Ok, first of all, my fiance and I visit Chili's on a regular basis, and are on a first name basis with just about all the waitstaff. Sadly, on 07/16, my fiance and I witnessed something absolutely appalling; which is why we gave the restaurant 2 stars.
My fiance and I arrived at Chilis for dinner one night and were seated at the table directly behind one of the servers who was there with her friends and family; off the clock of course. Our waitresses were the same person. She took the employees order first, along with her party. Then took our order. She brought out our drinks as well as the employees party's drinks. Then we waited. My fiance's and my food came out after about twenty-five minutes. The employees party were still waiting for theirs. We figured, they are a rather large party, so their food is probably being tended to by one cook, so it may take a few minutes longer. Forty-five minutes later, the employees party still didn't have their food, though their drinks have been refilled a total of three times so far. My fiance and I order dessert, the pan cookie, which takes about five to ten minutes to make. Ten minutes later, our desert comes out, but their food does not. By this time, the employee is furious and embarrassed, as well as our waitress, as they are good friends. The employee asks for the manager on duty that night, Joey, to come out and talk to her. He promptly tells her, in ear shot of the whole restaurant mind you, that they were just WAY too busy back there to be worrying about her parties order; there were only three other SMALL parties in the dining room besides my fiance and I, and her party. And only two couples sitting in the lounge; kind of a typical Tuesday night for them. Anyway, he then proceeds to tell her that he doesn't care if she's a paying customer, its the fact that she works there, is the reason why her party has to wait, be cause they are "too busy" in the kitchen right now, to worry about their order. She's an employee, so she has to wait. So, we sit there for another thirty-five to forty-five minutes, just talking and waiting to see if the employee and her party even get their food. Finally, an hour and a half, after my fiance and I ARRIVED at the restaurant, the employee and her party are served their food; which was cold and gross at that point.
It is for this reason, why I gave the restaurant 2 stars, it is because the one night manager, Joey, treats his employees like dirt. The fact remains is she was a PAYING customer, not an ON THE CLOCK EMPLOYEE, and should be given the same respect and service as you would any other customer; regardless of if she works there or not.
We have been back once more since Tuesday night, and received the same courteous and prompt service as we always get; however, ever since Tuesday night; Joey the manager will not; look us in the eye, come to our table to check on the quality of the food and/or service, and absolutely refuses to come speak to us when we request an audience with him. Chilis has since lost their BEST bartender/waiter due to Joey's tyrannical attitude and all of the waitresses and waiters walk on pins, needles, and egg shells just to stay out of his line of fire and save their jobs. It is an unpleasant work environment for the Chilis employees when Joey is around, which becomes an unpleasant dining experience for regulars like my fiance and I, when we see our friends nervous and on edge like that. It's uncalled for, absolutely ridiculous, and needs to have attention brought to the issue promptly.
So I urge you, if you ever dine at the Carson City Chilis in the future, please give your waitperson some slack and credit; they are run like cattle through there when Joey is around, and he is the one holding a red hot branding iron to their backsides.
Food = 5 stars
Atmosphere = 5 stars (especially since the remodel!)
Service = 5 stars read more