This ain't a scene

Two Saturdays ago (yeah, it’s been a while), I walked into Nando’s Restaurant at Bangsar Village to have late lunch while my car underwent regular service at a workshop nearby.

I ordered my favorite extra hot whole leg with mediterranean rice and fresco salad. A complete meal.

“Your chicken will be ready in ten minutes” said the waiter.

“Thank you”

I sat facing the entrance, a vantage point for people watching. A few groups of people entered and their orders taken.

While I waited there was a commotion at the cashier counter behind me.

“Oh that’s just great. 58 bucks flying out of my pocket!” said a waiter.

“How come they just walked out without paying?” asked a waitress.

“Well, maybe they thought they’ve paid so they just took a damn hike!” the waiter guessed, obviously furious.

The discussion spilled into the kitchen and after a while I heard the waiter said “Ok, that would be 58 bucks divided by four. Damn! Fourteen fifty out of my pocket, just like that!”

Having done a fair share of waiting I know this kind of crap happens no matter how hard you try to avoid it. It sucks.

All that and I was still waiting.

When ten minutes became fifteen I started to take note of other diners waiting for their food.

“Yeah, they were already seated when I came in. Them too. Ah, that mother and teenage son came in after me. If and when their food comes before mine, I’ll speak.”

After twenty minutes, sure enough, they started eating.

“Oh this is not right. Where’s mine. What happened to ‘first come first served’? As if bad timing isn't already a problem” I thought.

I flagged a waitress and asked about my order which was supposed to arrive ten minutes ago.

She went to the computer and started to click through the order database, just to get back to me with “uhm, the waiter didn’t key in your order earlier”

“But he said my chicken will be ready in ten minutes” I told her.

“Let me check with the kitchen” her panic expression surfaced and she toddled like a chicken toward the kitchen.

Another discussion ensued at the counter behind me. Thinking like only a customer would, I got up, approached the counter and participated in the discussion for what it's worth.
“Is my chicken even on the stove yet? Do you see that mother and her teenage son? (I pointed) They came in five minutes after me and they’re now tucking in nicely” I firmly explained my situation.

“It’s ready now sir” said one of them as she pointed to the plate over the dispatch counter.

“Huh? That fast? Ok then”

“We’ll send it over right away” she confirmed as I turned to walk to my seat. I can’t help but wonder who’s plate they instantly shoved as mine.

A waitress placed the plate in front of me and said softly “Sir, my manager said you don’t have to pay for this one”. I sensed a ‘gulp’ in her speech.

“I don’t have to pay?” I repeated.

“No sir” she answered.

“Ok.” I couldn’t decide how to set my facial expression so it was left void. I mean, should I smile when just a nanosecond ago I seemed mildly agitated?

As I started to dig in, another woman approached me. Probably the manager.

“I’m very sorry for that mistake sir. You don’t have to pay for the meal. It’s on me.”

“Seriously? You don't have to take it that far” I suggested. It's rhetoric, I know.

“Yes, seriously. Your time is more important. Enjoy your meal”

“Thank you very much”

Needless to say, it wasn’t just a meal, for a whilrwind of thoughts rushed in as I was munching away.

“Oh that was too easy. It almost made me look like I was waiting for this to happen. Wait a minute, that don’t sound right. Neither does it look right.!” I thought.

Indeed it was an unsatisfactory service but that doesn’t mean I deserve a free lunch, not on someone else’s expense. It ain't a scene that I wanted; I just wanted someone to know they screwed up and learn from it. Strive to improve. People make mistakes and everyone deserves a second chance, provided they don’t take it for granted.

Besides, in less than an hour, this would make the second incident of forking out the staff’s cash after a group of diners simply walked out without paying. These guys have had a rough day. Plus the manager owned up and apologized. I would feel real awkward, not to mention guilty, just walking out of that joint. It's almost like saying 'thanks for lunch, suckers...'

“Alright, here’s what I’ll do; I’m gonna ask to pay for this meal, at least settle for a discount. Yeah, they could take my drink off the bill. If that doesn't work, I'll just leave a ten ringgit tip. That's a fair price. Yeah, I always enjoy Nando's chicken, so it's worth it. ”

That settled, I continued to finish my lunch.

Instead of calling for the bill, I went straight to the cash register and asked to speak to the manager again. While one of them went to call the manager out, I scanned the counter for a tip box; none.

“I want to pay for my meal” I told her.

“No sir, it’s on me” she said.

“No, I mean it, let me pay”

“The bill’s already taken care of” she said smiling.

“You have the courtesy of owning up and apologize. Now I need to feel better” I exposed my agenda.

She smiled more and said “No, it’s fine. Next time sir. Next time you bring your friends here”

“Alright then. Thank you very much”

Geez, some people just have to have the last word. But trying to be the better man didn’t fail, for I dealt with a good woman.