I have just received a letter from Pei-Wei management at the Brentwood restaurant. There was a handwritten (not typed!) apology as well as a $20 certificate. The manager stated that their staff was never instructed to operate in that manner and they have been re-trained. I was, of course, invited back to have lunch/dinner on them. I am sure I will visit again, I am all about second chances.

I guess the post got someone’s attention! Read it here.

I just came from Pei Wei at Brentwood (101 Creekside Crossing) where I had the usual, a Pad Thai without egg.  That’s not why I am writing this post. When I ordered and sat down there was a woman and four kids sitting directly across from me. As I was sitting down initially they got their food. They ate rather quickly, and when I got my food they were getting up to leave. As they did a boy with them, about 14 years old, took one last bite of something from his plate. He immediately picked up a napkin and spit it out. He then placed the half-eaten food filled napkin face up and open onto a pile of plates that you will find on the table for sharing. The group then left and not long after a woman came to clean the table.

I pay attention to little things when I eat alone.

The woman makes her way cleaning the table, picking up the dirty plates, used silverware, glasses and gathers everything up including the half-eaten food filled napkin from atop the plate stack. She makes her way back to the backroom with her load of dishes LEAVING THE STACK OF PLATES! Not long after she came and finished cleaning the table readying it for the next customer and STILL LEFT THE STACK OF PLATES placing napkins on top of them as usual!

I like Pei Wei and occasionally look forward to a saucy, high-sodium meal but this makes me think twice about ever returning.

Maybe corporate would take interest. You think? I have nothing to gain but I think someone should make some changes.

I just received a call from Dawn who owns The Veggie Cafe.  She told me that plans are to open in the next few weeks.  She didn’t want to give a specific date since she has been doing so since October and there’s no restaurant open yet.   I was told I would be the second to know of the opening date, I’ll post that here when I get it.

Bethel Ethiopian has opened at 1909 Division Street. It is owed by the former manager and cook of Horn of Africa. I have not visited yet but I have been to Horn of Africa once and was mildly impressed, probably because I had never been to an Ethiopian restaurant and usually don’t get to eat with my hands when eating out.

Not many veggie choices, three or four from the looks of the menu. From what I rercall it is about the same menu as Horn of Africa.

http://www.bethelrestaurant.com/

UPDATE 5/30/14: I just made a visit to J. Alexander’s and inquired before ordering, as I always do. I was told that the recipe for the veggie burger had recently changed and now contains egg. While vegetarian, the veggie burger from J. Alexander’s is no longer vegan.

If you haven’t tried the veggie burger at J. Alexander’s you should. It is made in-house, not a frozen shipped-in patty and is completely vegan AND prepared on a separate grill from the meat items. How do I know this? My wife spoke with the chef who prepares the burgers when he visited the store where she works. So far, this is the best veggie burger I have had in a restaurant. I visited the Coolsprings location but I did call the West End restaurant and asked about their veggie burger and they told me that it contained no eggs or dairy.