| rev:text
| - Having had a fantastic experience at the Gilbert (Val Vista and Williams Field) location with our entire staff for a employee's anniversary lunch, I figured Pita Jungle should be Pita Jungle, right? And the Chandler location is closer to our workplace, so I called and let them know that two days hence, we would be treating one of our employees to his anniversary lunch.
We would be a party of fifteen, and although I know they don't take reservations, I wanted to find out what we can do to make it less of a surprise for them, and smoother sailing for our healthcare office's staff (we would have a set period of time to eat and get back to see the afternoon patients).
She reiterated they don't take reservations. I know, sweetie, I know. I'm just calling to give you a head's up that we're going to show up at noon in 2 days' time and we would like for that to not be hard on your staff. Or mine. "Okay," she said, stating she would make a note, "but it isn't a reservation." Okay, I gotcha.
I called the day before to re-remind them we'd be there in one day, at noon, with 15 hungry people. "We can't, we don't, we won't," etc, she says. I know, honey, I know you don't take reservations, I know what you can't and don't do in terms of reservations. Do you ACCEPT larger parties? "Yes," she says. "So, I'm just calling to see what CAN be done" I say. "I'll make a note but you can't have a reservation." My goodness, it's never been harder for me to arrange to drop a few benji's on a small establishment. The Gilbert location was gracious, had left a few tables in one area free, then scooted them together when our party arrived (just a couple months prior) and had us seated in one minute flat, gracious and happy to see us... so I figured with the ample heads-up, the Chandler location would probably do the same, right?
Right?
We show up, 15 of us, at noon the next day. The young, male (old enough to drive, too young to drink) host is astounded at the size of our party. Like, he has never SEEN 15 people all together at one time before, ASTOUNDED. I mention that while we know they don't do reservations, I've called ahead two days, and one day, prior. *crickets* She said she would make a note, let you all know we would be coming so you could plan ahead. *crickets* To make sure you wouldn't be overwhelmed by our party. *crickets* Because we are celebrating a much-loved employee's anniversary and it's really important because this is his favorite restaurant. *crickets*
"Well," he sighs, "I don't know anything about that but it's going to be at LEAST a half hour wait. Is that okay?"
There's no harm in asking nicely, so I did. "Well, actually, is there anything that can be done? We have about 49 minutes of lunch time left, so that doesn't really enable us to eat, is there any room out on that big patio? There's a large table down the middle of the restaurant that's just the right size for our party, which was completely empty, until you sat two people in the middle of it, like, 4 seconds before we were greeted, could they potentially sit somewhere else? Because we'd fit right there and they don't even have a water glass yet; I would pay for their lunch."
No. There was obviously nothing he was willing to do, so I let him know that anything they can do is appreciated, because all 15 of us are here, and there's no time to arrange anything new. So we wait for 19 minutes, and he comes over and tell us "It's going to be at least another 40 minutes, so is that okay?"
No. That wasn't okay, not even remotely okay, and honestly I expect to be treated like this at Oregano's, pal, but I really didn't see this one coming. Why would you tell us 30 minutes, and 11 minutes short of the 30 minutes, tell us it's another 40 minutes? You've been seating everyone who came in the door. I asked if there was a manager. Nope. Is there anyone I can talk to? (Because I'm thinking as a manager, I see potential solutions to this problem passing before my eyes with every choice you make, friend.) Nope.
I know the kid is young. And this is not his place. And he can't possibly have enough experience to even know what customer care looks or sounds like... but he couldn't have possibly been slow enough to think that, on any level, this was okay.
So, in order to not break my recent goals of never saying reactive things, I simply walked out the door. Saw Valle Luna just down the walk, and walked in there to ask if they'd seat us. Sure, they said, come on over!
So all 15 of us mobbed down to Valle Luna, had just about the most delicious chips and salsa I've ever had, cold drinks on the table right away, and hot lunch served up within about 10 minutes, a check and boxes shortly thereafter, and we were back to the office on time, stuffed full of really delicious and satisfying food. Please consider going there; they were fantastic.
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