2.232

25 (Thu) August 2011

Service

2.5

at Yonggamhan Hyeongje

-Sinchon, Seodaemun, Seoul, Republic of Korea-

with MtG, CBD

In Korean, the term “service” – pronounced “suh-bee-seu” (써비스) – refers to a complimentary item provided to the customer at the house’s discretion.  In restaurants, it usually applies to special items that go beyond standard protocol, such as a free appetizer or an extra portion of meat. The term is widely used in any industry involving customers and goods: e.g., recently, I bought a gym bag at the Nike store, and they tossed in a free shoe pouch, which would be considered a “service.”

It was MtG’s birthday.  I arrived way late to discover that the others had already pretty much finished off the food.  Just in the nick of time,, the waiter brought a plate of various grilled items to our table as a sign of gratitude for having ordered so much and announced grandly: “This is service!”

(See also FOODS.)

(See also PLACES.)