We arrived early, but our table was free. The manager told us we were welcome to be seated and if we ordered immediately we'd be served quickly, but then he had a busy period of around 20mins after which at 8.30pm when we were supposed to sit down at our table it would be quiet again so we had the choice of either ordering immediately or waiting. We chose to wait. Fantastic just to be informed properly of our choices, I don't recall that ever happening before in a restaurant - the first example of great service.
Shortly after 8.30pm, we ordered and also talked to the waitress about wine. My friend had had a glass of house wine and commented how good it was. Our waitress agreed with us and told us about how much effort had gone in to getting a good house red and recommended we go with it. At £14.50 a bottle, we thought it worth the risk and it turned out to be a great decision. The second example of great example of customer service.
The food came promptly and was absolutely superb. I've never experienced a better Fois Gras nor Fillet Steak, the fat-chips were to die for and the cheese with eccles cakes was just divine. All washed down with more bottles of that really good house red.
Now, the third example of service pushed things through the roof, but it's worth providing some background: That night, the predicted snow came. When we got to the restaurant, it hadn't started, but by the time we left there was enough for it to screw up the roads. We had booked a taxi for 11pm, but it didn't arrive and on calling the taxi-firm I was informed there was no chance of a taxi. So, 5 miles from home, in a blizzard at 11pm with a baby-sitter at home looking after the my sons and the girls in shoes far from suitable for a long walk. This was a stressful moment...
So, there we were, the four of us, without a taxi and very few options. The manager and his staff had the time to think of a number of options for us, but we concluded that the simplest was to walk home. The staff produced spare shoes for the girls and we prepared to brave the snowy blast. Then one of the staff decided to really go that extra mile, literally. Jasmin decided to take us as near to home as she possible could in her Mini, it wasn't even on her way home and she had to return to the restaurant. The roads were now covered in compacted snow, the route home had hills and narrow back-roads, this was not going to be an easy journey, but Jasmin was game. Wow, what a fantastic offer, we accepted.
So, the journey home was easy at first, but then we took a wrong turning round which gave us our first "stuck in the snow for the night" scare, but we extricated ourselves. Then everything was ok until we hit the hill on the road up to the outskirts of the village. Everyone out of the car helping Jasmin get the car up the hill. With a few halts and scary skids we eventually got tho the top. Jasmin turned to go back to the restaurant via the M25 having done us the greatest service anyone could ever have done that night. She didn't have to, she didn't need to, but she did. What a staggeringly fantastic attitude, I'd have someone like that on my team any time and it should be an example to anyone who wants to understand what going the extra mile really means.
Thank you Jasmin, along with your restaurant you made our night. The walk across the common to home was done with high spirits and quite a bit of enjoyment and it was all because a some people went the extra mile. This is an example I shall use many times in the future when people ask what going the extra mile really means. Certainly my wife and I, my best-man and his girlfriend will always remember that night as a fantastic experience, but it could have had a very different outcome, but due to the wonderful service we received particularly in the face of adveristy, we will look back on the evening with great memories.
Thanks Jasmin!
