The location was beautiful, the food was great, and the interior of the restaurant was so…read morebeautifully done that I was sure the overall experience would put the cherry on top. Unfortunately, it did not.
My friends and I were visiting Monroe for the LO Sister Women's Conference and were tourists just looking for a nice brunch spot before heading back home. The hosts at the front were incredibly kind, and the other servers we passed were smiling and welcoming, so I was excited for the experience.
Unfortunately, our server, Kandi, came across as very rude and unwelcoming from the beginning. Her tone felt aggressive, and she seemed short with all of us while we were ordering.
I have a texture issue with poached eggs, so when ordering the Cochon Benedict, I politely explained that I don't like poached eggs and asked if scrambled eggs would be possible instead. I was still very excited about the dish and was open to the substitution. Her response was essentially, "Well, it's supposed to be served that way. That's what makes a Benedict a Benedict, but I guess I'll see if we can do that."
As someone who has also worked in the service industry, I completely understand that restaurants have certain ways they prepare and serve their dishes, and I understand that substitutions aren't always possible. What disappointed me was the tone and the lack of warmth in the interaction. There was no need for my request to feel like an inconvenience, especially when I was simply explaining a dietary/texture preference and asking if there was another option.
Honestly, after that first interaction, I almost didn't want to order at all because I wondered how the rest of the experience would go.
I want to emphasize that the restaurant itself is beautiful, the food was delicious, and the atmosphere has so much potential. My experience with the other staff members was positive, which made the interaction with our server stand out even more.
I'm praying for Kandi and genuinely hope she was simply having a rough day. I don't know what she may have been dealing with that day, and I never want to judge someone based on one interaction. However, as a customer visiting from out of town, first impressions matter, and unfortunately, the service took away from what could have been a wonderful overall experience.
