somebody shoved MY cigars up THEIR nose & gave them back to me!

[mrreindeer]

WTF!

I'm just wondering why somebody would do this.

So, the wife & I and some friends were hanging out at a British bar/restaurant we love in Santa Monica over the weekend. Best Fish 'n Chips in the city. Seriously, amazing stuff. Despite what happened after dinner, I'm sure I'll be back for more of that damn fish.

After dinner, we're hanging at the 'small bar' at the back of the restaurant and chatting with the manager of the joint.

Turns out he used to be in the cigar business so I happened to have two on me in my case and I thought I'd hand them over to him to get his opinion.

Inside were a Gurkha G5 Avenger Toro (a tasty full-bodied $10 cigar) & a Fonseca Cubano Viso Fuerte Toro (just got this in NY on a recommendation, prob. $8 - $12 cigar, can't remember). Before I could do anything about it, he had taken one, then the next, out of the case and shoved one, then the next up his nose and took deep long whiffs (one at a time, of course, not both at once). As he said, 'to smell the ammonia' and by his determination, felt my cigars were cheap and therefore bad.

Then he handed them back to me and I'm seriously considering throwing out the whole lot, case & all.

Am I overreacting?

[awsmith4]

So he shoves your cigars up his nose then insults them, I would have probably lit them them shoved them up his a$$

[clampdown]

Wait, he stuck the cigars in his nose? First, the bigger problem is that he complained about your cigars. In my book one should never diminish someone elses cigar to their face and should never put someone down for their choices. Secondly, if he stuck it up his nose to smell, then that is where it would remain because I would have shoved it back up there when he handed it back to me and punched him in the face. No, you are not overreacting.

[BarneyBandMan]

Bad form

[scottw]

I would have kicked the pi$$ out of this guy. That's ballsy for sure. I got your back man!!

[JCK]

Are you sure you weren't in the middle of a Monty Python Sketch? cuz then.. that would make sense.

[mrreindeer]

Originally Posted by awsmith4

So he shoves your cigars up his nose then insults them, I would have probably lit them them shoved them up his a$$

Hey, remember, this is Cali, unfortunately, you can't light up inside - HA! I would have loved to though.

Originally Posted by clampdown

Wait, he stuck the cigars in his nose? First, the bigger problem is that he complained about your cigars. In my book one should never diminish someone elses cigar to their face and should never put someone down for their choices. Secondly, if he stuck it up his nose to smell, then that is where it would remain because I would have shoved it back up there when he handed it back to me and punched him in the face. No, you are not overreacting.

Yeah, I probably should have...but he was the manager of the place, would have certainly thrown me (and our friends out) and we were there to say goodye to a good friend who is leaving L.A. to go back home to New Orleans. Not to mention that two of our friends and my wife separated me from this bastard so I wasn't even close enough to him.

Originally Posted by BarneyBandMan

Bad form

Indeed.

Originally Posted by scottw

I would have kicked the pi$$ out of this guy. That's ballsy for sure. I got your back man!!

Thanks Scott; when you come out for a visit, let's grab some fish 'n chips, shall we?

[mrreindeer]

Originally Posted by khubli

Are you sure you weren't in the middle of a Monty Python Sketch? cuz then.. that would make sense.

You know, come to think of it....

[newcigarz]

Originally Posted by khubli

Are you sure you weren't in the middle of a Monty Python Sketch? cuz then.. that would make sense.

[Cigarmark]

I don't care how good the food is, if thats how the manager treated me, I'd never go back and I would tell everyone I know about the treatment was there. Someone craps on me at a place I am spending my money, I'm sorry, they don't get my business anymore. Who knows where he stuck the fish before you ate it!

[mrreindeer]

Originally Posted by Cigarmark

I don't care how good the food is, if thats how the manager treated me, I'd never go back and I would tell everyone I know about the treatment was there. Someone craps on me at a place I am spending my money, I'm sorry, they don't get my business anymore. Who knows where he stuck the fish before you ate it!

Very good point. Guy didn't even think he did anything wrong, just added, 'this is how we determine a good cigar back home'. Didn't even buy us a drink.

[Dgar]

That is crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

so how did they smoke???? just kidding, trying to lighten up a bad situation.

I would not go back to this place.... and spread the word.

Whats the name of the place!!!

[JCK]

Originally Posted by mrreindeer

Very good point. Guy didn't even think he did anything wrong, just added, 'this is how we determine a good cigar back home'. Didn't even buy us a drink.

I think this brings up a good point. Unless he was totally playing you, what if he honestly did not think he did anything wrong. Should he or the restaurant be blamed for a cultural difference?

Did you tell him that you were offended? Or did you let it slide? If you let it slide, then I don't think anyone has a bone to pick with this guy.

Personally I would have thanked him for giving me his opinion. Then I would have given him the cigars telling him that I would not smoke them now that they've been up his nose.

Who knows, maybe he was trying to scam a few cigars off of ya!

[nozero]

This sounds like a reason to start smokinig larger RG cigars? J/K.

It was indeed bad form. I, most likely, would attempt to contact the owner by phone or email and let them know what happened. How they respond would determine whether or not they received any future businesss from me. I don't care how good the food is, if I'm treated badly, I won't be coming back.

[mrreindeer]

Originally Posted by Dgar

That is crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

so how did they smoke????

Best cigars I've ever had in my life. Tasted like a mix between English Breakfast, Earl Grey and Kidney Pie.

Originally Posted by khubli

I think this brings up a good point. Unless he was totally playing you, what if he honestly did not think he did anything wrong. Should he or the restaurant be blamed for a cultural difference?

Did you tell him that you were offended? Or did you let it slide? If you let it slide, then I don't think anyone has a bone to pick with this guy.

Personally I would have thanked him for giving me his opinion. Then I would have given him the cigars telling him that I would not smoke them now that they've been up his nose.

Who knows, maybe he was trying to scam a few cigars off of ya!

Very possible. I'd like to see what some fellas here from across the pond think. Is this customary? To avoid a situation, I just let it slide. I should have given them to him, as you say, and told him that I wouldn't smoke them after he shoved them up his nose. But then the guy wins some decent smokes and a nice Xikar case damn it. Schmuck probably wouldn't have even bought me a pint in return.