Tag Archives: restaurants

The Cheese Toast Incident

Posted on May 20, 2014 by Michael Procopio

As I wondered whether or not it would be a good idea to serve them more alcohol, Debbie Reynolds broke the unbearable silence. Continue reading →

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Touchscreen Dining: Out of Touch?

Posted on April 21, 2011 by Michael Procopio

Have you seen this contraption? It’s a 7 inch tall interactive, touchscreen restaurant menu tablet from E La Carte. And it might very well be part of your dining future. My feelings toward it are mixed, at best. I am … Continue reading →

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What Makes A Great Waiter Great?

Posted on May 15, 2010 by Michael Procopio

A week or so ago, I had dinner with an old friend and her family at a very, very tony restaurant here in San Francisco. The layout of the space was beautiful– everything was styled to the teeth: the flowers, … Continue reading →

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Check, Please: How to Pay without looking like a fool or making everyone uncomfortable.

Posted on May 21, 2009 by Michael Procopio

 For most diners, paying one’s bill at the finish of a restaurant meal is a simple, uncomplicated process, a no-brainer. Or should be. It never fails to amaze me how many people screw this up. The ideal execution of bill … Continue reading →

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Tipping: Down and Out

Posted on February 19, 2009 by Michael Procopio

Things are tough all over. This isn’t exactly news. I can’t think of a single person I know who hasn’t been hit on some level by the mess our economy is in. Everyone, it seems, is scaling back on spending. … Continue reading →

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Health Care Ordinance Infects Restaurant Industry

Posted on March 7, 2008 by Michael Procopio

San Francisco restaurants are suffering from what Michael Bauer at The San Francisco Chronicle called “another 1-2-3 punch to their already slim wallets.” The first hit: a minimum wage increase to $9.36 per hour. The second: a sick leave law … Continue reading →

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If I Knew You Were Coming, I'd Have Baked a Cake

Posted on February 20, 2008 by Michael Procopio

Well, I knew he was coming, but I didn’t bake one. I bought one instead. Do you think I could make a cake as precious as the one below? Perhaps, but not under stress. I thought about baking him a … Continue reading →

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