tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35720139.post8511471875030053181..comments2023-09-10T07:39:59.348-04:00Comments on Caramelized OpiNIONS (aka RVA Foodie): Train Wreck Brunch: Valentine's DelayRVA Foodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16214920696412259243noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35720139.post-42434815113637218322009-02-19T13:38:00.000-05:002009-02-19T13:38:00.000-05:00The nice Black sheep waitress mentioned roasting o...The nice Black sheep waitress mentioned roasting or grilling things - peppers?to get that smoky gumbo goodness (no fake smoke in a bottle) she also admitted to kale but implied greens change and is always a mix. She did mention thyme. I can't figure it out - the flavor is so complex. I guess at $4/bowl I'll just have to go more often.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35720139.post-19435189908080547532009-02-18T22:21:00.000-05:002009-02-18T22:21:00.000-05:00Hey, the readers poll showed that people wanted to...Hey, the readers poll showed that people wanted to hear about "cheap restaurants" and this one turned out to be pretty cheap. (?!?!?!) Okay, a little levity. Not pressing my luck.RVA Foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16214920696412259243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35720139.post-59418288240591060242009-02-18T22:12:00.000-05:002009-02-18T22:12:00.000-05:00I guess as long as were talking about you, that's ...I guess as long as were talking about you, that's a good thing right?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35720139.post-85675243588154195332009-02-18T21:06:00.000-05:002009-02-18T21:06:00.000-05:00Holy crap, the "Gumbo Z" soup at Black Sheep is am...Holy crap, the "Gumbo Z" soup at Black Sheep is amazing. The menu's description says something about it being made with lots of greens. Well, tonight, I made the water cress soup that was linked earlier (look for a post about it in a bit). Now, I feel like I have the inside scoop on that soup. <BR/><BR/>Back to the tipping thing. This isn't really an issue I have a lot of energy for, but it sure seems to trigger those who do. There are a number of commenters advocating for 25%, 30%, up to 50%. They might be right, morally, and/or professionally. But, I don't think they're representative of reality. I believe that standard tipping practice still trends toward 15-20% on average and I also believe that this is generally what servers use to predict their take home pay. Of course, there are the Steve Buscemi's of the world (again with the Reservoir Dogs) and these commenters (some of my favorite bloggers) are doing their best to offset the rogue outliers. That's how I see it and 20% is my minimum, median, and mode. <BR/><BR/>For those that want to learn more about the strange, highwire-act/caught in the middle predicament of restaurant servers who routinely go to work without any assurance of getting paid, you can read more about that here:<BR/><BR/>http://readdrinkandbemerry.blogspot.com/2009/02/tip-your-god-damn-waiter.htmlRVA Foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16214920696412259243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35720139.post-69746022706235196692009-02-18T17:37:00.000-05:002009-02-18T17:37:00.000-05:00We walked into Lulu's for Monday lunch and it was ...We walked into Lulu's for Monday lunch and it was so noisy we left. Black Sheep was closed - have you had their vegan gumbo? amazing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35720139.post-65609362598962539782009-02-18T17:34:00.000-05:002009-02-18T17:34:00.000-05:00soupsoupAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35720139.post-79297377788526766032009-02-18T15:10:00.000-05:002009-02-18T15:10:00.000-05:00well, your situation was unusual so i sympathize w...well, your situation was unusual so i sympathize with your dilemma...but i agree with janet and piet here. i have worked in the service industry, and feel pretty strongly that the MINIMUM tip should always be 25% and in instances where a server has done everything in his/her power to make a decidedly bad experience better, the tip should be higher than 30%. <BR/><BR/>i am sure lulu's isn't the sort of place to penalize a server for a comped meal, but that does happen in corporate restaurants on occasion, and if a server goes that extra mile i think it's best to err on the side of grace/generosity. <BR/><BR/>-BBriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02855824948620700797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35720139.post-83625855788454505702009-02-18T12:41:00.000-05:002009-02-18T12:41:00.000-05:00M: I turned your tip into a tweet.M: I turned your tip into a tweet.RVA Foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16214920696412259243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35720139.post-66661042281679021432009-02-18T12:05:00.000-05:002009-02-18T12:05:00.000-05:00http://teach77.wordpress.com/2008/01/30/watercress...http://teach77.wordpress.com/2008/01/30/watercress/<BR/><BR/>-MAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35720139.post-59682240182825938142009-02-18T10:38:00.000-05:002009-02-18T10:38:00.000-05:00Wow. So I should have offered my credit card. I ...Wow. So I should have offered my credit card. I had no idea that was an option. That would have saved me a post meal sprint on cobblestones, and $3+ in ATM fees, and a 2 lb bag of watercress (seriously, where are my recipe suggestions?). I wonder how the server would have responded. It seems like it would be pretty awkward. As much as I feel regret about the way things went, I don't really feel like I owe anyone. Sure, I was stuck between tipping $5 and $10 and I made a choice based on the experience we'd just been thru. That said, I don't wanna put this instance under a microscope. We should really be speaking in generalities (as Janet and Piet have demonstrated). I want to preserve my still relatively positive image of Lulu's, cuz I fully intend to go back there sometime, and over tip - hoping I get the same server.RVA Foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16214920696412259243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35720139.post-84455731513366251382009-02-18T09:41:00.000-05:002009-02-18T09:41:00.000-05:00I will remember the $1 credit card charge if I'm e...I will remember the $1 credit card charge if I'm ever in that situation....good advice. I have more grace with an incompetent server than I do with a rude server....rudeness is the one thing I have a hard time dealing with. If someone is doing their best and they are simply clueless or in over their head, I generally allow for that when determining my tip.Janethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08365844972341172951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35720139.post-26152482278393536322009-02-18T09:17:00.000-05:002009-02-18T09:17:00.000-05:00I've left what I consider crappy tips when the ser...I've left what I consider crappy tips when the server was incapable or incompetent. This sounds more of an issue with the restaurant then the server. I've had meals comped before leaving me wondering how to tip as I rarely carry cash. I offer a credit card and ask them to open a check. They run it for $1 (cheaper than a bank ATM fee) and then I tip. I've also had the server decline saying they couldn't accept after such a bad experience - releasing me from my obligation.<BR/><BR/>You should have tipped $5 a head. I'd go back and make this right.Bookstore Piethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16229389993923004442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35720139.post-38760820438572618112009-02-18T09:09:00.000-05:002009-02-18T09:09:00.000-05:00I'm a good tipper...and I have never worked in the...I'm a good tipper...and I have never worked in the restaurant industry. And I have always tipped well no matter my level of income at that time (not saying that's a factor for you but just clarifying). And it has always come back to me ten fold...if not today, it will tomorrow or next week. In the case of what happened with you, I'd probably left the $20...not saying that is what you should have done, but I think a minimum of $10 was in order since she had the entire bill deducted.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35720139.post-58649063964835286902009-02-18T09:04:00.000-05:002009-02-18T09:04:00.000-05:00So, I guess you all should get a heads-up that Jac...So, I guess you all should get a heads-up that Jack Goes Forth, Richmond's "blogging bartender," decided to weigh in on the issue of my $5 tip. Expect pot-shots from the peanut gallery in short order. <BR/><BR/>http://jackgoesforth.blogspot.com/2009/02/giving-foodies-bad-name.html<BR/><BR/>Assuming you've read the entirety of my post, then you'll probably notice that I was pretty confused/flustered/in-a-rush about what to do at the time. If there is one thing I know, it's how to calculate 1/5 of the subtotal. So that's what I did. Jack, on the other hand, thinks customers should empty the contents of their wallets every time they encounter one of the martyrs/dominatrix/charming-person in the food service industry and maybe they will bless us with common courtesy in future transactions. Okay, that's a bit extreme, but there is such a wide spectrum of approaches to gratuity (I think a lot of it revolves how the customer views the server, if they've waited tables