Lovers & Haters
Bogota gets lots of emails from so many of its customers. 99.99% of them are positive and affirming of our restaurant and as readers of this blog know, I enjoy posting them from time to time. Every now and then we'll get an email from a dissatisfied customer. Some are legitimate complaints which need to be addressed and others are out and out vicious.
One thing that's important to know about running a restaurant is that there is no pleasing EVERYONE. You're going to win some and lose some. As long as I'm pleasing 99.99% of my customers, I'm content. I've come to realize that some people are going to criticize no matter what you do for them. I've had chefs who've worked in 4 star restaurants come in here and RAVE about the food and I've had others who have completely trashed it. Mind you, I'm not going after 4 star service or food here. It's good, solid, pan-latin comfort food.
I also have Colombians come in here frequently and love Bogota and I have others who come in here and begin insulting the place, the employees, the owner(s), the food, the music from the moment they walk in. They'll ring up a large tab and then stiff the server. There's an entire group of Colombians who are like this who have walked through these doors. I just have to remember that they represent but a small minority of our customers.
I submit to you a recent email from a pulidopatricia@hotmail.com who sent this to the restaurant:
HI FARID,
LAST NIGHT I WENT TO YOUR RESTAURANT WITH A COUPLE OF FRIENDS TO CELEBRATE OUR INDEPENDENCE!! WELL WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT!!
YOU REALLY NEED TO IMPROVE THE FOOD!! I REALLY RECOMMEND YOU DO SOME TRAVELLING TO COLOMBIA! I FELT LIKE YOU ARE MAKING A JOKE OUT OF OUR FOOD! THE SANCOCHO WITH CHICKEN BONES!!!5 DOLLARS FOR AREPAS THAT ARE NOT MADE FROM SCRATCH!! THE EMPANADAS!!
AND THE PATACON UGGH!!!
NOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS: YOU REALLY NEED TO GO TO QUEENS TO GET THE BEST COLOMBIAN FOOD, AND WHY NOT COPY THEM!! THIS RESTAURANT IS CALLED NATIVES! CHECK OUT THEIR MENU http://www.nativesrestaurant.com/
Pls try the arepas and the MEAT empanadas here!!!! I beg you! Now if you one day go to Bogota!! Pls go to:
1.RESTAURANTE CLUB COLOMBIA! http://www.terra.com.co/bogota/restaurantes/11-01-2006/nota271236.html
2. 1492 IN THE "ZONA T"
3. ANDRES CARNE DE RESLOTS OF PLACES LOTS!!!!!!PS:BY THE WAY!
I LIKE YOUR EMAILS, THEY MAKE YOU WANT TO GO!! BUT IN OUR CASE ONLY ONCE!!AND THE POOR SERVICE!! .. UGHH I DON'T EVEN WANT TO DISCUSS THAT!
GOOD LUCK,
PATRICIA FROM BOGOTA-COLOMBIA! (MANHATTAN)
Dear Patricia:
Thank you for your email. We appreciate your business and look forward to your next email!
