Providing Hospitality

One of the most fulfilling things that I do as a restaurateur is providing the guest with just a little something extra that sends them away from our restaurant with a feeling of happiness and renewal. In my mind, this is delivering what we call sincere hospitality. Connecting with one another is something that is innately human. For almost all of us, we go through life looking for, establishing, and maintaining these connections. If we can make a lasting connection with at least one customer everyday, then I feel as though I have succeeded, regardless of the night's sales.

A great example of this kind of sincere hospitality occurred last night with one of our newest server's, Whitney. Noticing that there was a woman in the dining room who was having trouble seeing her way to the bathroom, she quickly approached the woman and conscientiously escorted her to the ladies room. Not only did she help this woman get there, but she also waited for her to ensure that she was alright. Finally, she helped the woman back to her table. The woman and her husband were extremely grateful and were astonished by the interest that Whitney took in something that had become a routine issue for this woman.

This small interaction is the kind of thing that sets great restaurants apart from the flashy, expensive, come and go style restaurants of today. Restaurants that become institutions within their communities are the kind of restaurants that take the time and effort to connect with the members of their community day in and day out.