What price good service?

Last week this time, contrary to my current semi comtose state, I was enjoying knocking back a delicious lunch at Garibaldi prior to an illuminating afternoon at the National Museum.

My starter of roasted foie gras (goose, mind you, not duck) was sublime, the rich and decadent gamey fattiness perfectly balanced out by the sweet yet tart apple compote. The main of homemade spinach pasta in a braised chalon duck sauce was the ultimate hearty comfort food, though I recall it seemed to taste better on my first visit a few years back. WY’s seared, half-rare tuna steak had a wondrous meaty texture, neither stringy nor dry and fibrous as is common. I wasn’t too impressed though by the gelato that accompanied our dessert of apple pie, haute style, finding it too sweet and flat.  

But I don’t mean to simply gush about the food, though I’ve missed it loads in the past few years. What impressed me then, and still does, is the sterling service standards of its wait staff. Anyone can learn the correct way of placing diningware or matching wines to courses, but it’s the simplest things such as consideration for customers that really hit the spot in the end. 

When we were seated finally for our lunch, we were first asked if we would like ’sparkling or still water?”. Having not had this question thrown at me in some time since I haven’t been fine-dining at all, I was taken aback and hesitated slightly while pondering a not-so-cheapo way of saying tap water would be fine. Very quickly and smoothly, without letting up on his friendly smile, our server went on to suggest that “perhaps regular water will do?”.

So first, he offered me what he knew I wanted. Secondly, he put us at ease by suggesting it was perfectly normal, instead of el cheapo, to drink tap water in one of the temples of Italian food. Then throughout our meal, he was by turns a paragon of unobtrusive attentiveness – sweeping up stray crumbs with a swift flick of his wrist, and charm – cajoling us laughingly into trying dessert and pressing the exquisite petit fours on us in spite of our protests that we were too full.

Polished yet warm service like this is too rare in Singapore, and Garibaldi is a keeper in my book for sure. By the way, what price good service? Not much at all! The four-course set lunch costs just $38 before prevailing taxes, and is extremely good value for money for food and service of this calibre.