I got a dessert you can frolic in.

wait, what?

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I'm still not going to frolic in your dessert.

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Did I miss a new innuendo?

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It's just a little inside joke from the Boston HH days...

Ah yes, Boston HH days...I remember them well. [I read about them when I was in Iraq, I mean.]

I was there for an hour and a half. Although I agree that service was slow, the food was good, drinks were cold and the company was great. And I did get a certificate which made it that much better!!

When my roommate and I arrived at the HH the myBCS table was already quite full, so Amanda, her husband and I talked with the management and sat at another table outside--away from the group. I typically enjoy sitting with the entire group, but last night it was just not possible.

The situation with GLC is unfortunate, but the fact is that the table was reserved, and the other group arrived only moments after you and your wife left the patio. I can't speak for what happened after you left the patio, but with limited space, and an already overflowing table, it doesn't shock me that no everyone was able to sit at the HH table at one time. The server for my table was very nice, got our drinks out quickly, and our food was out in no time at all. Our salsa was empty longer than I would have liked, but I do understand that servers in that situation are stressed enough, so I'll give him a pass .

I go to Bodega about once every 2 weeks or so, and sometimes it's more than that, in the once a week range. I like it so much that I made the comment last night that it is my favorite place to eat in CS. While some might have had a less than desirable experience last night, I will continue to eat there whenever possible (especially for breakfast--it's fantastic!) and recommend that all of my friends do the same.

As for the party who had reserved the other table in question, it was a close friend of mine who was celebrating her 23rd birthday. From what I hear they had a fantastic time on the patio as well!

GLC, The Eccell Group has been nothing but nice to the myBCS/TexAgs crowd. They sponsor both websites, sometimes provide special discounts available only to myBCS/TexAgs users (other than Happy Hours), they host our HH's where they give us free stuff and deep discounts. They have made a point to become part of this online community, something that far too few business do. They are one of the great sponsors that make myBCS and TexAgs available to our users, like yourself, free of charge.

Tonia has spent a lot of her time and effort (for free) to organize the happy hours, approach the Eccell Group about discounts for our happy hours at both Bodega and the Steakhouse, and yet that goes largely unrecognized. So, thank you Tonia, you're amazing and we really appreciate you!

That being said, glc, I'm sorry you had a bad experience. However, we hope you'll give them a second chance, especially since they have been so generous to our community.

If you would like to discuss this further, please email me amanda@mybcs.com asap.

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If the specials are the only reason you to HH and you don't like our food then I'm sorry to hear that.

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Just for clarification, the main reason we go to the HH's is because we enjoy the company...and as fly mentioned, the specials are just icing on the cake. We went to Eccell Steakhouse for TexAgs HH's but could have gotten those specials (minus the $2 beer) any day during their normal happy hour but we only went because it was a TexAgs HH...and we haven't been back since the last HH was there. And in the future, the only time we will even consider going to LaBodega again is for a TexAgs' HH or if we have a discount (coupon, gift cert, or free meal courtesy of TexAgs). I just don't think the food and/or service justify the [regular] price.

The SO and I do not dine out very often, but when we do it usually involves a TexAgs HH, a discount, or a special occasion. We very seldom pay full price for a meal. Some may call it being cheap, but I call it being money smart...especially when I can cook as good or better than most food I eat at restaurants for a fraction of the cost (not counting $100+ gourmet meals).

Bottom line, we go to TexAgs HH's because of the people, not because of the restaurant's discounts.

[This message has been edited by kristin87ag (edited 4/17/2009 12:37p).]

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Tonia has spent a lot of her time and effort (for free) to organize the happy hours

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I thought TexAgs usually picks up her tab at the HH's. They did last night, didn't they? Either way, I also appreciate Tonia setting up the HH's...she will be missed when she leaves in July.

If you think the food or service isnt worth the price, you should see the ninfas thread! I can understand eccell steakhouse being expensive (though i'd like to try their new sandwich menu), but i think bodega is a pretty good deal and the service is on par with all the dime-a-dozen chains on university drive. all their food is made from scratch. if you expect tex mex, then yeah, you won't be happy. There's a line out the door most nights, so they're doing something right. I actually avoid the place in the spring, because you have to wait an hour for a patio seat. That's when i mosey on down to Fredrickos!

Discounts and freebies seem way to important to you, based on all your HH posts. I'm all about money management, as my many posts on past threads have indicated, but not enjoying the fruit of your labor by not spending is no way to live. But that's just my opinion, to each his (or her) own.

[This message has been edited by ilovescotch (edited 4/17/2009 1:06p).]

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Either way a $5.50 special group rate happy hour shaker returned as a $9.50 total (with tax and mandatory gratuity included?)

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Mine was right at $6.50 with the gratuity included, so that was a mistake. I also ordered a 2nd drink, paid my bill, and waited a while for my drink. When it was not there by the time I was ready to go, I asked the waitress to take it off my bill, and she apologized and took care of it very quickly.

