Letters to the Editor: 12.18.97

Whining Diners

Springs

December 13, 1997

Dear Helen,

Not to diminish the complaints of all the folks who have whined in this section about poor service, menu prices, and management's manners while dining in East Hampton restaurants, but since when is the letters to the editor a restaurant complaint department?

So far, there have been attacks on the Maidstone Arms, Rowdy Hall, Della Femina, the Farmhouse, and Gurney's in the last six months. There have been others. This is folderol, and a below-the-belt assault to avenge what were either bad dining experiences or disputes about menu pricing. (Memo to future complainants: Spare us your crying.)

Guess what? You can't always get what you want. Guess what? The best revenge anyone can ever exact on a restaurant is to not go there. If a diner has a problem, there are better ways to try to get one's point across: 1) approach the manager and let him or her know that you are displeased, 2) don't be bitchy - it gets you nowhere, 3) write a letter to the owner. If your complaint has not been resolved, I repeat: Don't go back.

But I have a suggestion. Why don't you start a column called "Whine & Dine," where restaurants and grumpy diners can spar in print? Because believe it or not, the restaurants have a few complaints of their own!

How about customers who: 1) abuse reservationists for a table, 2) talk on cell phones while dining, 3) have cell phones ringing while dining, 4) show up late for a reservation, 5) don't show up at all, 6) treat wait staff and bar staff like chattel, 7) get drunk and disorderly, 8) come on to staff members, which includes inappropriate touching, 9) leave less than 15 percent tips, or, 10) no tip at all? What about the old trick of drinking half a glass of wine and then saying you don't like the wine?

(Or maybe we should continue our public gripes. How's this sound: Helen, I went into Village Hardware the other day, and there was dust on a box of Borax? Then I went to the File Box and I had to wait five seconds to buy a pen while the clerk finished processing the person in front of me. I was so miffed that I went to the movies, and do you know what? I had to wait to go to the bathroom. And then I picked up a copy of The East Hampton Star only to find a typo!)

And let me say this: I have had exceptional meals at the Maidstone Arms (cassoulet), Rowdy Hall (best burger in town), Della Femina (three stars by Newsday, three stars by The Times - hello?) on a consistent basis. I haven't had the pleasure of dining at the Farmhouse, but I hear their pizzas are excellent; my last meal at Gurney's was a hearty rack of lamb. And take notice: These places are still open. They must be doing something right.

One more reminder to the whiners - and this is important: Restaurants employ lots of people, they truly help the local economy. Tomorrow's artist or writer is today's waitress or bartender; today's server may be a mom or dad. Kitchen workers have families to feed. All restaurant owners are not millionaires; they pay taxes. The next time you have a bad meal, just don't go back.

I have 23 years of experience in the food business as a waiter, a bartender, a maitre d', a manager, and as a restaurant publicist. If I ever own a restaurant and you whiners come in and don't behave (or complain) properly, you'll have me to answer to - and my pen.

Sincerely,

STEVE HAWEELI

Get Real

Springs

December 15, 1997

To The Editor,

A few thoughts about the Confederate flag issue. Let's consider for one moment that Saturday's Santa parade was actually a facade for what really lay behind it, the covert recruitment of white supremacists and militants. Men in white sheets carrying signs of hatred and racism, crosses soaked in gasoline, were they spotted? Were the words of hatred, racism, or religious bias heard? Members of a state militia, were any of those guys seen? Just a Confederate or sometimes called rebel flag, that was it, nothing else.

William Ritter stated that the Chamber of Commerce encourages flags be put on the trucks and tractors, but the "American" flag. The Confederate flag is indeed an American flag, it is a very important part of our nation's history.

It symbolizes an ill-starred attempt at liberty and was carried into battle on "American" soil. I don't condone the flag's use as a symbol of hatred or racism. I believe that the men that fought and died for that same flag would turn in their graves if they knew that it would be misused in such a manner.

It is clear that Mr. Danyluk displayed the flag as an icon to a television show, "The Dukes of Hazzard," which is popular with kids of all ages. The fact that troubles me the most is that children who are taught "prejudice" will practice "prejudice" for the rest of their lives.

The keyword here is "teach." What are we teaching our children?

Better yet, what is Mr. John F. Beuscher teaching our children? Reread last week's article and recall what his first thoughts were, and I quote: "Oh my God, there are some white supremacists looking for new members." Then my first thoughts were Oh my God, he's working with kids! He then asked around him, "Is that a Confederate flag?"

Is that a Confederate flag? He's a teaching assistant in the Amagansett School, I would certainly hope that he could identify an American flag. Teachers should be open-minded and in my opinion Mr. Beuscher is not! In other words, John, get real!

Thank you,

C. KRAMER

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