After attending the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk with my family, we decided to patronize…read moreSunny Scrambled in Millburn, NJ. My in-laws had visited previously and spoke highly of the delicious food, great customer service, and ambiance, so we were genuinely looking forward to enjoying brunch together as a family.
My husband and I arrived separately with our three children, ages 6, 2, and 13 months, while my in-laws and sister-in-law arrived first and were seated. We all placed our orders, our food came out, and we began eating, reflecting on the walk, catching up on life, and enjoying our time together.
Then came an interaction that completely changed the atmosphere of our meal.
The gentleman who took our orders, who I assume may have been the owner or manager on duty, approached our table and quietly said, "Um, your baby, please quiet it. Your baby is being too loud." He then awkwardly walked away.
I honestly cannot put into words how caught off guard, embarrassed, angry, and disappointed we felt in that moment. Our 13-month-old was not crying, screaming, having a tantrum, or disturbing anyone. He was simply babbling, talking, and making the normal sounds that babies his age make. No one at our table had been approached by another guest with a complaint, and we were not aware of our child causing any disturbance.
What made this interaction even more upsetting was the complete lack of tact, warmth, or consideration in how it was handled. There was no friendly approach, no polite conversation, and no attempt to communicate with us respectfully. Instead, we were left feeling unwelcome in a restaurant we had specifically chosen because of the positive experiences our family had heard about.
This was supposed to be a pleasant family brunch after an important day spent together supporting breast cancer awareness. Instead, one unnecessary and poorly handled comment shifted the entire mood of our table. Everyone stopped eating. Our appetites were gone. We packed up our food in to-go containers and left.
Ironically, the same gentleman thanked us on our way out. But by then, the damage had already been done. Good food and a nice ambiance mean very little when the customer service is poor.
Unfortunately, this experience has changed our perception of Sunny Scrambled, and we will not be returning. I hope management reflects on how this interaction was handled, because no family should leave a restaurant feeling this disappointed over something so unnecessary.