Tips for Romantic Restaurants - Or What to Avoid ... Ask TaxMama ... March 12, 2004

Ask TaxMama.Com
Tax Information With A Mother's Touch

Published by Eva Rosenberg, MBA, EA
Volume 6, Issue 250 March 12, 2004


	Things to Do or Know in March
	Tips for Romantic Restaurants — Or What To Avoid
	Letting Attorneys Bid On Your Business
	Easy Easement?
	Itinerant Bill Collector
	Losing the Statute


	IRS - Answers to Common Questions


	Negotiation Made Easy

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Tips for Romantic Restaurants
- Or What to Avoid -

On a personal note, last Friday night, my husband and I went out for what we'd planned as a quiet, romantic dinner. At least, that's how the restaurant advertised itself, anyway. Here are some tips for restaurants and serving staff of 'romantic' places to consider...and to tip you off when it's time to walk out:

If you have two dining rooms (as this did), keep the families in one room and the couples or adults in another. Putting screaming kids directly next to romancing couples is likely to spoil the mood.
Sweep or vacuum your restaurant between seatings (it was closed between lunch and diner). Feeling crunching things underfoot gets distracting when you lean over for a kiss.
Remember to put the entire place setting on the table. Or at least when you serve something, come back and ask your patrons if the need anything in less than 15 minutes. Serving coffee, with cream, and no spoons makes stirring awkward, don't you think?
When you advertise something in your winter ads, don't tell your patrons, "Oh, we only serve that in the summer. Did you see that in the Entertainment book?" Or, "if you had called in advance, we'd have made it for you." Don't you think people coming in just for something special you're advertising are going to get a little disappointed and lose the excitement and anticipation?
When serving appetizers, don't nuke them - or if you do, leave it in the kitchen long enough for those molecules to stop jumping. Microwaved bread tends to get hard and dry quickly. And it's not elegant. Nuked food, in general, served too soon burns the tongue and palate. Badly.
Consider training your serving and back-up staff to serve properly, from behind, preferably, from the right. It's so uncool to serve from in-front, leaning across the table and nearly dropping food in your couple's laps. That might work at a fast-food joint, but even they know better.
Air the place out once in a while. Sure, your cooking smells are wonderful, but not yesterday's and last week's and last month's. Having your place smell like a musty, old locker room may appeal to someone, I just can't think who.
If you have ceiling fans, or any fans, especially if they're quiet, consider using them. A little air circulation, with that nice, caressing feel on the skin only enhances the romantic sensations.

We should have known it would be disappointing. After all, we called three times to make a reservation and no one ever called back. No wonder restaurants close faster than any other business.

But, oh, their ad was so tempting! After all, they were advertising paella - and I'm still searching for for that wonderful flavor it had in Spain, years ago.

[Oh, the restaurant to avoid? L'Affaire (doesn't that sound romantic?) in Mission Hills, CA.]

Eva Rosenberg
Your TaxMama

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