EXTREMELY DISTURBING EXPERIENCE WITH THE WAITER!
This took place around 9:00 PM on Thursday, June 4.
Our group consisted of three couples dining together. At the end of the meal, we asked if the bill could be split into thirds. Our waiter, Martin P., told us that he would not split the check and instead instructed us to write down exactly what each person ordered so that he could charge us separately. Although no other restaurant we visited in Provincetown required us to do this, we followed his instructions and listed our individual items.
When Martin returned, he was visibly upset and stated that our payments were approximately $70 short. There was confusion because our group was trying to determine who had already paid, who had not, and whether something had been missed in the calculations. I even asked whether we were expected to calculate individual tax amounts ourselves, as no one knew what tax would be for each separate charge.
Rather than calmly helping us resolve the discrepancy, Martin began yelling at our group. At one point he stated, "If I don't get $70, I am going to charge one of the credit cards that I have."
This immediately concerned us. We were not refusing to pay. We were actively trying to understand where the discrepancy occurred and make sure the restaurant received the full amount owed.
To resolve the issue, one of my friends and I went with Martin into a back room to review the charges. After reviewing everything, my friend agreed to pay the remaining balance immediately. The payment was processed and the bill was fully paid.
At that point I was trying to calm the situation and bring it to a close. Instead, Martin became even more agitated and began yelling profanities at us. He shouted, "Get the f*** out of my restaurant! It's people like you why we don't split checks! You all need to get the f*** out now!" Other people started noticing this go down.
We were stunned. The bill had been paid. Nobody was attempting to leave without paying. We were simply trying to resolve a billing issue after following the waiter's instructions.
As we were leaving, my wife later told me that Martin placed his HAND ON HER BACK and guided her toward the exit. While it was not forceful, it felt unnecessary and added to an already hostile and intimidating experience.
What happened next is why I ultimately decided to write this review.
A few days later, while walking through Provincetown looking for a place to have lunch, our group passed The Mayflower Food & Drink and noticed Martin working there. When he saw us, he deliberately tapped on the glass to get our attention. After making eye contact, he made a hand gesture across his neck and pointed for us to leave and keep walking.
The original incident had already ended. The bill had been paid. Yet days later he still felt the need to single out our group and signal that we were unwelcome.
Had this simply been confusion over a split check, I would not be writing this review. Billing mistakes happen. What I cannot overlook is being threatened with unauthorized credit card charges, being screamed at with profanity while attempting to resolve the issue, being ordered out after the bill had been paid, Martin touching my wife, and then encountering the same employee days later making a gesture directed at our group from another restaurant.
This experience was troubling enough that I believe others should be aware of it. read more