I used to live around the corner ('03) and went to this place a few times a week. I will never go back.
Tonight I ordered a hamburger. Without the bun. I understand that this may make you upset, but bread wreaks havoc on my digestion and makes me ill. So it's worth it. Ask someone to hold the mayo or the tomato, nobody bats an eyelash. But lemme tell you: avoiding bread and beer sucks enough on it's own, without having to be harassed for it.
Anyhow, it seemed to really bother the charming fellow who took my order, because he called me a "gluetard" and said he would "punch me in the throat if I ordered fries."
Wow, dude! Sure you want to make violent threats to your customers?
Although I really did want fries, I was so caught off guard, that I actually ordered a salad instead (which is absurd, I know, but I merely wanted to acquiesce to the person who would be in charge of my food).
I remember when the P@PC served hand cut & battered fish and chips and decent quality pub food. While I don't need to spend time critiquing the poor quality of the food -- perhaps the cook is jaded after 10 years? -- it's just pub food and what was once impressive no longer is.
The food showed up, and I was confused. There was cheese on my burger, which I specifically declined, and although there was the lettuce tomato and onion that come with a burger, there was no salad otherwise. Oh wait, actually there were like nine (9) pieces of wet, slimy spring mix underneath the lettuce. Great - that must be a salad. I think not. The service is deliberately avoiding our table, and it's abundantly clear that I am the target of some sort of anti-gluten sentiments now. . . all because I didn't want a bun ...
I went back and forth on whether to even mention that my meal came without a salad. Eventually, I stood up and walked up to the bar with my plate.
[I should add: I am a server/bartender/food service professional. We want to know when you are dissatisfied. At least, we really ought to. It should not get to this point - in any restaurant. Slow, uninspired service and low quality food is one thing; rude, pissy service with no concern for your experience is unacceptable. I have never threatened a customer, or in jest or otherwise.]
Anyhow, this is not the case at Pub at Piper's Creek. Neither the cook nor the bartender who took my order gave one iota of concern for my satisfaction, and even showed me outright contempt for being what they felt was a pain in the ass. I was only ever polite, and even apologetic for requesting the omission of the bun. I asked if my meal should come with a salad, when he asked me if the slimy spring mix hiding under the lettuce was not a salad. What did I do to get sh*t on by these guys again? Oh yeah, I didn't want a bun. Right.
He finally said he'd fix me a salad, and I became immediately reluctant. By now I know what kind of place they are running here. By his aggressive and sarcastic tone, It was clear that I could have no trust with this person. Based on the attitude of the server and the cook, who had silently teamed up against me, I was really getting the feeling that this was the sort of place I can see them messing with your food... I said I'd pass on another (slimy gross) salad, and with a snide, sophomoric laugh (but fortunately, not a punch to the throat) agreed to bring me fries instead.
The fries never showed up. I'm not sure if I'd have eaten them if they had. I cannot remember being so turned off by a restaurant... Having already paid and tipped upfront, I walked out without another word, dissatisfied and defeated.
I don't write today out of spite. But I will never, ever go back there. I'm writing this as a caution for the rest of you: maybe you'll enjoy the pub I used to frequent... just as long as you don't need anything, or the staff will make things very uncomfortable for you. read more