Got there around 4 and went to the outside bar. Was pretty busy. Stood at the bar to order drinks and waited for about 5 minutes before a bartender asked us what we wanted. Told her we wanted 3 beers and a Tito's and ginger ale. Received the bees within 3 minutes. Took about 6 minutes to get the Tito's and ginger ale. Eventually took a seat at the bar where we continued drinking and eating. Asked for the tab and gave them the card to cash out and and pay the tab about 5 minutes after inquired about it. Was told that they had to bring it inside to cash out and was told that the lady doing the credit cards was a little slow. Told them no worries but did mention that we had been waiting for about 10 minutes. About 5 minutes after that, having not recovered our card or the cashed out tab, we made a comment at the bar about why it was taking so long to pay a tab. The bartender mentioned that usually the manager has a card swipe on his phone that he uses but he wasn't in so they didn't have access to so they only had one machine that actually took credit cards and it was inside. (Side note: it was a Saturday around 5). After about 15 minutes of waiting to get our card back for paying a tab that was over $100, we started getting upset. One of the people in our party went to the cash register and inquired about it. The lady at the register told him that his bill was next. About 5 minutes after that (in total, about 25 minutes after they took our credit card to pay the tab), we start getting angry. We had been sitting at a bar without drinks for 25 minutes waiting to get our credit card back for paying a tab of over $100. Finally, two people in our party went to the register indoors and they got a little upset at the lady at the register. The bartenders were saying that the lady at the register was very old and was slow at processing credit cards but as a customer, we had mentioned that it was not very effective business practice to wait for 25 minutes to pay a tab that was $107. When the two members of our party mentioned to the lady at the register that they had been waiting for 25 minutes to get their slip, she actually printed the credit receipt and kind of threw it at them, as if it was their fault they were waiting 25 minutes for her to process the credit card. One of our parties mentioned to her that she could have handled that situation better and she was still very rude. After about 25 minutes of waiting to get our credit card back for paying the tab, the owner walked out with the two people in our party and actually asked them to leave. She told them they were not appropriate for mentioning to the cashier that she was taking a long time to cash them out (reminder: we had been waiting 25 minutes to get our credit card back) and she actually asked the two customer to leave her premises...after spending over $100! When I mentioned that she had to understand that as customer we were upset that it took over 25 minutes to pay our tab, she told me that I had to leave with my party. There was no apology for taking over 25 minutes to pay a tab - the owner just blamed us for being upset that we had to wait for over 25 minutes to wait for our credit card after giving it to them to pay for their tab. It was disappointing. As we were sitting there waiting for the tab, we were told that the business was family owned and he lady at the register was part of the family. I understand that, however as a customer, it's not fair to make someone wait 25 minutes to get a tab because the lady at the register is family and it takes her a long time to do credit cards.
I worked as a bartender and waitress for over 15 years so I absolutely understand the business. What I really don't understand is having a customer wait for over 25 minutes to cash out their tab (having already given you their credit card) and then actually getting upset at the customer because they're a little mad that they've waited for over 25 minutes to get their credit card back.
The owner should have had better business etiquette. She should have came out and apologized that we gave the bartender our card and it took over 25 minutes to cash out. That would have been the responsible thing to do as an owner. But, instead, she came out and reprimanded us for being upset that it took over 25 minutes to pay our tab.
To the owner of Hurricane Grill, please reply to this and explain yourself because I would like to know why you think this is an appropriate business practice. I would also like potential customers to understand your business practices so they are aware of what to expect. I look forward to hearing your response. read more