Howdy,

I’ve been eating places downtown sometimes, so I figure I’ll do some posts on what I’ve found out.

I asked Jordan once what the resturaunt, “Let Them Eat Cake” was like. He said they did breakfasts and stuff (similar to another local store, Features) but the big difference was that the staff there was “rediculously nice”.

Here’s my experience there.

I had a dentist’s appointment today before work. So I didn’t have time for breakfast, and I was sitting in the cooper site parking lot at 8:10 Am. My job at the United Way starts at 9:00. This gave me some time to fill.

So I hiked over to “Let Them Eat Cake” for some breakfast.

I walked in and was immediately greeted by this nice woman, I (sounding like someone from Idiotville or Texas) indicated the right-hand side of the store and said, “I’m here for breakfast”.  The point probably made it look like I was here for an appointment with the wall, which was named “Breakfast”

She lets me know, “Just take a seat anywhere!” so I stake out a nice-looking table in the corner and pull out a book. I barely get the book on the table when that woman from before is back again, “oh, just let me wipe that down” (wipes table) “and here’s a menu, would you like a coffee?” So I tell her sure, coffee would be nice.

I open up the menu and she’s back with a coffee and three creams with a spoon. If I had indicated how much milk and sugar I liked in my coffee, I’m confident I would’ve found the cup “pre-stocked” with it.

So, I take another minute with the menu, and right on schedule she’s back to take my order. I let her know I’d like the toasted western. She goes through telling me what’s in it (green peppers, ham, and onion, if you must know) and some more details on it, and then she’s off after asking a few more essential questions.

So, I take out my book and start reading.

Long story short, I ate my food, it was good, she kept refilling my coffee cup before I even managed to empty it.

Around 8:50, I’m finished eating, just sitting reading a bit, and she comes by, “oh, I’ll get you a refill on that coffee,” I let her know, “No, its OK, I’ve got to be out soon, don’t worry about it,” She gives me a hurt look, “are you sure?”

I’ve been in resturaunts where I feel guilty bugging the waitress. That’s the first time I felt guilty for NOT letting a waitress do something. But I stuck to my guns, “Yeah, I’m fine, thanks”

So I pack up my book, pick at my plate a bit more, then I head up to pay.

Total for the meal came to $8.72, so I gave her a $10. She starts making change, I say “that’s OK,” letting her know that the change is her tip. She gives me what really seemed to me to be a heartfelt “Thank you”, so I walk out and say, “have a good day!” She enthusiastically returns with, “You have a better one!”.

Now, for those of you keeping score at home, that’s a tip of $1.28. Hardly more than a standard “you didn’t kill me” 15% tip, but she seemed quite thankful for it. I thought that was nice. Most of the time you seem to tip, it doesn’t matter what you give you either get a canned “thank you” with the only smile you’ve seen from the waitress all night, or an exasperated “have a good night” as though your tip of 15% so pained her that her very life was sucked from her body. It was refreshing to get something different. So, food was good, service was excellent - I think Features has some competition.