Hi!

Sorry about the incomplete subject line.

I need some surefire ways of getting Excellent Service in restaurants.

Backstory: recently some relatives came to visit, and my wife and I took them to a new steak place called Saltgrass. We happened to get an absolutely fabulous waitperson named Leila, and we all left the restaurant ecstatic about how great the experience was ($125 dinner check didn't detract from our happiness).

A few weeks later my wife and I decided to celebrate something by going back to the same restaurant. Guess what happened? We got a slow, dumb, disinterested waitress who seemed to be on some kind of medication, our "well-done" steaks were raw inside, we had to practically beg for refills on coffee, etc., etc. To make the situation even more aggravating across the room we could see Leila giving other patrons the same kind of great service she had given our party on the earlier visit (Leila seemed to have an assistant that worked for her, I'm not sure how she had it set up, but between Leila and her assistant her tables got Royal Treatment). My wife and I were childishly disappointed, we got fussy with each other, had a fight at home, and the evening was just a Disaster! We don't want to repeat that experience!!!!!!

Does anyone have techniques for demanding and receiving Great Service at any restaurant?

Thanks in advance!

- Boyd