So . . . The food was great!
I had a sushi (smoked salmon, salmon, and tuna)--very good, beautifully presented; my bestie had Chilean Salmon--yum. Yum. Yum! My husband had the fried airline chicken, and, yes, WONDERFUL!
As an appetizer, we shared the chicken ginger potstickers. They were good but cold. They'd sat, for a while. Two parties who came to the bar (and ordered) after we ordered and got their apps and drinks before we did. In fact, I finished a phone call before entering (5 minutes) and went to the water closet. My husband and bestie still had not been offered waters or a drink order when I sat. They'd been seated for at least 10 minutes.
At some point, a friend of ours came in, and we caught her attention, and she sat with us, waiting for her date for the game. She had to call attention to be acknowledged for a drink order--at least 10 minutes after she sat--we had still not received our drink order.
While our friend was chatting with us, a woman who
Had been sitting on the other corner of the bar since arrived (chatting with a man and another woman) came behind the bar and started chatting up our friend. It was at that point, I asked (our friend) and realized the woman (on her laptop, chatting up our friend) was the general manager.
After the chat, she sat back down at her laptop. Another employee had been hanging out, doing nothing to assist, chatting and hanging with her (the GM) (after the previous two guests [employees?] had left).
The young bartender was STRUGGLING! The bar was 80% full plus 3 of the 5 tables served by the bar were filled. No one was helping. The GM (sitting AT THE BAR, ON HER LAPTOP, remember) never raised a finger or an eyebrow to help, to call for help, in any way.
We finally received our app with no flatware or plates--but only after I asked the bartender if our app was ordered. After waiting for flatware/napkins for at least two minutes, I walked from my corner of the bar, over to the GM )and other employee playing and chatting at the other corner of the bar) and asked for plates and flatware. They instructed the poor, struggling bartender to get them for us.
Whew! We finally got a sec opportunity to order a drink but only after after we had finished our meal.
The food was GREAT!
The service was poor, but the service was poor because the GM didn't lift a finger to assist--not in a single way.
I don't care the reason for her on her laptop. Her employee was struggling. She lost sight of the purpose of the service industry.
Meanwhile, the employee who was playing around with her (well, bouncing between her and the hostess) deigned to go behind the bar and serve three people who came in and started chatting him up (friends, acquaintances at least). He, then, went to the bar and served them, stayed with them and did nothing else to assist in any way. He was having a grand ole time entertaining as though he were in his living room!
I usually ONLY leave reviews when service has gone above and beyond because, lately, every breath, everyone expects a survey, but this is a clear case of mismanagement. She (the GM) needs to be pulled in and taught how to do her job.
We are close friends with a GM of a bourbon bar/restaurant we frequent 2-3 times a week: I asked my husband "can you imagine H****** sitting at the bar on her laptop when customers are 'doing without'?" WTH?!
As we paid our tab and were leaving--getting the tab took about 7 minutes--, I asked the server/bartender what was happening. He was clearly uncomfortable and over his head. He didn't want to pass any blame.
My husband said: "we know plenty of places where you can tend bar and get the support you need." When I asked about the GM and the other dude, he said "well, he's off and not really supposed to be here."
Hey, GM, send him the F**K home and help the person working! Do your job!
We won't return. And I'm sad. The food AND drinks were really good. We were there to see a concert. We gave ourselves two hours for dinner and to walk two blocks (to the Tabernacle). We got in the building (no line at the venue) at 7:50 after arriving at the restaurant at 6:05. We wasted no time, so . . .
What a waste of a great opportunity of beautiful space and tasty food! read more