Lower Your Expectations

In the last 3 months, I visited 3 diffent Thai Magic Wok outlets - Pasir Ris, Novena and Capitol Building. 2 left me with lasting impressions.

I like the food this place serves. Reasonably priced too. But for this kind of service, I'd rather go to a coffeeshop because I won't have any expectations there. And without expectations, I won't be easily let down or have to feel frustrated and uncomfortable.

But I suppose the next time I do end up going there (I foresee I won't be the one planning that trip), I will have to go with very low service expectations. This place is not a coffeeshop, - but the way they do things here is very coffeeshop like.

And I have met some hawkers and coffeeshop staff more communicative and pleasant.

Pasir Ris, White Sands

After our main courses were over, we decided to order a mango pudding for dessert.

A table separated ours from the waitress, who was leaning against a counter. I raised my hand to get her attention and expected her to come over and take my order - like most well-behaved waitstaff do.

Instead, she continues leaning against the counter and chins up in a "wassup manner". I tell her 1 mango pudding. Then she nods and yells to a colleague to get it.

It struck me after that I should have yelled 'CAN I HAVE ONE MANGO PUDDING PLEASE?" for the whole restaurant to hear, cause she was giving me the perfect opening to do that. I was put off because I thought that was really rude. She was too lazy to walk over and take my order when she was doing nothing really.

Capitol Square

My sister and I went there on a Sunday afternoon to use up a free lunch voucher. It was quite empty, with just 3-4 tables occupied. A young waitress took my order.

And this, only after she handed the menu over to a couple that came in after us - probably because they were seated closer to where she was standing. My sis and I had been seated for 5 minutes before that, in that near empty restaurant, waiting for someone to bring us a menu. And she only brought us the menu after we raised our hands and gestured and mouthed the words "menu" to her.

She sullenly looks at me while I am ridiculously ordering away with my warmest and most pleasant voice. I am doing this to see her reaction. Some people naturally have a "pissed off expression" and I do this to see how they respond to me to get a better gauge of the situation. And I am generally very respectful to waitstaff.

When I asked for extra chilli padi and sambal, she gave me that unflinching look that sent chills down my spine.

NO acknowledgement whatsoever.
no nod.
no smile.
no ok.
no "mmm".
nothing.

She just maintained eye contact while I talked and turned around when I was done.

I soon came to realise that this was just the way they do things over at Magic Wok, Capitol Square. Another girl served me food and she was the same, except that the only expression I saw on her face was a frown. But still wordless nods and sullen faces.