119: How to Deliver an Exceptional Dining Experience in Today's Market

Let's talk about the experience before you even walk in the door.

Market Steer Steakhouse in Santa Fe is one of our clients at Columbine Hospitality.

And I will be honest with you.

There is something really special about working with a restaurant behind the the scenes for a long time, and then finally getting to walk through the front door and experience everything in person, live.

We knew this place was good.

We knew the team was phenomenal.

We knew there was a lot of intention behind the scenes.

But what I didn't know was how it was going to stop me in my tracks.

The experience started before I even got there.

I needed to call and change my reservation.

I invited a friend and they weren't able to join me.

That's cool.

I tried to do it on open table.

And for some reason I couldn't figure it out.

Probably user error on my end.

I was going from a party of two to party of one.

And I thought I'll just sit at the bar because I feel guilty if I'm a party of one and taking up a two top, because I know that that's valuable real estate.

I called the restaurant.

I spoke to the host and she answered the phone with something that I all really want you to hear.

I felt bad.

I said, hey, I'm a one.

I'll sit at the bar.

And she said, you know what, Kristen, we're going to hold that table in the dining room for you.

And when you get here, we'll see what's open at the bar and we can make the decision then.

That's it.