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Thursday, July 10, 2008Cape May Blues: No Longer Mad About The Mad Batter
 It used to be one of our all-time favorite places in Cape May, NJ. Now, I'm not so sure. One of the highlights of our week-at-the-shore is to have a special Dinner Date, just the two of us. Last year we went to The Washington Inn,, which rates high on our list for quality of food (gourmet), excellence of wine list (Sonona Cutre Chardonnay), and ambiance (ahh, romance!). This year, however, we decided we needed to spend a little less on our special date. The cost of gas on our drive up practically killed us, you know? Naturally, we were delighted to discover that The Mad Batter, which is just a few doors down from the place we rented for the week, offered an "early bird" special: Buy one entrée, get the second one for half price. Perfect! We simply had to get there by 5:30 in order to qualify. So imagine the scenario. I kept Molly on Central Time during our vacation in order to avoid a scheduling mix-up once we got home. (Once anal retentive, always anal retentive.) Consequently, her "dinner time" in Cape May was around 4:30 pm. That's bits of food followed by a nursing. I figured I'd be able to get it all done and still make it to The Mad Batter on time. While she was still sleeping, I did my hair and make-up. Then I fed her and nursed her, all the while watching the clock with sharp eyes and a rapid pulse. Had to finish on time! Had to get to The Mad Batter on time! Eric was calm as ever, naturally. After all, the restaurant was about forty paces from our front porch. And it wasn't even raining. By the time I handed off the baby to the nearest older sibling and slipped into my sundress and sandals, it was past 5:20. Almost as an afterthought, we paused on the front porch for a few photos. (I mean, what's the point of dressing up if you're not going to have proof afterward?) Then, hand in hand, we hastened down the street with just a few minutes to spare. Success! "Good evening! Table for two?" The hostess picked up two signature menus from the podium as she spoke. "Yes," Eric said. "Do we get the early bird special?" "Oh. Um..." She looked behind her, where another woman was standing. "Um, do they get the early bird special?" The other woman -- the Woman Of Authority -- spun round to face us. "No. No, you don't. It's past 5:30." Short, blunt. Passionless. Eric pulled out his Sprint phone -- the one that's linked up to the atomic clock, mind you -- and pressed a button. "It's 5:29." Woman Of Authority craned her neck toward the computer monitor against the back wall. "No. Our computer says 5:33. So, no, it's past 5:30." "Dumbfounded" does not begin to express what we felt. "So, you're not going to give us the early bird special, then?" "No." We left. Where moments earlier I had been feeling light as souffle, I now felt deflated. Icky inside. Abused, somehow. Where had my magical "date feeling" gone? Eric was angry. Indignant. I let him vent a bit as we hurried away from the traitorous Mad Batter. Then, right before we reached our front porch, he stopped. "I need to go back," he said. "I have to give them a chance to make it right." "I'm not eating there." Well, that's me in a nutshell. My good opinion, once lost, is lost forever. (Mr. Darcy fans, unite.) "Jilly, I have to go back." "Well, I'm not coming." "You have to come, so that I can motion to you to come inside." "I'll walk back with you, but I'll wait out here where you can see me." Call it pride, call it mortification, call it I'm-not-setting-foot-in-that-stinkin'-restaurant-ever-again, that's where I was at the moment. So Eric returned, and I waited. Moments later, he emerged, and his face was dark. Woman of Authority was under no circumstances going to allow us to have the early bird special. Period. Almost every table on the restaurant's porch was empty, and they could've used our business. But no. Nothin' doin'. She was going to let us walk away over a four-minute discrepancy. Four lousy minutes. And she lost two customers for the rest of their vacation. And possibly forever. Interestingly, we met Vickie Seitchik, one of the founders of The Mad Batter, last year while on vacation. At the time, she also owned our condo at 41 Jackson Street, and was often sitting on the front porch as we came and went. She was a kind woman, a bit on the sad and quiet side. She seemed passionate about Cape May and everything she'd invested there over the years. I don't think Vickie would have turned us away from the early bird special. Obviously, the Mad Batter's new owners feel differently. Woman of Authority was quick to blame "Mark" for being a stickler about the 5:30 cut-off. Shame on you, Mark. At any rate, we had a lovely, albeit more expensive, dinner at The Merion Inn, a beautiful, historical restaurant where you can get plain, simple seafood done the way you like it. I ordered broiled haddock with browned butter. Delicious. I'm proud of myself, too, for not allowing the complete lack of decent customer service at The Mad Batter to ruin my evening. It really felt awful to be treated that way at what used to be one of our favorite haunts. We've been there for a late breakfast. We've been there for a romantic dinner in the rain. We've been there for a quiet lunch. We really loved the place. And see? I'm speaking in the past tense, and I can't help it. Loved. Not love. I feel betrayed. Woman of Authority had no idea, of course, that I had purchased a new dress, managed the care and responsibilities and feeding of five children, gotten myself ready in record time, and nursed a hungry baby before hurrying down the street to her doorstep. No, indeed. To her, I was simply the woman standing beside the man who claimed it was only 5:29. So there it is. I will no longer recommend The Mad Batter to anyone. I will, however, recommend The Merion Inn, where a phenomenal jazz pianist was playing that evening (in between surfing on his Mac -- I kid you not). I will also recommend The Washington Inn for a truly superb dining experience. In fact, I will continue to recommend Cape May in general. It is such a special place for vacationing -- as a family, and as a couple. As for The Mad Batter? I don't know what it would take to win back my loyalty. Perhaps two completely free meals -- a dinner for two, and a breakfast for seven. That might tempt me. We are, after all, already talking about the possibility of returning to Cape May next June. And Eric is known for his mercy. And nostalgia. Right now, I'm unbending. Labels: life, stinky stuff |
About Me
I am: Mother to five stunningly individualistic children... Writer of young adult fantasy... Passionate advocate for Women At Home... Madly in love with my husband... In need of Organic Gourmet Chocolate on a regular basis. I've got a Paypal account if you'd like to contribute to the cause....
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10of my readers are feeling chatty:
I'm sorry you're dinner plans got rearranged. I hope you'll look back and be able to laugh soon. ~abby~
Customer service definitely isn't what it used to be. Sad.
My husband and I once had a similar experience, (and on our wedding anniversary, no less!) so I can empathize. Give yourself credit for your beautiful recovery. And welcome back!
Awww Jill. I am glad to hear that you had a nice dinner regardless but to quote a mutual friend of ours..."Do you want me to go poke her in the eye?"
Welcome home.
The pianist was surfing on his Mac? However did you keep Eric at the table?
;-D
Ugh, true customer service is dying a fast, yet exquistely painful death.
Remember this post?
http://theshutteredeye.blogspot.com/2007/06/write-way.html
Even though it's already painful for me to read, it is the beginning. Your challenge, (and subsequent encouragement--even though it was terribly written,) inspired me to make the leap into writing. Yes, I'm writing a young adult novel as we speak, and it's been a glorious adventure thus far. And I have you to thank for that. So, thank you!
Oh Oh Oh Oh ROBERT -- REALLY!?!?!?
You've just made my day. That's AWESOME!
I am...wow, I am without words. How unusual is that?
Press on, man. This is awesome news!
Feel free to email me with more details about your blossoming story. :)
MrsAtroxi...HELLO THERE!!!!!!
Kerrie...LOLOL!!
Little did she know, Woman of Authority lost the prospective business of all of Jill's readers, too. A woman (published writer/public blogger) scorned . . .
Jill--
I sent you an email, but it may have been netted by your junk mail--titled "Faeries in Central Park". Have a great day!
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