Took myself to dinner tonight as a treat at a restaurant I’ve come to really enjoy. It’s farm-to-table, pricier, and a beach town, but overall a great dining experience. I stuck myself at the end of the bar next to the wall because I’m solo (place just opened and it’s a mad house as it fills in) and feel I was an easy guest; knew what I wanted, no special requests, little chats with the bartender. Everything was GREAT and bartender was awesome. Food, drinks, service *chef’s kiss*.
SO, I get myself an espresso martini for dessert and the bartender had a fair amount of extra, little over a half glass, and he gives it to the girl sitting directly next to me. I felt so deflated, then annoyed, by this because if you give extra of the drink I bought, just don’t do it next to me! My meal, for one person, was $110 and it just seemed like it’d be a nice thing to give to me… or to someone else that I would not have had to hear saying to each of their party of five, “oh they had extra from her drink and gave it to me!” This small gesture would’ve been so nice after a rough day (first world problems) and giving the extra to someone in my vicinity was just, bleghhh.
I didn’t have it in me to say anything, it just would be too awkward, but it did completely change my mood for the night. He handed me the bill shortly after this (I had asked) and I tipped $25. I guess just needed to vent and get validation or good shake to get my ish together. It’s been a day.
I felt so deflated, then annoyed, by this because if you give extra of the drink I bought, just don’t do it next to me!
PS I have bartended and served for over 16 years and I would either have given it to the person buying the drink or someone across the bar. The drink was $16.
He handed me the bill shortly after this (I had asked) and I tipped $25.
It’s been a day.
🏠 The Aftermath
My mood for the night was completely changed after the incident.
I left the restaurant feeling deflated and slightly disheartened.
The consequence was a tainted dining experience despite the overall excellent service and food quality.
A small gesture could have made a big difference.
Despite the disappointment, I acknowledged the mix of emotions and tried to move on from it.
💭 Emotional Reflection
In hindsight, the bartender's gesture highlighted the impact of small acts of kindness in customer service.
It also brought attention to the importance of considering the emotional experience of patrons in service interactions.
While the incident was minor, it shed light on the significance of thoughtful gestures in customer service.
How would you feel in this situation?
The bartender's decision seemed insensitive given the context.
I would have expected a different approach from the bartender, considering the price I paid for the meal.
The situation could have been handled more thoughtfully to avoid causing discomfort to the customer.
Overall, the responses reflect a mix of understanding and disappointment with the bartender's actions.
🌱 Final Thoughts
The experience serves as a reminder of the impact of small gestures in customer service interactions.
Sometimes, it's the little things that can significantly influence the customer's perception of their experience.
What do you think?
Would you have left, or stayed and kept trying to make it work? Share your thoughts below 👇
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