November 7, 2008 @ 15:46
I've been meaning to tell a story about something that happened during my trip to Michigan a couple of weeks ago, but with the American election and all, I never got around to it.
It deals with sandwiches.
There's a place in Ann Arbor and its called Zingerman's and it carries the reputation of having the best beef brisket sandwiches in America. This reputation was helped along by Oprah Winfrey who actually talked about the sandwiches on her show. My buddy Darren got the word from his lovely wife Laurie, so from the moment Darren got up on Saturday morning it was the focus of his day.
Just before noon we headed over to Zingerman's only to find a long line-up out the door and around the side of the building, but being guys who like to try new things, especially big piles of meat, we decided to stand in line and order up four sandwiches. Our other buddies Doug and Bruce waited in the car.
It took about 40 minutes to get to the front of the line where we met a young woman who took our order. At this point, it all seemed worth it, we were inside and the smell was glorious.
Admittedly, we were a little taken aback with the prices. $12.50 for a basic sandwich with a pickle. But hey, what the hell, this was Zingerman's and it must be worth it because Oprah said so.
We were was also taken aback when the young woman who took our order told us it would be another 20 minutes before we got our food.
"Pardon me?" I said.
"OK, I've got to be honest with you guys, we're really busy it'll probably be more like 25 or 30 minutes." She replied.
I was stunned. Also known as "Mr. Impatient" in my house, I had trouble gathering my thoughts as took my wallet out of my pocket and paid 25 dollars.
I should explain at this point that Darren and I split the bill for four sandwiches, but for some reason, we got separate bills for two and two. Don't ask me why, but ultimately it turned out to our benefit. Let me explain.
After paying, I started to do a slow burn. It bugged the shit out of me that they had let us line up for 40 minutes and then didn't tell us it would be another 30 minute wait after we paid.
I conveyed these thoughts to Darren who just shrugged. From there I went out to the car where Doug and Bruce were waiting and when I told them it would be another thirty minutes, they too became annoyed.
Then I got it in my head to ask for my money back, and Bruce and Doug agreed.
Well that's all I need to hear so I stormed back into the store and demanded my money back because I hadn't been sufficiently notified of the ridiculous process. With no hesitation, I was given 25 dollars back.
But there was a problem with this. Darren didn't ask for his money back and he wanted his sandwich and was quite annoyed that I would bust back into the store and get my money back without consulting him first.
"What has it accomplished? He asked. "It's a Saturday, there's a huge football game in town so I can understand a wait."
Not wanting to give an inch, which is my nature, I told him it wasn't the wait, it was the principle and if he wanted to wait for his sandwiches fine, but on principle I didn't want mine.
As it turned out the wait wasn't thirty minutes. Far from it. It was only about fifteen, so it appeared that I had invested an hour in Zimmerman's only to come away hungry.
But wait. There were two more twists to this story.
First of all, when I cancelled my half of the order the message didn't get back to the kitchen so when Darren got back to the car we discovered that there were four sandwiches in it. Bonus.
We briefly considered going back and telling the people at Zingerman's that they had made a mistake but I justified not going back by claiming they owed us at least that much for the 45 minute wait. We all agreed. Not only that, but who knows, we may have had to line up to give the sandwiches back.
At this point I went from a feeling of embarrassment to a feeling of accomplishment. Mr. Impatience had managed to get the boys half price sandwiches, but that leads to the other twist in this story.
The sandwiches were average at best. No better than you'd get at Shopsy's or Switzers or any other deli in Toronto.
Half price was definitely the correct price.
Category: Friends | Short Stories
November 7, 2008 / 16:31
Great story Fred. But you know what? I'd be willing to bet they DID have the greatest brisket at one time, before the Queen of Media let the cat out of the bag. Then as demand exploded, quality suffered in an attempt to keep up with all of the Oprah-zombies that undoubtedly descended on the place. I have no doubt that if Oprah went on air and told her viewers that eating dog shit improved health, you'd never have to worry about stepping in a pile again.
