I eat out a lot; some of you can probably tell that by my numerous posts about restaurants. In the last couple of weeks I’ve had some outstanding customer service occur, neither time where I was expecting anything to happen but the staff and management was so nice and took great initiative that I felt overwhelmed with how nice people can really be.

chicken wings Twin Trees

The first story involves Twin Trees on Route 57, which is kind of just across the street from where I live. Around 4 years ago I wrote an article about them saying that it wasn’t a bad restaurant but that it would never become my favorite. For once I have to eat my words because, indeed, it has become my favorite restaurant in the area. I love the people working there, and I love how well they take care of me… and I obviously love the food.

With that said, a couple of weeks ago I was there with my wife for an early dinner. I ordered a 7″ mini pizza and 6 wings, which she ordered the buffet. I got my pizza first, which they know I like, and was halfway through it when the wings came. I always order them the same way, honey barbecue but not overcooked, as I like them meaty instead of crunchy. This time around they came crunchy.

Someone else delivered the wings instead of the waitress. When she saw them, knowing me, she said that she’d order me new ones. However, I was actually feeling pretty good after eating the pizza, so I said I was good, and my wife said she’d take the wings we had home to eat later.

At that point I thought it was over, but within a few minutes she’s not only brought me a dozen wings the way I like them to take home, but she’d gotten permission from management to give me a credit for the wings. I was stunned, my wife was impressed, and I left a big tip, knowing that I’d just had one of the best customer service experiences I’d ever had. That’s the power of going to a place you love often, because the people there will take care of you and go the extra mile to keep you happy.

That’s not bad, right? Luckily, it turned out I had another happy adventure, which happened this past Saturday night.

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I’d had dinner at Twin Trees Friday night, and I don’t usually go to the same restaurant 2 days in a row unless I’m going with someone else. I was in the mood for prime rib, and the only place in town that I know serves it well is Longhorn Steakhouse, up on Route 31. They slow cook it throughout the day so that it’s very tender, and it’s the only place in the area where I know I can ask for a well done piece and not get something as hard as charcoal.

I got my meal and started eating it. I thought it looked a little small but I also know that sometimes meat shrinks. It was still very tasty, and with the garlic mashed potatoes I enjoyed it immensely.

Just as I was finishing the steak, the waitress came by with another 12 oz prime rib and said “The manager didn’t like the size of the first prime rib I brought out so he wants you to have another one.” Wow! This means I ate the equivalent of 24oz of prime rib, which I didn’t even know I could put away (not counting the fat of course) and it didn’t cost me anything extra.

Can you imagine how well treated I felt? That was twice in about a week and a half that I’d had a great experience, one at a native restaurant and one from a chain. Oh yeah; I tipped very well once again.

We really do have some of the nicest people in the country here in central New York. I’ll admit that when I moved to the area 41 years ago it felt like one of the most reserved places I’d ever lived in. I’m glad to call this area my home, and I’m glad to call out great customer service I received at two local restaurants.

Thanks y’all! 🙂