People are broke, prices are high, and we don’t know what’s going to come next.
I think most of us here are trying to dine out or support restaurants/bakeries/bars/shops, if we can afford it.
What I have found amusing, are the 5 percent of restaurants or restaurant staff who are not willing to accomodate customers.
I am supporting the restaurants who accomodate me.
The ones with a hard line about not providing take-out, even in the situation where they were offering takeout from 2020-2022, and have the packagings for doggie bags for people who dine in. I’m not supporting those guys. (Cibo in Yorkville, I’m looking at you. You offered take-out from 2020-20222, and then suddenly no takeout allowed in 2023. Thankfully, The Oxley and The Duke of York offer take-out and they’re nice to people who require take-out)
In Dec, on a Sunday night, I tried calling Contrada to see if they would provide a take-out Porchetta dinner. No answer. So I emailed. I received a lovely reply minutes later. I was already on my way to pick up at takeout dinner at Kiss My Pans when it was sent. The person who wrote the email told me Contrada would be happy to provide a take-out Sunday night dinner for me any time. I was welcome. Last Sunday, I called Contrada, to arrange that Sunday night take-out Porchetta dinner dinner. No answer, so I hung up. I ordered dinner elsewhere. My phone rings. Contrada is calling back, because I had called and had not left a message. I ask if I could order a porchetta dinner for take-out. A man replies that they don’t offer take-out, never have. I let him know I live nearby and that I’m immune-compromised.
He continues with a " I will have to find out who has been telling you this because it’s incorrect. No one ran this by me."
Once I let him know I had an email from his colleague, a woman, who told me the restaurant would be happy to accommodate me, he suddenly changed his tone. He said if it was pre-arranged, it would be okay. I am glad he switched gears. I will give Contrada a try at some point. But why not accomodate a customer who wants to support the restaurant in the first place? It’s a relationship. There should be room for give and take.
Now. It’s January, a slow time for restaurants. Someone is willing to spend $75 per person for a porchetta dinner with sides and a dessert, and she will tip the same tip she would have tipped, if she was dining inside the restaurant. The server has less work to do with a take-out order. The restaurant is slow on Sunday nights. Restaurants are closing each week. Why are some employees turning away easy business?
