or appetizer just because the food is slow or because your server spilled a drink on the table. Somethings just aren't controllable. My managers usually offer a free snack in those cases, but don't expect it all the time.

As a customer, I have endured hell. As a former server, I believe that sometimes service simply sucks.

Subject: Re: Restaurant Rants:

Anotherdayinbkln wrote: Tell me your horror stories, and I, as a server, will try to give you the inside story on why you may be having such bad experiences, and whether its your fault or the restaurant's.
Or I can give you quick tips on how to be a good customer, tipping, and how to resolve problems with your server.

The customer is always right. Even if he/she is in the wrong.

TIP #2 : Ordering Sake at a Japanese restaurant.
If you really want some sake with your sushi or sashimi, don't go for the first hot sake you see on the menu. Sake that is heated is often a bland, very inferior cheap sake. Sake is like wine, there are perfect pairings with your dish and also a variety of flavors. The spectrum, like wine, runs from Dry to Sweet, but there are even more subtle dimensions to it.
Always drink your sake chilled, and ask for a light sake with your fish dishes so you are not overpowering your meal with that "nail polish remover" feel of bad sake. Also, lighter sakes also keep those sake-hangovers at bay, even tho the alcohol content is virtually the same as heavier, full-bodied sakes.

Hozonjo and Junmai are Sake types that are eating-sakes. They are great with heavier and more flavorful foods. they can be okay warmed, but are better chilled. Never order an expensive Junmai hot.
Ginjo and Daiginjo are better as drinking/sipping-sakes. Best with light dishes or by themselves. Never drink these hot.

I'm a big fan of Nigori sake.

Idlewild wrote: I'm a big fan of Nigori sake.

I especially like it at menchanko tei - they give it to you in this giant bowl with a spout and a tiny little cup. it's like 5 bucks and the perfect compliment to their spicy noodle soup. yum!

I had a Menchanko-Tei lunch today; good Lord it was good. Sadly, no sake.

BklynTransplant wrote: I had a Menchanko-Tei lunch today; good Lord it was good. Sadly, no sake.

I'm extremely jealous. yum-o