Greetings,

As a human being, eating is a vital necessity. It's what keeps us alive. I'm sure you are well aware of this fact of life as you serve your valued customers your steaks and various alcoholic beverages.

Also as a human being, some good service is essential. It makes the food all the more enjoyable. Honestly, there's nothing quite like a slice of cheesecake being served with a smile. In fact, there's nothing like being treated like we're people when you serve food to customers.

Here's something I've always wanted to ask you: why don't I feel the love in this place? In particular, why don't I feel any love from your staff?

I'm a nineteen-year-old college student who wants to live life peacefully. I didn't come here to shame you. I came to try your cuisine.

I've had not-so-good memories of ordering from a steakhouse.

A few years ago, my family and I went to a local steakhouse. The waitress seemed a little snooty toward me, as if I wasn't meant to be dining here. But I ordered some food anyway.

You'd think the condescending nature would end as I got older. But as I recently found out, it's not exactly the case.

The other day my friend and I went to a steakhouse in her hometown. Her parents said that the service and food were unbelievable. And in hindsight, the experience was just that, only not in the best way possible.

The guy who showed us to our table seemed a little surprised that young people like us would be dining here. But it didn't end there.

When we told our waitress that we only wanted water, there was some look of resignation on her face. It was as if she was saying to herself, "Oh, I get to serve some peasants this week."

Okay, come on. We couldn't buy your drinks for two good reasons. We're below the drinking age, and more over, we just didn't want to drink tonight. Besides, we could've had more money than she ever thought.

She didn't really attend to us throughout the night. She would walk past our table and not even look at us. If the restaurant was busy that would be one thing, but she was attending the same three tables without giving a thought to how we were doing. It was only when we asked her to come over did we receive the attention we should have gotten ten or fifteen minutes ago.

It wouldn't be too bad except we were in a hurry. We were planning to see "Beauty and the Beast" after we finished our meal. But we barely made it to our seats in time, and the theater was just across the street from the restaurant. I could only imagine how worse it would've been if the movie theater was farther away.

To top it off, there was the crème brûlée

. One bite and all I could think was, "You have got to be kidding me." I may not be a crème brûlée

expert, but I'm pretty sure they aren't supposed to taste like a product from Yankee's Candles. The top looked overcooked, and the filling was just an awful mesh of waxy paste.

Not that the rest of the meal was any better. It was a bit too greasy and all-around a bit too much. I'm a petite woman. I like eating, but even the amount of food we were served was a bit much. But I digress.

Overall, there is one question I would like to ask the wait staff of any steakhouse in this country, "what is wrong with young people?" All we wanted was to try your food and have a lovely evening.

Sure, young people aren't exactly known for going to steakhouses on a regular basis, but a little more respect and friendliness wouldn't hurt. It seems to come easier to your wait staff when older people come to your establishment.

I don't ask for entitlement to have good service. I ask for respect when giving that service. And if I don't get that respect, what are the chances of me wanting to come back?

I may have had bad experience with the service, but I don't want to condemn you just yet. Had it ever occurred to you that I would like to give you a chance?

Just a thought.

Sincerely,

A College Girl