Last night, my dinner was better than normal. The food was excellent, but it was the service that made the difference.

The restaurant staff was so genuinely friendly and so thoughtful in their customer engagement that the meal had little chance to be anything but delicious.

As I reflect upon it, the most enjoyable elements of the experience were the parts that were voluntary. A warm smile. A kind suggestion. An expression of curiosity.

Those extra pieces — what seemed to be improvisation — were what turned a good meal into a memorable experience.

* * *

When we go beyond what’s required, we create a kind of magic that sticks in the mind.