eat mor chikin

I am always really happy, and pleasantly surprised, when I receive or even hear about great customer service...especially in this day and age when it seems to be increasingly rare. Look, I realize that working in retail or food service or customer support is no one's dream job, but don't you just make yourself more miserable (not to mention your customers) when you act completely put out by actually having to do your job? Granted, I've been lucky enough not to have to work in retail or food service or customer support (unless you count my one day at Fuddrucker's...), but as a general rule I just believe in trying to make the best of your situation.

In any event, recently I was very surprised and pleased to encounter what I considered to be exceptional customer service in a very unlikely location...the mall food court!! First I should probably say that my expectations for customer service at the food court are exceptionally low...if I get something close to what I ordered and pay approximately the right price for it I think I've done pretty well. Well, friends, the bar has been raised.

Enter Chick-fil-A, which is already probably my favorite fast food...who doesn't love those chicken sandwiches? And on a recent trip to the location in Barton Creek Square's food court, I discovered that there's even more to love than the chicken and waffle fries. Picture the scene...I'm at the mall alone with my two kids, juggling a mom-size purse, a stroller filled with a hungry toddler and multiple shopping bags, and a feisty four year old. Just as our order is being filled and I'm contemplating how to get all the kids, bags, food, drinks, etc. to a table, someone working for Chick-fil-A offers to CARRY MY ORDER to a table. Just that would have been enough to win me over, but after delivering our food the same young man actually went and got us a high chair and then came back at least twice to check on us and brought us extra napkins, sauce, and drink refills. Now I realize that this isn't a new idea...actual restaurants have been doing it for years after all...but it's definitely not something you expect from a fast food restaurant, let alone one at the mall food court. And I might not have appreciated it as much before I was a mom, but you try having lunch with two kids alone at the food court and see how you like it.

So here's to you, Chick-fil-A. I will never eat anywhere else at the food court again...not that I ever did, but still... You've got a customer for life and I for one will be happy to "eat mor chikin."

Now if you would just open on Sundays...