I have dined at Moxie Steakhouse twice, about two weeks apart, and unfortunately, my experiences were so different that I feel compelled to share my feedback.
My first visit was with my husband, who is White American. We walked in without a reservation and were treated warmly. We were even given the opportunity to choose where we wanted to sit. The service was excellent, and I genuinely enjoyed the food and the entire experience.
Our server took the time to explain the different kinds of donuts and their fillings, including what makes your cruller dough special. We were also told that even the fries were made in-house. I appreciated the attention, hospitality, and enthusiasm in explaining the food. I left very pleased and looking forward to returning.
My second visit, just two weeks later, was to celebrate a friend's birthday. This time, we were 2 asian woman. I made a reservation because I wanted the occasion to be special. We arrived at approximately the same time as my first visit, but the hospitality felt completely different.
We were seated at a small table for two squeezed between two larger tables occupied by groups. I politely asked whether we could sit in an empty booth because my friend and I wanted a comfortable, private space to talk about work. I was told it was reserved for four people. I then asked if we could move to another smaller table behind the group so we wouldn't be sandwiched between two large parties. I was told that if someone else came in, we would still end up in the middle of people. I accepted the explanation, although the table we were given was directly in front of the counter, near an open door, and lacked the cozy atmosphere I had hoped for.
What made this particularly disappointing was what I observed afterward. A White couple came in and was given the larger booth for four that I had initially requested, even though there were only two of them. I understand that restaurants have seating arrangements and may need to accommodate reservations. However, seeing this happen after my request had been declined made me question the consistency of the seating decisions.
The service was also noticeably different. During my first visit, the coffee arrived promptly. On my second visit, we ordered the same French press coffee, but it took so long to arrive that I had already finished my donut. When our food finally came, our small table became crowded with our plates, coffee, and donut dishes.
I explained to the young, tall server that this was exactly why I had requested a bigger table. Rather than acknowledging my concern or offering to help, he placed the plate on our already crowded table and walked away.
Then I watched another White couple receive a larger table for four, despite ordering smaller plates.
I want to be fair: I cannot know the staff's intentions, and I recognize that there may be seating or operational considerations I am unaware of. But the contrast between my two visits was significant. As an Asian woman, I left my second visit feeling unwelcome and questioning whether I had been treated differently because of my race.
What makes this especially disappointing is that my first visit had left me with such a positive impression. I returned because I enjoyed the food and genuinely believed Moxie was a place where I would be happy to celebrate a special occasion with a friend.
My concern is not simply that I didn't get the booth I wanted or that my coffee was late. It is the combination of the seating decisions, the difference in attentiveness, and the way my concern was dismissed, especially when I saw other guests receive the accommodations I had requested.
I hope management takes this feedback seriously and looks into how seating decisions and guest concerns are handled. Every guest deserves to feel equally welcomed, respected, and valued, regardless of race or who they are dining with. read more