Terrible Experience -- Unsanitary Conditions and Disappointing Management…read more
We went to Wyckoff Tavern in Wyckoff, NJ, for lunch and were extremely disappointed by the entire experience.
The restaurant was filled with flies. We asked to be moved to another section, hoping the situation would improve, but there were just as many flies in the other area. After we ordered, flies continued landing on our food, silverware, clothing, napkins, and drinking glasses. This was completely unacceptable and made it difficult to enjoy our meal.
Unfortunately, things got even worse. My friend has an onion allergy and specifically informed the staff, asking that her salad be prepared without onions. She was assured that this would not be a problem. When her salad arrived, she began eating it without realizing that it contained onions. It was only after she had started eating that she noticed the onions in her salad.
When we brought this to the waiter's attention, his response was, "Well, that's not my fault. I told the kitchen." He said he would get her a new salad without onions.
A hostess came over and asked how my friend was feeling. At that point, my friend thought she would be okay because she believed she had consumed only a small amount of onion. The restaurant simply removed the salad from the bill. Shortly afterward, however, my friend's face began to feel numb and turned red. Despite these concerning symptoms, no one from the restaurant returned to check on her or make sure she was okay.
I then went to speak with the hostess, who brought over the owner. His response was shocking. He was rude, dismissive, and unwilling to listen to any criticism. When I brought up the flies, he acknowledged that he knew they were there and essentially asked what I expected him to do about it. He then told us there were plenty of other restaurants in the area and that we should, in his words, "get out, there's the door" and go somewhere else.
When my friend explained the seriousness of her onion allergy and what had happened, his response was essentially that it was human error, asking what we wanted him to do about it. When we asked for his name, he refused to provide it, saying he did not have to tell us.
The only reason we initially stayed was that we were short on time and did not have enough time to find another place for lunch.
Mistakes can happen in any restaurant, but how a business responds to a problem says a great deal about its management. Flies landing on customers' food and utensils, a failure to honor a clearly communicated food allergy, and a dismissive response when a customer experiences symptoms are not acceptable. We expected basic cleanliness, attention to food safety, and common courtesy. We received none of these.
Based on this experience, I would not return to Wyckoff Tavern, and I would not recommend it to others.