My mother is in town for the week, visiting from Chicago. Last night after work, my girlfriend, mother and I went to Perimeter Mall to return a few items and do a little shopping ourselves. We got pretty hungry from walking around the mall, so we went over to Wildfire Restaurant (a Chicago-based restaurant) for dinner. Our experience at Wildfire was fabulous!
We requested a booth to sit in and none were available...until they sat us in a booth that had been previously reserved (I'm guessing a no-show?...maybe not). Upon being seated our waiter (Travis) came over to greet us, introduce himself, fill our glasses with water, etc. He had asked if it was our first time to the restaurant, I explained that it was not my first...I had been to the one in Chicago, but that it was my mother and girlfriend's first time. Through this interaction he discovered that we were from Chicago...apparently he had grown up here in Georgia, but had lived in Chicago for many years...Rogers Park, Lincoln Park, Irving Park and a few others he had mentioned. We immediately connected.
With my stomach growling, I placed an order for some starters; roasted sea scallop skewers and four cheese crusted Portobello mushrooms.
Not long after placing this order, Alex (the general manager) came by to welcome us. Apparently he had heard I was from Chicago and my mother was in town visiting. Turns out, Alex had grown up in Naperville, IL...not far from my hometown. After some Chicago sports talk, Alex left us his business card and said if there was ever anything we needed we were to contact him and we would be "taken care of"...now that's Chicago!
Things here in Atlanta are so different. I can go out to a club or restaurant in Chicago and slip a few dollars to the valet, host/hostess, bouncer...whomever and immediately you are taken care of...once you do this a few times you are remembered and "taken care of"...Chicago is a true networking city. I miss it. I always tip big when I'm out and about...it's a way to be noticed, remembered, show appreciation, whatever...in the end it all evens out, you get "taken care of." Here in Atlanta it isn't really recognized...you might get the occasional thank you, but that's expected no matter what amount of tip you give. Only once here in Atlanta has a bartender (Chris at American Pie of all places...not the classiest!) said thank you and commented about how much he appreciated the "big tip"...that got my party a free round...and him a bigger tip! There is a place back home I would frequent regularly and take friends to...sometimes Johnny (the bartender) would pick up our ENTIRE tab...of course we would always "take care of" him.
Once our bill had come I discovered that the starters were on the house! These guys are good. It was my mom and girlfriends first time at the restaurant...I'm trying to impress them both...SCORE! Fantastic...needless to say, I "took care of" them. I also plan to write a letter to Lettuce Entertain You...owners of the Wildfire Restaurant chain...I'm going to write about what a wonderful staff they have and how the experience was unforgettable. I can assure you...they won a life-long customer and every time I go there I will ask to be seated in Travis' section and will be sure to say hello to Alex.
That's what I call Chicago Class...it's networking and taking care of one another. Southern hospitality is great, but I sure do miss Chicago Class!
On another note: The setting, the staff and food were all AMAZING and I recommend Wildfire Restaurant to anyone! Ask to be seated in Travis' section and tell him you were referred to him from Carl's (you may need to mention my nickname of Sunny) blog!
FYI...I'm being asked this a lot recently because my mom came to visit alone...no, my parents aren't divorced, they have been happily married for over 20 years. My mom came down by herself so that she and I could spend some quality one-on-one time with one another. How often are you able to spend time with just one parent? It has been a great bonding time for us and I'd recommend everyone to do the same!
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