The Big Kiss-Off: Dinner at MUA, Oakland

Okay, so I'm a sucker for a really good dining experience (we have reservations for Pican soon and I'm so looking forward to it)! From Boulevard (my normal lunchtime FAV in SF) to Havana in Alameda on a no-cook weeknight--my BF and I are always looking for new and exciting places to try out. And, I often take clients out to lunch; referring them to other places as we have fun food discussions highlighting Bay Area fare.

Unfortunately, I have to give Mua only 2 stars. Service: This is the most important element of a restaurant for me. I mean, on my many excursions to Cosmopolitan , Palio, Aqua and Boulevard (where they know my name) I'm certain it was not difficult to add any drinks I've ordered at the bar to my bill once I was seated to have a meal. So why was it so hard to do here?

My good friend and co-worker introduced me to this place by taking me on a weekday right after work for happy hour . We ordered drinks at the bar and proceeded to go upstairs. A big guy (very sweet), who I think was the manager, told "us upstairs is closed" and that we could have a seat anywhere we wanted. We chose a small table in the corner to chit chat and for the most part things started out normally. The waitress brought us a menu and we looked it over while talking--enthused about our selections (mac & cheese, fries and grilled artichoke).

The food came out, we ordered a second round of drinks, and we ate-- all normal right?

As we came to the close of our meal, we noticed the couple next to us very abrasively gesturing and telling the waitress to "get the check" though she was asking us if we were ready to close out for the evening. We said sure, the check would be fine and I realized my card was at the bar. We asked if she could close out my card at the bar, and bring it to the table so we could split the bill--the waitress said okay and walked to the bar, then came back and asked again to be sure she understood. We explained again, and she said okay; then she came back after a minute or two and very abruptly said "can you just get your own check, because I have other tables".

My friend and I both agreed that her behavior was odd and rude when we were nice and friendly, while our neighbors were clearly not. Funny, she "hopped to" when they asked for service (and with all of three trips over there, she could have closed the bill out twice over by the time she concluded we weren't worth it). Needless to say we observed our right to calculate the appropriate tip. Note: I always tip 20-25%, even if the service is so-so. But we decided that we would exercise our right to let the waitress know that her behavior was inappropriate and unsatisfactory.

Fast-forward and Friday night I went back w/ my BF as I like to give new places a second chance; it was packed and we were seated in about 20 minutes (a bit long to wait but okay). We had a great experience with a male server who was attentive, suggested the tuna and kept us smiling the whole time--we didn't have to look for him and he was on it! The food was awesome OMG! The brussel sprouts were on, the tuna was great and the lamb cheeks were pretty authentic. I said "yes to second chances"!

Fast-forward further and last night we met my friend and co-worker there with high hopes for another good experience. We had drinks at the bar and were seated thereafter. We were chatting and having a good time when suddenly; the waitress from my first time there walks up; and the first words out of her mouth were "so I guess you were mad last time"? WTF? I looked up and said "excuse me"? and she proceeded to have a very inappropriate and unprofessional conversation with me about my right to use my dollars the way I saw fit, then commented "but you came back"? This was a bit over the top; even for my mild mannered BF who usually loves everyone. It's really too bad...and the food was horrible this time, as I'm guessing she put in a request to serve us the "don't-come-back" special. And the management team and other staff sat looking at us as if we did something wrong.

Bottom line: train your servers--or better yet hire ones that know the ropes; people are willing to spend, $50, $60 even $100 for a good meal without guilt as long as it's worth it--and they will come back and be loyal customers if you only exercise a bit of customer service. It's not professional and reflects poorly on the management when a server has a license to be a complete ass because someone on staff thinks she's cute.

Food Quote of the Day!!!!!!

There is nothing to which men, while they have food and drink, cannot reconcile themselves. George Santayana

Food Quote of the Day!!!!!!

Let the stoics say what they please, we do not eat for the good of living, but because the meat is savory and the appetite is keen. Ralph Waldo Emerson

I Love New York!!!!!!

Okay People, I’ve been away for a while…a few trips, some family time, a change in jobs, a lot of volunteer work and a new BFF, who I am totally in love with (yes my FAV dining companion—who knew?).

First, since I went off the scene was NYC. OMG…I still can’t believe that I went there on my own. I think it was just the thing I needed to solidify the fact that I really like my new life. I mean; before this, (communicating with you all and really climbing the career ladder) I was really challenged to hold my own and it feels so nice to have a sense of who I am and what I believe. Not claiming to know it all by any means…but I’m starting to have more than an idea.

That said; NYC was amazing. Ducking into a warm, smelly but comfy, private B&B in the gentrified Harlem was somewhat comforting. Let’s face it—I’m not the one to have empathy for folks who take advantage of the poor; but it was cool. The owner was a dude from Ireland—a 70s transplant who wanted better for himself and to build a life in the city. Anyone can relate to that, right?

Then as I missed breakfast every day and slept in, he caught me on my fag breaks in the garden and talked to me about the establishment and how fucked up things were on Wall Street---lawyers and stockbrokers coking-it-up. “Why do you want to visit ground zero?” he says….”there are much more interesting places then that here”.

We spoke of politics, family and neighborhoods and I quickly found out that I wasn’t the only non-conformist in the house. It made me sleep better knowing that I could be my regular old hippy self and sleep as long as I want; stay in my room as long as I want and do exactly what I wanted without the weird “you don’t belong here looks".

He led me to Brooklyn and gave me hints about Marcy Ave (more like a Bay Area district); and though I sit here writing between checks I’m making on handmade parsnip, carrot and sage pasta that I acquired at the local farmers market, I can’t help but think he really saw the” real me”. I mean I went shopping for $30 dollars and got two hoop skirts (very fly) and three tops---WTF? I mean this scene was bustling with culture and no pretention like uptown. I’ll be staying in Brooklyn next time!

I stumbled on a Central American restaurant called Shachis right near the subway and OMG….the seviche was the best I’d ever had! The service was friendly, the plantain chips were fresh, light and crispy, and the ham and cheese empanadas were delish! I mean, it’s like they knew I would be there that day—and the best thing ever was that there was only three other people in the place; the plasma played Latino/a soaps while I ate, and I was so full that I really wanted to take a nap at the table. And all this for under $20.

I also managed to get to a place called Devin’s fish and chips where the salty owner didn’t care to greet me and gave me serious West Indian tude the whole way through! The shrimp were light and crispy with a seasoning that made them NOT need any tartar or hot sauce. I ate nearly all of them in 3 minutes flat. The chips were fresh cut skin-on fries lightly salted with a bit of black pepper too. All this with a side of fried (sweet) plantain was, as Snoop Dogg says, the shiznit (lol)! The shiznit for $12. Can you believe that---I can’t! I know exactly where to go the next time I’m there.

Yes…I visited a few other places, but none of them nearly as memorable (no offense 61 Key and Madame le Fleur)! The city was full and lustrous this time; the weather was more than warm, and the trees were dripping with spurs just waiting to mate. It was quite beautiful; and even though I got lost several times on the subway….I was at a tranquil sort of peace with myself that let me explore the places I didn’t dare to go and didn’t schedule into my planned excursions. This time NYC was liberating and I can’t wait to go back with my BFF and trek the many museums.

I’ll say it—I love New York! Pun certainly intended! Take that Taylor Made!