The food is good - it's not the BEST Mediterranean I've ever had - I've had much better, for example in San Diego, and in San Francisco - such as the freshly prepared Mediterranean food I bought at the open farmers market in San Francisco - incredible! But it's good, or decent. Mediterranean is one of, if not THE healthiest types of eating - of course assuming what you get, and how it is prepared.
The owner, Sam seems like a nice person and good, hard working businessman, which I do respect. I would like to give the business a better rating, but cannot because of the blame I received due to THEIR training issues and maybe internal culture? One of their "long time" employees even told me, as a reason for them making little mistakes on some of my takeout orders - he said something to this effect: "I'm the longest employee here, and I've only been here a few months".
Anyway, I had one issue due to poor customer service and YES, I acted up and was "banned" from there. After that, I called and spoke with Sam, explained myself, apologized and we worked it out and I was "allowed" to come back. (acting up consisted of walking out the door, dropping an expletive in almost a whisper and dropping their menu).
I started doing takeout orders. I was always polite over the phone and in person to pick up my orders. I even gave tips sometimes, even though tips aren't really required for take out orders, in my opinion - (but yes, food service workers don't make what they deserve in Idaho from the basic wage; tips are a good thing. I know tips should be paid them whether takeout or dine in - this is NOT fast food, after all).
Anyway, when they would make little errors on my orders I was always polite - but even the notifications seemed to "bother" their managers who supposedly started "mentioning me" in their monthly meetings. Whatever.
Thursday, 7/14/2016. I called in ONE takeout order for a 4 item sampler and was told 15-25 minutes and I said "perfect" and I will be there.
When I showed up, I mentioned I had called in an order and gave them my name and they said we have "Two orders here for the name Daryl". I said that I called in ONE order of 4 item sampler (it's just me and I only order for myself, and just enough for one meal - if I save anything it's refrigerated until later or next day - but I never order large quantity from them). The manager there actually asked me if I checked my order before I left, and I said "no, it's embarrassing". And she said "why"?. She then proceeded to check my order for me - which was nice. I got out to the car and the sauce for the Dolmas was missing. I went in and POLITELY asked for it, and did not say anything impolite to the person.
The next day, on Friday, 7/15/2016 - the owner, Sam, called me and told me I had been "causing trouble", and asked me to please not go there any longer. Additionally, he accused me of calling in a $60 order that Thursday evening, 7/15/2016, and not picking it up, and that "they had to throw away $60 worth of food". What???? If there was a large order there associated with MY phone# - why did they not mention it then?
I said that was not me. I would never do that. I told him I only order for me AND, it has always been vegetarian based and I asked him what the big order was composed of?
He then kind of "glossed over" all that and kind of re-stated that "well, your phone number was associated with the order". Later, telling the story of this incident to a friend of mine, my friend said that one of their employees could easily have mistakenly (or not mistakenly?), put my phone number on that other, big order.
I was told I would not be charged for the big order - which is the correct thing to do because I didn't make that order. I was also accused of being impolite to the employee the prior day when I asked for the sauce that I did not receive. I was not impolite to her.
So, they told a good and polite customer not to come back, due to their own errors and internal issues.
I have no problem with Sam as a person - I've spoken with him - he seems like a very nice man, and is just a businessman. I have a business degree and respect the small business owner - it's just that, him accusing me of this, and me being... "guilty until proven innocent" is not cool at all.
Very, Very bizarre experience. read more