One of my pet peeves is a bad experience. It could be bad food, bad service, a pushy salesperson, etc. Today I went to a restaurant that just didn’t have a good vibe when I walked in. I was already there so I decided I’d just go ahead and stick it out.

The server was in his very early twenties and you could tell he wasn’t really a ’server’. He was probably the owner’s son: one of those kids that reluctantly works in the family business so he can justify his expensive college tuition.

The kid was a little timid, I almost felt that he was too scared to ask me for my order. When he finally mustered up the courage, I told him what I wanted and off he went. About 10 mins later he showed up at my table, food in hand, and quickly ‘dropped’ it off and split the scene.

After I finished eating (BTW, nobody came by to check on me, or my food - but I digress), a ‘bus-boy’ type person came by and picked up my dish (without asking me if I was done) and whisked everything away.

A few minutes later, as I was getting ready to place my order for a nice sweet dessert, my ’server’ came by and dropped off the check. What? Could that be? What about dessert? A coffee?

So I asked the little man, “aren’t you going to ask me if I want dessert?”. Not only is that classic restaurant upselling strategy, its what hospitality is all about. I must’ve shocked him, as if people in this San Francisco restaurant don’t normally order dessert.

He went on to tell me that they only had one, maybe 2 different dishes. He really did a bad job in ’selling’ me so I decided I’d just pay my bill and get the heck out. If a bad experience is one pet peeve, putting up with it is another.

Now I really wanted something sweet. The idea of not being able to have it was getting to me. So I walked right in to the restaurant next door and placed my order.

I wonder if I would’ve been better off just staying at the first place :-)

When we go to a restaurant or a bar, we usually leave a tip… this is what we’re conditioned to do. Some people leave more than others, but for the most part, we all do it.

But what about when you buy a coffee or a sandwich at the take-out place, do you leave a tip? Most people don’t… I know that I never used to.

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As I was walking downtown today, I was handed an advertising piece for The Fairmont Royal York hotel… a beautiful grand hotel at the foot of Toronto. They’re celebrating their centennial year!

In honour of this occasion, they’re offering a summer rate for Ontario residents which I think is such a great idea. That’s the beauty of advertising, it makes people consider spending their money with you, especially when you make them an offer they can’t refuse.

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