If Only...

Saturday, January 15, 2011

So good, no one had to pee on the floor...


After relating my disastrous experience at On the Border last night, I was pleasantly surprised at the stellar service I just received at Mimi's Cafe.

I was, admittedly, a little apprehensive about attending a friend's baby shower in a restaurant. Baby showers tend to be crowded, loud, and messy, all things you don't want to be around your food. But the staff at Mimi's Cafe in Cary exceeded all expectations.


As soon as I walked in the door carrying a little yellow gift bag, the hostess asked, "Oh, here for the baby shower? Right this way," and proceeded to lead me to the back section of the restaurant, which had been sectioned off for the party. Despite there being a very large group on the busiest day of the week, they did not have the guests sitting in each other's laps. We were afforded two long tables and plenty of booths, close enough for conversation, but not squished together tight enough to accidentally eat off each other's plates.

The waitress arrived immediately every time a new guest was seated to take their drink order, and was very prompt in returning with them. Also, despite there being such a large party, no one's glass ran empty. The food orders were placed and received in a timely manner, and the food itself was excellent, and with large portions, especially for the price. The checks were also brought and picked up quickly, but without making anyone feel pressured to leave. (Even classier: there wasn't one of those ridiculous "for your convenience" gratuities added to the bill, as many places do for large parties.)

But what really stood out was how the staff responded to a minor mishap. During the flurry of the mommy-to-be opening gifts, a gift card accidentally fell behind the seat of a booth against the wall. It was completely unreachable.

Our waitress found out and notified the manager, who proceeded to offered to unscrew the bolts attaching the booth to the wall, move the (quite heavy) booth away from the wall, and then retrieve the card. Now THAT is going above-and-beyond.

The sole complaint I had was the $3.29 up-charge to replace my salad's chicken with salmon. But for a restaurant willing to rebuild the furniture for your convenience, I guess I can spare three bucks.

2 comments:

Michelle Craps said...

so glad u could come to the shower & no one peed on the floor!! the manager ended up being able to move just the cushion of the booth to get the gift card; much easier! but he seemed more than willing to do whatever to try to get it.

Court said...

The shower was lovely, and I'm so glad I got to be there. Also really glad the gift card was finally retrieved!

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