Sep 22 2008
Ace Wasabi: How Important is the Waiter
Let’s just say that San Fransisco is one of my favorite places and of all the restaurants in SF that I enjoy, Ace Wasabi is at the top of the list, an A lister, easily top 5 (only because I can’t single ONE out like that—that would just be wrong, wouldn’t be fair, why should one be forced to anyway?) When anyone comes in from out of town we go to Ace Wasabi!
There have been variety of servers over the years: to die for, beautiful fun, fun eclectic, groovy foodie, dreamy charming, and some mix match combination of the above.
Some have been outstanding, some just good, but only one waiter disaster (but nothing that Ace Wasabi’s fabulous food couldn’t make me forget)—I care not to recall that evening here—know he paid dearly for his gross incompetence.
But this past Friday we had a new experience—UGLY! Ugly that couldn’t be covered up by the fantastic food, beer, and hot sake. This is because the hot sake was so hot it scorched my tongue and I couldn’t really taste much after that.
We didn’t have to wait to be seated at 7:45PM which seemed odd, but a good thing at the time. But we were seated all-the-way-all-the-way in the back where it was hot and steamy—the window that we opened let smokers smoke sit at the table with us, which we agreed was better than the heat and humidity we were experiencing.
We did wait for at least 15 minutes before anyone came by to ask if we wanted dinner. Our humble waiter smelled like smoke and looked a little disheveled, like he just rolled out of bed or something else. We wanted drinks! *We were still in the benefit-of-the-doubt zone* We ordered drinks and Tuna Tataki— Ace has the best Tuna Tataki (recipe) I’ve had anywhere!
The drinks weren’t brought out to the table until the Tuna Tataki was brought out—usually the drinks come out first. It wasn’t that busy for a Friday night. I have been there on nights where there are wall-to-wall people and never waited for a drink! Packed—you can’t even move without your body-rubbing, brushing, and or bumping with hundreds of strangers. (Okay Phobic’s, it’s a happening place, cool good looking people—not always unwelcome…)
When the large Asahi beer, hot sake, edamame and Tataki were dropped off at the table the waiter didn’t bother to take the rest of our order… (Why would he?) No one checked back to see how we were doing—if they had they would have seen we were out of drinks and food—with no food on the way! I had to ask the Busboy to get our waiter. Patience dwindling!
We ordered more beer and hot sake and a series of rolls and sushi—very excited! Our excitement evaporating after 30 minutes went by—I got up to physically locate our waiter—I found him looking at this fancy new age Jukebox and he was surprised to see me. I asked where our drinks were, “Oh! Coming right up.” he said. Have you seen my patience they were here a minute ago—I’m sure!
While in the restroom, he brought beer with some excuse why the sake wasn’t also delivered. Still it was a half an hour without a word or even visiting the table. The people I was with asked about our food order and like a deer in the headlights—it appeared that he forgot about our food. GREAT!
The sake arrived just barely warm—I sent it back! I didn’t wait almost 45 minutes for hot sake to be just barely warm! Well, the waiter showed me! I shot the boiling sake down and torched my mouth—you’ve been there, shreds of the roof of your mouth hanging down on your newly singed tongue…
Again no one checked to see how we were doing, I couldn’t taste a thing anyway! We needed more drinks, we needed more wasabi, we needed attention! We eventually needed the check and again NO ONE!
I have high expectations and hate to be disappointed, but Ace, which I have been to a million times, is always spot on—disappointment is never a thought…
Well, as diners we have rights, at the very least we have options and the strongest option we have to send a message to the waiter is the TIP. What is my imperfect night worth? Dinner wasn’t cheap. My standard tip is 20%—I was generous, he got 10%! He deserved ZERO, so I’m little upset with myself. A manager wasn’t visible if there was one there at all—I should have asked…
He picked up the check while we were still sitting at the table (something else I don’t care for) The people I was with knew he would know his reward shortly and the collective wisdom was that we should leave, but I wanted him to know… We didn’t get up until the yelling started. He got the message!
How important is the waiter, if you’re the owner of a restaurant and you just read this, you tell me!
I could have put this section at the top, but chose to add it at the bottom.
I need to disclose: This review is about my last experience at Ace Wasabi Rock and Roll Sushi, this past weekend. And I won’t be holding this last visit against them because I’ve been there a million times and this one horrible visit shouldn’t ruin it. However I will be watching very closely until I can remove this past experience from my mind.
The failure on this night rests squarely on the waiter, however a manager should have picked up on it if they were there!
—iChef
I have NEVER been to Ace Wasabi…
It appears that you are now too late! lol—I hope not!
If I were a betting woman (and I am) I would bet that the other night was purely an aberration. I didn’t want to drop the hammer on Ace because of all the great experiences, but I have to be true to my oath as iChef. I needed to talk about the importance of the wait staff. I felt like I was really dropping the safe on the waiter—who deserved it! Also a wake up call for management!
Gabby, get yourself to Ace Wasabi I promise a good time and great food! *fingers crossed tightly*
—iChef
Gabby, that is a crying shame—borderline misdemeanor—that you have never been to Ace. You! Ugh. That is now a priority, but first, you have to get your tush out here and stop sending just your hubby!
I have to say, as one of the diners with iChef, that my favorite part was toward the end of the evening, when the waiter sat down two tables away and examined his mullet, which lay over his shoulder so he could scrutinize the ends. Niiice. Do that in the back, would you?
And he didn’t forget our order—when I asked if there was any food or drink coming anytime soon, he said, “Oh, right! The pot stickers.” I’ve never ordered pot stickers in my life there. Why would I, with the most amazing Spider Roll and Ahi Old Style on offer?
I said, “No! Please not that order. We’d like the one with the Ahi Old Style. The order you took from us. That order.”
That’s when I really started to worry, and desperately missed our long-time waitress with the beautiful brown eyes and fabulous advice on sake tastings… she knew her stuff, had been there for years, was always friendly and attentive, and remembered us when we came in.
Thanks for mentioning one other thing: I don’t remember ever NOT having to wait for a table at that hour. Usually we expect at least 45 minutes to an hour. Everyone knows you have to get there by 7:30 to even have a chance of a lesser wait!
I’ve got photos of us at Ace all over my site, and raved about it on OpenRoad.tv, so I too am eager to go back. At the very least, we know to ask for someone else if we see scraggly Mullet Boy again.
[...] Special thanks to the waiter this evening! See how important the waiter can be??? [...]