Let me start by saying I've been a loyal Chinn's customer for probably 15 or more years. I have been there many, many times and received good food with good service. I've taken my child care children there to get the whole 'Chinese food experience', been there with my friends and family and recommended them to others.
They changed ownership maybe a year ago or more and I'm not sure who stayed with the business but I did notice some changes. The food has stayed consistent and is an ordinary, middle of the road Chinese food. Nice tasting food at a reasonable price. BUT last night I was disrespected and treated so badly that after being a loyal customer for such a long time I probably will never go back there again!!
I walked into the bar on a Friday night at about 9:30pm. I saw and could hear customers in the dining room and there were 2 people in the bar on the poker machines. I walked to the bar, sat down and waited for a while before I was greeted. The woman greeted me with an attitude right from the get go!! I kind of knew what I wanted to eat since I've been going there forever but ordered a drink and asked for a menu to look at. I didn't know why she had such an attitude at that time.
When I placed my order she rudely asked me if I wanted this for "here or to go" which I replied with "I'd like this for here" and was given more rude attitude!!! It was then that she told me they closed in 20 minutes. I told her "Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know you closed that early" but I understood. I told her that I didn't want to keep her and I would be quick and get on my way. With that being said, I had plenty of time to order a dinner and still be out of there by closing time.
My meal was a combination meal which comes with a cup of soup. She brought me my meal and I had not been given, or even offered, my soup. I asked if my meal came with soup and she told me yes it did but that they were out of soup. Out of ALL the soup? Really??? She didn't even ask me what kind of soup I wanted, just that they were out!!
When she brought me my meal she brought me a 'to go' box at the same time. I was good with that but had been treated so rudely I was a little bit annoyed by it. She put my plate down on the bar and never came back to check on me until she brought the bill. By this time I was angry by the way I had been treated at a place that I loved going to so I had my money ready to go so I could get out of there. I could have eaten some of my food, boxed it up, closed out my tab with a tip and been on my way near their closing time but was not given that opportunity.
Don't get me wrong, I've worked in the food industry for many years and it's frustrating when it's close to the time you close, you're doing closing procedures and thinking about going home then people come in. But I always served my customers with respect, even near closing time! When you are open till 10pm that means you take orders until 10pm even if those customers are sitting in your dining room!!
After boxing up my meal, paying the bill and getting ready to go on my way I knew I needed to say something to her. When I was leaving I walked into the dining room, which was empty by this time, and she was cleaning tables. I told her that I'd never been treated so bad by any server ever and that her service and attitude may be the reason I NEVER come back there again and I walked out of the restaurant to my car. On my way I heard something behind me and turned around. She was standing at the door with it open and was yelling something at me. I have no idea what she was saying to me, and quite frankly I could care less, but I couldn't believe that she followed me out of the restaurant to yell at me! (oh and on a side note ~ when I left, the 2 people who were on the poker machines were still on the poker machines playing. They weren't asked to leave!!!)
I have loved the food at Chinn's for years, and the food is still good, but I will NEVER recommend them to anyone again. I recommend that you order your food to go and hope you don't get this woman as your server. read more