Props due: Bergen Bagels & Zaytoons
Lest you think I only keep disproportionate tally of customer service sins, allow me to publicly envelope Bergen Bagels and Zaytoons in a warm embrace and squeeze them tightly against my pillowy bosom. I’ve been a weekly (sometimes twice or thrice a week) customer of both since they opened locations on Myrtle Avenue, and they practically never let the MotherSister Posse down. A nasty head cold and the sultry heat have left me with barely enough energy to hit speed dial, so both crews have come to my rescue today, with service so characteristically stellar that I’m moved to broadcast my loyalty on the internets. Three reasons:
- The food is delicious and an excellent value. I am completely addicted to Zaytoons’ fatoosh salad (which went weird for a bit but is back in top form), babaganoush, and chocolate mousse cake, but it’s impossible to go wrong with anything on the menu. I don’t claim to be a major bagel connoisseur, but as far as I’m concerned, nobody beats Bergen’s bagels and cream cheese. If we’ve been out of town, our first meals are from Zaytoons and Bergen — that’s how we settle back into Brooklyn.
- They don’t make excuses. When something goes wrong with an order — which rarely happens, but considering how often we call for delivery, it’s bound to sometime — they fix it. No argument, no “we’ll make it up to you next time you order from us.” Simple apology, a redelivery — done. Refreshing, that.
- They value regular customers. The boys at Bergen know me by voice, the guys at Zaytoons know me by address, and they can practically complete my orders for me, graciously allowing for whimsical detours from our usuals now and then. I could be deluding myself, but the delivery guys seem happy to see us. When the staff across the board are consistently pleasant to deal with, you know management is on top of things.
Extra bonus points to Bergen for what I think is an excellent “hold-the-line” message: a Pavlovian description of the hot, fresh bagel action you’re craving, so matter-of-factly and unrepentantly delivered that it makes it hard to hang up even if you’re on hold for 5 minutes — which never happens, because they care.