KELLER: Service with a smile goes long way for experience

Published 11:45 pm Tuesday, August 5, 2014

When eating out, the quality of the food is important in making the occasion a pleasant, enjoyable and successful one. Equally important is the service with the meal.

Last week, on a spur of the moment, I told Jeanne to get ready, “We’re going out to eat.”

On our way to Metairie, we decided to go to Zea’s Restaurant in the Clearview Mall.  

As we entered the restaurant, we were welcomed by a young lady with a nice smile and a sincere greeting. After being seated, the waiter was very pleasant and enthusiastic.

I was reminded of the statement: You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.

He had a great spirit and was determined to make our outing one to remember. I asked his name. He said, “Son.”

“How do you spell it, Son or Sun?” He said it was spelled Xenh and added that his father was from Vietnam, but he was born in America.

I found out he graduated from Sarah Reed High School in east New Orleans. He later graduated from Delgado Junior College with a degree in business administration.

He, proudly, told us that he was training to be a manger in one of the restaurants.

I told him that with the people skills he has, whatever he decided to do, he would be successful. He graciously said, “Thanks for the encouragement.”

During the meal, Xenh told me he was 25, single, had a girlfriend and enjoyed his job.

He was very patient with us, especially with Jeanne, who has a hard time with decision- making. He suggested the sweet potato bread pudding for dessert.

Even though that didn’t excite me, I ordered it because he made it sound so good! Jeanne and I split one and both agreed it was a good choice.

Before we left, I told Xenh he was one of the best in his chosen field that I had ever met. He said a few years ago, he had a pivotal point in his life when he made a bad choice, got in trouble and paid the price. That was the turning point in his life.

As we were ready to depart, I asked if he was a Christian. He said that he wasn’t.

On the way home, I told Jeanne I would pray he would one day know Jesus as his Savior and allow Him to be the Lord of his life. Can you imagine the witness he would be with the gifts he has?

All in all, the Zea’s experience was great and Xenh made it one to remember!

 

If you have any questions, or comments, please write to Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, call 985-652-8477 or e-mail: hkeller@comcast.net.