I think most people would agree with me when I say "I hate lines". No one really likes waiting unless they really, really have to. Like at the DMV (which they probably do on purpose) or at Kaiser when waiting for prescriptions, because, you know, you are very sick and kind of need the medicine. Otherwise, I think most of us would avoid lines if at all humanly possible. It's time consuming, annoying, un-fun and moderately aggravating. And even when we get to the point where we are being taken care of, there is still the bitter memory running through your mind that "OMG! I can't believe I had to wait in this frickin' line" no matter how good things may turn out. Plus it will probably affect the rest of your day too as you relate the story over and over to your friends or bitch about on Twitter or Facebook (or on a blog). I mean with all the choices one normally has, why would you wait?
When it comes to San Franciscans, that's when things get a little skewed, particularly when it involves anything that is remotely food related--I'll call it the foodie effect. We've all seen it, from Tartine Bakery to Bi-Rite Creamery to Mama's to Dottie's True Blue, people line up just to get some food. Even though that mostly same food is available from many other places around town people will line up to eat there. I mean Dottie's and Mama's do good breakfast and stuff, but come on people, it's just eggs and bacon! Not the hardest thing to pump out and most definitely there are TONS of places in the city with the same eggs and bacon. Same with Tartine, there are lots of bakeries and as far as Bi-Rite, whose lines can be ridiculous, IT'S JUST ICE CREAM! Decent though it may be it's not worth standing in line over 30 minutes to get.
I think the height of this line ridiculousness was reached a couple weeks ago when a 3 hour line formed (in the rain!) to get what amounted to day old bagels flown in from New York. I mean seriously, I was saddened and embarrassed for this city once that headline made national news and felt the scorn of the twitterverse. Some of which I heaped on myself. I think social media can take some of the blame for this as it does help spread news like wildfire and every business does want to have some great self-promotion. But when things take off in this hipster, techie, millennial, foodie town everyone wants in on the act and all show up at the same time creating what can colorfully be called a "clusterfuck". A big part of the shame/blame also falls on what the internet world calls #FOMO--that's fear of missing out.
People get so caught up in wanting to be the first to try that make it a crappy experience for the rest of us. And that can lead to an unintended problem also. When everyone shows up and things don't work right they all complain about on social media which then can be bad for business. It's one thing to be first in line but you gotta remember that restaurants and what not are like any other business and sometimes need a little time to work out the kinks. Some dishes don't work, some do and service always needs tweaking. The SO hates waiting and my window is about 15 minutes after that we are pretty much done. Though once we went to brunch with friends who really wanted to go to Serpentine in Dogpatch. The didn't make reservations but really wanted to go so we did and what started as an about 20 minute wait turned into over an hour. And while we did get seated and the food was good, it wasn't worth the long wait just to try beet hash. As stated before, that long wait does color the final experience.
These days we like for the hoopla to settle down, though even when it does, if the place it really good, the line problem continues to exist. Thus making it difficult to try out places that don't offer reservations. The trick has been to figure out when they the lines are at their shortest or not there and try to find a way to go during that time. Like with Tartine Bakery, just forget going their on the weekend it's crazy. And bless the folks behind the counter who have to put up with it all, though I guess if it's busy it makes the day go faster. Tartine has the same food during the week as the weekends and it open till 7 or 8 so there is that and if you work or live nearby it's probably a better bet.
But let's face it, when work full time it's hard to find time and then the whole idea of waiting in line when your time is already limited just makes it all the more frustrating and exhausting. I guess what I'm making is a plea to folks out there to not take this whole gotta be first thing so seriously. The idea is to relax and enjoy the experience not be flustered because you can't in or had to wait. If places are good they will be around awhile and you will have every opportunity to try them. If Tartine is busy go to B. Patisserie. If Bi-Rite is crazy go to Mitchell's or Humphrey Slocumbe. If Mama's or Dottie's is long go to Hard Knox or pretty much any other restaurant in town because THEY ALL SERVE BRUNCH! So give yourselves and the rest of us a break--just say no to waiting in line.
When it comes to San Franciscans, that's when things get a little skewed, particularly when it involves anything that is remotely food related--I'll call it the foodie effect. We've all seen it, from Tartine Bakery to Bi-Rite Creamery to Mama's to Dottie's True Blue, people line up just to get some food. Even though that mostly same food is available from many other places around town people will line up to eat there. I mean Dottie's and Mama's do good breakfast and stuff, but come on people, it's just eggs and bacon! Not the hardest thing to pump out and most definitely there are TONS of places in the city with the same eggs and bacon. Same with Tartine, there are lots of bakeries and as far as Bi-Rite, whose lines can be ridiculous, IT'S JUST ICE CREAM! Decent though it may be it's not worth standing in line over 30 minutes to get.
I think the height of this line ridiculousness was reached a couple weeks ago when a 3 hour line formed (in the rain!) to get what amounted to day old bagels flown in from New York. I mean seriously, I was saddened and embarrassed for this city once that headline made national news and felt the scorn of the twitterverse. Some of which I heaped on myself. I think social media can take some of the blame for this as it does help spread news like wildfire and every business does want to have some great self-promotion. But when things take off in this hipster, techie, millennial, foodie town everyone wants in on the act and all show up at the same time creating what can colorfully be called a "clusterfuck". A big part of the shame/blame also falls on what the internet world calls #FOMO--that's fear of missing out.
People get so caught up in wanting to be the first to try that make it a crappy experience for the rest of us. And that can lead to an unintended problem also. When everyone shows up and things don't work right they all complain about on social media which then can be bad for business. It's one thing to be first in line but you gotta remember that restaurants and what not are like any other business and sometimes need a little time to work out the kinks. Some dishes don't work, some do and service always needs tweaking. The SO hates waiting and my window is about 15 minutes after that we are pretty much done. Though once we went to brunch with friends who really wanted to go to Serpentine in Dogpatch. The didn't make reservations but really wanted to go so we did and what started as an about 20 minute wait turned into over an hour. And while we did get seated and the food was good, it wasn't worth the long wait just to try beet hash. As stated before, that long wait does color the final experience.
These days we like for the hoopla to settle down, though even when it does, if the place it really good, the line problem continues to exist. Thus making it difficult to try out places that don't offer reservations. The trick has been to figure out when they the lines are at their shortest or not there and try to find a way to go during that time. Like with Tartine Bakery, just forget going their on the weekend it's crazy. And bless the folks behind the counter who have to put up with it all, though I guess if it's busy it makes the day go faster. Tartine has the same food during the week as the weekends and it open till 7 or 8 so there is that and if you work or live nearby it's probably a better bet.
But let's face it, when work full time it's hard to find time and then the whole idea of waiting in line when your time is already limited just makes it all the more frustrating and exhausting. I guess what I'm making is a plea to folks out there to not take this whole gotta be first thing so seriously. The idea is to relax and enjoy the experience not be flustered because you can't in or had to wait. If places are good they will be around awhile and you will have every opportunity to try them. If Tartine is busy go to B. Patisserie. If Bi-Rite is crazy go to Mitchell's or Humphrey Slocumbe. If Mama's or Dottie's is long go to Hard Knox or pretty much any other restaurant in town because THEY ALL SERVE BRUNCH! So give yourselves and the rest of us a break--just say no to waiting in line.
The line at Tartine Bakery. I mean all that for a loaf of bread? Isn't that how the French Revolution started? Or wait, was that "Le Miz"? Eh, same thing.
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