Mujer loca!

In our never-ending quest to find a suitable restaurant that's "not Chuy's", Jill suggested we go to a different Mexican restaurant near the Domain.  It's not that the Smith family only eats Tex-Mex, but we prefer places with good margaritas.  And baskets and baskets of free chips.  We'd be open to a French restaurant that met these simple criteria.

I had a late meeting, so I met them at the place.  The hostess told us 30 minutes, and 55 minutes later, they got us for our table.  Human brains are wired to like when things are just a little better than expected.  Under promise and over perform.  Chuy's (which is really now our sad benchmark), always tells us the wait is going to be longer than it ends up being.  When they've told us it's a six-and-a-half-hour wait, and we get seated within three - score!!!  So this not-Chuy's place was already starting off poorly.

Once seated, we waited a good bit for our waiter Jimmy to come over.  Jimmy was an older gentleman, and a talker.  He asked us about our day, our previous experience with their fine establishment, our tenure in Austin, and our preference of appetizer and drink.  He extolled the wonders of their fajitas and generally sold us on the whole dining experience.  It was an extended dialogue, but Jimmy certainly was enthusiastic.

The problem, of course, is that Jimmy was that enthusiastic with every one of his tables.  After our order, we did not see a lot of Jimmy.  More accurately, we did see him a lot, but not at our table.  Not giving more chips after the first basket was emptied (on the queso he enthusiastically sold us). Not getting us another margarita we desperately needed (and could have prevented the ugliness that eventually ensued).  Not filling our waters. Not bringing our check when within a reasonable amount of time from when all the chips, water and margaritas went dry.

The food wasn't bad, if a bit pricey. Coupled with the extended tenure in the establishment, and this did not rise to anywhere near "Alternative to Chuy's."  Time to cut our losses and keep searching.

Jimmy finally brought the check and came back eleven minutes later and got my card. 

A much younger man swung by the table and introduced himself as Trevor.  Trevor was the manager and asked us if we enjoyed our meal.

Both Jill and I hesitated and looked at Trevor.

We had arrived at "that point."  The point you either say screw it and tell Trevor everything was fine, because you really don't want to invest any more time and energy into it, OR you tell Trevor the truth.

Me: "It was fine."
Jill: "Well..."

Trevor: "Was there a problem?"

Me: "No. It was fine."
Jill: "Actually, it was a little slow."

Me: "But fine."

Trevor: "I'm so sorry to hear you had a bad experience."

Me: "Bad, but fine."

Trevor excused himself.  I felt the storm clouds gathering. 

Eight minutes later, I point out to Jill that we are there in two cars. 

Jill: "That's right!  See you at home."  She and the girls were gone before she finished the word "home."

Seven minutes later, the fallout began.  Trevor came back by the table, apologized again, told me that he hadn't been able to catch Jimmy before he ran my credit card (the ONLY thing he did quickly, by the way). Trevor handed me his business card.

Trevor: "Next time you come in, give the hostess my card and tell her I told you to give her my card."
Me: "Everything was fine."

Trevor never said explicitly what wonders the magic card would unlock for us.  I can only imagine it would be a second basket of chips or unlimited water refills. 

Twelve minutes later, Jimmy comes back with my credit card.  We got to the restaurant at around 6 pm, it's now just a few minutes shy of 3 in the morning.

Jimmy: "The Manager told me you were not happy with the service."
Me: "Everything was fine."

Jimmy: "Man, I'm 55 years old.  Just trying to make ends meet.  It's hard to find a job these days.  I don't move as fast as some of these younger guys, and I'm sorry I ruined your meal.  I hope you will return and tell your friends about us."

Me: "You know what, Jimmy.  Everything was fine.  Really.  The thing is?  There's something wrong with my wife.  I'm not sure why she does things like this.  I'm thinking it's something electrical.  Misfiring, or the like.  In fact, that wasn't even my wife.  I just sat with those people because I didn't want to wait.  Not that the wait was too long.  Everything was just perfect.  Do you have a breakfast menu?  You know what,  I need to go report something about the thing I was talking about to that place.  Have a nice morning.  Everything was fine."