I arrived in Phoenix for the Wedding MBA Conference, late afternoon Sunday, after a relatively easy, but tiring five and a half hour drive.
Spent a great evening, getting reacquainted with my friend, Sue Sears (SSA Public Relations) She recommended that we meet up for dinner at a restaurant close to the conference hotel (Wyndham Phoenix) at place called Fez.
The hotel is located in downtown Phoenix, and there really isn’t a heck of lot going on, Sunday nights. She described the place as hip, eclectic, and a little bit creative. So we went to Fez.
Sue had the Pomegranate Chicken. I had the Lemon & Capers Tilapia. We started with Sweet Potato Fries, dusted with cinnamon. Superb choice. The vibe was great, it wasn’t too crowded or loud, and we could carry on a conversation.
The best part was our waitress. I let her know that we were having a 20-year reunion (yes, we hadn’t seen each other since 1988), and we were in no rush.
Her understanding of our needs was outstanding. For example, when she offered dessert, Sue and I were chatting away. I just said, “When we get to the bottom of our wine, come back and we’ll talk about dessert.” And, that’s precisely what she did.
All told, we ate, drank, and talked for four hours. That’s a lot conversation. At a restaurant business level, since it wasn’t crowded, there wasn’t any need to rush us, so the waitress adjusted to our pace and didn’t have unnecessary urgency.
THE MORALE: Sometimes the best selling, is not selling. It’s just checking in with your contact or customer to let them know you’re still there, and ask after them.
It’s refreshing to receive a phone call from someone who isn’t always asking for something or begging for referrals. Those kind of phone calls, lunches or coffees are simply about relationship building. Imagine that.
Oh, and if you’re here in Phoenix for the Wedding MBA Conference (or anytime), I highly recommend Fez on Central.
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September 22nd, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Glad you had a great experience. I agree. Sometimes a food server can be TOO attentive. Fez looks like a fun place.