First off I'd like to say that I don't like confrontation, I don't expect anything free, and I don't mind waiting in a busy restaurant for someone to come to the table.
And I will contact the company.
I was taking my folks to get groceries and we decided to stop at Chili's in Auburndale.
It was before five o'clock and the place was not busy.
We waited maybe five minutes to be seated and I noticed several tables that had not been cleaned off.
Once seated, it was more than 20 minutes before anyone came to our table.
He was a nice guy, apologizing over and over, for our wait, while several servers were chatting in the back.
He said, "Please let me get you all some drinks and I'll talk to my boss, cause he will be paying for your dinner today."
So we order our drinks and continue with our conversation. He came back with beverages and took our order.
I noticed a tall, dark haired Man with a Chili's shirt on, talking with a female server, his hand on her back, as she was cleaning off a mess on a table near us.
After a few minutes he walks up to our table and it went like this:
"I understand you had to wait a few minutes to be waited on, but you guys need to understand that you walked into MY restaurant during a shift change during the busy holidays and we are the only restaurant in Auburndale."
This guy was so arrogant. No hello, no sorry for the wait.
And he was wanting to blame us for coming in HIS restaurant?
Me, " You are not the only restaurant in Auburndale, and that's not my fault you don't have enough staff."
I actually went on to name other places to eat in town.
He said, "Well, I sent out a basket of chips and salsa, at no charge, there's not much else I can do."
Me, "I didn't ask for any, and I didn't ask to see a Manager."
Him, in a very stern tone, "Do you have a problem with me? What are you actually complaining about? You got something against me?"
I was furious.
My Mother and Father looked uncomfortable, and this was nonsense.
Me, " You are becoming very combative with me, you need to walk away. And now I'd like to speak with someone."
Him, grinning, smug look on his face, says to me, "This is it! I'm the top of the food chain around here!"
Me, " So you own Chili's?"
Him, "I own this one!"
Me, "You need to go now, this is awful for you to stand here and talk to us that way. I've never experienced anything like this."
And the asshole wouldn't quit.
Him, "I gave you free chips and salsa and you're still complaining? What do you think I'm going to do?"
I'm pissed.
Me, "Well, I would get up and leave but my parents need to eat and our server said dinner was on you."
Him, "That's NOT happening.
Things don't work that way around here."
Then he looks at my 79 year old Father and says in a voice that one might use to speak to a child and said, " Now I don't hear this fine young Man complaining about anything. He hasn't said a word."
My Father has Alzheimer's.
Me, "I've asked you to walk away.
This is ridiculous..."
And before I could say another word, he said, "Don't interrupt me when I want to hear what this young Man has to say.
You seem to be the only one with a problem here. You need to be quiet while I speak to this young Man..."
I felt awful for my parents.
They don't get to go out as often as they once did, and I was getting more angry by the second. This guy was unreal.
So I said to him, this arrogant, rude, and disrespectful person, "Leave. Walk away now. And give me a number to call."
He walked away laughing and brought back a business card with his name and the number of the restaurant.
He sat in on the table and said, "Please call. Have a Happy New Year."
And walked away smiling.
Such a big Man.
I paid for our dinners, left our Server a nice tip, and felt so bad for how uncomfortable this experience was for my folks.
I've always enjoyed going there in the past. Never again.
And I'm sorry for my Mom and Dad.
This guy was awful. read more