Sullen faces a turn off!
If you're up in the Castro district at the crack of dawn and in dire need of a cup of steaming hot java - or soothing hot tea - Peets on Market is a hang out deserving of your kind patronage for the most part.
Stroll in at seven o'clock in the morning, and a posse of servers are on duty, anxious to deliver up your order with a smile (except for a sour puss or two with sullen faces who should think about moving on instead of taking out their discontent about their failings in life on the customers).
The display window at the counter is packed with scrumptious-looking goodies - bagels, scones, and appetizing cakes and cookies - that appear to have been home-baked out back.
And, there is a definite energy in the air, so unlike those other dreary places with all the attitude.
Some folks will argue that because I'm a famous individual in the glare of the spotlight, that the staff in cafes and trendy little watering holes, fall over me.
"You get special treatment," they chide.
True, for the most part, elsewhere.
When baristas normallyspy me coming, they hop to attention and assume their best behaviour, alright.
Here, though, the attractive well-heeled baristas treat all the customers with the same care and attention as they would a food critic there on the sly to pen a review (moi!)
By the way, Peets provides wireless service for folks on the go with any purchase (large or small).
However, there appears to be a bit of false advertising, in respect to that promise.
Either the wireless service is faulty, or slack attention to details may account for a persistent problem I have encountered over the past few days, while jostling around San Francisco taking in the sights.
For example, although the coupon for the wireless promises a two-hour session, on many occasion right when I am smack dab in the middle of a task the connection shuts down forty-or-fifty minutes later.
Annoying!
I have noticed that when a cashier rings up the customer's bill - usually they input the data - and issue the coupon for the wireless service on the spot.
But, on occasion, they open a drawer and snatch up a ready-made one and toss it at the patron.
Is it possible that the "prepared ones" have been sitting for so long that they are out-of-sync with the computers - hence - the reason the service shuts down before the promised hour?
If that's the case, an inquiring mind may wonder aloud, is some discrimination going down over there at Peets?
In spite of that glaring irregularity, and staff's tendency to gossip about customers when they are just out of earshot, the ambiece is quite appealing.
Logging on, and relaxing in these environs for an hour so, is sheer heaven (if you ignore the minions).
Also, the handsome strangers who tend to frequent this cafe are worth striking up a conversation with.
No one appears to mind if customers leash their pet pouch out front, either, where fresh water is generously provided,.
Ah, that "other place" could learn a lot about public relations (how to treat a customer) if they sauntered into the welcome revolving door at Peets.
But, the folks at the Seattle-based outfit, are too busy flogging CD's, mugs, and packets of instant (!) coffee at exhorbitant prices.
See 'ya at Peets!
