55 
Mountain View News Saturday, January 31, 2026 FOOD, DRINK AND FUN! 55 
Mountain View News Saturday, January 31, 2026 FOOD, DRINK AND FUN! 
Peter A. Dills 

https://
podlink/1116885432 


THE LITTLE THINGS THAT AREN’T SO LITTLE 

As Cheeseburger Week winds down, the Chamber of Commerce is 
busy counting votes. By the time you read this, the usual suspects will 
probably rise to the top—and that’s okay. Consistency has a way of being 
rewarded. 

This past week, someone asked me a question I appreciated more than 
Who’s going to win? 

They asked: What do you actually look for when you review a 
restaurant? 

I don’t walk in with a clipboard. I walk in through the front door, just 
like everyone else. 

The first thing I notice isn’t the menu—it’s the room. Does someone 
look up and say hello, or do I feel like I’ve interrupted something? You 
can learn a lot about a restaurant in the first thirty seconds. 

Before the food ever hits the table, I usually notice something unglamorous but important: the restrooms. 
My father used to say, clean bathroom, clean kitchen. Over the years, I’ve found very little reason to 
argue with that logic. 

Then there’s value—and value is not the same thing as price. A $28 beef dip at Houston’s can absolutelybe a value if it delivers. What I tend to shy away from are the little things that add up fast: $25 valet 
parking, $10 chips and salsa, charges that show up before you’ve even decided if you’re comfortable. 

I pay close attention to the staff. Not how polished they are, but how present. Do they know the menu, 
or are they reading it back to me? Can they suggest something with confidence? Even better—do theylet me try a small taste before I commit? That usually tells me the kitchen believes in what it’s serving. 

And yes, the food matters. A lot. But great food is rarely just about the recipe. It’s execution. It’s 
consistency. It’s whether the kitchen is paying attention that day. 

But if I had to narrow everything down to one thing, I’d borrow an idea from the movie City Slickers 
with Billy Crystal. That one thing. 

Did a manager—or someone in charge—stop by the table? I call it table touching, and it’s muyimportante. Not hovering. Not interrupting. Just checking in. Asking how things are going. Letting you 
know someone is minding the store. 

Restaurants that do this almost always run better. Problems get caught early. Guests feel seen. And when 
someone takes the time to stop by your table, it sends a simple message: we care. 

One of my favorite moments—and it doesn’t happen often enough—is when I walk in and they alreadyknow my drink. That doesn’t happen by accident. That comes from paying attention. 

Cheeseburger Week brings excitement, debate, and plenty of opinions. That’s part of the fun. But when 
the votes are counted and the banners come down, these are the things that linger. 

I’m not just reviewing what’s on the plate.I’m reviewing how it feels to walk in the door—and whether 
anyone noticed I was there. 

thechefknows@yahoo.com check out my podcast DiningwithDills 


EL1•s AUTO SERVICE 

YourTrustedAutoCarePartner 

CERTIFIED SMOG 

TESTS 
& 
REPAIRS 


B:DDam-05:00 pm 

125 W. SIERRA MADRE BLVD. 
SIERRA MADRE, CA. 91024 

We love our customers, so feel free to visit 
during normal business hours. 
We offer free shuttle service locally. 


If you’re thinking of making amove next year give me a call!
DRE#02015404 
626.253.1323 
suecookrealtor@gmail.com 
You Deserve an Agent Who 
Will Do More Than Just Sell 
Your Home 


Learn why sellers say that working with me was 
the difference between success and stress! 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com