'A restaurant is a fantasy, a kind of living fantasy in which diners are the most important members of the cast.' That being so, there are words and phrases, one simply does not want to hear...words that spoil the fantasy, that bring us down with a thud. I recently went to a cafe overlooking Bondi Beach -the ultimate location fantasy - for early breakfast. The view didn't disappoint, but a single word, the ultimate two-letter negative word did - "No." It was uttered by a sole waitstaff, who on arrival at opening refused to serve coffee or juice until the other employees arrived. Try as they did, there was no way the staff could make up for the negative welcome - it left a bad taste in our mouths.
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