l i l s t a r s *

a great dining experience*

My fiance and I love to eat at Il Fornello in Richmond Hill- it’s our favorite Italian restaurant. We discovered this restaurant about 2 years ago and we have gone back numerous times. We can always tell if a server is new. So in general, the service is good and the food is great. The service varies from time to time, it depends on who the server is. Some servers are awesome and some are lazy. But last weekend when we went to Il Fornello for a dinner date, we were amazed by the service of our server (and she’s new to us, since we’ve never seen her before!). It’s really the little things that count. 

When we first sat down, she greeted us with a lot of energy and took our drink order. We always order half a litre of Pinot Grigio and share. Without us saying anything, she asked if we needed 2 glasses. One time a server brought 2 half litres of the Pinot Grigio when we asked for 2 glasses…….but that’s another story. 

She then took our order: mussels as an appetizer, pizza and a pasta. She asked if we wanted the pizza and the pasta at the same time, and we told her the pizza first, then the pasta. She asked if we were sharing and we said yes. Some servers never bother asking those questions. Our mussels came and it was delicious as usual. It’s a bit spicier than what it used to be. But that’s okay, I need to work on my tolerance for spicy food anyways. She came over to us and asked how the mussels were - they were great. Then came our pizza and again, she came over to ask how it was - delicious! Then finally our pasta came and without asking, she told the chef to split the pasta into two bowls since she knew we were sharing. We’ve had this done before, but it was always the server asking us at the time we ordered. Sometimes the servers don’t ask and we don’t want to ask either, cause it seems like a bother.  We were really happy when we got our bowls - it saves us the hassle of splitting it.  And again, she came around to ask us how the pasta was - delicious! 

It was the first time a server has asked us how the food was after each dish was brought out. It was the first time a server has split our pasta into two without asking us about it ahead of time : ) This server was always really energetic whenever she spoke and was genuinely nice. You can always tell if a server is being fake. I love when servers can anticipate your needs and go above and beyond. 

When we were paying for the bill, my fiance mentioned to her the service was great. Not long after, the manager came up to us and said, “I normally do this only when someone is complaining, but I’m trying something new. I would like to give you guys a gift certificate.” Now that was a first! So we gave him our e-mail and a few days later, we received the gift certificate - a value of $15! 

Also, we got this message in a separate e-mail:

Hi Vivian,

Michael Festa our manager at IL FORNELLO Richmond Hill gave me your email address and asked that I send you one of our Virtual Gift Cards in the amount of $15 to enjoy on your next visit to IL FORNELLO as a small “thank you” for your kind comments about your recent dining experience with us. If you have not already received, you should receive shortly in a separate email.

Thank you again & buon appetito!

Now that’s great customer service. We would’ve went back numerous times without the gift certificate, but now it gives us more of a reason to return. 

A lot of restaurants can learn some customer service from Il Fornello! But it really does depend on the server - whether they are able and willing to provide excellent customer service! 

P.S. Il Fornello has $10 pizzas on Tuesdays  : ) 

working out on saturday and sunday is tiring…but what’s even more tiring is going to work on monday!!! 

“Love isn’t just being with someone you enjoy being with. It’s connecting and existing with someone on a deeper level than with anyone else.”

-Unknown

(Source: yanilavigne, via yanilavigne)

* l i f e

So many exciting things happening right now. Sometimes, it takes me so long to fall asleep at night even though I’m really tired. My mind is always thinking about a million things. 

I can’t wait till my baby has her baby : ’ ) So happy for her and seriously I can’t wait to meet her little one in just over a week. We’ve been friends for more than 10 years and never have left each other’s side…and never, ever will. 

I’ve started to look into wedding gowns today - so happy I will be able to find something affordable and beautiful! Dress shopping with my maid of honour and bridesmaids will be a lot of fun and I’m really looking forward to it : ) 

e n g a g e d *

I’m so happy to finally be engaged to the one that loves me for me. I can’t say I wasn’t expecting it - but even though I knew it was going to happen, I was still really surprised and touched because I really did not expect it at that moment. When I saw the ring, I started crying right away. The man that I love proposed to me and I couldn’t be happier : ’ ) I’m so excited to plan this wedding and luckily, I have more than a year to plan so I don’t have to rush anything! 

Rejection doesn’t hurt, expectation does. Lying doesn’t kill, denial does. Forgetting doesn’t heal, forgiving does.

(Source: yanilavigne.net, via yanilavigne)