Tag Archives: dining

Bun-less Burgers

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After returning from an arduous morning of picking fresh, ripe strawberries and uprooting dusty purple beets from Larriland Farms out in Maryland, a group of friends and I decided it was high time for lunch. More specifically, it was time for a burger. To Open City we strolled. Now, for a little unnecessary, but amusing, scene-setting context:

It was Pride weekend in DC.

Accordingly, our waitresses were bedecked in flaming purple, yellow and orange Pride beads, and many wore some fantastically flamboyant hair accessories. Think feathers.

To our right sat a table of glum-looking Pro-Life supporters. Outfitted in aquamarine t-shirts emblazoned with messages like, “A person is a person no matter how small,” and “Your mom chose life,” they were looking more than a little uncomfortable.

Now back to the burger. A friend and I ordered the exact same thing – a cheeseburger with fries. Following the menu’s written request to “please inform us of any food allergies before ordering,” I ordered first, requesting that they note the corn and peanut allergies on the meal ticket. My (non-allergic) friend went next: “I’ll have exactly what she’s having.”

About 15 minutes later, our plates were set before us. Two identical plates. Two completely bun-less burgers. We looked at each other, smirking and issuing “ummmm” noises.

We hailed our waitress, who immediately understood the mistake. “We’ve been going through some allergy training,” she said, “and our when our chefs see the word ‘allergy’ on a ticket, they immediately take all the bread away in fear of wheat allergies.” She apologized profusely, and we all laughed at the well-meaning, but misguided chefs. A minute later, we were presented with two perfectly grilled buns, which we immediately slathered with ketchup and slapped on our naked burgers. Delicious.

Props to Open City for the acknowledgement of food allergies in their menu, and in their training practices for staff. They might just want to be a bit more discerning when reading the allergy notification on the ticket…

Open City                                                                                                                           2331 Calvert Street NW  Washington, DC 20008

Have you had any comedic mishaps at restaurants? How did the management handle it?

For your viewing pleasure, please enjoy this classic “Good Burger” sketch from All That.

A Real Gem–er, Pearl

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I dislike oysters. I might even say that I strongly dislike oysters. Accordingly, one might wonder why I was visiting a place named Pearl Dive Oyster Palace. However, my initial misgivings had nothing to do with oysters themselves—I was nervous about peanuts. Peanut oil, specifically. Unfortunately for me, many Southern-inspired restaurants fry with peanut oil or sprinkle crushed peanuts on dishes. Preparing for the worst, I made a point of calling ahead to discuss my allergy.

A manager answered my call, and immediately transferred me to the chef, who was more than willing to answer all of my questions. “I would love to talk to you about your dietary restrictions!” she exclaimed. During this call, the chef was able to assuage all my concerns about peanuts and corn. The restaurant didn’t use peanut oil, and she was adamant that any substitutions would be perfectly fine, and that the waiters would take great care of me. But here’s the real kicker:

Chef: So when are you thinking of coming in?

Me: I was actually planning on coming in tonight with a friend of mine.

Chef: Fantastic! What’s your name, and what time will you arrive? We can have all your information ready, and we’ll be prepared for you when you get here.

Pearl Dive doesn’t take reservations. It’s a first-come-first-served restaurant, but in order to guarantee an exceptional customer experience, the management bypassed their rules in order to make me feel welcome and comfortable in their restaurant. And my goodness that meal was extraordinary!

Fried Grilled Shrimp Platter

The decadent crab cakes I ordered were originally accompanied by a corn sauce, but the waiter easily substituted a carrot sauce that was featured with their special item of the day. From the Pearl Cup (Pimms, Plymouth Gin, Cucumber, Lime, Mint, House Ginger Beer) to the Rustic Apple Black Iron Pie For Two (Apple & Cognac Filling, Cinnamon Gelato), the meal was a rousing success, made all the better by Pearl Dive’s truly exemplary attitude about my dietary needs.

Three weeks later, I celebrated my brother’s birthday at Pearl Dive. Again, I was met with over-the-top service and understanding from the wait-staff. The server suggested grilled shrimp instead of the cornmeal-crusted fried shrimp, and even made a point of giving me my own personal breadbasket that hadn’t been contaminated by the cornbread. Another amazing meal.

Oysters!

Strangely enough, I’m really starting to like oysters…

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace                  1612 14th Street NW                 Washington, DC 20009

Do you ever call ahead to restaurants to discuss your food allergies? Is it necessary to talk to the actual chef?

El Uh-Oh

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A few months ago, I was catching up with a few friends on the roofdeck of El Centro on 14th Street. The margaritas were flowing, and we were happily munching on chips and guacamole to quell our post-work hunger pains. After making our dinner selections, I motioned the bartender over to our corner. I offered up the standard rigmarole: “I have a peanut allergy; do you have any peanuts in house?” After a few noncommittal, but generally negative replies, I asked again, “do you use peanut oil at all?” This time, the bartender was more convincing with his replies of “nope – not at all!” I asked him to note the allergy on the ticket, all the same, but I was satisfied that I had gotten his attention, and that I had made my needs known.

I hadn’t gotten his attention.

My first bite of a gooey, crispy pork empanada sent my whole body into full alert. I don’t know how common it is to feel an immediate sense of dread, but for me…I knew. A minute later and I was acutely aware of the scratchy sensation in my throat. Resignation set in, and I walked home…

I’ll spare you all the gory details, but after recovering from a resoundingly uncomfortable, sleepless night, I decided to call the restaurant to complain about the situation. No dice. A manager couldn’t be reached, and I never received a call back. I called another time, and was given the same response. I then found their website, and described in detail what had happened on their comments page, hoping to receive an apology by email. Again, utter silence.

This, then, is the problem. I had done everything right in this situation, and I had spoken out about my needs as a customer. Unfortunately, some breakdown in the system allowed this to happen. Perhaps the kitchen staff wasn’t careful enough, or perhaps the bartender forgot to mention the allergy. Maybe it was a weird fluke. But the silence that I faced leads me to believe in a different story—a story that can only begin with poor management. The bartender acted cavalier and falsely knowledgeable, yes, but more importantly, the other restaurant staff showed an alarming display of flippancy and apathy when asked to take responsibility for the error.

So what do I do now? The obvious first step is not to frequent this restaurant any longer. I also avoid one of its sister restaurants, Masa 14. I wish this wasn’t the case; both these restaurants are quite popular, and I’ve had to turn down more than one invitation to join a group there.

This experience was undeniably the worst that I’ve had during my time in DC and I needed an outlet for the frustration I felt. Hence, Persnickety. If you’ve read my About Me page, you’ll understand how I came to start this blog. My El Centro debacle truly was the catalyst for taking action. When I make a fuss, I want to be heard, and I want to know that others are heard as well.

In that vein, I’d love to hear from you! What would you have done in my situation? How far do you go to make a fuss?

El Centro                                                                                                                            1819 14th Street NW  Washington, DC 20009