Stupid for 30 years is still stupid

I ate lunch this afternoon with friends at the Westport Flea Market.

Wow.

We all decided it was a mistake and that we won't repeat that a second time and for a few reasons, too.

First, we ordered. That shouldn't be tough, right?

Except you order your food at the walk-up counter, just as I'd remembered from years past. That was okay. Lots of restaurants have you do that.

But your drink?

If you want a drink with your meal--and most of us do--you go to your table and order that from your waitperson. (I'm being PC here).

Yes, you got that right. You order your food at the counter, pay for that and then go to your table, only to order your drink AND THEN PAY AGAIN.

I asked the young lady at the register if I had that right and she confirmed.

I told her how absolutely silly it was and asked if there were some parallel universe or planet on which that made any sense.

The "boss lady" said "That's the way we've done it for 30 years", thus making for today's headline.

The effect this 2nd-order-for-your-drink policy had was to insure that no one at our table ordered any additional drink. All they did was assure they made less money. Brilliant.

Then, be forewarned, ladies and gentlemen. If you order one of their burgers--most all in the $7.50 to $8.50 range--you are asked if you want anything additional on it.

CHECK THE MENU.

"Garnishes" are extra.

If you say, like in most burger joints, that you want "everything on it", you will be summarily charged for the onions, mushrooms, cheese, anything and everything, you will be additionally billed for it all.

What effect does that have, you might ask? What's the big deal?

Well, it turns that big $8.49 burger into a ticket that ends up costing you more than $14.00 AND YOU HAVEN'T EVEN ORDERED A DRINK YET.

Care for a screwing? Here's your place.

One final word of caution.

If one in your party orders, as I did, the Cajun chicken sandwich--and enjoyed, I will give them that, lest you think all I want to do is complain--while the rest of your group orders burgers, prepare to sit through at least half your friend's lunches WHILE YOU WAIT.

Apparently, after all these years of cooking and serving food, they haven't figured out how to get everyone's meal in one group out at remotely a similar time frame.

Maybe that will happen sometime in the next 30 years.

Links: http://www.westportfleamarket.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Westport-Flea-Market-Bar-Grill/95092657967?fref=ts