Lalime's - Berkeley

Lalime's in Berkeley is one of those top-notch places to eat if you've got the money and want an exceptional dining experience. This place couldn't have been any better if it tried and the customer service shined through. I ordered a New York steak and ordered it medium rare. When it came this steak tasted amazing however the edge I cut into was not pink. The waitress came by and I was hesitant to say anything but her intuition saw the trepidation in my face. I told her not to worry since I thought the taste was still amazing and continued to consume it happily. A few bites later I noticed that the steak was not an even cut and the part I had started with was thin and therefore more done than the rest and despite that one part, was perfectly cooked. Midway through our meal, the waitress came by to say that she was comping my steak since it was not done to my liking. I told her that I was mistaken on my initial assumption of the steak's color and it was no problem but she insisted and still took it off our bill despite my feelings. Needless to say, this is what customer service is all about. Will we be going back to Lalime's? You'd better believe it. I also want to say that despite the attention to our having a great experience at Lalime's, this waitress was friendly, attentive and seemed to be enjoying her job. Tip: 25% +

C.P.K. - Emeryville

Let's start this off with a simple one. When I go to your restaurant and I have to wait for 15 minutes after being seated without a water or a single word from your server, I'm gone. Simple as that. At least let us know that you're really swamped (even though there's empty tables in view). And when I tell the host why I'm leaving and I get the incredibly sympathetic "Oh sorry dude" it confirms my previous thoughts about your fine dining establishment. I won't bother you with my patronage any further. Tip: Didn't get a chance.

Welcome!

The internet is crammed with food blogs everywhere you look (and I think it's great) but since I don't know enough about food to write from an educated standpoint, I thought it would be good to scrutinize an equally important part to dining, which is the customer service. If you're one of those people who could care less about the service you receive, then you probably won't care. However, if you do feel that good service is important, I hope you will join me in critiquing the various eateries I visit and write about, and eventually help these places remember that good customer service is still important!!!!