Sunday, 11/23/25
I arrived at a restaurant to have breakfast (Garcia's Kitchen on 4th by Griegos), I sat at a booth, and when my server came to my table she wiped her snot from her nose with her bare hand while she was taking my order. I was immediately disgusted. I hid it with a smile and a pleasant tone. I could see she might be getting over a cold and didn't say anything and continued with my order. She was efficient and professional except for the wiping of the snot.
Then, I watched her with that same hand with snot on it, pour coffee, and touch as many menus as apparently possible during a busy breakfast hour.
I watched her buzz around the small dining area, never washing her hands once. Then the piece de resistance, she coughed, what sounded like a huge glop of noisy phlegm into that bare hand and not once did she wash that hand. She just wiped her hand on a nearby rag and continued with providing coffee toppers, menus, and food orders. This is the person who will be serving my own plate and I just couldn't let her bring my food with those hands. So, I approached her at the server station and I knew that I was going to mention something that she didn't want to hear and I also didn't want to hurt her feelings. I said very quietly "I'm not trying to hurt your feelings. I know you're not feeling well, but you wiped your nose at my table and you coughed into you bare hand and I haven't seen you wash your hands. I'm so sorry, I don't want to hur....". Then she went off with a series of denials, and excuses very upset: "Well I'm not feeling well!", "I always wash my hands!", "That's my cup!", "You wanna see me wash my hands!?" (There is a hand washing station at the service area, right behind her). Then she turned her back to me in a huff and stormed off.
I mentioned to the manager apologetically that I hurt the server's feeling. The manager said that she wasn't feeling well and was 1. getting over a cold and 2. has allergies. I told the manager that I was trying to be as gentle as possible and I didn't intend to be rude. The manager offered to serve my plate and I said that would be OK. The manager only provided excuses and never apologized. When I went to pay for my meal, I mentioned that I couldn't finish my food. The manager ignored that and continued to make me pay every dimensions worth of a disgusted appetite-killing experience. I will never go to Garcia's again. I see why people don't like the 4th street location: arrogant and rude.
BTW - I couldn't eat my breakfast. read more