Mistakes were made, but it really did look like they were doing their best to fix things as quickly as possible. I prefer this to decent service with a bad attitude any day.

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I thought TexAgs usually picks up her tab at the HH's. They did last night, didn't they?

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They have paid for some of my tabs. Sometimes no one from staff is able to attend, and even if they do, it is not always paid. I am always appreciative when they do, but always expect to pay my own tab. There have also been a few occasions (at multiple venues) where I have paid extra, because someone in the group leaves without paying for their drink. It's a hazard of being an event organizer that I have no problem handling.

I also don't like to take the freebies at HHs. Those are for everyone else in my opinion. I believe it was Andrew who made one of the awards for most posts in last night's "contest." I was embarrassed to realize that I have more than 37K posts over the course of seven and a half years. And as much as I love Eccell Steakhouse, I am actually donating that GC to an inter-office breakfast in a few weeks as one of our top prizes in a contest.

ilovescotch... If you had stars and could search more than 10 days back, you would see that not ALL my posts are about being frugal. But yes, discounts are important to me since I will have 2 kids in college within the next year and a half. And like I said earlier, I cannot justify spending the $$$ on food at restaurants when I can cook almost the same meal at home for a fraction of the cost. And I don't feel as if I'm depriving myself of anything, especially not good food. I guess I just have different priorities on where and how I spend my money. Like you said, to each his own...

Irregardless of the discount, I feel the biggest problem (and complaint) about last night was the service. Unfortunately, it's not the first time I've witnessed poor service there (and it wasn't even busy that time). I've also had other friends tell me of bad service experiences they've had there.

Actually, I probably would not have even posted anything negative if EccellGroup wouldn't have commented. His post just gave me the feeling that they don't appreciate the business that TexAgs HH's bring them.

[This message has been edited by kristin87ag (edited 4/17/2009 2:01p).]

Hellooo? Maybe it's the dozen posts complaining about the discounts, or legend being upset he didn't get a free gift certificate. You obivously feel that they don't do enough, and you are "entitled" to more since you are spending SOOOO much money, albeit half of what all the other customers in the restuarant are paying. I've been to bodega 100 times and had bad service a few times. It happens, and i'm sure everyone has a story of a not perfect experience. If i remember correctly, on almost every HH thread in the past 4 months you've dissected the discounts and asked for more. I'm sure xlgroup should be more appreciative of your "business" which they only get if they give you something out of their pocket. that attitude is one of the reasons i would never attend one of these HH. I was a waiter once, and I'd dred a party of 30 people that all showed up because of a discount, and then complained about the gratuity because my bartender wasn't a magician that could make their drinks ahead of all the other tables in the restaurant. You got called out for being demanding and so you in turn go after the local business who sponsors your right to trash them and say their service is generally bad. bravo!

[This message has been edited by ilovescotch (edited 4/17/2009 2:10p).]

I don't go to HH, but I've been to Bodega many, many times. Breakfast there is the best breakfast anywhere.

We've had things on our to-go orders screwed up a few times, and they always fix it.

Katia was always our favorite server, and she is a great manager. I don't know if she was working last night, but if she was, you should have dealt with her if you had a problem. She won't hesitate to get to the bottom of a situation and straighten it out.

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Maybe it's the dozen posts complaining about the discounts

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Assuming you were referring to me in this comment, all I can say is Wow! I went back and looked at the 9 HH threads I posted on in the past 6 months and I only found 1 thread where I 'complained' (if you want to call it that) about the discounts...I only said I wished we had additional discounts at Eccell Steakhouse. I do not see where I spoke badly about Eccell in any of those threads, and definitely don't see where I was demanding. If I missed something, please point it out for me.

Again...Wow!

[This message has been edited by kristin87ag (edited 4/17/2009 2:55p).]

I don't have stars, you're right, but in this thread alone you had several posts nickel and diming the discounts. Does Veritas, Christophers, or republic do $4 house wine, what about $3 bar drinks? (republic does have some good drink specials though) No, they don't do it for anyone, but because xlgroup does it for everyone they are not being generous enough by selling items below cost to texagrs? I just remember some back and forth converstaion in the past that HH weren't special enough because other people could have most of them too, and that they should have done half off all the appetizers. If you think they are going to give you a half pound of lump crab meat for 8 bucks you obviously need to stick to fish daddy's, because you obviously don't understand what fresh seafood costs. They can't just give away their menu at below cost. And why would they? You won't even eat there unless you get a free steak! A whole steak of course, samples aren't generous enough don't even get me started about a 30oz margarita made with fresh squeezed lemon and limes for 5.50... eccellgroup=the devil

You rememeber correctly, scotch. There has been previous complaining about specials

http://mybcs.com/Content/Forums/Replies.aspx?forum_id=35&topic_id=1335123&pg=2

I never go to the HH but it does seem you complain a bit about the prices and wish things were cheaper than their regular discounts. I also remember you wish LaBodega woudl give a TAHH discount on a night that wasn't the TAHH. I get wanting to save money, but seriously 2 dollars on a glass of wine once a month?

