It's rare that I go for Italian buffet as my impression of Italian food are pasta, pizza, olives and cheese. Not the kind of food I want to eat at a buffet as you can't really eat much of them. How many kind of pastas can I eat?
I've never been able to differentiate between cabonara, penne, linguini and tortelloni. To me, there are only two kinds of pasta - tomato or cream sauce. And with names like bari, biga, farinata, pane casareccio, tortano and food items all sounding the same, the ta-ta-ta, no-no-no, li-li-li, ni-ni-ni, I don't really know which is which and which is not which.
Anyway, this restaurant is reputed to be one of the best (if not the best) Italian restaurant in town. It was also highly recommended by a very rich friend (If she can says it's good when she could afford meals at Michelin restaurants, then maybe its really good).
We were greeted upon arrival and quickly shown to our seats.
As we settled down, the waitress asked if it's our first time here. She then gives us a brief description of the different stations of the buffet while pointing out the locations to us.
Throughout the lunch, our plates were cleared promptly. We never return to our table with the used plates still there.
The restaurant manager came by and asked if everything is ok. The waitress also did the same.
Well, I've made the reservation via email. In the email, I asked if they have any discount for credit card payment or birthday celebration. The staff replied there's no discount for the lunch buffet and didn't mention anything about birthday. So I assumed she probably forgotten to reply on that.
During the lunch, the waitress came by and asked if we were celebrating any special occasion.
I was surprised.
The first thing that came to my mind was, "The reservation staff knew that I'm there for a birthday celebration (otherwise I wouldn't have asked right!) and has highlighted this to the restaurant staff."
But could it be their standard operating procedure (SOP) to ask every table that question. Highly unlikely as I did not see them asking the guests on both sides of my table.
I said it's my birthday and she wished me "Happy Birthday."
After a while, she came by with a slice of cheesecake lighted with a candle and the words "Happy Birthday" written using chocolate on the plate and sang a very short "Happy Birthday To You."
The supervisor came by and wished me too.
When we came back with a plate full of desserts, the waitress cleared away all the forks and knives. My cousin looked at me and remarked, "I still want to eat the main courses." Then I told him, "It's ok. We can always ask for it."
After we finished with the desserts, we went back to the main courses.
When we were back, the table was all set with the cutlery we needed.
This wasn't the first time I eat at a hotel's restaurant. Yet, this is the first time I was asked if it's my first visit.
This wasn't the first time I celebrated my birthday at a hotel's restaurant. Yet, this is the first time I was asked if I'm celebrating any special occasion.
This wasn't the first time I was given a birthday cake at a hotel's restaurant. Yet, this is the first time I was surprised with a birthday cake.
Is there something that you can apply to your business?