the cool hostess at trader vics, beverly hills - General Tiki

T thejab Grand Member (1 year) Tradewinds Apartments, Alameda, CA Joined: Mar 25, 2002 Posts: 2992	T thejab Posted posted on Tue, Mar 9, 2004 12:08 PM On 2004-03-09 01:54, floratina wrote:It is tough to replicate that TV's pampering at home, but there is an off-putting pretention at our LA branch in my opinion that leaves me cold and they have NO TIKIS. I guess you meant there are no tikis in the restaurant part because there are plenty of tikis in the bar & lounge. I have only eaten in the bar at Beverly Hills. My guess is that the traditional clientele at Trader Vic's has been fairly well off, which was reflected in their appearance and spending habits. So the staff "sizes up" customers they don't know and some of them cop an attitude because they don't think they'll get much of a tip anyway. Their attitude and occasional rudeness makes it even more likely that they won't get a good tip. So, the next casually dressed group that comes in gets the same treatment, and so on. Once the management realized that many of the non-traditional younger crowd that were coming into Vic's Emeryville were going to be coming back again and again, they really started to welcome us. Their attitude has slowly worked it's way into some of the staff. The previously snotty cocktail waitress in the bar now smiles at me and says hello when she sees me. If only this would happen at the Tonga Room!

*On 2004-03-09 01:54, floratina wrote:*It is tough to replicate that TV's pampering at home, but there is an off-putting pretention at our LA branch in my opinion that leaves me cold and they have NO TIKIS.

I guess you meant there are no tikis in the restaurant part because there are plenty of tikis in the bar & lounge. I have only eaten in the bar at Beverly Hills.

My guess is that the traditional clientele at Trader Vic's has been fairly well off, which was reflected in their appearance and spending habits. So the staff "sizes up" customers they don't know and some of them cop an attitude because they don't think they'll get much of a tip anyway. Their attitude and occasional rudeness makes it even more likely that they won't get a good tip. So, the next casually dressed group that comes in gets the same treatment, and so on.

Once the management realized that many of the non-traditional younger crowd that were coming into Vic's Emeryville were going to be coming back again and again, they really started to welcome us. Their attitude has slowly worked it's way into some of the staff. The previously snotty cocktail waitress in the bar now smiles at me and says hello when she sees me. If only this would happen at the Tonga Room!

Post #80095 by thejab on Tue, Mar 9, 2004 12:08 PM