Of Movies and Diva: How to Avoid the Super Bowl

[snarkyman.livejournal.com]

Last nights experiences in Davis Square are exemplary of my feelings about customer service: One bad, followed by one good.

cosmicgarden and I went to see Die Another Day at the Somerville Theatre last night so we could avoid the madness known as the Super Bowl.

I usually like going to the Somerville Theatre. Last night, however, the staff showed a level of incompetence usually reserved for the Arlington Capitol. While we waited for the movie to start, we were subjected to occasional "burps" of sound through the speaker system. The movie finally started half an hour late and seemed to run OK. Then, about 25 minutes from the end of the film, the screen went dark, but the sound continued. cosmicgarden actually had to get up to tell the staff that we had lost picture. Don't the projectionists pay attention to such things? The staff raised the house lights announced that the film would not continue and handed everyone a "free pass" ticket.

Pathetic. How does this movie end? I don't want to have to sit through the first 1.5 hours again just to see the end. Perhaps we can go to see Harry Potter then sneak in to see the end of the Bond flick.

We wandered down Elm St, a little dazed from the experience and the cold, finally stopping at Anna's. I really wasn't in the mood. Honestly, I'd rather have Indian than Mexican. We walked into Diva and sat at the bar. I placed an order to go, then after briefly considering cognac, ordered a beer. The owner / manager stepped behind the bar and served us himself. Over the course of an hour, we had a very nice conversation while the manager ordered vegetables and chicken appetizers for us and even bought us drinks.

Such contrast between local businesses, going from the annoying to the amazing. I cannot emphasize enough how much an impression the management and staff at Diva made. I'm glad for their hospitality and in return they've netted two very loyal customers who will return and tell all our friends about our experience. Please go to Diva; the food is divine and the staff wonderful.

Comments

[othniel77.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the wonderful recommendation for Diva. I've been toying with the idea of going there for awhile now.

[barkingpanther.livejournal.com]

I will join my voice with the People in that Diva makes some durned good Indian food.

[pir.livejournal.com]

I used to go to Diva regularly. The food was quite good, they were close and they are indeed friendly. Love the strawberry lassi. Then their presentation became what I can only describe as poncy (http://www.cynicalbastards.com/cynic/contrib/poncyfilms.html) and their prices went up again.

It became far more worthwhile for me to walk down Mass Ave to Indian Club just past Porter since they are cheaper, I marginally prefer their food (especially the Mushroom Masala special. Yum) and they're just as friendly (and more so now they recognise me as a regular).

[philbot.livejournal.com]

I like Diva - good ambiance, good food. Very good service. But you pay for it. Usually if I have a hankering for Indian food, I'll just get takeout from Passage to India in Porter Square - the food's almost as good, and it's a lot cheaper.

[denonymous.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised to hear this; I've never heard anyone say anything but that the service at Diva is terrible. I've been there two or three times, and I thought the service was fine. Good to hear someone else shares my opinion. :)

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

I've only had good experiences at both Diva AND Somerville Theater...

...but in regards to your experience, I would say that you often get what you pay for. Your movie ticket was about $6, I imagine? And drinks and appetizers at Diva probably ran you three times that. No excuse for the awful management at the theater, but of course you should expect to get good service at a somewhat upscale restaurant.

[cosmicgarden.livejournal.com]

But that was just it - the owner treated us. Drinks & apps _would have_ run us 3x a movie ticket, but he wouldn't take our money. Admittedly it was a slow night, but we really found that he went out of his way to be kind.

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

Ah, sorry! Bad reading comprehension, Jen! No cookie!
Way to go Diva, then!! :-)

[ranger1.livejournal.com]

Service at Diva was fine when they first opened but then it went downhill. I'll put up with inattentive, unfriendly waitstaff at a greasy spoon diner, but not at a pricey restaurant. I stopped going about four months ago. After reading your post, I'm hopeful that Diva's service is back on track.

After I ditched Diva, I started going to the Kebab Factory. I think it's owned by the same people, but I found the service much more to my liking. It's a smaller, cozier space and the menu has lots of neat stuff that Diva doesn't have. Worth checking out.