So I had this strange experience yesterday. Just as I was cutting my birthday cake with a bunch of friends at Infinitea (the place on Cunningham Road), when the manager runs up and says that we can’t eat outside food in the restaurant. But it’s birthday cake, we point out. No, he said adamantly, we don’t allow outside food.
I was speechless for a moment. I’ve NEVER come across any restaurant that does not allow a birthday cake to be cut and eaten in its premises. I totally understand outside food not being allowed, but a birthday cake?! Just the day before, I had cut two cakes at the 100 Feet boutique restaurant with another bunch of friends. They actually lit the candles and brought out the cakes for us. They did the same thing for me (bring out the cake with candles) at Coconut Grove a few months ago for a friend of mine.
I was especially disappointed because I’ve been an Infinitea patron for donkey’s years, I’ve called for Metblogger’s meets there and visit frequently before and after French class.
I didn’t want to create a scene of course. But for a moment, it did dampen our moods. This was the last thing I had expected.
Also, met Jace at Infinitea who’s posted about it here along with a picture.
Well, later in the evening, I asked if we could have our cake outside the door and the manager finally seemed to have a change of heart and got us plates and spoons so we could eat the cake inside after our dinner was over. So why all the fuss, I wondered?
Strange. Rules are rules, I know. But surely, one should exercise one’s judgment of the situation at hand and not take rules to the extent that you put off your customers.
He realized this been an Infinitea patron for donkey’s years soon I guess :)
Posted by Prasoon | March 7, 2007, 5:24 pmStrange…never heard of any restaurant opposing a cake from some other place in their premises on bdays/annivs…
Posted by Mehak | March 7, 2007, 5:24 pmBelated B’day Greeting!!
yes, sometimes ‘service’ gets redefined to attitude for reputed brand hotels. perhaps they should be more cautious than before to ‘retain’ the customers their brand sucessfully ‘attracts’..
no mnay know styaing in business is tougher than opening it.
Chao!!
p.s. 100 ft is stone throw from my place, i need my piece of the cake now… :-((
Posted by Rajesh | March 7, 2007, 5:39 pmUh, that’s strange of them. I’ve done this for my son’s birthday before (too old to have all that for my own, you see), and the restaurant was glad to help us out.
My knee jerk reaction would have probably been to cancel the dinner and find another place before I cool down. But it was really polite of you to continue with the program and ask if you could have outside. :-)
Posted by Kousik | March 7, 2007, 7:55 pmI work in a restaurant, so occaisionally those “outside food” issues pop up. We always accomodate B’day cakes and stuff like that. It used to be different when people would bring in Mc D’s or Pizza Hut stuff. Now we just groan inwardly about that. :P It’s one of those live and let live things.
Getting a manager to aquiesce was the key move. When you’re a regular, he/she knows that keeping a good customer is better than losing one. It’s good business sense. Lean really hard on them, and you can sometimes get a freebie the next time you visit. (I never said that…you never heard it. ;) )
–Robert
Posted by R.A. Levin | March 8, 2007, 9:54 amIn this case — Manager went on to stress the RULE b’cos sometimes in life — @ the spur of the moment we speak rules and since we spoke it in PUBLIC we remain to stand on single leg to win the point , jus an ego issue for some ppl, may be the good guy(Mgr) was wearin that HAT that day, ITS ALL IN THE CONTEXT of situation. May be Gandhi too can wear the same hat — It purely Depends !!! But Some ppl wont — they are LEVEL HEADED FELLA’s. Jus my thoughts. Any way @ the end of the day MGR to had the cake — tat’s wer we are teaching them the RIGHT lesson with a SWEET Pinch !!!
Posted by Vinod | March 8, 2007, 4:17 pmInfinitea did that! — what a shame!!But I am glad they saw sense finally.
Posted by usha | March 10, 2007, 7:55 am@ prasoon: :)
@ mehak: always a first i guess!
@ rajesh: next time, piece of cake on me :)
@ kousik: yes, i guess. but i didn’t want to be rude and spoil the mood for the evening.
@ robert: i will keep that in mind. didn’t hear it from you though ;)
@ vinod: yes, he had a piece too!
@ usha: i know! and you know how much i like the place!
Posted by Anita | March 10, 2007, 10:31 amIn the US they charge a ‘cake cutting fee’ for the pleasure of serving the cake once the cake has been cut. They actually charge this to encourage people to buy dessert inhouse.
Posted by Alo | March 11, 2007, 10:44 ambelated happy birthday! :)
Posted by Twilight Fairy | March 12, 2007, 10:38 pmHi,
Infact, last month when we went to Ebony we saw a lady celebrating her b’day with her friend. And surprisingly the crew gave the candle, came n cheered too. It was so nice of them.
~Harsha
Posted by Harsha | March 13, 2007, 6:33 pmthanks for your blogs.you want see one amazing family living in india.
see the site of january month.
http://www.myearthpeople.blogspot.com
Posted by oceomac | March 16, 2007, 9:35 am