When we dine out, we value exceptional service, much more so than the quality of food served. Of course, the food needs to be definitely above average, but if we do encounter a restaurant with delicious food coupled with horrible service, or rather service that makes us, the diners, feel uncomfortable, we will not think twice about boycotting it after that.
Therefore, it goes without saying that the reason we keep coming back for more to Friday’s is the impeccable service we receive whenever we dine there. Well, save for a few instances where we were assigned dumb not-too-smart server-challenged servers, we do walk out of the restaurant feeling good about our dining experience. Last Thursday, Labor Day, was no exception. We ended up having our dinner at Friday’s because our initial plan of going to Soba Yoshi backfired when we discovered Soba Yoshi decided not to labor on Labor Day 😛
Here’s what we ordered at Friday’s:
- The 3-course meal:
- Appetizer: Shrimp Martini
- Entrée: Half Back Ribs
- Dessert: Cookies N Cream
- Chicken Quesadillas with Beef bacon
- Kids’ Chicken Spaghetti
- Strawberry Milkshake
(sorry, no foodie pictures this time round. I actually THOUGHT I had an old picture of the quesadilla’s somewhere in my archives, but apparently not)
True to the exceptional service, the kids’ chicken spaghetti was served first, together with the shrimp martini, and after that the ribs came. I had almost finished my plate of ribs, but my hubby’s chicken quesadillas had not yet arrived.
The manager at Friday’s suddenly came to our table and presented us with a bowl of mushroom soup on the house. He did not tell us what it was for, so we thought it was to compensate the delay in the arrival of the quesadillas (or perhaps because we were regulars there *wink*).
A few minutes later and still no sign of the missing quesadillas, we asked the manager to check on the status of our order. Then a few minutes later, our server came to our table and asked us, “You ordered just one main course, right?”
Duh. We stared at her and said, “No…. we also ordered a chicken quesadillas!”
She walked off hastily, with the manager hot on her tail, *scolding* her or something.
A while later, the server came back to our table, apologized for forgetting to include the order earlier on and reassured us that the chicken quesadillas would be arriving in about 5 minute’s time.
And that’s why, boys and girls, all servers should ALWAYS ALWAYS repeat their orders.
Anyway.
After our meal, Ethan was restless so I took him out for a walk while hubby finished his meal and paid up. Later, my hubby told me the manager came up to him and told him the quesadillas was on the house. However, when my hubby asked for the bill, the manager decided to charge us even LESS than what he would have charged us had he only removed the chicken quesadillas from the bill. In the end, instead of paying RM68.65 for the stuff our meal (sans the quesadillas), we ended up paying just RM44.75 for the stuff that was supposedly complimentary. I guess it’s just Friday’s way of recording their inventory or something. Not complaining though. It’s a good consolation…everyone’s happy…well, except for maybe the poor server who made the mistake though.
Now THAT is what I call SERVICE. Making the customer happy 😛
Believe me, I have dined in restaurants where even after I had complained there was a STAPLE in my son’s food, they did nothing but solemnly take the plate away with nary a single word or apology. The nerve!
Of course, that wasn’t the only good thing that came out of our dinner that night. We met Angie, Bart and Julian too, who were celebrating their anniversary at Friday’s. And that encounter resulted in this very adorable family portrait, courtesy of Bart. Thank you, it’s awesome! We’ve not had a family picture taken for a long time now, and this was a splendid one…
Ok I’m not complaining much about that service 😉 and Ethan’s such a big boy now! I’m amazing watching him grow up through your photos 🙂
The Giddy Tigress says: Yes, exactly my sentiments 🙂 Yes, he is growing up really fast. Hopefully you’ll get to meet him soon 🙂
Hooray for Good Customer Service!! Two thumbs up, and that’s a great family picture..
The Giddy Tigress says: Two toes up too!
*waves & smiles to the little giddy family*
Your little giddy family won’t be little for long.. meaning Ethan is growing up real fast & “soon” he’ll be nearly as tall as mummy or daddy.
