My friends and I recently traveled to Atlantic City for a spring break getaway and made a point to…read moresupport a Black-owned business. Based on recommendations from locals, we chose The Simpson Restaurant & Sports Bar. Unfortunately, what we experienced was one of the worst dining experiences I've had.
The first red flag should have been their outdated website, which still noted a closure from March 3, 2026, despite our visit on March 31. After confirming with locals that the food was good, we made a 7:30 PM reservation.
When we arrived, the restaurant was busy, which we expected, but the seating process was completely disorganized. Multiple groups were waiting, yet others were being seated out of order regardless of arrival time or reservations. One guest even spoke up about it after watching others be seated ahead of him. Our party of three waited about 25 minutes past our reservation time before being seated.
We were placed at a cramped booth near the front door, clearly better suited for two people. We accepted it given how busy things were, but unfortunately, things only got worse.
We were seated without menus because they had "run out", despite seeing stacks brought back to the host stand. We then sat for 30 minutes with no server, no water, and no acknowledgment. Our cups sat upside down the entire time.
When I finally asked the hostess for assistance, she apologized and explained they were short-staffed. It was clear she was overwhelmed and doing her best, while another staff member stood nearby offering no help. She informed the manager that we had not been served.
Shockingly, the manager, who had walked past our table multiple times holding a water container, never once stopped to check on us or fill our glasses. However, he made repeated stops at another table, openly flirting with guests.
When he finally approached us, his response to our concerns lacked any accountability or professionalism. Instead of apologizing, he said:
"I know we're going to have a meeting about this, and I'm going to run it and get them straight. But I'll be looking over you all personally tonight."
There was no ownership, no urgency; just deflection.
By this point, we had already reviewed the menu online for nearly 45 minutes and were ready to order. One person in our group ordered a drink, but the rest of us weren't even offered beverages, no water refills, no soft drinks, nothing.
After over an hour of waiting, it became clear our experience was not unique. Other guests were complaining about long wait times for food. Even the table the manager had been attending closely mentioned waiting over an hour, though they received complimentary drinks. We also observed a guest request the manager, only for him to walk in the opposite direction.
Despite placing our order, we were never checked on again. After an hour and a half, with barely half a glass of water between us, no food, and no service, we made the decision to leave hungry, frustrated, and exhausted.
Fortunately, we went to Ruth's Chris Steak House, where the experience was the complete opposite. We were immediately greeted, even by a staff member clocking out, promptly seated, given menus, served fresh bread, and attended to professionally. By 9:14 PM, our order was already in progress. The service was exceptional.
To be clear: I am not writing this to tear down a Black-owned business. I am writing this because service matters, and poor leadership has a direct impact on the customer experience. The ambiance at The Simpson was great, the music was good, and the food looked enjoyable, but we never got to experience it.
The issue is leadership. The manager on duty lacked accountability, professionalism, and the ability to support his team. I observed blame instead of leadership, distraction instead of service, and reactive discounts instead of proactive solutions. That is not sustainable.
As someone who is both a business owner and leader, I strongly encourage ownership to reevaluate management and invest in proper leadership training.
Unfortunately, I will not be returning, and I will be honest about my experience when asked.