1. i don't see what the problem is? maybe it should be advertised as such so if you've never seen a purple sweet potato before you're not confused, but the use of it seems to fit in with the rest of the menu.
2. how does posting here elicit more of a change? i don't have years of restaurant experience; however, i do know that with the frequent use of the internet/email/blogs these days, a phone call or in-person meeting goes a lot longer than words on a screen, because it is so rare. just because most people who complain in person are seeking a freebie doesn't mean you have to be one of them, you can decline anything that is offered. i would think the water situation and the hummus (which sounds like a bad batch) were worthy on their own of speaking to a manager at the time of incident.
1.) How many people know about Purple (Sweet) Potatoes?
Frankly, it is irrelevant if the potato was 'sweet' or not. My guest was essentially 'grossed out' by the unfamiliar purple potato. On the other hand, as a fan of gnocchi, I enjoyed cleaning that plate.
But I digress, if a restaurant is going to serve an item that is special or out of the ordinary, like a purple potato, shouldn't the menu be more descriptive?
For instance, CA Grill menu does include New Smyrna Clams. By your logic, why not just say Clams? Similarly, Short-rib description says '24-hour', Bell & Evans supplies the Chickens, the Scallops are from Georges Bank, and the Salmon is Wild caught from the Columbia River....but no mention of Purple Sweet Potato.
2.) Let me see if I can offer an example:
Mid-meal, a patron at a high-end national steakhouse placed on their head and was immediately asked to remove their wool cap because it violated the company policy. The patron informed the manager that as a chemo-patient, maybe a bit of latitude would be appropriate. The matter rose to the manger needing to call the police. The company has since apologized to that patron and made a charitable donation on their behalf. The internet uncovered a bad manager.
I could have had a one-on-one with the manager at CA Grill and the matter would have likely fallen upon deaf ears. But when 10,000 people read about something on the internet, you can bet that just like the restaurant chain that had to respond to the bad press about that chemo-patient, CA Grill will be far more likely to have bubbles in sparkling water, bread that is not ice cold, hummus that is not horrible, scallops that are not over-seasoned, and a sweet dessert that is not otherwise too salty.
I also wonder what the conversation with the manger would have been with the Server when two bottles of sparkling water arrived flat and the Server had expressed that this is how the sparkling water is served at CA Grill. Do you get it - the Server insulted my intelligence on water. In my day, that Server would have spent a week as a 'bus boy' to become better acquainted with water that is sparkling versus flat.
Lastly, and likely most important for any parent, included in my party was my toddler. Effectively extending the dining experience (i.e., waiting for a replacement for the gnocchi or garlicky pizza) borders on child abuse. Also, just imagine how much more pointed my review would have been had it taken the manager more than just a few minutes to visit my table.