“soon” may mean many years more to you but the way time flies.. it’s gonna be here soon.
*sigh* It’s already May.
The Giddy Tigress says: Time really flies, I agree. *waves back at Jem*
What a gorgeous family portrait! You know what? Seeing the three of you together I can’t decide whether Ethan looks more like Pete or like you… he’s a handsome blend of both parents!
How come I don’t get such stellar service from Friday’s KL one? *puzzled* (Or maybe a staff of Friday’s reads your blog and they have a picture of you posted up in the kitchen that reads : Blogger! Give better service and discounts! :P)
The Giddy Tigress says: He takes the best features from both of us, eh? Yeah, it was good getting a family picture that night. Most of the time, it’s either Ethan and me or Ethan and Pete. LOL at your reasoning for stellar service…Haha….maybe that’s why we usually get an appetizer on the house too, huh?
What a nice nice family portrait! 🙂
The Giddy Tigress says: Thanks! I love it too!
Was the Manager’s name Kelvin ? Tall , skinny guy ? He is a friend of mine from Taiping. Go way back.
Maybe he saw some resemblance of me from Peter and figured he is my brother.
The Giddy Tigress says: Well, he didn’t come and introduce himself, but will remember to ask him when we go there next. Maybe he’ll throw in a margarita *grin*
That was really cool. Since Philippines, I always, I repeat .. ALWAYS check receipts. I still shudder at the thought of how I never ever checked them before till this year. Imagine how much I could have saved just by being a bit more critical …
The Giddy Tigress says: We always check receipts and never fail to question every single doubtful thing.
yr kid looks like both of you. Proly cos u two have “Fu Chai Siong” .
The Giddy Tigress says: That must be the reason why some people say Ethan looks like me and some say he looks like my hubby.
ok, i usually go to chilli’s, but i think i wld like to go to friday’s again after banning it cause not much of selection for me to try. so i will find a blur sotong waiter and order quesadillas ( my fav at chilli’s), and see if i get free food or not!! muahahaha!!!
The Giddy Tigress says: Chili’s is okay too, but I find while some of Chili’s food do not taste that good (like the burger), most of Friday’s selections taste fantastic. Plus at Friday’s we get service with a smile. All the time. AND Ethan gets a balloon 🙂
Friday’s is so generous, not to mention professional too.
That eatery place that I went to ah…. nor the one with 3 blunders b4 apologising to me one…
even if they wanna put the sambal fish rice on da house also I don’t think I can eat already.
haiz….
The Giddy Tigress says: Yep, I do agree that Friday’s really knows how to treat their customers 🙂
Wow you really dine in TGIF very often, I think they should issue u a VIP card.
The Giddy Tigress says: They should lo…and then I can collect stamps or something eh? 🙂 What’s not to love? Good food and great service! A definite killer combination!
whoa…they really make an effort for this. Thumbs up for them!!
The Giddy Tigress says: Toes up too!
I’m more terror than you; I expect good food, good service & pay nothing!
The Giddy Tigress says: Wah…so if we meet up for a meal, I need to foot the bill ah? 😛
Except for some fine dining places, most restaurant don’t bother to look into complaints not to mention giving a discount.
I would be lucky the staff didn’t spit in the food I ordered. haha….
The Giddy Tigress says: That’s what most ppl are scared of (people spitting in the food). Friday’s knows how to take care of its customers, that’s why we are hooked 🙂
Unfortunately we don’t get this sort of service at TGIF in KL.
The Giddy Tigress says: You don’t? Well, I’d steer clear of TGIF there then, and go to other places like Italiannies 🙂
You sure or not? Or they gave you wrong bill. The items on the bills are totally different.
The Giddy Tigress says: No la, they gave us the correct bill. We checked a few times already. It’s just that we paid for the cheaper bill, although those items were no supposed to be charged…like the kids’ spaghetti, soup…