Day 3 – A Place To Grow
Into town with M of M&V, nattering all the way. Walked into the Roasted Cherry with high expectations for my wireless experience. My hopes were dashed. However it did prove, without a doubt that the problem is with the configuration of my laptop’s networking.
Not that this information solves anything. I no longer have “people who do that”… and I get by on luck, magic and occasional big brown eye bats. Lunch @ Dunn’s for the Super Smoked Meat Sandwich Combo ($8.99) where the hostess was harsh and rude again. Last time I was here, she spent my entire visit haranguing my waiter. She bullied and corrected him loudly and repeated until the entire restaurant was cringing. It was his first Saturday shift, so perhaps it is the training routine, or he really was that inept. Either way it was damned uncomfortable to sit through. I almost abandoned my meal.
But the food is good, the prices are good and the service is quick and attentive. Then again what choice do they have? M met me at Dunn’s & took the laptop home to very successfully hook it into his network. Wireless still not working, but have I mentioned how much I appreciate M’s help. He Rocks!
Meanwhile, on Sparks Street, I was meeting my writers at D’Arcy Magee’s. In the background Rick Mercer was interviewing Jack Layton. Yes, THAT Rick Mercer of The Monday Report and “Ontario A Place To Grow.” Which, oddly enough was one of the many things I nattered at M about this morning. Well, I ambushed Rick Mercer after Jack left, and our friend Rick, BTW he’s now our friend whether he knows it or not, gave me a recommendation. He was nice, helpful and we like him even more now! He is now our 4th CEOT Celebrity – along with Mike Bullard, Karen Solomon, and Doc & Woody. Happy Days.
SHARING FEE —> WHAT IS THAT?
I went to Dunn’s with 2 of my friends and my wife. I was not very hungry so my wife and I decided to share a meal. When ordering the waitress informed us because we are sharing there will be a “Sharing Fee”. I have never heard of this type of fee, so I asked to speak with the Manager (Stanley). He was very blunt in stating that I either order something or Pay the “Sharing Fee” or Leave.
He was very rude, and greedy. The restaurant was full that day, so it is not like he is desperate for money. He also informed me that this is a NORMAL fee being charged…I have lived in Ottawa for 22 years and go out almost once a week and have NEVER heard of a “Sharing Fee” so I told him it is not normal in Ottawa, and asked him were he is from, and he said Montreal. Well I lived in Montreal for 6 months and my wife lived there for 2 years, and we STILL never heard of this fee. So I asked him again, and he said Italy. Well my wife is Italian and lived in Italy for 6 years, and she never heard of it.
So AGAIN, he is just greedy and dishonest. Not a place I would like to spend my money. Please do not visit this place.
Sadly “Sharing Fees” are showing up more and more in restaurants these days and it’s usually around $2.50. Generally you’ll find it noted at the bottom of the menu at franchised fast-service, high-volume chains like Dunn’s where they are looking for the highest turnaround they can get in the shortest timeframe.
Other restaurants with a similar philosophy are chosing to go the Minimum Purchase route at high volume times like lunch or dinner – where everyone sitting at the table has to spend at least $X (usually around $5). And that’s not averaging the bill across all the diners, it’s an extra $5 tacked onto the bill if you don’t order enough.