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Do I, or do I not?
My mom's 60th birthday is coming up and my stepdad planned a dinner for her and is having 9 of her friends there to surprise her at the restaurant. This will be very nice.
Only problem is the restaurant is TGI Fridays, and my mom hates TGI Fridays. She's not big on chains as it is and it's not every day you turn 60 so I know she's hoping for something mid to higher end.
He just told me this on Wednesday and I said something about it and he brushed it off. They also don't take reservations and there is an Eagles game which makes me even more leary.
I don't really think it's my place to try again to suggest somewhere else. I'm tempted to make a reservation at another resturant in town just in case we get the shaft at TGI Fridays as a back up. I can always cancel it right? I just want this to go well.
Re: Do I, or do I not?
I think your concerns about Fridays not taking reservation are quite valid, and I would definitely mention this to your stepdad. I know restaurants aren't as busy with the economy problems, but 10+ people on a weekend football night without reservations is a recipe for a nightmare. Are you sure they didn't make an exception due to the party being so large? I've found places to be accomodating to this issue in the past. Provided, we gave a lot of notice.
If your stepdad doesn't understand the reservation issue, I'd be tempted to make one elsewhere too. I'd choose someplace nearby, and make it for a bit later (maybe 20-30 minutes), so that you wouldn't hold up other diners if you had to cancel.
FWIW, I'd leave the whole higher end issue out of the conversation. There may be other reasons that particular restaurant was selected.
I think making an alternate reservation is a great idea. I wouldn't want to push it if he ignored your suggestion to go somewhere else, but at least now you'll have a backup.
ETA: Even if Friday's doesn't take reservations, you could probably call them a few hours before you plan to be there to put your name on the waiting list. I used to work at a restaurant that wouldn't take reservations in advance, but if someone called to say they were on their way in with a large party, we made sure to plan accordingly. Cutesboots is right, a party of 10 on a busy weekend is a nightmare. Even if they say they won't reserve, they'll probably be sure to be prepared if they know you're coming in. Of course, if you don't want to be able to get in, it's probably best if they don't know you're coming
Interesting that he doesn't know your mom isn't into the chains. I'm sure he's thinking that everybody likes Fridays and the price is good with the current economy. I do think it's very sweet that he set up a great surprise for her, but I also understand you wanting her to have the best time possible. Our mothers would do anything for us and I think we daughters want to do the same for them.
Is there a restaurant your mom has said she'd like to try or does she have a favorite? I honestly would tell him about a terrible wait time, which most men do not like. If he still wants a chain, Buca and Texas Roadhouse have call ahead seating.
I hope he lets you help him give your mom a fabulous 60th!
What is your back up Resturant? Seeing you are from Mt Penn, I was thinking either Schmeck's Villa on St Lawerance Ave, or Anthony's Trattoria on Byram. (just some other thoughts)
He gets something in his head, and that is it. No changing his mind. The dinner is in Pottstown because it's in the middle for everyone coming, and to him TGI Fridays may as well be the only restaurant in Pottstown. Therefore, TGI Fridays is the winner!
The dinner is tomorrow so I know he won't be thrilled if I say anything again, but it has been gnawing at me. They said they'd "try" to have tables set aside for all of us but still no reservations which makes me nervous. My back up was Cutillo's which is still mid-range price, and a decent place any time I've been there. It's like 10 minutes away from TGI Fridays so if we need to leave we can.
It's Pottstown. TGI Fridays practically IS the only restaurant. Cutillos is pretty much the only place there with any personality. Everything else is a chain.
But Pookie, I heard Pottstown just got a CHILI's. It's movin on up!
*Cue the Jefferson's theme song.....now!*
I had to go there for bridal lingerie and wasn't impressed with the town or the crazy looking people walking around.
I feel bad for poor little Pottstown. It's the closest town to where I grew up, so I've spent a lot of time there and I feel a certain connection to the place. But, man, the town just has nothing going for it! Granted there have been quite a few shopping centers put up in the past few years, but it's all big box stores and chain restaurants. There's nothing with any personality. It's not like Reading is any great cultural mecca, but at least we have museums and local sports teams and independently owned shops and restaurants. We've got a bad rep, but at least we've got potential. Pottstown doesn't even have that
Lol! I actually hadn't heard that. I do like Chili's. Although, the one good non-chain restaurant Pottstown does have other than Cutillos is a Mexican place, so if I find myself in Ptown wanting Mexican, I still won't be going to Chilis. Mmmm.... Los Aztecas
Oh yeah, Los Aztecas! Soooo goood. I loved that place.
Pottstown is trying with some nicer places on the main street but it doesn't help King Street (and any street named after a President) is the dregs and only a block or two away from where they're trying to establish businesses.
I had my townhouse in P-town and the peripheral area was getting it's act together and it was really family oriented. Sometimes I wish we had stuck it out with our townhouse because it was a great house and soooo inexpensive to keep up.