Nothing fills me with joy quite like seeing “fried to order” on a menu. Especially when it’s the dessert menu. When I was last in town, this delightful place treated me to a delicious mushroom pasta and a remarkable burrata appetizer. We split this dessert both times; both times we said it could have been split with three people. But I was happy to take one for the team and overstuff myself. (“Waste not, want not,” as my grandpa would say as he washed the styrofoam cups for the thirtieth time.) We took a nice little walk around town afterward; supposedly that’s good for your insulin. It felt good.
You cannot understate the importance of waitstaff to the dining experience. Our server was friendly and attentive. Can you imagine her replaced by a kiosk? Picking up our food from a counter? Her knowledge of the menu and personal care for our enjoyment transformed the delicious food into a truly special experience. People are integral to hospitality. All the targeted messaging, branding, and quality product in the world cannot replace the human element. We are the eternal X-factor in any immersive experience.