I am very critical when it comes to the level of service I recieve at a restaurant. I’m not exactly as bad as Mr. Pink, but I do base the tip on performance. I notice how often my cup is filled, whether or not it has ever been empty, how long the food takes, the attitude of the waiter/waitress and other staff, and the salesmanship of the waiter/waitress. The latter is mostly because I am a salesman, and appreciate a good sales pitch. My best experiences have come from California Pizza Kitchen.
The servers have always been extremely personable, and looked me in the eye. One even sat down opposite Milca and I to take our order, which has never happened to me before. They have all offered appetizers or soups by their name or flavor. Upsells are not foreign to me, but I still take them up on it from time to time, without regret. They typically offer me a beer when I go in, or some other alcoholic drink. That’s only really an issue for me because I ate at the Ritz Carlton’s Grill once, and the waiter sneared when I didn’t order the wine he offered. I was underage, and didn’t want to drink. At CPK there is no snear. The appetizers are good, and well priced. The meals are awesome, well priced, and filling. I hate paying $15 for a plate that only barely fills me. I’ve been to places where the service has been good, but CPK has just made a significant impression on me.
Order the tequila chicken, or the jambalaya. Thank me later.