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We've all had bad experiences with restaurants at one time or another.
I remember picking up a pizza from a well known chain, only to discover a cigarette butt in/on it. This is NOT about that.
This is about GOOD SERVICE, or GREAT FOOD, or GOOD EXPERIENCES with restaurants.
It's prompted by a visit to a Pappasito's Mexican Restaurant. I think they're only in Texas right now, but I love their food. Unfortunately, they're about 40 miles from my house, but I was in their neighborhood the other day, so I thought I'd pick up a 'to go' order for when Mrs CP got home from work. While I was in there, the manager saw me, and recognized me apparently as a repeat customer. He struck up a conversation, and I asked him if he also managed the Olive Garden across the street. (I thought I was joking, but he did, in FACT, manage both restaurants)
I commented that I was always impressed with the cleanliness and professionalism of his Olive Garden location, and I had heard comments about how neat and clean the kitchen was. He smiled real big, and said, "come with me".
He took me on a tour of the kitchen - NUMEROUS cooks working - lots of activity, but pointed out (with obvious pride) how neatly everything was organized, how there was obvious separation from foods that could otherwise be cross-contaminating, that his walk-in cooler was well stocked and very "ship shape".
He said, "I know you've heard horror stories about how food is handled behind the scenes, and I wanted you to see how we do it here".
I was, indeed, pretty impressed. This particular manager (I had learned from a former employee) actually has each shift of employees "stand at attention for inspection" while he makes sure their uniforms or apparel is neat, clean, pressed, name badges properly displayed, shoes shined, etc......
Too many times we talk about our BAD experiences. This thread isn't that.
(I can't speak for ALL Pappasito's Restaurants (or the variety of other Pappa's - Pappadeux, Pappa's BBQ, etc) or ALL Olive Gardens, but these two locations are among my favorites because I know what goes on behind the scenes.)
I remember picking up a pizza from a well known chain, only to discover a cigarette butt in/on it. This is NOT about that.
This is about GOOD SERVICE, or GREAT FOOD, or GOOD EXPERIENCES with restaurants.
It's prompted by a visit to a Pappasito's Mexican Restaurant. I think they're only in Texas right now, but I love their food. Unfortunately, they're about 40 miles from my house, but I was in their neighborhood the other day, so I thought I'd pick up a 'to go' order for when Mrs CP got home from work. While I was in there, the manager saw me, and recognized me apparently as a repeat customer. He struck up a conversation, and I asked him if he also managed the Olive Garden across the street. (I thought I was joking, but he did, in FACT, manage both restaurants)
I commented that I was always impressed with the cleanliness and professionalism of his Olive Garden location, and I had heard comments about how neat and clean the kitchen was. He smiled real big, and said, "come with me".
He took me on a tour of the kitchen - NUMEROUS cooks working - lots of activity, but pointed out (with obvious pride) how neatly everything was organized, how there was obvious separation from foods that could otherwise be cross-contaminating, that his walk-in cooler was well stocked and very "ship shape".
He said, "I know you've heard horror stories about how food is handled behind the scenes, and I wanted you to see how we do it here".
I was, indeed, pretty impressed. This particular manager (I had learned from a former employee) actually has each shift of employees "stand at attention for inspection" while he makes sure their uniforms or apparel is neat, clean, pressed, name badges properly displayed, shoes shined, etc......
Too many times we talk about our BAD experiences. This thread isn't that.
(I can't speak for ALL Pappasito's Restaurants (or the variety of other Pappa's - Pappadeux, Pappa's BBQ, etc) or ALL Olive Gardens, but these two locations are among my favorites because I know what goes on behind the scenes.)
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