before, etc - not really the point of this post at all, but see the opening scene from Reservoir Dogs). <BR/><BR/>If there's one thing that I want this blog to do, it's raise questions. If my misadventures can serve a purpose, then I'm happy to serve as an example of what not to do (or what to do). But, the debate is the real thing, if you ask me, so I hope you all will make this discussion your own and feel free to add stories of how you dealt with difficult situations. <BR/><BR/>Also, I just want to reiterate that I think Lulu's is a really fun place. The ambiance, decor, menu, servers all make it one of the few places I would ever be proud to visit in Shockoe Bottom.RVA Foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16214920696412259243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35720139.post-69610307153549737422009-02-18T07:54:00.000-05:002009-02-18T07:54:00.000-05:00Quit being such a whiney dilettante. I thought you...Quit being such a whiney dilettante. I thought you were some sort of social justice radical. Geeze.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35720139.post-15447753384806362252009-02-16T13:38:00.000-05:002009-02-16T13:38:00.000-05:00Thanks Dude. There's a lot going on in this story...Thanks Dude. There's a lot going on in this story. The food, tip, service are all things that I know are bound to provoke reactions (the point of this blog, overall, I guess). For the record, my cheapskate tendencies usually don't manifest in my tips. And, I don't guess that the server probably cares too much about my $5, since she probably had 20 tables that ordered more food than us. <BR/><BR/>Janet brings up a good point. If any of you find yourselves agreeing with everything I say/do, then it's probably time to get some therapy. Trust me, this affliction of mine is best enjoyed as a spectator. Plus, my meals out are so infrequent now, few restaurants have to worry about seeing me any time soon. But, there are lessons to be learned here (like having "alone time" before brunch, next time). So, I had to share.RVA Foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16214920696412259243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35720139.post-84435060698276997192009-02-16T13:27:00.000-05:002009-02-16T13:27:00.000-05:00Getting entrees separately is the worst, especiall...Getting entrees separately is the worst, especially after an already sub par experience. And it is hard sometimes to separate that bad experience from what sounds like a sweet server that was genuinely distressed by the poor experience you had. I'd like to say I would tip more than you did, but it's hard to say...I would have been pretty hot as well.<BR/><BR/>The wife and I decided to try and go out this year for the first time on V-Day. Don't think we are going to do it again, too many restaurants trying to cater to the masses and not sticking to their guns, generally ends up being a sub par experience.TheDudeAbideshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00940602856302386802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35720139.post-45062659707301131912009-02-16T12:01:00.000-05:002009-02-16T12:01:00.000-05:00Just to be clear, this blog entry is not servin' u...Just to be clear, this blog entry is not servin' up the dirt on a popular Richmond restaurant. It's mostly about the strange collision of time/place/personalities. I think your experience, Mark, and that of most of Lulu's happy customers, probably holds true most of the time. <BR/><BR/>Janet, g'head and rub it in. The tip was 20% of the bill and I still regretted not giving more and not giving less. It's one thing for an epic wait, but to make it two separate eating times for the couple - hell no. We just wanted those two hours back for the rest of the day.RVA Foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16214920696412259243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35720139.post-90530401544368184352009-02-16T11:54:00.000-05:002009-02-16T11:54:00.000-05:00I was with you up until the $5 tip. THAT is cheap...I was with you up until the $5 tip. THAT is cheap. We go to Lulu's for brunch a couple of times a year and it's always been very good but it can be slow...usually not a big deal, but I can see where it would be at that time of day and when you have other plans for the day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35720139.post-90449812002346260042009-02-16T11:46:00.000-05:002009-02-16T11:46:00.000-05:00Dang, that is disappointing to hear. I haven't mad...Dang, that is disappointing to hear. I haven't made it to Lulus for brunch, but, both times I have been for dinner, the service and food have both been top notch.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com