Birthday Killer..

Happy Tuesday everyone! =D So, usually I blog about something that has to do with Asian American studies - well I try to anyway, but today, we're going to follow a different trail.

My friend's 21st birthday was on March 4th [HAPPY 21st BiRTHDAY SOMANDY! =D] and after she hit a few clubs, went to a few bars, and practiced her official rights as a 21-year-old in American society, we all met up Saturday evening and had dinner at this Egyptian restaurant in the outer Richmond area called Al-Masri... and I think the experience at that restaurant alone killed her celebration as a whole. It was the worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant - not to mention the most expensive bill I've ever seen for 10 people! Can you please explain to me how our bill came out to be $570 for 10 people?! That was just ridiculous. I can't believe these people would have the nerve to scam us just because we're young and they think they can get away with that BS.

First of all, the restaurant itself looked like a house, made into a wanna-be restaurant, and the food portions were TINY! It was supposed to be $37 for a 3-course meal for each person, okay, that's understandable... but the way they plated the food was stupid, and obviously only benefitted them while ripping us off. Our first "course" was pita bread, hummus, and other random dips all on one plate. Okay, this I understand. Who was going to eat all that hummus and cheese and whatever anyway right? The second "course" was salad... not individual plates of salad - no, that would mean they were being fair to us. The salads were on one big plate that we had to pass around - the food was served family style. The entree was also plated on 3 plates that we once again had to pass around - and there wasn't even enough of the food for everyone to have. Those were our 3-courses, and it took us about 2 hours to get our entree. TWO HOURS! Oh, and that's not even the worst part!

The worst part was they tried to make ALL OF US GIRLS get up and BELLY DANCE with some lady that was older than my mom. I mean, props to the lady who can still belly dance at her age, but seriously - to claim that as your "show", that's just a joke. A big, fat, humiliating joke. I mean, Somandy, you are so lucky I love you because if I didn't, you would've suffered that humiliation on your own! haha. Anyway, they tried to make us dance, which none of us wanted to do. I mean, belly dancing in cocktail dresses and stilettos? What the hell.. no. Not happening. Then, the rest of their "customers" [it was actually their FAMILY] got up and joined her, which is fine. Go for it! And then they started trying to record us on their camcorder. WTF?! Is that even LEGAL without our consent?! I don't think so. So my friend told them to knock it off, and the girl that was recording got PISSED. Who cares?

Anyway, they tried to keep us trapped there to have cake for their sons "birthday", and I mean, the kid had that look on his face like, "DAMN! How many birthdays am I gonna have?!" which is so sad. It took them a good 45 minutes to calculate our bill, which I don't understand because seriously, how difficult is it? And meanwhile, they had the ONLY ASIAN GUY working their dress up as some Egyptian to present my friend with a cake that looked really dry and frankly, was reminiscent of pound cake with a glaze on top. I pity that Asian guy - if I were him, I'd hate my job too. They had him dressed up in all these goofy ass outfits, and I still don't understand how he was the ONLY person there that wasn't apart of their Egyptian family... shoot, as far as I know, he might've been adopted or married into that crazy ass, scamming family. Oh, and their "Happy Birthday" song, was like 20 minutes long. WTF?! I swear that shit was on repeat...

So, my advice to all of you out there, don't ever eat at Al-Masri Egyptian Restaurant in the outer Richmond on Balboa. They'll not only ruin your night, you'll leave there HUNGRY and unsatisfied with your food and feeling like you just got ripped off - which you probably did.

Sorry for the ranting and raving - thought I'd do my friend a favor and let everyone know about her displeasure! Anyway, Happy Birthday again hun! =D

--Kim