Costa what?

So...I haven't written in forever! Life has been crazy busy. So I'll just jump in to what I currently can't stop thinking about.

The other day my sister and I met up for dinner at "Costa Vita", which is a one of those Cafe Rio knock offs. Probably the worst one actually. It's basically Cafe Rio. All the food is exactly the same. The only difference is a surf shack theme, instead of bright obnoxious colors or whatever Cafe Rio's theme is.

If you're not from Utah, Cafe Rio is this restaurant that has done amazingly well, even though it's not like anything stellar or anything close to the calibur of food that's available in California or Palo Alto. You stand in line, they serve you up burritos, salads, enchiladas that they put together right in front of you as you move down the line like cattle in that chute they're in before someone brands them. Then you pay and sit down. Obviously it's an ingenious idea since they don't have to pay waiters, they just charge you more.

So we were at this Costa Vita place that has blattently ripped off Cafe Rio (it's a wonder they haven't been sued) and we are almost through the line. I had ordered Preston a kids meal with a quesadilla and some beans and rice so the guy asks me if I want beans with it and I'm like "Ya, do you have refried?" Refried is Preston's favorite. The guy kind of rudely and in a sort of mocking tone (like I'm a complete idiot for thinking they have refried beans) says, "We don't have refriend beans. This is FRESH mex!" I'm like "okay pinto then." The guy had Ahh-iii-TUDE! He was your typical BYU, skinny looking, hint of a gay voice, nerdy white guy. So I'm thinking to myself Bajio has refried beans, they're "Fresh mex" what's the big deal. And then I'm thinking that guy doesn't know the first rule of foodservice or any service...the customer is always right! But he felt the need to make me feel like an idiot for thinking they might have refried beans. I didn't really care at first. But as I've thought about that statement, it was just sooo wrong on so many levels. I'll break it down here:

Level 1: I'm the customer, no need to be snooty.
Level 2: Your little chain is a total rip off of something way better, and you don't even have the decency to change the names of the menu items. Real original.
Level 3: I'm from California where REAL Mexicans make the mexican food...and it is gooooood!
And it has nothing to do with being FRESH.
Level 4: What kind of food ARE you selling, because it sure ain't Mexican food. It could maybe be like Tex Mex?
Level 5: FYI Just because you're calling it fresh doesn't make it healthy. There are about 1000 calories in one of their salads. and maybe 14oo in a burrito if it's smothered.
Level 6: Tell me which part of the meat floating around in it's own grease pool is FRESH mex.

Now, I wish I would have thought of any of this to say to Mr. Lame Server Man/Boy but sadly I can never think of pithy things to say in the moment. And maybe I should have made him aware that he was rude. But that's just not my style folks. I keep it nicely bottled inside, smile politely, say thanks, and never come back again.

I figure in my quiet, passive aggressive way...that'll teach 'em.