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My mall is building several new big stores - Borders, Chicos, PF Chang's...some others. Well, the Cheesecake Factory just opened recently and my friend took me there for my (belated) birthday dinner tonight. <takes bite of creamy creamy cherry cheesecake - hey, I like the classics>
To start with, it's Friday. At the mall. At a newly-opened, popular chain restaurant. One should expect to be waiting a while, especially if you have a larger group. We got there a little after 6pm. Not surprisingly, we had a hell of a time finding a parking space, and there were a lot of people milling around outside the restaurant (apparently their pager thingies don't work at any real distance so going shopping while you wait isn't really an option, unless you're expecting a really long wait). So we fight our way through and put our name in...45 minutes to an hour. So we take our pager and go do a little shopping, planning to be back at 7, which is 5 minutes before the minimum time they quoted.
When we got back, it had been about 35 minutes, and we went back to the desk to make sure they hadn't called us early. They hadn't. While we were waiting to ask this, there was a woman bitching to the poor girl about how long they had waited and I heard the girl tell her that they were the next Party of Six (Po6) and they should be seated in 5-10 minutes, but she can't promise because, well, sometimes people sit longer and they can't control that. (She was very polite about it, though.) My friend checked in and they hadn't called us, so we went back outside for a bit.
When they finally called us (the pagers blink red lights and vibrate), we went in and gave our pager to the somewhat ditzy-sounding blonde at the desk, who said, and I quote, "It shaked?" Yes, it shaked.
So we stepped to the side and it was several minutes before someone finally actually took us to a table. (Things were a little confused; their system is all computerized and most of the people are new, so they are still getting used to it and all.) While we were waiting they were gathering the Party of 6, and we heard the manager tell the Woman who Bitched that as soon as they were seated he would put some appetizers in for them. Yes, they got free apps for bitching.
We ended up in a booth across from the Po6, which was 3 women and 3 kids, all around 4-6ish. This place was very crowded, servers running back and forth, etc. etc. and the kids kept getting up and playing in the aisle between their table and the booths on the other side (where we were sitting). The girl evidently thought she was at cheerleading practice. The boys were just goofing around. I saw one waitress say something to the kids at one point. Only once, as they were getting the check sorted out, did I hear any of the moms say anything to the kids about getting out of the way, and when she said it she didn't even turn around, just said it over her shoulder.
Bonus suck: While we were waiting outside, there was a girl yelling at her mom on a cell phone while walking in circles around a bit of landscaping in the middle of the walkway. She looked to be about 10 or 11. I heard a lot of whining and "Mom!" and "Mommy!!" and "blah blah SO BYE!!" and she was making me dizzy with her walking in circles.
On the up side, they make a really good Strawberry Martini and I saw that the kids' drinks came in plastic cups with lids and a cherry stuck onto the top of the straw. We couldn't even eat dessert, just told her to bring it in a to-go box. mmm...last bite....<dies>
Oh, and then I swung by the puppy store and there was a Puggle puppy sitting in his bowl, just lounging, all wrinkles and cute... It must have been a big day - most of the puppies were sleeping.
To start with, it's Friday. At the mall. At a newly-opened, popular chain restaurant. One should expect to be waiting a while, especially if you have a larger group. We got there a little after 6pm. Not surprisingly, we had a hell of a time finding a parking space, and there were a lot of people milling around outside the restaurant (apparently their pager thingies don't work at any real distance so going shopping while you wait isn't really an option, unless you're expecting a really long wait). So we fight our way through and put our name in...45 minutes to an hour. So we take our pager and go do a little shopping, planning to be back at 7, which is 5 minutes before the minimum time they quoted.
When we got back, it had been about 35 minutes, and we went back to the desk to make sure they hadn't called us early. They hadn't. While we were waiting to ask this, there was a woman bitching to the poor girl about how long they had waited and I heard the girl tell her that they were the next Party of Six (Po6) and they should be seated in 5-10 minutes, but she can't promise because, well, sometimes people sit longer and they can't control that. (She was very polite about it, though.) My friend checked in and they hadn't called us, so we went back outside for a bit.
When they finally called us (the pagers blink red lights and vibrate), we went in and gave our pager to the somewhat ditzy-sounding blonde at the desk, who said, and I quote, "It shaked?" Yes, it shaked.
So we stepped to the side and it was several minutes before someone finally actually took us to a table. (Things were a little confused; their system is all computerized and most of the people are new, so they are still getting used to it and all.) While we were waiting they were gathering the Party of 6, and we heard the manager tell the Woman who Bitched that as soon as they were seated he would put some appetizers in for them. Yes, they got free apps for bitching.
We ended up in a booth across from the Po6, which was 3 women and 3 kids, all around 4-6ish. This place was very crowded, servers running back and forth, etc. etc. and the kids kept getting up and playing in the aisle between their table and the booths on the other side (where we were sitting). The girl evidently thought she was at cheerleading practice. The boys were just goofing around. I saw one waitress say something to the kids at one point. Only once, as they were getting the check sorted out, did I hear any of the moms say anything to the kids about getting out of the way, and when she said it she didn't even turn around, just said it over her shoulder.
Bonus suck: While we were waiting outside, there was a girl yelling at her mom on a cell phone while walking in circles around a bit of landscaping in the middle of the walkway. She looked to be about 10 or 11. I heard a lot of whining and "Mom!" and "Mommy!!" and "blah blah SO BYE!!" and she was making me dizzy with her walking in circles.
On the up side, they make a really good Strawberry Martini and I saw that the kids' drinks came in plastic cups with lids and a cherry stuck onto the top of the straw. We couldn't even eat dessert, just told her to bring it in a to-go box. mmm...last bite....<dies>
Oh, and then I swung by the puppy store and there was a Puggle puppy sitting in his bowl, just lounging, all wrinkles and cute... It must have been a big day - most of the puppies were sleeping.
I guess he's right - we don't have that much space and dogs are expensive.
I have to make do with my monthly(ish) Pablo visits for now (yay Monday!).
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