It can be hard to find a good restaurant in Second Life which offers you
good service and also feels like you are experiencing fine dining. However, many
of you may have heard of Batista the restaurant but not know about Batista the
resort.
The owners DeAngelo Batista and Jennifer Batista were happy for me to
walk around the resort and have access to areas which are private. Due to them
being busy organizing 2 big parties one for 20 people and another for 50, their
daughter was kind enough to show me around and answer some of my questions.
Piers: How did Batista come about?
ŚöηÐєє Batista: It started as an
idea for serving the people of SL with a unique role play dining experience. My
mother has customer service experience and a flair for romance which is why the
idea to bring a mix came about.
Piers: Can you tell us what someone would experience when they came
here?
ŚöηÐєє Batista: depending on which
service they were coming for...if it were a dining experience they would be
greeted with a friendly member of staff and served each meal with our unique
descriptions of the dishes...
If they were coming for a resort
stay, they would be greeted by a member of management when they check in, then
taken down to their private cabin and given some instruction as well as being
asked if they had any questions. The sim is fully equipped with plenty to do
and they would have access to all of that
We try to make each person's stay or
visit with us one that will make them return or tell the next person about. That’s
very important to us here at Batista's
Smiles.
Piers: So this is the private dining area?
ŚöηÐєє Batista: This is one of the 3
we have this one is called Enchanted when you dine here, you will have a
private server for 2 hours at a time.
ŚöηÐєє Batista:
Here we have Lovers Pavilion
Piers: How would the booking process
work?
ŚöηÐєє Batista:
nay): Well back at the restaurant is the main landing point...we have an
automated receptionist there where you can get a reservation card for either
dinner or resort stays. Once you fill that out, you would pass it one of the
members of management, at that time we will work on availability of a server if
its dinner or just the details of the stay for resort stays. All services are
paid up front so once we contact the guests, we will then provide them with
either a receipt or a detailed itinerary of they stay and activities.
Piers: How did the resort idea come
about?
ŚöηÐєє Batista:
Well my mother is always thinking of new ways to improve the business...she
thought that offering more than just dinner would be a great idea if we can
provide an atmosphere that would be pleasing to all. The fact that the talent
behind the decorations of the sim helps as well...they know we will offer
quality scenes and things for them to enjoy. Also with the resort the guests
come to check in. This Lodge is equipped with a working bar and a gym upstairs
for the guests use while they are here. We also have teleport pads for them to
get around the sim on as well. Here we give them their group tags then take
them down to their cabins. They also receive a gift bags with goodies for both
of them. We also have gift certificates available for all of our services. If a
guest requests it, we will have a bartender here to serve them.
We serve
breakfast/brunch and dinner for the guests when they stay...we serve the early
meal out on the balcony upstairs and the dinner in one of the dining venues
We don’t bother
the guests when they are here, we just remind them of activities that are
scheduled. The Spa would be another scheduled activity. For one night it would
be 1500L, it would come with breakfast or brunch depending on the time of day
and dinner as well as having access to all the amenities that come with that
package
Piers: What do you like to do as a
family when not running the business empire?
ŚöηÐєє Batista:
Well we usually gather for meals at either my place or my parents. Sometimes my
sister cooks and has us over there. I'm planning an outing to a skating park
this week. I'm planning an outing to a skating park this week bowling, skating,
spa treatment. I’m looking forward to it
Piers: What is next for you as a
business?
ŚöηÐєє Batista:
Hmm well I will say that my Dad and I have been talking about a Hospitality
Service. So help educate other restaurant businesses on a successful way to
serve their customers. Like I said, we have been to many places to eat here in
SL and without sounding rude, there is a bit to be desired...so why not offer
classes to help others learn to do it a little better?
It is clear after talking to
SonDee and looking around that Batista's restaurant and Mountain Resort, it is
a place which is not only popular but it is growing with them always looking to
expand and build on the concept.
Visit Batista’s restaurant and Mountain Resort
and experience it for yourself
Group: 00e6a110-fe21-b51a-3c79-5f6efe68a157
Thanks so much for this article! I really wanted to find a realistic dining experience in SL, and agree that most have been lacking. I just became engaged and this sounds like a great place to celebrate, or come for our honeymoon!
ReplyDeleteI wish the Batistas much success and that they keep this going a long time!