Lisa Garcia didn’t even know that she had been nominated for a Best of Manteca award.
The El Jardin bartender was tipped off by a customer regarding her placement in the “Best Bartender” category – something that caught her completely by surprise.
While just being nominated was enough for the nine-year El Jardin veteran who has been tending bar ever since the restaurant received its full liquor license more than four years ago, Garcia was ecstatic when she found out that she had been selected as the winner.
“It’s nice to know that there are people out there that appreciate what it is that you do,” Garcia said. “We have some amazing customers here, and that’s really why I come into work every day. I’m thankful that they felt I was deserving of this.”
While El Jardin – which also received awards for being the best Mexican food restaurant and having the best nachos – has only a small bar area for customers, the area is routinely packed with a combination of regulars and newcomers that appreciate the lively atmosphere and the great customer service.
According to Gabe Padilla – the customer that let Garcia know that she had been nominated – it’s her customer service and the way that she approaches her job that makes her so great at what she does.
“She’s just great with the customers. You order one thing and she just memorizes it and the next time you come in she has it in your hand before you even sit down,” Padilla said. “You don’t find that level of customer service in very many places.”
For Garcia, the combination of the staff and the management help make El Jardin a place she’s been happy to work at for almost a decade.
She hopes that the award will lead a spike in business for the restaurant.
“We have an awesome staff and an incredible owner that makes working here so great, and we have great customers that are really appreciative,” she said. “I want to thank all of the people who voted for me and thought that the job that I did deserved an award like this. Just being nominated was great, but actually getting an award was great.”
The El Jardin bartender was tipped off by a customer regarding her placement in the “Best Bartender” category – something that caught her completely by surprise.
While just being nominated was enough for the nine-year El Jardin veteran who has been tending bar ever since the restaurant received its full liquor license more than four years ago, Garcia was ecstatic when she found out that she had been selected as the winner.
“It’s nice to know that there are people out there that appreciate what it is that you do,” Garcia said. “We have some amazing customers here, and that’s really why I come into work every day. I’m thankful that they felt I was deserving of this.”
While El Jardin – which also received awards for being the best Mexican food restaurant and having the best nachos – has only a small bar area for customers, the area is routinely packed with a combination of regulars and newcomers that appreciate the lively atmosphere and the great customer service.
According to Gabe Padilla – the customer that let Garcia know that she had been nominated – it’s her customer service and the way that she approaches her job that makes her so great at what she does.
“She’s just great with the customers. You order one thing and she just memorizes it and the next time you come in she has it in your hand before you even sit down,” Padilla said. “You don’t find that level of customer service in very many places.”
For Garcia, the combination of the staff and the management help make El Jardin a place she’s been happy to work at for almost a decade.
She hopes that the award will lead a spike in business for the restaurant.
“We have an awesome staff and an incredible owner that makes working here so great, and we have great customers that are really appreciative,” she said. “I want to thank all of the people who voted for me and thought that the job that I did deserved an award like this. Just being nominated was great, but actually getting an award was great.”
