Etiquette Tuesday: Gnats for Ice.

[ 2 ] January 12, 2016 |
©JohnnaKnowsGoodFood

©JohnnaKnowsGoodFood

Is customer service dead?  I have to believe it after a story I heard from two friends this weekend.  The deets:  the friends went to a well-known dining establishment and ordered a couple of waters (without lemon) to start before they decided on their cocktails of the evening.  What came back was not apparent until they were almost done with their waters and realized there were tiny gnats floating around the bottom of their beverage.  They told the bartender and she said “Yeah, unfortunately that happens sometimes” (Waab?!  This happens sometimes?!  Grossed out?  The stories not over yet…).  The manager is called over to rectify the situation and he simply takes the drinks and hands them over $5 off coupons for their next trip.

I would not have believed this was a real story until I heard it myself.  What happened to the “This meals on us since we have flies trooping around our high-ball glasses”??  Those days are long gone and the days of we, the patrons, should be glad to be served anything without it being tossed at us are being ushered in.  The question now becomes what are we going to do as the customer?  I see a lot more cocktails at home in my future if this what is offered in these streets…

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Category: Etiquette Tuesday

About the Author ()

Johnna French is a Harlem NY native with deep roots in Panama, Washington, DC and North Carolina. All four places have heavily influenced her life and the foods she loves today. After graduating Howard University School of Law and beginning her life as a young professional in the city she was led to start Johnna Knows Good Food in November 2007 to keep family, friends and colleagues updated on where to go and what to eat while dining in the nation’s capitol. French, who still practices law, leads a team of three writers to cover the ever expanding Washington, DC food scene. French has been featured in print and television, appearing in Washingtonian Magazine and is a regular contributor to various local TV affiliates including WUSA 9, FOX 5 DC and WJLA (ABC Affiliate) News Channel 8. During the 2016-2017 football season, Johnna aired on Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic (CSN) show, Redskins Life, as the weekly tailgate host. Johnna is currently a regular contributor to the FOX Baltimore Weekend morning show.

Comments (2)

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  1. Ray says:

    Certainly seems to be the trend in certain parts of the city nowadays. The funny thing is that dive bars and similar places seem to be treating people better. Maybe they’ve just realized that service is still king.

  2. Johnna says:

    True @Ray Dive bars thrive on “regulars” so they understand that customer service is imperative to the life of their business.

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