It's a man's world??

[Karen] I have your attention don't I? Let me bring you up to speed because I was insulted, angry and ready to strangle one of the lesser species. Okay, okay, maybe men are not a lesser species but last night, I could have easily compared a male restaurant employee to the lowest of the low and it will take some time before I forget the experience. Actually, that is not accurate. This has happened before, the details have changed but the story is just the same.

I have a friend named Dean that I have known for about 20 years. He just hit the big "50" and his birthday falls on 9/11 and as if that was not enough, we were not able to go out previously due to scheduling conflicts so yesterday I made myself available and I decided to take my friend out to dinner.

Did I say that I am vegetarian? Oh, I forgot. Normally, that is not an issue but I am a work in progress. I have not eaten red meat in about 20 years and I stopped eating all other meats about 11 years ago. I had not gone as far as not eating dairy or seafood but over the last year, I had contemplated this more and more until at the end of August 2008, I decided to stop eating dairy and seafood at the beginning of this month. So here we are, a vegetarian attempting to take a friend who runs away from the thought of eating anything healthy, out to dinner.

Where to go? We went to an Indian restaurant, of course. To me, the choice was clear. Actually, Dean suggested Indian just as quickly as I had. Here we both knew that I could get a vegetarian meal in a cuisine that recognizes that vegetarian does not mean rabbit food or should I say green salad. As with other humans, I need protein and so lies the lure of beans in an Indian meal.

So, we chose Patang in Yonkers, New York. I had never been there and actually, they were the second choice. Deans first choice was a restaurant in the Bronx but they had closed down.

We walked in and were quite surprised to find that at prime dinner time, there was only one other table occupied. We decided to stay and take our chances. High gas prices and downsizing along with many other challenges, have taken their toll everywhere and so we both assumed that this was just another restaurant facing the financial issues of the times.

Our waitress and other wait staff were very pleasant and attentive without being pushy. Our appetizers came and went. Not bad. Our entrees came and so did "the man in the orange shirt". Hey, I don't know his name. Actually, I don't want to.

Anyway, a short time into our meal, he walks over to Dean, bends slowly at the waist until he is looking Dean directly in the eyes and asks if he was enjoying his dinner. Dean answers affirmatively and "the man in the orange shirt" walks away. Our waitress arrives a few minutes later and asks Dean and I the same question. Okay, I should have told you that at this point, I am steaming. You may have noticed that I said that "the man in the orange shirt" asked Dean how he was enjoying his dinner. He never acknowledged that I existed. Dean literally could have been sitting there by himself because it was the same result anyway. I asked our waitress who this man was and she said that it was her manager. I explained what had happened and she apologized but walked on egg shells as would be expected as she discusses her managers behavior with a customer.

Dean knows me very well. I can't stand bad service and I tried my best not to start trouble on his birthday, at least not yet. About 15 minutes later, here he comes again, you know who, "the man in the orange shirt", the manager. The manager repeats his earlier action to the letter. He walks over to our table, bends at the waist, looks Dean in the eyes and this time asks if he would like a drink refill. The answer is negative and the manager walks away. The difference is that this time our waitress immediately walks over, bends down, looks me in the eyes and asks me if I would like a drink. The answer is also negative but by this time, it is too late, two strikes and this place is out.

Finally, the meal is over, despite the service of the manager, Dean and I have a great time. Granted, we would have a great time anywhere. That is what friends are for. It is time for me to pay the tab. I ask the waitress for the check, which she promptly provides and I pay the bill.

I admit, Dean asked me to remain calm and for all intents and purposes, I did. But, on our way out, who was standing at the register near the bar but the manager. He's actually standing in what could be construed as my direct path. Well, I did have to go a bit to the right but he was still fair game. My comment was short and sweet. Well, maybe not sweet but it was very short.

I proceeded to walk over to the manager, look him directly in the eye with what I hoped was a look that said you are the dirt beneath my feet and told him "For future reference, may I suggest, that if you choose to inquire as to the satisfaction of your guests, that you inquire as to the satisfaction of all the guests at the table. I am truly insulted that I have brought a guest to dine at your restaurant and yet I was completely ignored. At this point, I again think of Dean. It is his birthday and he doesn't want me to start trouble so as the manager begins his apology, I calmly turn away, as if he does not exist.

Dean had a great evening, was proud of me for not going overboard and hopefully, I made my point.

Dinner anyone?