We decided to stop by this diner after our son pointed it out a few times. I was surprised but pleased to be able to walk right in and find a booth on a Saturday morning. The sign had said to seat yourself. A nice gentleman, I believe a busser greeted us and handed us 2 menus. That was the only time anyone spoke to us or made eye contact. At the time we sat down the tables around us were empty. I heard the waitress say, "did you see table 3?" In a snarky tone, and then another snarky drawn out response "mmmmhmmmmm". We did appear to be the third table, but some restraunts don't number tables in a way that makes sense and there was always the chance that I somehow misread the tone. So, I wasn't worried yet.
After a while people began sitting at the tables around us and being helped. Then one of the waitresses stood to talk to a customer next to me loudly about how she is from the south. Also....could be a complete misread. But getting strange.
So we never did get coffee or our order taken. I signaled to the waitresses behind the counter and all 3 refused to make eye contact. I felt frustrated and started complaining loudly and they still ignored us. Eventually I stormed out....I am a 6'1", 250 lbs woman. Everyone stared when I walked in, and everyone stared when I walked out (which is typical and not specifically the retraunt's issue) and all 3 waitresses went out of thier way to still completely avoid eye contact.
So by the time we are pulling out of the parking lot, I am in tears. I have been treated badly, but never like this. My wife is pissed. We decide to go to the Lazy Dog cafe instead. Which I highly recommend. (I just prefer ma&pa type places) As we are getting our breakfast my wife posts a blurb about our shitty expirience on Facebook. Some of our friends were outraged and apparently spoke out on our behalf to complain.
I, at this point am still heartbroken, and mostly don't want to talk about it, but take a minute to explain to my friends that we weren't explicitly refused service, but rather purposely ignored. Details matter to me. I'm mostly hoping to put it behind me. Because it is 1000% easier to stand up for other people than to stand up for myself.
So, then an employee from the restraraunt contacts my wife and friend. She wants to let us know that she herself is a bisexual and "We are all very hurt by these posts and very saddened that this untruthful hate is being spread online." And that "as of today, we had not one complaint nor walk out"
So, step one of being called out for shitty service would NOT be to call the customers liars. And the second step would NOT be to try and defend yourself by telling the people that walked out of your restraunt that there hasnt been one complaint or walk out. And also, I don't think one person being not straight means the whole diner is cool...in the same way that having a hispanic busser or dishwasher doesn't make an establishment "diverse".
If you go through yelp....there are not only many complains and walkouts, but numerous accounts of people of color being IGNORED or getting served last or served cold food while people around them are being served well. We 100% did not read any reviews until after we left the diner. OMG. This is NOT a thing that accidently happens and diners get inaccurate reviews on. Differnt dates, different people. This restaurant has a REAL problem and that problem is the employees. And the problem is the owners or managers that are looking the other way and pointing fingers at CUSTOMERS. You think I want to spend my weekend dealing with this garbage?! I just love eggs! I love breakfast. I didnt walk into the wrong biker bar in a shitty movie...I went to a 50's diner. Geez!
So, while I was hesitant to call out this diner and I rarely write reviews...I decided maybe it's for the best to go ahead and share my expirience.
The decor was cute and quaint and had many piggies. I love piggies. The piggies are the only reason I gave this any stars at all. I was a little disappointed in the menu, but was willing to give it a try since it was such a cute place and my son (also not straight) wanted to give it a try. read more