I spent easter in Normandy where I had the most exhilarating gastronomic experience of my life. We found this tiny restaurant on top of a cliff, next to a lighthouse facing the Normandy beaches (which was quite difficult to find, but it gave a bit of an ‘adventure’ feel).
The owner, a lady whose dream was to convert her country house into a restaurant (which she obviously accomplished) was the perfect host: always smiling, making you feel completely at home.
The food was perfect. My only thought after finishing the desert was: “I’m in heaven…” The price was very reasonable: 38 euros for a 4 course meal.
The service was great, no long waits, really polite and nice waiters.
As a service designer, I would give this restaurant a perfect 10 out of 10 in terms of the experience I had (in every aspect). Yet, they didn’t have anything ’special’ going on, no fancy designer furniture, no Michelin stars kind-of-thing, no English speaking staff…
The point I want to make here is: there is a certain element of magic that make customers have a great experience. And yet, we don’t know exactly how to define it. My guess would be: to make magic happen you need to have great products, great services, but still, leave some room for a few ‘imperfections’. Just like anything we see in nature.
