ULC Logbook, Wednesday, July 20th, 2022:
It’s officially a bonafide July heatwave, this being the second day in a row with the high temperature in the mid-nineties. We started with 59 covers (45 inside, 14 outside). Three parties cancelled, for a total loss of 8 covers. We were joined by the following walk-in parties: 1 at 5PM (bar); 1 at 6:55PM (bar); 2 at 8:45PM; 2 at 8:50PM. Three parties who had initially reserved for the patio moved to tables inside. We finished with 67 guests (55 inside, 12 outside).
We had two orders for takeout: regular takeout guest Ms. P. ordered by phone for pick-up at 5:50PM; BA Mr. B. ordered by web for pick-up at 7:10PM.
For BA’s, we were joined by: D. J. with her sister and mother (party of 3, tbl. 1); Dr. and Mrs. G. (party of 2, tbl. 63); Mother of W. from the ULC kitchen team (solo, at bar); P. L., Dean of Yale College (party of 2, tbl. 27); Roy M., reunion of friends (party of 6, tbl. 17); Gwen M. with her former Yale professor / adviser, Dr. and Mrs. P. (party of 3, tbl. 3); Dana F. (party of 2, tbl. 22); the A.’s (party of 4, tbl. 76); Cliff W., celebrating 42nd anniversary (party of 2, tbl. 78); Alan S. (party of 6, tbl. 5); Ron K., wine and bourbon aficionado, bravo to R. and G. for awesome wine sales (party of 2, tbl. 11); ULC pastry commis, Marcel A. (solo at bar); Zara Z. (party of 2, tbl. 61).
The mother of W., from the ULC kitchen squad, dined solo at the bar, served by T.. Kudos to G. who visited between each of W.’s mother’s courses, describing the ingredients, craft and passion behind our cuisine, and later, giving a behind-the-scenes look at our operations. After dinner, W.’s mother said that she had enjoyed everything, and she thanked T., G., Chef, and the entire team for her experience.
Ron K. (party of 2, tbl. 11, served by R.) enjoyed bin #311 for $439; the total for their check was well over $700. On their way out the door, both gentleman guests shook my hand, and Mr. K. said with a booming voice, “Your sommelier deserves a raise!” Bravo to R., G., Chef, and team!
We have a staff request to please consider combining the separated out, “General Funds Tax,” back into the sales tax on our checks, in order to streamline guests’ questions about what this is.
Update on the ongoing heatwave… Thursday: partly cloudy; high of 92F; 63% humidity; chance of precipitation 20%. Friday: mostly sunny; high of 92F. Saturday: mostly sunny; high of 92F.
ULC Logbook, Thursday, July 21st, 2022:
We started with 61 covers (27 inside, 34 outside). We had one party cancel, for a total loss of 2 covers. We were joined by the following walk-in parties: 1 at 5:10PM; 2 at 5:20PM; 1 at 5:30PM (at bar, drinks only); 3 at 5:50PM (at bar, drinks, cheese and caviar only); 3 at 6:50PM (patio); 1 at 7:20PM; 1 at 7:40PM; 5 at 8:10PM (desserts only). We finished with 79 guests (38 inside, 38 outside).
For BA’s, we were joined by: Anthony C. (solo at bar); Carl P. (solo, tbl. 17); Phyllis C.-T. (party of 2, tbl. 78); Anne R., celebrating 29th anniversary (party of 2, tbl. 4); R. I. and Eliana (party of 2, tbl. 29); Jeffrey C. (party of 6, tbl. 77); Kaitlyn C. (party of 6, tbl. 76); Jack S., celebrating 50th anniversary (party of 2, tbl. 3); Mark J. (party of 4, tbl. 63); Joan and Henry B. (party of 2, tbl. 6); Bob F. (party of 2, tbl. 2); Andrea F. (party of 2, tbl. 17); J. P. H., with Lucy, celebrating anniversary (party of 3, tbl. 61); Teddy S. (party of 2, at the bar).
The B.’s (party of 2, tbl. 6, served by A.) used to be our regular guests when they lived in New Haven; since their move to northern Vermont, the B.’s have understandably dined at ULC less often. After their dinner this evening, Mr. B. commented to R. how they’d had such a pleasant experience, they will have to be back ASAP. Bravo to A., Chef, R., and team!
J. either did not hear or did not follow through ordering a tart as part of table 61’s desserts; he asked for G.’s assistance 15 minutes later; later, J. dropped two glasses of wine by table 79, due to “the wind”; the heatwave may have played a role in J.’s being slightly off his A-game.
Friday: sunny; high of 94F. Saturday: sunny; high of 95F. Heatwave continues!
ULC Logbook, Friday, July 22nd, 2022:
We started with 70 covers (44 inside, 26 outside). Two parties cancelled, for a total loss of 6 covers. We were joined by the following walk-in parties: 2 at 5:50PM (bar); 2 at 6:50PM; 1 at 8:30PM (bar). Despite the single digit percentage probability for precipitation in this evening’s weather forecast, it started pouring rain just before 7PM. All parties already seated on the patio moved inside, and we communicated with / prepared for the remaining patio reservations to join us inside. The lone exception was state senator Martin L.’s party, who finished their dinner at table 62, under an umbrella. No patio reservations cancelled due to the uncooperative weather: all patio-reserved parties were happy to join us at tables inside. We finished with 81 guests.
We had one takeout order for BA Mr. B., placed by web.
For BA’s, we were joined by: Chris C. (party of 4, tbl. 4); William M. (party of 2, tbl. 6); William D. (party of 2, tbl. 13); State Senator Martin L. (party of 2, tbl. 62); Brandon S. (party of 2, tbl. 17); Professor Gary H, (solo, tbl. 7; later joined table 21); Justin Z. and John G. (party of 2, tbl. 21); Ron C. (party of 5, tbl. 19+); Gerald H., celebrating 27th anniversary (party of 6, tbl. 5); Gordon L. and Susan K. (party of 2, tbl. 3); Mary Ann C. (party of 3, tbl. 1); the family R. (party of 3, tbl. 13); Antonio P. and bride, just married (party of 2, tbl. 7).
C.’s friend L. stopped by after 9PM just to say hi.
RICK P. (full name capitalization per the guest’s discretion on their OpenTable profile) had originally reserved for the patio, and had already been seated when the rain started. P. G. started serving the RICK P. party at table 61, assisted with their move inside when it started raining, and continued the service at table 4, all without missing a beat. After dinner, Mr. RICK P. succinctly commented: “Excellent table; excellent food; excellent service.” Bravo to P. G., G., Chef G., and the ENTIRE TEAM!
Multiple guests with Scott R. (party of 4, tbl. 16) commented: “R. is amazing!”
Gordon L. (party of 2, tbl. 3) waited too long to settle his check with D.; after waiting approx. 8 minutes, Mr. L. settled the check with G. at the front desk.
Stephanie R., at table 25 (who later moved to table 26 due to being hearing challenged), did not receive a mid-course of soup which they claimed to have ordered; D. claimed she did not hear their mid-course soup request.
Tonight’s MVP award, in my book anyways, goes to P. G. for how he transitioned from serving on the patio to serving inside, with no loss of precision, rhythm or warm hospitality — bravo!
N., who would have been the second patio server, was cut just after 6PM.
Saturday: partly cloudy, high of 95F, 3% chance of precipitation, 100% chance of wedding. Sunday: partly cloudy; high of 94F; 4% chance of precipitation. Heatwave continues!
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