It’s always an adventure ordering food in Asia, even in 5-star hotels
I am in Jakarta at the moment, staying at the posh Ritz Carlton hotel and I just couldn’t resist sharing with you an admittedly mundane but seriously amusing experience I had this morning when ordering room service.
Room Service: Good morning, Ms. Hutchins, how may I help you?
Me: I would like to order breakfast. The “bowl of berries” and “natural yogurt” with a “cappuccino”.
Room Service: What do you mean berries?
Me: You know….berries…strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries..
Room Service: We don’t have berries.
Me: Are you sure? It is on your menu.
Room Service: Is it?
Me: It is. Page 3.
Room Service: Sorry madam. We don’t have berries.
Me: Are you quite sure? Because berries are also listed on page 7 with the smoothies. In fact, you offer a fresh berry smoothie with strawberries and blueberries. And then on pg 14 you have tarts with berries. I am guessing you have berries in the kitchen, no?
Room Service: No.
Me: Can you please check again, starting with Page 3 where a “bowl of berries” is listed for 60,000 rupiah.
Room Service: One moment.
Me: Of course. (3-5 minutes elapse)
Room Service: We only have blueberries. But they are not blue. They are purple.
Me: I will take the purple blueberries.
Room Service: Your order will arrive within 30 minutes. Thank you for staying at the Ritz Carlton Jakarta.
Me: No, THANK YOU!
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3 comments
Michaela Massani says:
Aug 15, 2010
Too funny (or sad for a 5 star)… and indeed such a familiar experience.
Happening again and again.
joanna says:
Aug 22, 2010
It’s so true…honestly we could do a whole blog on these experiences. In Westin in Shanghai this week, there was an ice tea incident, a yogurt incident, an omellette incident, etc. About 1 per day (I like to eat breakfast in teh room). Paul had a hilarious cheeseburger incident in Phuket at the JW Mariott…and this is all within the last 10 days. I guess the funniest part is these are almost always regular room service menu items….after several years in Asia I wouldn’t dare order off menu. Just imagining it hurts my brain.
Jason Cahill says:
Sep 24, 2010
Love this entry. Its quite typical in the balkans to place 10 to 15 orders off the menu, which for some reason….”we don’t have today.” So, I’ve started just asking waiters down there….okay…i don’t need the menu…:”What DO YOU have today?”