In some places, people waited as long as three hours in bone chilling weather today for a free Grand Slam breakfast at a Denny's. When I heard the restaurant chain's web site crashed due to a surge in traffic, I wondered if a generation weaned on the web thought they could somehow down load free food. As it happens, they were pestering the site's "restaurant locator." Clearly "free" is a big draw. So, with a Denny's about 200 feet from where we live. I figured I'd take a look-see.
As I approached shortly before 8am, I could see a cluster of maybe 15 people milling outside. It was a gloomy 50 degree day and they didn't look happy. The whole thing had a soup kitchen feel to it. Mind you, I'm not too proud to wait on a chow line, just too impatient. I moved to Plan B: A McDonald's Egg McMuffin that I could pick-up at the drive-thru window. Cost: Maybe a buck or two. I returned home to get my car. Surprisingly, by the time I drove past Denny's, the tide of freeloaders had ebbed. The only one left outside was a young man wearing a bow tie, so I pulled in and parked. "Good morning! Just one?" he asked with a smile. Once inside I was lead to a a chess board-sized table. The restaurant was a beehive of activity but the noise level was surprisingly low. The only empty seats where at tables occupied by solo diners like me. The staff seemed buzy as hell but not overwhelmed.
Before long, a young woman with bright red lipstick and a bleach blonde pageboy do appeared, pad in hand. "You ready?" she asked. For a brief moment I pondered the menu as if the non-free options where in play. "Um...a Grand Slam," I said. Within a nano-second she asked "How do you like your eggs?" For comic effect, I wanted to say "Free!" but she was all business. "Over easy" I said, trying to sound more like a customer ordering breakfast than someone panhandling.
Her follow-up was instantaneous: "Orange Juice? Coffee?" Nice try! I remembered that time in Vegas when "$1.99 Steak and eggs" lured me to a low rent casino. Coffee, I learned the hard way, was $4.99 a cup. "Just water," I said. My cheapskate strategy did not go unnoticed. "Nothing?" confirmed the waitress with a hint of exasperation. "Just water," I repeated, She walked away. Within seconds there was a small glass of ice water on my table. As I sat contemplating it, I felt a little sleazy. So I ordered coffee.
When my gratis Grand Slam arrived--about 10 minutes after I ordered it--it was not like the photo on the menu. There was no parsley garnish and no swirl of steam rising seductively from the plate. The meal in front of me looked like airplane food--and it was served with the same crisp efficiency. (I'm fine with that part by the way.) Technically, it was as advertised: A large oval plate loaded with eggs, pancakes, sausages and bacon. No toast. (That's extra.) The bacon was blackened on one end and almost raw on the other. (Just like mama used to make!--but let's not go there.) The link sausages looked like they had been left in the sun to cure. The pancakes where not warm and included a large dollop of a butter-like product. Eggs are almost impossible to screw up, but they too were luke warm at best.
As I began to eat my free grub, it became clear I had made a strategic blunder. The yoke from the eggs was colliding with the syrup and there was not a damn thing I could do about it. I'm not used to having pancakes AND eggs at one meal, and certainly not on one plate. I remember thinking, "Why the hell did I go with over easy?" I picked up the pace. When I was almost done, I stopped eating. leaving just enough food so no one would take my plate away. I sipped coffee got a refill and then another. I noodled the crossword puzzle in the L.A. Times. The waitress put the check down on the table without breaking stride or saying a word. When I left, the line outside had swelled to about 20 people. My check came to $2.18. I left a tip well in excess of 50 percent. A decent dining experience. I may go back again next year. But not before. (If you are still reading this please leave a comment even if it is really short. I just want to know if anyone, besides my wife, read the whole thing.)-- al in la
8 comments:
Thanks for doing the investigative reporting, Al. I was tempted, but I was afraid that a free Grand Slam would be worth exactly what I paid for it. I appreciate knowing that it would have been. Waiting in line would have made it that much worse. I probably would have made the same mistake on the eggs, forgetting I had no toast to soak up the yolk.
Let me know if you read this comment all the way to the end.
JohnnyB:
Thanks pal! I knew I could count on you. While I realize that your last line is aimed at needling me, I sometimes think that if it's not anti-cap related, no one reads this stuff. So make fun of me all you want (naturally, I don't mean that literally.)
I enjoy reading your blog - you should post more often. And any of my needlings, anti-cap related or otherwise is just friendly jabs.
Needling is fine when it doesn't come from a prick.
Yes, Al I read it. Glad to see you spreading your wings and judging breakfasts now.
Al, there has never, ever been a time in my life where I've eaten at Denny's and thought "Wow, that was a good idea." I do it sometimes out of desperation, but everything I order there is so greasy and/or runny that I end up feeling sick.
Thanks for reminding me not to go there anytime soon.
Since it was free, I decided to try one of your regular posts. It was not a grand slam but much better than a strike out, let's call it a double. Thanks!
nice slice of life @ denny's -- thanks for sharing. i used to wait tables there and reading this reminded me how grateful i am that i've moved on.
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