If it ain't eggs, it ain't breakfast. And sometimes, even when it is eggs, it ain't breakfast.

[vanillafluffy]

This morning, I accompanied Mb to a doctor's appointment. According to her, he yells less when she has someone in the room with her. He didn't yell at all, he seemed very calm and on top of things. FWIW, I liked him; he reminded me of Cesar Millan.

Afterward, when we got out of there, it was about 10:30. Cracker Barrel was on the way home, so we dropped in for brunch.

Usually, I adore Cracker Barrel. Today, however, they were not up to par. It was close enough to 11 that we could've ordered lunch, but I was in the mood for eggs I didn't have to cook. To begin with, it took so long for our order to get there, I started to wonder if the hens weren't laying well. The toast that came with it, when it did arrive, was charred on one side. I asked for fresh toast, not burned, and some jelly, preferably blackberry.

Oh, and my bacon? Was jerky. I have nothing against crispy bacon, but I draw the line at dessicated. We got two containers of jelly, one each: Grape and strawberry. Um, wrong berry.

Waited. Waited some more. In the interim, I got two beverage refills from another server who passed by and noticed I was out. By the time the second round of "toast" appeared, my eggs were rubber. (Quotes because it was barely-warm bread that didn't even have a tan.)

I wasn't happy, and Mb was, if anything, even more pissed on my behalf. (That's how you know you've got a true friend!) The only reason I left any sort of tip was because she *did* bring some lemons wedges for my drink, which was the first thing I asked for---that was done promptly. So she got a flat 10%. Usually, I'm a 20% tipper, if only to disprove the study that said "middle-aged" women are the worst tippers. Her loss.

We sought out a manager before approaching the cashier, and he gave good grovel. Said that our server was usually very good, and he didn't know why she wasn't on her A-game, but he'd talk to her. AND he comped our meals, which I was hoping for, because I could've stayed home and cooked better than that!

The gift shop beckoned; we wandered around for a little while, since we were unexpectedly a bit wealthier than we'd thought we'd be. I found a reusable tote bag for J---her birthday is next week---it has a picture of a dachshund on it, and says: "You had me at 'Woof!". Everytime the subject of dachshunds come up, she says how stubborn they are. *grin*

If I weren't so short on sleep, I'd make some clever quip about a dog's breakfast, but not today....

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Car du jour: Saw a very nice yellow Year One GTO on the way down to the doctor's, and on the way back, a Vecchio-era Buick Riviera, champagne beige.
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Comments

[ang5fam.livejournal.com]

I don't fault the server for the burnt toast or jerky bacon- she doesn't do the cooking. My kids have all been servers at one time or another and often caught the brunt for the food not being right. The fact that she didn't come by for refills would be her fault. I don't think I would have gone down to 10%- perhaps 15%- esp since you ended up getting your meals for free. I would have gone back and given a bit more tip. (like I said, kids and future daughter-in-law were servers and it's a hard job!) I try and picture myself standing on my feet for 8+ hrs a day waiting on tables and I end up feeling sympathetic.
I always do 20% unless the server is just a down right jerk or acts like they are doing me a favor by coming to my table. I've never had the guts to complain to a manager- I just scratch that place off of my list and never return.
Cracker Barrel is a tough one---lots of tourists off of the interstate and probably lots of really bad tippers.

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

I'm usually a 20% tipper myself. This is only about the second time I've ever sought out management, because I agree, it's a rough job, and if had been just one thing, I'd've let it go. But it was pretty much everything, and that's not acceptable. Mb tipped, though not lavishly, so she didn't make out too badly.

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[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

that's really surprising. I've only been to Cracker Barrel once on vacation in the southeast 3 years ago (we don't have them in Calif.) and the breakfast i had was great! I have a real thing for breakfast out.

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

If it was closer and I had more money, I'd eat at Cracker Barrel a lot more often than I do (about every 2-3 months). Generally, they're very good. This was so exceptionally bad, though, that I had to say something. Money's too dear to pay for crap food/service.
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