r/BenignExistence • u/whatawynn • 1d ago
the restaurant i got take out from gave me an umbrella
i work in a corporate complex and i don’t drive so the only food within walking distance is this one french restaurant/bakery place.
but unfortunately i am always accidentally packing bullshit for my lunch and so i’ve gotten into the habit of like once a week walking over to get a $4 cup of soup to go. and i’ve always sort of wondered if they’re not a fan of that because like girl who only gets $4 soup is really not the kind of regular i think places are looking for.
but then today as i step into the place it out of nowhere starts pouring rain and as they hand me my order they also hand me an umbrella and are like keep it, it’s been in our lost and found for months.
so now i have soup, a new purse umbrella and the knowledge that ive built some sort of rapport with this restaurant im always in lol. shoutout phil from the hosts stand who also handles take out.
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u/HastaLaPastaSauce 1d ago
A regular is a regular, my dear.
Consistent, repeat business helps with menu planning, ordering, waste reduction, labor scheduling, etc. Over the course of a year, a regular provides significantly more financial impact and stability to a business than a one-off, high dollar customer with no repeat business.
On the cashiering end, my favorite regulars made my day brighter and gave me some much needed anticipatory joy.
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u/Cassie0peia 1d ago
Such a nice way to end the week!
(btw I’m curious how you “accidentally” pack bullshit for lunch 😭)
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u/whatawynn 1d ago
it’s just like the me who packs my lunch will be like surely all i will need to eat tomorrow is a dressing free cucumber salad and then the me at lunch time is hungry lol
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u/Smile_Terrible 1d ago
So at lunch you look in your bag and say "Who packed this? Bullshit as usual...getting soup" 😂
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u/pantsoffancy 1d ago
I don't know how helpful you'll find this but I also had bullshit lunch days and it turns out my body was angry at the lunch because I was getting nowhere near the minimum amount of recommended protein daily.
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u/Cassie0peia 23h ago
I feel you on that one! I stopped doing that - I now give the future “me” a choice on what to eat.
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u/MamaOnica 1d ago
Regulars make the day better, babe. Your staff are happy to see you. It was really kind of them to give you the umbrella.
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u/ohmygodgina 1d ago
When I worked at an Irish pub my favorite regular that was a man who typically only ordered coffee, sometimes lunch, and would sit in the back lounge area working all day. You’re a regular, I’d bet they pack your soup with extra care.
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u/whatawynn 1d ago
they do sometimes give me lots of bread which is very appreciated 😋
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u/No-Cranberry4396 23h ago
Extra bread - yep, you're one of the regulars they like. Having worked in cafés and pubs before, a regular who is polite is to be cherished.
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u/Nice-Marionberry3671 1d ago
You sound like a very sweet person-and that goes a long, long way in our business! If you’re coming in for your soup and you tell me you’re sick that day, I’m making it a large soup and you’re also taking some hot tea, too. 😊 On the house.
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u/fluffy_floofster 22h ago
It was almost 35 years ago I worked at a small café and we had a customer named Sheldon who always ordered soup and sat at the front at a small table and read his book. He was quiet and didn’t tip much but everyone liked him, he was a steady and pleasant regular customer. I still remember him as the soup guy. The place you go may well feel the same about you, you’re the nice soup lady. If you stopped coming by for soup they would notice.
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u/AnfreloSt-Da 1d ago
Nice regulars are a gift no matter how much they buy. I like to great ours like Norm from “Cheers”. Yep. I’m *that* old.