My friend and I had heard great things about The Southern Porch, so we decided to give it a try for brunch this past Saturday. Unfortunately, our excitement quickly faded before we were even seated.
When I walked into the restaurant, I was completely ignored by a young blonde employee named Claudia who was standing behind the counter in the waiting area. She looked directly at me and continued what she was doing without so much as a greeting or an acknowledgment. A simple, "Good morning, someone will be right with you," would have gone a long way.
Since no one else was in the lobby and I noticed a clipboard on the counter, I politely asked if there was a waitlist. Claudia responded with an attitude that she "wasn't the hostess." I calmly asked where the hostess was, and she simply replied that she was clearing tables. There was no offer to help, no explanation of the process, and no attempt to assist me. She continued interacting with other staff members while I stood there feeling like an inconvenience.
Thankfully, another employee who appeared to be a waiter noticed me. He immediately picked up the same clipboard that had been sitting on the counter, took my name and phone number with a cheerful attitude, and let me know it would be about a 15-minute wait. His professionalism completely contrasted with the poor customer service I had just experienced.
Once seated, our waiter was personable, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. The food was also very good. I ordered the Chicken Sausage Scramble with hash browns, and it was delicious. My friend ordered the Catfish and Grits and thoroughly enjoyed her meal as well.
The food and our waiter helped redeem the experience, but first impressions matter. Management should ensure that every employee understands that providing basic courtesy and hospitality is everyone's responsibility, not just the hostess's. Even if greeting guests or managing the waitlist wasn't Claudia's primary role, there was no excuse for being dismissive or rude to someone walking through your front door.
Alpharetta has no shortage of excellent brunch spots with both great food and outstanding customer service. Sadly, because of the way I was treated before I was even seated, I won't be returning to The Southern Porch. I also won't feel comfortable recommending it to friends or family. It's disappointing because the kitchen and our waiter did their jobs well, but one employee's attitude overshadowed what could have been an otherwise enjoyable brunch. read more