Away from politics, a letter to a restaurant that really sucked:

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

Subject: Two Strikes and You're out.

I went to your "cafeteria" in Huntsville, AL earlier today (11:30 AM). I had the Roast Beef, fried Squash, Broccoli & Cheese, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy and a roll.

The broccoli and the roll were edible.

I was basically screamed at in the line and was given a dirty look when I announced I wasn't sure what I wanted before I even got to the entrée section. When I got to the section and ordered the roast beef, after two meek attempts, I heard the server say "I need to sharpen this knife," and was given two small slices that looked like a sample I would have gotten at Costco on a very tiny plate. There was no "thank you", no "have a nice day," just a scowl.

I'm sorry, but by this time, if you had served me the nectar of the gods, my meal was ruined.

However, I was with my elderly parents so I kept things quiet.

The roast beef was so over cooked, it was inedible. I had one bite. The mashed potatoes were not eaten by myself or my nephew. One bite each. They were like water suspended in some kind of magical fiber. The only taste or texture came from the spoon.

The Fried squash was blackened on the bottom to the point of inedibility.

However, the broccoli and the coffee were good.

Needless to say, this pretty much ruined the meal for four people. The "attendant" never asked why the food wasn't being eaten. I guess she was used to this phenomenon. I did hear her complaining, however, that she had been there since eight.

I'm a business owner and can only think that I need to send my employees to your restaurant as a method of teaching them how not to run a business.

Sincerely,
an ex-customer,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

(Please, no comments on my Southern tastes in food! :evilgrin: )

[A Simple Game]

1. What Southern taste in food?

The only thing that may be Southern is the fried squash, but there is some leftover fried squash in this Northern New Yorkers' refrigerator.

It's that time of year up here.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

4. I guess you're right....

I didn't think New Yorkers knew how to fry veggies anymore! :evilgrin:


:toast:

[ramblin_dave]

2. Was it Picadilly by any chance?

Just curious.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

3. Ka-Ching! Give the man a Kewpie doll!

How'd you guess!

:sarcasm:

I'll bet it was easy.

[Mist]

13. Tried to eat Picadilly's macaroni salad once --I'm convinced the

main ingredient was paste. Haven't given them a look-in since. On the other hand, I've found J&S cafeteria isn't bad at all.

[solinvictus]

14. Picadilly..

We ate at the one in Chattanooga a couple of times with my in-laws and it was as you described: awfully bland and overcooked. In all fairness, though, the average diner had to be at least 75 years old. When Picadilly used to be Morrison's, it was pretty good, but that was many years ago.

[ewagner]

5. Sounds familiar

About three years ago we had a similar experience in Troy, Alabama. We had traveled over 700 miles in a caravan that day, experienced car trouble, and endured one of the worst thunder storms I had been through in years and got to the "cafeteria" style restuarant about 45 minutes before their closing time. The manager didn't want us to be served....he said, "Let me break this down for ya'll. We're closing in 45 minutes and I'm not putting any new food out." I told him I understood we were at the mercy of "pot luck" but at this point I didn't care. He begrudgeingly let us eat. The food was, as he said, the dregs.....but I was hungry and tired enough to eat it. I had server heartburn within an hour and "gastric distress" for much of the night.

When we arrived at our destination the next day, one of my first acts was to go on-line to the headquarters of the chain and tell them that their manager was a perfect @-hole.

Never did get a response.

[kliljedahl]

6. "after two meek attempts"? YOU???

Yeah Right!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:


Keith’s Barbeque Central

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

8. LOL!!! No, it was the server with the knife as she tried to cut the roast.

I have no "meek attempts" anymore.


:toast:

[kliljedahl]

11. Now that I re-read it I see what you mean.

"feeble attempts" might have made it clearer.


Keith’s Barbeque Central

[Clark2008]

7. Southern?

There was only one thing fried in your meal - and no pork grease. How is that Southern? :evilgrin:

Hon, I'm in Tennessee. Your choice of meals sounds fine (although, I don't like cheese on my broccoli and like my broccoli steamed).

What was the cafeteria? Can I guess?

P.S. My Dad lives in Huntsville and I used to spend every summer there when I was a teenager. What part of town do you live in? I went back there last summer for the first time in years (Dad and I don't talk anymore - long story) to take my son to the Space & Rocket Center. It's, honestly, had not changed a bit! I knew exactly where I was at all times! How is that possible?

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

9. Okay, I would have rather had ribs and cole slaw....

I'm actually a bit out of Huntsville in Harvest. You probably know which cafeteria it was...

Me? When I want good Southern cooking, I go to Rachel's in Fayetteville.


Yum! Nanner' puddin!

[Clark2008]

10. Nanner puddin' with niller wafers! Yummmm---mmmmy!

Dad actually lives in Grant, now, too, but he did live in Huntsville proper when I was a girl.

I'm just weird in the Southern food department, despite being born and raised here. I'm allergic to pork products, so that cuts out about 90 percent of Southern cooking, right there. I don't even like barbecue! :crazy:

Luckily, for me, my ex is Middle Eastern, so I learned to cook Mediterranean food from his mother (I LOVE that style of cooking) and my boyfriend is from, well, all over (South African, Brooklyn, Boston and San Diego) and looks to cook. He feeds me all sorts of neat - and lowish fat - meals, like shrimp and corn and new potatoes and pastas and rice dishes and... you get the picture. :)

[pitohui]

12. you knew going in the food would be bad

what madman dines in a cafeteria

the clientele is very old people who have lost their sense of taste and smell and just want something cheap

they don't care what you think

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

15. A madman with elderly parents...

God, I hate that place.