November 7, 2008 / 16:39
Fred, since when did you start listening to ANYTHING Oprah said? Forget Ann Arbour (Yipsilanti has the only decent eating establishment in the area) and just get the veal sandwich from San Francesco's in Toronto. Case closed.
November 7, 2008 / 17:06
hahaha...enjoyed that Fred.
ever been to Casey's?
first and last time for me...and I didn't wait hrs to get in.
what's with Yanks...lining up for hrs to vote...to get a ham sandwich...
November 7, 2008 / 17:27
Oprah? Seriously? Fred, did you or did you not partake as half the MOJO Radio Humble and Fred morning show, Talk Radio For guys? Since when do guys do anything that Oprah suggests. I don't know there Freddie, are you going soft on us, OPRAH?
November 7, 2008 / 18:53
Oprah would rim the attachment hose on a honey wagon if it had caloric value.
Freddie, I've been there with other "must have" meals...including cheesesteak in Philly that tasted like pus on a cat and lobster in Nova Scotia at $45 a pop that couldn't compare to a fish and chip dinner at the Heritage joint in Brampton.
Too bad Steadman won't give Oprah the real brisket if you know what I mean and I think you do!
November 7, 2008 / 19:48
Max and Stafford
Do you mind, I'm eating. :)
November 7, 2008 / 20:20
LOL, well Fred, one thing is for sure you'd never last a week in Calgary, wimp. Monday night wings up the street at Joyce it took me 80 minutes to get the plate to me.
All that said dude, I mean, really, you see a massive line, what do you expect from the kitchen ? It's not the restaurant that's being unrealistic, it's you
You embody everything that is wrong with the modern day consumer. It's all about YOU.
November 8, 2008 / 02:42
Irvine... I wouldnt have a business if it wasn't for the Modern Day Consumer! I usually respect your comments, but in WNY where we have GREAT WINGS, we sure as hell dont wait 80 minutes for them....
November 8, 2008 / 02:51
Another note to Freds comment... A Saturday afternoon, I order 2 pizzas. Told they would be 30 minutes. As I wait, after 15 minutes I see a pizza come out - the staff boxes and cuts it and puts it in a hot spot. 3 min later, another pizza= cut and boxed and put on shelf. 10 minutes later, another staff member gets those 2 pizzas and calls me to the counter where I had been patiently standing. When I asked why I had to wait another 10 minutes, the reply was that they had told me 30 minutes, and thats how long it was.
I suppose thats acceptable too...
November 8, 2008 / 10:14
"We briefly considered going back and telling the people at Zimmerman's that they had made a mistake"
Rolls eyes....
November 8, 2008 / 14:14
Hey if any of you guys ever go to Barrie, check out The Original Mondo's, their food is awsome and the people who run it are really nice too.
I usually make a point of stopping in every time I'm passing through.
November 8, 2008 / 14:36
Oprah is an idiot. When will you learn to not pay any attention to what she says?
November 8, 2008 / 16:46
Stafford echoed my story on the Philly Cheese Steak story, I went to Philly for a convention and went to the Market as it was suppose to be the place to get the Philly Cheese Steak.. Needless to say after an hour wait, it was skimpy, the meat smelled old and it tasted crappy. I've had better in Toronto.
Still a great story Fred.
November 9, 2008 / 08:42
I went to Zingerman's....it's average at best as you say Fred. Switzers blows it away.
November 10, 2008 / 12:41
Same sh*t if you expect to get good clam chowder in a bread bowl in San Francisco. All these shops along the Warf tout it as the "San Francisco Classic" ... and "fresh"... ya fresh from a can! The funny thing is that tourists suck it all up, even with the cans being opened and the contents being reheated in plain site.
November 12, 2008 / 01:17
Freddie, Freddie, Freddie...
NEVER go there when the Wolverines are at home, and the population of Ann Arbor swells from seven to 111,007. That's when everyone goes to Zings and all you get are hurried-up imitations of what they serve when it's not as busy.
But you're right -- "world's best", they ain't! :)
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