Sometimes we take for granted restaurants such as Denny's, Norm's or IHop as a type of comfort place to eat.
Not so much that the food is comfort food, but just that sense of quick and available food at affordable prices. Or is
it?
To start, don't be fooled by the surroundings. In a land surrounded by cement is a local IHop restaurant that upon
entering gives you the feeling that you are in a mountain resort area surrounded by the local ski bunnies. The restaurant
is rather larger than most IHops and has several rooms compared to those with one larger restaurant setting. There are also
wooden beams and cobblestones on the walls for that warm cozy feeling. All you need now is a fire going and a nice cup of
hot chocolate. Then the waitress, Christina, takes care of you. With her southern comfort accent, her service is impeccable.
Her attention to me was like no other received at any of these so-called comfort restaurants. Between the setting and her
spoken voice, I forgot I was in Orange County, California.
Not to knock Orange County, but a moutain resort setting and her southern hospitality and accent was a far cry from this
area, as it lies across the street from John Wayne International Airport in a land of mini high rise buildings and corporate
power lunches. A nice change of pace.
I ordered my usual Garden (or vegetable) Omelette with egg white and english muffin dry and coffee (I know sounds boring huh?).
I then douse it with hot sauce and I'm good to go. I was there to pick up my father from his holiday flight home, so I relaxed
with a meal and read a book. All was right with the world. As I got up to leave, I spoke with the assistant manager and gave him
my appreciation for Christina's service. I went to pay my bill and the cashier gave me my total: $17.89. I pulled out my card and stopped.
I asked to see the bill (as I never looked at it before because I've ordered this a few times at different IHops when I've eaten
there). I thought I must have gotten someone elses bill, after all this was a simple veggie omelette, english muffin (which came with
it as the side order) and coffee. Nope, it was right. That omelette was about $13.00! Are you kidding me? Talk about taking advantage
of both the business clientele and the incoming tourists.
By the way, I have since eaten a more local IHop and that same omelette was $4.50 less. Are you kidding me? That's almost the price
of a whole other meal. Bottom line folks, never assume each place is the same. Don't make that same mistake I made and be aware. The
location, atmosphere and service at that location was truly great, but not for a $13.00 omelette!
January 9, 2011