No one who worked here was the least bit pleasant, they were at “best” professional but the general vibe from the lobby until we left after our we paid was everyone was miserable. It’s been my experience, having worked in restaurants, that this kind of vibe starts with management.
Our waiter “Tim C” was beyond loud, practically shouting at us and although the space has admittedly bad acoustics (despite their use of acoustical ceiling tiles), there was no need to speak that loudly. He brought us water when we first sat down, but didn’t bother to ask if we wanted anything else and as he turned to leave, we had to call out what we’d like.
The food was nothing special. I had what was written up as a turkey Ruben - DRIEST SANDWICH I have ever had. If there was a single tablespoon of Russian dressing between the two halves I’d be surprised. It was also done as a panini, but not described as such in the menu. I hate paninis. They tear up the roof of my mouth. A runner brought the meal (it wasn’t that busy so Tim could’ve done it himself - which matters in dining because you want a tip? Be sure your customer is happy with their meal).
He never checked back with us until we were finished and sitting with our dirty plates for some time. He asked if we wanted the check, we said yes, he left - without clearing our plates and so we continued to sit there with dirty dishes. Again, you work for tips? Make an effort, a tip is a reflection of service, not guaranteed.
When we got the check, we saw this restaurant is one of the growing number of restaurants passing their cost of doing business onto the customers by passing their merchant bank’s credit card surcharge off to us. I’ve had a couple of small businesses in my life time - you want to take credit cards to increase YOUR number of diners? Then it’s YOUR cost of doing business. You can write that off as a business expense - we can’t write off our ATM fees. If a restaurant does this - I go old school. I deduct that and the tax from the tip amount. You’re only irritating your customers, being slopey shouldered about managing your business, and hurting your wait staff as I know from talking with friends, I’m not the only person who deducts something from the tip for this. I’m also one of many diners who don’t go back to restaurants who do this. It’s just price gouging (3.5%) and faux inflation.
But - even if they didn’t do that - I still wouldn’t go back. Bad attitudes, bad dining experiencing, mediocre food.
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