Do One Small Thing (It Matters)
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 2:15PM ;)
If you live in or near Baltimore you probably know about Woodberry Kitchen, chef Spike Gjerde’s highly successful all-local, all-seasonal restaurant. If you haven’t been there yet you should make it a point to go. The food is outstanding, the atmosphere is pleasant (if busy), and the prices are surprisingly reasonable considering what you get. It’s easily one of the best restaurants in the area, if not the best.
It’s also one of the smartest.
The menu changes seasonally. Every time they update, they ensure that there’s at least one vegan option on the menu. And it’s not an afterthought — it’s always a legitimate dish, as thought out and well-prepared as the rest of the menu items.
I’d bet that only a small percentage of their customers notice it’s there. Woodberry Kitchen is not at all a vegetarian/vegan restaurant, and this isn’t by any means something that they have to do. But they do it. And by doing it, they show that they understand their customers and give a damn about making them happy. They show that they pay attention to detail. They show just how much thought goes into their decision-making.
There’s a lesson in that. Take a minute to think about whatever you’re doing and ask yourself: is there an opportunity here to make one small tweak that will mean a lot to the handful of folks who notice?
If there is, make it happen.
Reader Comments (2)
I agree! Being vegetarian myself (and having vegan friends), I appreciate how WK made a small tweak in their menu to be considerate of others' dietary needs. Whenever I go to a restaurant, I'm so impressed to see something vegetarian besides pasta or a portobello sandwich. I always rant and rave when I see choices. It makes a big difference. Thanks for this insightful post.
I'm with Visit Baltimore, and we just did a video with Spike Gjerde from Woodberry Kitchen. In the video he tells us about the location of the restaurant and also talks about the menu and their fresh produce. Check the video out at http://bit.ly/amqaDj