Re: Not all restaraunts or diners are alike

Nathan,

Maybe you need to visit South Louisiana. Surveys have determined the population here (at least before Hurricanes Katrina & Rita), ate out more than anywhere else in the country.

Many of the restaraunts we go to are part of the big chains, but some are of smaller regional chains, with some independents.

We often see familiar faces working at the restaraunts, meaning the place doesn't have a constant turnover of employees.

The wait staff in most restaraunts is composed of friendly, professional people. Many greet us with a smile and we often carry on conversations with them.

Until ownership changed the policies as one major chain, we were dining there 3 to 5 tims per month and knew many of the employees who were there long term.

We have sent steaks back that were definitely over-cooked or undercooked compared to our order. The waiter or waitstaff wasn't abused or blamed, and their tip didn't suffer.

Maybe, once or twice a year we get a truly unprofessional waitperson, in which case, their tip will certainly be an indication that something was wrong.

Only once in the past 10 years have we complained to the management of bad service. I actually went to the corporate website and filed a complete complaint. A few days later, I received a phone call from the district manager, who apologized for the new employee, who was supposed to be supervised at every table, as he was still in training.

Being a rookie, he should not have had the section to himself, and certainly not be assigned to a table of 10 who were there for a party. The district manager sent us a letter of appology and gift certificates to encourage us to return to that location.

Both our return visits to that location have been satisfactory. We have eaten at three of the 4 Houston locations the chain has there, and only had the bad experience one time in all our visits.

(Unfortunately for us, this chain doesn't have another location along I-10 between Baton Rouge, LA and San Antonio, where we travel the most. But, it's only 2 1/2 to 3 hours to Houston, with our daughter and her family there, so we get over there 10 or more times per year, with some trips to San Antonio, which allow us to eat in Houston either coming or going.

My wife is an excellent cook, but until Hurricane Rita destroyed our oldest sons home, it didn't make sense for her to constantly cook meals for just the two of us. With Joel and his family in our garage apartment, she is more likely to cook for 5 or 6 of us to eat together.

I can't speak for the "behind the scenes" aspects of the restaraunt business, where you obviously have experience. If you choose to stay in the business, maybe you need to relocate here for a better life as a restaraunteur.

I could probably earn supplemental income as a mystery shopper for restaraunts, but that would take away from the enjoyment of eating out with my wife or with family. Not worth the sacrifice to interfere with just enjoying the meal and our time together.