Posted on 09/05/2012 2:29:44 PM PDT by nickcarraway
WHEN Tim Zagat dines out in New York, many of the restaurants he goes to know that he prefers his soup served in a cup and enjoys iced tea with cranberry juice in a large glass over lots of ice. Jay-Z’s fondness for white Burgundy is also no secret among the city’s headwaiters.
But what is perhaps more surprising is that when Arnie Tannen, a health care consultant in Brooklyn, sits down for his regular Friday-night dinner at Gramercy Tavern, his server always knows that he prefers a black napkin (less lint) and wants only the ends of a loaf in his breadbasket.
Those details are carefully logged in the restaurant’s computer, and Mr. Tannen suspects that the tavern has also noted his love of French fries, even though it does not serve them. For his 68th birthday in 2011, his waiter surprised him with hot fries hurried in from a nearby spot.
“You never have to say anything more than once,” Mr. Tannen said of the service.
Part of the attention paid to his preferences can be chalked up to the owner, Danny Meyer, and his well-known obsession with highly personalized hospitality. But what most customers don’t know is that hundreds of restaurants are now carefully tracking their individual tastes, tics, habits and even foibles.
SNIP
“We will write if the person is kosher or can’t eat shellfish,” said Ed Schoenfeld, who owns RedFarm in the West Village. “And we take note of the people who sat for six and a half hours last time, so next time we are sure to give them an uncomfortable seat.” (Passive aggressive, just like family!)
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Most of my favorite hangouts can already guess what I want to order and what little tweaks I want done. Still, I was surprised when one waitress remembered exactly how I like my salad done (she said “because that’s almost how I order mine”) since I’ve only ordered it a few times lately.
A good waitress who knows her faves remembers these things like a good wife. You just have to make sure they know they’re appreciated and I try to do that.
What is this rest-u-rant of which you speak?
Sounds like a place where angry people catch their breath.
My favorite diner always knows how I like my eggs scrambled, how to cook the bacon just to the verge of crispy and that I don’t like weird jelly on my sourdough toast (no “marmelade” or whatever that stuff is) just plain ol’ blackberry or grape jelly.
yeah my mcdonalds drive thru person knows i like my black coffee black and hot. that isn’t racist is it?
El Burro restaurant in Campbell knows I like my food 1) reasonaby priced; 2) in large volume; and 3) served promptly.
Love that place!
They know they aren’t seeing much of me these days.
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