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My philosophy concerning CRM as it relates to bars and restaurants could quite easily be summed up by the "Cheers" theme song: Regardless of location, I prefer to frequent two to three establishments "where everybody knows your name". It's fun to do this,to get to know the staff, and get to know other customers. And let's face it: "Your usual table?" is the original loyalty program.

Which makes it amazing to me that there are still some times when, despite copious amounts spent, and the best intentions, restaurant owners miss the concept.

Take Carmines, a terrific Italian restaurant and gourmet shop built on the water on PGA. Four times a month for two to three years, I have been frequenting this place - 95% of the time for their amazing tomato-based seafood risotto, and the rest of the time for their steaks and shaved black truffles on scrambled eggs.

Almost as frequently, it has been the same Maitre d' - yet not once has the maitre d' ever acknowledged my previous patronage, or even shown that he remembers me.

I find this extraordinary. If I ran a restaurant and you returned forty times (and especially if you returned on several occasions surrounded by large numbers of people with bottomless stomachs and excellent taste in wine), I think I'd start taking notes. I'd look to see what tables you like. What drinks you like. I'd go to some lengths to impress you - Why? Because regardless of anything else, it makes good sense for the business.

In addition, if I ran a restaurant, I'd greet people that I recognize by actually asking them "your usual table?" and send them they favorite drinks to sip as they look peruse the menus. Come to think of it, what is the harm of asking a stranger if they'd like their usual table?

Thankfully, there are still some places that understand that the customer enjoys being recognized as having spent money there before. My world headquarters (the Angry Moon cigar bar right next to Carmines) gets this, as does the Oakwood Grill and the legendary John Spotto, just down PGA.

Outside of FL, I would recommend the excellent Peninsula Hotel in LA and Lucy's El Adobe in Hollywood, the Lancaster Hotel in Paris, the Raffles Hotel in Singapore (and the fabulous Straits Kitchen at the Hyatt), the Sheraton in Kuwait (and especially the Al Hambra), Pastis bistro in New York, and Nobu anywhere (the guy has just an amazing, amazing memory of his earliest customers).

The folks that run these places remember - and celebrate - their customers, even when months pass between visits - and this elevates the outing and makes the whole meal more enjoyable. It guarantees that a one-day visit to LA will see me at the Peninsula, and a one day visit to New York will see me at Pastis. It's smart business.

Note: on my most recent visit, Carmines presented me with a "loyalty card" - obviously the work of a highly-paid "customer loyalty consultant". But the Maitre d' still didn't recognize me when I walked in.