Customer Service 101 - A Tale of 2 Eating Places at the Podium

The Podium is Henry Sy's newest mall in the Ortigas area. It's supposed to be upscale although the parking lot doesn't look it. Anyway, the shops and the restaurants are okay.

My husband and I wanted to try Pinoydon last weekend, Sunday noon. We changed our mind though after sitting for about 5-10 minutes and not having anyone mind us. There were people at the other tables but I think there were enough waiters (not to mention a not-so-busy cashier who was looking anywhere else but at us) who could at least hand us a menu in the meantime.

Pinoydon's loss was Niņa's gain. They're located right next to each other so we just moved over to a nearby table. Niņa, from the look of the place and the meņu, I assume, is run by the same group who runs Ņ at the Shangri-la Plaza. We have long wanted to try that place so moving over to Niņa was a no-brainer.

The food was good (caesar's salad, paella valenciana, among others) and service was friendly. My hubby ordered a Monte Cristo sandwich (which didn't have any ham contrary to what the meņu said). Although the ideal thing was for us to have known right from the start and not have to be the one to inquire, we were happy that the staff took about P90 off the bill (the sandwich cost about P180). They were actually offering us a free dessert but we were in a hurry.

Anyway, I guess you know which place we'll return to. (Niņa!) Lest I go back on my previous statement last Sunday that "I am never eating at Pinoydon ever," I am writing it here for all to see. You know what's difficult than getting a new customer? It's getting back a potential customer who's already been turned off...