Sloppy serves…part 1
Every so often, I come across service that is so appallingly sloppy, so ruinously terrible, that I do not understand how the institution is still open.
It is unfortunate that some people in the service industry have no idea what their true role is.
What is even sadder is that we Kenyans allow it to happen.
It’s a vicious cycle, people – literally. Don’t you see that by allowing waiters to treat you badly, you enable their atrocious behavior? The standards remain forever low if we keep sitting on the bar.
And in the true unKenyan spirit of refusing to accept and move on, this article is being written. These people with their horrible manners who obviously ignored whatever training they had been given should not be allowed to arbitrarily perambulate the streets shamelessly.
Shame on you all.
Greenview Restaurant – Upon being offered rotten mango juice, I called for a different glass of juice. I even made the waitress taste said juice to ascertain that it was off.
The second glass brought was equally expired. I asked for the supervisor, who then refused for me to be served any food, claiming that I was a hassle, and had the audacity to say these words: ‘All our juices are fresh. The customer is not always right.’
Brew Bistro – At the best of times, Brew barely has breathing space, but on a nice, calm Sunday, it is manageable. One Friday night, we showed up at 3 am, when it was, unbeknownst to us, closing.
The bouncer not only refused to let us sit to wait for a taxi – whether outside or at the seats near the bathroom – but was also extremely unnecessary in his tone.
When we called to complain, we were told there was no one to complain to by the lady handling the phone, as all the people in charge had gone home.
This, when there was still loud music playing upstairs. Should I be more concerned about the gatekeepers at this popular establishment, or the fact that everyone leaves at 3?
The Mug – I cannot stress how terrible service here is. One of my old haunts, their burgeoning prices and successively poor service drove me away.
The final straw was a bored-looking waitress who asked us if a cup of tea was the only thing we were ordering with our meager wallets.
We were then informed that three people on a table cannot only order two items of food (a cuppa and a cake to share). As you can imagine, we walked out.
Slims/Tichinos – Slims food is nothing to write home about, but I am informed that the bar is where ‘it’s at’. Tichinos food, on the other hand, I enjoy very much.
The common factor that unites these two on this list is the fact that none of the waiters seem acquainted with their menus.
When you ask what is in the pasta, or whether a burger comes with fries, the blank looks received make you feel as if you are the one who is the waiter being asked the question. Surely.
Somewhat surprisingly, the people down at Sonford treat me much nicer – and not because I am a regular feature at any one of the branches spread around town.
The other day, after buying my fires, I was waiting for my tasty chicken when the chicken-tossing chap noticed that my plastic bag was going to be far too full with all the chicken I was getting.
He not only gave me an extra one, on top of the one for the chicken, to put the two in, but also added a fourth one because he thought the plastic bag would rip from the weight.
Wasteful? Not in terms of service, anyway. And that is what keeps customers coming back.