The Sac Bee's service comments on Tucos got me thinking on a bigger scale- about folks going out to dinner, the role service plays, and where we weigh in. When folks go out what are they looking for? I see two basic camps: 1) need to get something in my stomach (grab-n-go), 2) let's go enjoy ourselves (full service). We'll spend our time in this article focusing on #2.
"Let's go enjoy ourselves"- I can't think of a better measure of enjoyment than fun. The more fun something is, the more one enjoys it. So how do we define fun at Tucos? Great company. Feeling very comfortable and relaxed. A belly-rolling, out of control laugh. Lots of flirting and storytelling. Food and beverages that delight. A mind that's totally stimulated experiencing new things that are slightly outside of the comfort zone. Time that has passed oh so quickly. People all around you also doing the same. Leaving feeling like you want to go home and make passionate love to your partner. I think that pretty well frames our view of fun.
Notice what's missing in our definition of fun? Stuffy, polished, impersonal attitudes. Food creations designed to impress you with their sheer creativity and aesthetics and at the same remind you how distant you are from our greatness. A quiet, cerebral encounter with dressed-to-impress people all around you. Proper etiquette that is so proper that you are in full etiquette mode for fear of offending others or embarrassing yourself. I imagine there are some folks out there that crave this type of experience (and they pay out the nose for it). But as for me, no thanks.
