You know what’s sad? Enjoying the Seacoast’s best pancakes in a scenic waterfront setting—yet still leaving the restaurant in a huff.

At Fresh Local Bayside, you put up with the sporadic service (will they bring the promised bread basket?) and overpriced menu. Why? You like the local angle--and you see how hard the staff works. They race around like teen drivers.

You’re so happy to sit there, doing business with local people serving local food with locals gabbing at the next table, that you barely flinch when an omelet ($8.75) and three blueberry pancakes ($12) cost $20.75. At least tax is included. The menu says so.

The check comes. The total jumps from $20.75 to $22.62 with no explanation. The server says, “We charge 9% meals tax.”

“But the menu says taxes are included,” I protest with a smile. (A local love fest demands local politeness.)

The server mumbles something about how when NH raised its meals tax to 9%, the restaurant didn’t change its menu. That makes no sense.

Before I can formulate a response, she’s long gone. So I cough up the extra amount, leave a 16% tip and vow never to return.

* * *

Idling Alert: A Blue Star Taxi driver parks on Lincoln Ave. and starts eating lunch in his idling car. I wait seven minutes and then signal for him to roll down his window.

“Can you stop idling? It pollutes and wastes gas.”

He nods and drives away, perhaps to idle around the block. 

You’d think on a sunny 74-degree day he would want to eat outside. No, he’d rather dine at the wheel while burning fuel.

The question isn’t why I’m a curmudgeon. It’s why aren’t you?

________

Morey Stettner writes The Young Curmudgeon blog for portsmouthnh.com. He’s the author of five books including SKILLS FOR NEW MANAGERS (McGraw-Hill) and THE ART OF WINNING CONVERSATION (Prentice Hall) and the editor of the popular newsletter Managing People at Work (www.managingpeopleatwork.com).