If you went to the meeting last night and found yourself sitting alone at Gordon Biersch, you are out of the loop, and probably won’t get this email either.
Last night the club had its first meeting at a new location: The Old Spaghetti Factory in Aloha Tower Market Place. I’d say there were mixed reviews.
On the up side is the menu. I can personally vouch for the lasagna. There is a very nice variety to choose from and the prices are not bad either. In place of the “to die for bread pudding” at Gordon Biersch, is a large slice of mud pie… an acceptable tradeoff.
From my point of view, the service was as good as could be expected for a party of twenty-five people all wanting food, attention and the bill at the same time. We seemed to have a couple of waiters assigned to our table and they were very attentive, at least on our end of the table.
On the down side was the noise. It was very loud. “How loud,” you ask…Loud enough to wonder if Gordon Biersch isn’t the better of the two locations. However, in the interest of fairness, we will have next month’s meeting (August 14th) at the Old Spaghetti Factory again, but in a different area of the restaurant.
After Patrick Casey spoke to the manager, she agreed to set aside an outside area, just for the club. This should make a huge difference. And by huge, I mean we should be able to talk, and be heard. The only improvement beyond this would be a round table for 30 thirty, in a private room, and that’s not going to happen.
There was one other small item… Whoever had a bill for $27.20… “You’re welcome.” Apparently, your bill was paid with my VISA card. I saw the waiter leave the table with a handful of cards and return with a stack of folders. Somewhere in between he used my card twice. If you check your statement, you will see the last four numbers… “0027.” That’s me. Not to worry. My Capitol One VISA people have been notified, and “I will find you.” Not really. More likely is they will probably drop the charge from my statement, and write it off as something else. At least this isn’t as bad as the three hundred dollar charge Gordon Biersch made by accident.
One other thing to note… When we got there the parking lot across from the restaurant was full, as it often is. Valet parking is $4. If you park in the over-flow lot down the street, past the Falls of Clyde, and you stay one minute over two hours, the cost will also be $4. The first hour is free. Each part of an hour beyond that is $2. Do the math. It might be easier, and more cost effective, to use the valet service, not including a tip. To be honest, I don’t know how they figure the rate there, or if you pull a receipt at all.
And speaking of honesty… For those of you who like to explore the limits of possibility, and honesty, here is a challenge. After your first beer, or glass of wine, get your parking stub validated at the front desk. Then walk outside and pay the machine. Then walk back into the restaurant and stay for another hour, or two, or three. The parking machine thinks you went home. Of course, I’ll deny ever having suggested such an evil plan, but let me know if it works. If it doesn’t, and you’re allowed one phone call, you know my number.
So here are my suggestions for next month:
- Arrive early enough to get a parking place in the lot across the street. Bring a book if you arrive too early.
- Hack your watch when you pull the parking stub from the meter and don’t stay past two hours. (unless my scheme works.) If you do stay longer, you might as well stay for the entire third hour since you’re paying for it any way.
- Pay your dinner bill with cash.
- This is really important… Be sure to get your parking stub validated at the restaurant. If you forget, you won’t have to ask why.
- And just so you know, the mud pie is big enough to share if you’re sitting next to me.
Lastly… Just a heads up on this month’s Tech Session, Saturday the 28th. It will be at Gary Bean’s house near the Temple Valley Shopping Center and a little past Kaneohe. He has some ignition issues to deal with. It will begin at 10:30. Lunch is provided but you’re invited to bring a beverage of your own. Parking is limited.
Thanks for coming last night, and I hope to see everyone at the tech session, and/or the next meeting.
