It really does look pathetic sitting on the plate. It's falling halfway off the bun, and the lonely potato is missing the necessary butter and sour cream. I hold my breath and check it, but no luck. Without the ketchup I ordered. I mull over the dim lighting, the soft colors in the wannabe elegant decor. Surely this burger isn't special enough to not need ketchup.
2 minutes later we get a spoon (for my wife) and an apology that the condiments will be coming. Three bites of food already down the hatch, but the server has left to drop off condiments to another booth. After several more apologies in passing, finally some ketchup. But what will I put it on? After all this time the cheeseburger is no more.
The server reappears, apologizing that he had to take care of a party that walked in. Fine. Since the party is so important, I told him that they could leave him a tip, but I wouldn't. And I signed the receipt in front of him. The kitchen staff that dropped off the plate was right on when he explained, "More food."
