Jorel "Father of Superman" F.'s Profile

So, this is no place to go to for brunch. Again, I can't stand being seated in the worst spot when there are other better options, and that totally happened here. It was weird, I'm always dumbfounded by hostesses that seem to care so little about your experience. Hostesses of the world remember, you are the first person the customer interacts with, try your best to make them feel good about coming into your damn restaurant!!

So we didn't even bother to get food, because after a fine mix of bad seating, rude staff and a failing to do her job well waitress... it's 3 strikes you're out, or at least we were out... of there... fast. We decided to spend our money at a restaurant where they seemed to want to earn the money.

But part of me doesn't blame the staff for our desire to leave. Truth be told, who the hell wants to work a beautiful sunny Saturday morning in a dungeon with little babies all around you. The South Ender baby-makers don't even know if it's day or night, which is why having brunch in a basement doesn't bother them. But I'm sure it takes its toll on the staff.

I will from now on only go the Beehive for drinks... at night.
We went to Pop's and had a great breakfast.

Time to Yelp the garden centers!!!

So I'm a food lover and professional gardener. I was on Pemberton's website today to get some pricing information on their products, for a garden gig I have. The whole site was dedicated to the market!!! Okay guys, I know you make lots of money with your fancy stuff, but some people do buy your plants. Granted I'm not there a lot... I only have a few customers in Cambridge. And I've ever been annoyed with bad customer service from the garden staff, which I actually figured was just stress. This area is one of the most hoity-toity parts of Cambridge. I can only imagine the old bitties who make the garden staff haul stuff all over the place for them, so they can take it back home and have it hauled out the car by some subservient gardener who is hired to create some cheesy and perfect looking garden beds.

So, cool hippy punks are not what they are used to.

But I've had some fine times there, where the staff and I share a few words and a smile. I expect that from garden center staff, I like them to be nice and talk with you... you're buying plants after-all, plants are special.

Well, I will say I don't know if they have the mulch I need. I think I'll call right now and see how nice they are on the phone...

This is funny already. The only phone # on the website is for their food-gift ordering part of the biz. The lady was like, "you'll have to call the garden center". I say, "I'm sorry, this was the only phone number on the website". She's replies "I know". I wonder how many calls she gets that aren't for her. Anyways, if you have a gardening question for Pemberton Farms, here's the number... 617-491-2244.

Woof, that guy sounded busy, he's instructing staff "go get the wheelbarrow!" while on the phone with me. He was little short, I guess he was busy. They do have the mulch I want, I think. I asked for Old Dark Bark from the Coast of Maine mulch company. He said they have Dark Bark, but not Old Dark Bark. $5.99 a bag. He ended conversation politely and with a Thank-you, which of course makes up for him being a little short with me. You can be a little rude with me... just as long as you wrap it in a pretty bow.

Well kids, that's Pemberton's garden center for you. As far the market goes... I get the pre-made samwiches and interesting drinks. They have all sorts of alternative drinks to enjoy. I don't like cane syrup or lots of sweetness. It does seem expensive, but that's the neighborhood for you.

Oh, and I also like to hit their perennial plant sale in the fall.

Like Boy George stated so plainly... "Do you really want to hurt me, Do you really want to make me cry"? I didn't cry, but I did get upset. Mostly because my enchantment with Pops vanished. Poof. Maybe he was a new waiter?
Anyways... they did my other pet peeve. When I hand my plate to the waiter or waitress, to have it packed up to-go, I want everything on the plate. Now, if you threw away the bread, I wouldn't care. Often restaurants do, and sometimes, they give you fresh bread to take home. But that's not what got thrown away.
I ordered a fancy salad, and small salads came with the two meals that were ordered. My dad didn't eat his salad, and I didn't finish all the the salad I had ordered. So when I got my plate ready to have it packed up, I consolidated all 3 salads into one super yummy to-go pile of dressed lettuce and things. Yum Yum, I love salad when it gets a little old. That's me. Not everyone feels the same way, but I have met people who do.
I get my meal back... no salad!? Just my sandwich. I was like "where's the salad"? The kid is like, "oh it's dressed and gets soggy and I always throw it out". What happened to asking someone if they want their soggy salad? He acted like I was a crazy woman for wanting it, because no sane person would eat that stuff!
So I ask for what I've lost. He knew that it was a big ole' salad... it was my dad's little salad along with my big one. Guy brings back the tiniest salad, as if to rub the request in my face, and continue his sense of pride, because he's absolutely right that noone wants pre-dressed salad to-go.
I look at it. I'm angry now. There's no sense of apology in this particular interaction. It's insulting. But he does not know, I don't pay people to be insulted and not get the food I want. I go to manager on the floor, and say, "Hi, the salad that I wanted to-go was thrown away and it was bigger than this. I would like more salad if that's alright". And she got me a bunch more salad. But, probably did it knowing that it costs the restaurant nothing to do this. But upsetting customers, does cost the restaurant something, it costs them probable respect.
So, dumb waiter, you risked how I might feel about the service at Pops for your own sense of rightousness. Again, you are "not a nice guy", and I hope your job there is not tainting my love of Pops for very long. Sorry to be so mean.