Went to the Hong Kong Tea House for dim sum, an entirely reasonable treat.* I love the shrimp paste in bell pepper. And chicken steamed bun. D ordered a custard steamed bun that was quite special, Pot stickers, and fried rice. Po Lei tea in a brown pot, tiny cups. We nibbled and talked and enjoyed each other's company. A place I have never seen without obviously asian patrons at the next table. They'd had a flooding problem, and had to close for over two weeks, so we made a point of going back as soon as they re-opened.
They know us, and we know them, by sight, and we care about their endeavor.
The first year they opened, they provided a dessert soup with every dinner. This was a new thing, but interesting. D loved the tapioca one, and I the red bean, but I suspect most people were more confused than pleased. A hot, sweet soup for dessert is not a familiar tradition, here. Such good food, generous but not excessive, tasty. A bit of patience is necessary with the non-English-as-first-language staff. Once, a waitress brought what was obviously fish to a non-fish-eating D, and tried to explain him what he'd ordered by showing him her pad. He had to apologetically explain that he would not order fish, and could not read her letters either. The staff has become more fluent, the soups have (sadly) disappeared, but the food is still wonderful. Their spicy bean curd is so soft, like custard, in a sauce to clear the sinuses. The tea is a comfort and joy to me.
We talked about the delicate balance between a restaurant staying solvent, being stingy, and making a patron feel they are being treated generously. We miss India Quality in Boston. D went to pick up food once, and they gave him tea while he waited. A simple thing, a few pennies cost, but it was a kindness he appreciated, an attitude that made us feel cared for, and at that moment we became dedicated customers. Yes, the food was always amazing, but try eating even very good food, if you feel upset. So restaurants need to master that imponderable of 'welcomeness."
Where do you feel welcome? Where does the food taste better because of that?
*Unlike the tapas place we got dragged to, which seemed to be a great place to get overcharged for not enough food. This place has dim sum for a reasonable price, and enough to fill one up nicely.
4 comments:
There's a place run by an old student of mine. When I appear, she squeals my name and makes me feel very welcome with a swift pot of Oolong Tea and a bowl of soup before I have a chance to ask, "how have you been?"
In many Middle Eastern countries, including and specially Greece, (which I suppose is sort of Middle eastern, geographically) people in shops automatically give you tea or mint tea or something - even if only a glass of water, to make you feel welcome. I mean, it's not dumped in front of you, they offer it to you and look you in the eyes as they do so.
Rou,
How wonderful.
Jenny,
Indeed. We realized slowly that the owner of India Quality was a mover and shaker in the local Indian community. He strove to make people feel listened to.
On our last night in Boston, we went there for dinner. They had noticed we'd not been in in a while, and we told them we were moving out of state. They brought us pistachio pudding for dessert as a gift. So, when D's brother was in Boston, we made him go there. He did, with a large group, and loved it as much as we do.
There's a few restaurants where we feel welcome, mostly because of the staff friendliness (without being over the top). Indeed, those are restaurants that get repeat business from us.
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