How Fast Can You Eat?

Over the past couple of months, Jenne and I have had two less than stellar dining experiences and they began as soon as we entered the restaurant door. And at one place we didn’t even eat!

The first was at a small Pho restaurant on Route 40 in Catonsville. It was 7:30 PM when we walked in the door and sat down. We were immediately told by the teenage waiter – mind you, we had not been given a menu, water or a greeting of hello yet – that, “we close at eight! You must be done before that!”
He then walked off. We briefly contemplated leaving, but my thought was, “frack this little punk. We’re eating.” And we did and we didn’t rush. When our meal was over, I walked up to the counter to pay the check. Punk boy was there.
“I’d like to speak to the manager or the owner please,” I asked.
“He busy in kitchen. Me no bother him. You talk to me,” he practically barked.
“No, I will not speak to you. I want the manager or the owner and I want them now!” I can bark too. “Would that be him back there in the kitchen? Shall I go and get him?”
Punk boy stormed off and said something in Vietnamese. The manager came out front and politely greeted me. To make this first part shorter, Right in front pf punk boy, I gave the owner the low down on how Jenne and I were treated. I gave them a verbal lesson in what it means to own a service business and that if punk boy couldn’t cut the mustard working in a restaurant then he should look for another line of work. I also informed them that we would not be coming back because of how punk boy treated us. Up until this incident we had been regulars.

Last night Jenne and I decided to go to Jesse Wong’s Asean Bistro in Columbia, MD. It had been a while since we had eaten there, and the previous two Fridays we had eaten at Akbars Indian restaurant and Stella Notte Italian restaurant. Both are places that we highly recommend for their outstanding service and food. Jenne and I arrived at the Asean Bistro at 6:15 and were surprised to find the place practically empty! This is a Friday night in Columbia and Ellicott City after all and Howard countians love to eat out, especially on Fridays. A quick look around revealed six tables occupied. The host greeted us, asked how many and started to scan the restaurant and his seating chart for an unusually long time. It was odd that he didn’t pick up two menus and lead us right to a table, eighty percent of the place being empty.
“Will you be done eating by 7:45? We have a big party and you must be finished by 7:45,” he said. It was six eighteen!
“I am sure we’d be done well before then. It’s just the two of us and the restaurant is empty,” I replied.
“Yes. Just a moment please,” and he walked into the bar. Jenne tapped my shoulder and she was headed out the door. It was obvious she didn’t feel welcome and neither did I. I turned to the door and started to walk out.
“SIR! I can seat you, since you said you will be done before 7:45.”
“No thank you. You have made my wife and I feel very unwelcome at your restaurant. We don’t eat where are not welcome and where we will feel rushed. You go ahead and have your big party in an hour and half,” I said as I kept walking.
“But sir, we can seat you.”
“And then what? Make us feel rushed. No thank you. I hope you don’t make anyone else feel unwelcome the rest of the evening. And by the way, we won’t be back. Ever!”
Jenne and I got into Red 5 and I started driving.
“So where are we going to and eat now? We could go to the Thai place,” offered Jenne.
“No. We haven’t been there in ages and I don’t know what sort of treatment to expect. We’re going where I know we will be greeted warmly and with smiles.”
“Did you want to do Stella Notte again this week? We just ate there last Friday, but I’d eat there again.” Said Jenne.
“We’re closer to Akbars. Let’s go there. They always treat us nice.” And when we arrived they did just that. We had a nice leisurely dinner and a good time. Oh, and we finished at 7:35 PM.

So, if you want a great dinning experience and excellent Indian or Itallian food, we highly recommend Akbar's in Columbia, and Stella Notte in Ellicott City. We recommend calling ahead for Stella Notte.