I had a good time, and I understand that we were a larger group than expected, I know I had +1 that I forgot to mention. I was pleased with the prices and food, and the slower service I completely understand.

My favorite part was ordering queso and getting just that.. queso, no chips. Thank the Lord that some people had the presence of mind to hoard some before hand.

wapa's +1 didn't hoard those. I stole them from the end of the table and passed them down.

I had a good time last night. Good crowd and lots of stories.

well there you go legend. bash a the people doing the special HH for ya on a public forum twice without getting all the facts. you get a blue star. And those jerks purposely charge you for someone else's beer while seperating the checks AND had then nerve to not give you a free gift certificate either? Man, the nerve of them. So like a lot of mexican restaurants they put the chips out in advance but your friends moved them to their end. I guess they should have scolded the other customers for taking them from your end of the table. what horrible service, you should definitely judge them for trying to do a special thing for mybcs and never go back.

edit: I love this thead!

[This message has been edited by ilovescotch (edited 4/17/2009 5:46p).]

Hi. This is Costa Dallis, CEO of EccellGroup. The previous posts have been by our COO, Harlan Scott, but this time its me.

I have been reading all of this with great interest and felt compelled to chime in. Our participation with the mybcs hh was done under the pretense of good will. I apologize personally to those that have had a less then perfect experience and I am very greatful for everyone's interest and attendance. We will discuss on our own the future of these events and any adjustments that may be made.

I can tell you that although we never profess to be perfect, we put a lot of time and $ into training our management to correct and care. If you ever have any grievance, please ask for the manager and they will do their best to rectify any situation in the pursuit of good will. We wouldn't have been in business for 20 years if poor customer service was our common practice. We do put a lot of stock in caring for our patrons and I have a great management team that I trust in that endeavor.

Thank you all for your understanding and patience. I hope we can take these lemons and make lemonade!

Wow. Seems like some people are never happy and want everything given to them on a silver platter.

[Post something like that again on this forum and you will get a suspension. -Staff]

[This message has been edited by TexAgs staff (edited 4/18/2009 12:18p).]

http://mybcs.com/Content/Forums/Replies.aspx?forum_id=35&topic_id=1392497

[This message has been edited by i_live_in_cs (edited 4/17/2009 10:08p).]

I understand it's easy to confuse me with the people on this thread whining over 2 dollar discounts and not understanding how reservations work. I'm actually the one calling out the whiners, I have nothing to whine about really, but thanks for playing rookie. Out of your 17 posts i'm sure that was your best! I'm sure TexAgs staff will love that language too. Should I do sunglasses or a winky face? I'll go with winky face

Edit: since you want to change your post to a link I'll change my reply. If TP made an effort to correct things that would be different, this is about a business bending over backward to do something special and getting crapped on in return.

kudos to jetch for his retort

[This message has been edited by ilovescotch (edited 4/17/2009 10:37p).]

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ilovescotch, you are a whiny vagina.

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They can talk????

actually scotch i ordered it after we had been there for almost two hours and it was obvious that the chips were gone.

as for the gift card, that was supposed to be me joking. when they handed them out I either didnt match the criteria, or had walked around back to have a smoke and not disturb the customers as per the managers request.

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I had a good time last night. Good crowd and lots of stories.

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aggie03coog09 was there? Where were you?

Well howdy everyone! I guess for today I am no longer a lurker and have met the requirements to allow me to use the GC that I received at HH.

I almost hate to jump in the middle of all the drama. But if you are going to drag me kicking and screaming (ok, so it was more like bribing me) out of lurker world. well then you just might have to tolerate me expressing my opinions.

First - Wow! our waitress never stopped moving. She was doing the best she could considering we are a non-typical group with the comings and goings and folks moving to other ends of the table to visit. Keeping track of all the different tickets had to be a nightmare. Then add to the situation the inconsideration our group showed by doubling the size of the group without any warning. They may have been able to schedule an additional server for us if they had known.

Second - The EccellGroup is very generous with us. It sounds like most of us appreciate that and are willing to be positive ambassadors for them in the community.

But, Third - **** Happens! Any time you try to get such a diverse group of people together in a come'n go situation like that the will be problems, mistakes, personality clashes etc.
Personally, I have found that having a calm and patient demeanor while requesting a reasonable resolution to the issue usually works well. But, you have got to tell them what the problem is or they will never know it needs fixing.

just my 2 cents
goodnight

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aggie03coog09 was there? Where were you?

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next to me

amb



welcome, dear

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I'll take it over when you leave us!

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Blue freakin' star for Sassy! Thanks!