Unmatched Service

I just had a late lunch before visiting my mum at the hospital. After eating, I went to the food court to buy her some food. This is a summary of my experience at the two places.

Establishment 1: O'Briens @ SGH

The first thing I noticed when walked in was that the entire staff of the shop were clustered around the Expresso machine, chatting away. I approached the cashier where a lone lady stood with a blank expression on her face. I picked up a can of Mountain Dew from the chiller and placed it on the counter. She she just stood there. I ordered a Guacamole and cheese sandwich and she collected my money ($12.40 for a sandwich and a drink).

The cashier, who was also apparently the sandwich artist, then told me "Please take a seat" and started moving off towards the sandwich counter. I stopped her and asked if I could have a cup of ice for my drink. She look at me and asked, "You want ice ah."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and simply said, "Yes please."

She continued moving away and asked one of her colleagues to "Get a cup of ice for him." One of the girls from the cluster of staff broke away and scooped me a cup of ice. She then grabbed a tray, place some napkins and the single paper cup of ice on it and placed it before me at the counter. I looked at her and said politely, "I don't think I need the tray. Thanks."

I found a seat not far from the counter and had just settled into it when I heard the former staff announce, "Cheese and GUAKAMOLEE sandwich!"

I turned around and I saw her standing behind the counter, looking straight at me with a plate in her right hand and an expression that said, "I'm not bringing this to you, Buster! Get your ass over here."

So I got out of my seat and got my sandwich, which by the way, contained the hardest cheese I have ever eaten and shredded vegetables that were so small that they refused to stay within the bread and rained down onto the plate every time I moved my hand.

It was not one of the nicest dining experiences I've had.


Establishment 2: Kopitiam @ SGH

After my lunch, I went to the food court to get some spring rolls for my mum. The moment I approached the food stall, the Chinese lady behind the counter smiled at me and asked if I wanted Pohpia. I smiled and told her wanted to get 2 rolls to go. She then quietly placed an empty container beside her colleague who automatically started slathering ingredients onto two rice paper skins which he had prepared the moment he heard me placing my order. I paid for the food and the lady handed me a neatly packed bag with a smile.

I then went to the drink stall to get myself. Bottle of water. As usual, the stall was packed with a long queue. When it got to my turn, I took a bottle of water from a big pile in front of the counter. The lady behind the cashier automatically placed a cup of ice in front of me. I told her that I didn't need ice but accidentally knocked it over when tried to pass it back to her.

I think it must have been a mixture of the long queue of people behind me and the chaos you find in a crowded food court but I panicked and started blubbering out an apology while trying to scoop the ice back into the cup using my one free hand. (I was carrying a bag of food in the other.)

I was expecting some verbal abuse from the lady who looked really hot and bothered but to my surprise, she flashed me a sympathetic smile and told me (VERY KINDLY) to leave it and that she would clear it up so that I wouldn't obstruct the queue.

I mean... WOW! That's what I call SERVICE!

O'Briens... With your overpriced food and lousy service staff... you've lost out to an aunty in a food court. For the price you charge for your fancy sandwiches, at least teach your staff to pronounce their names right!

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