Dear Reader,
My companion expressed her interest in dining out one week ago, and I had wanted to try the World's End Public House despite what are marked downgrades in food offerings in recent months since its reopening. Not knowing what its current offerings might be, I conducted a Bing search for its menu and clicked a link for its website, i.e., https://www.facebook.com/tharsheblows/. No menu was available, so I left a message to this effect. The dry wit reply was that we would just have to come in, so I indicated we would arrive there in an hour.
My companion and I like a sizable sampling of the many craft beers offered by a place like this, but I didn't like that my companion was required to walk to the bar, pay for each round repeatedly and not be permitted to open a tab with her credit card, and not receive a receipt because the place had run out of paper. Paradoxically, the beer and food were actually brought to our table by the unmasked server, Brenda Barnhouse. We began with fried calamari of fair quality, then she ordered a seared ahi equivalent, I enjoyed a very flavorful grilled albacore sandwich, and we took our dessert home with us. We had six beers each, and miraculously, our server permitted us to leave open a tab for the last few rounds.
Unfortunately, I left my sunglasses there since we had walked there at dusk, it was dark when we left, and I had left them hanging on a rack on the wall behind me since we had a rather small table. What follows is the actual message string between me and whom I presume is the unnamed owner, Bryan Carr:
"Thank you for hosting my companion and me last night. My albacore sandwich was tasty! Unfortunately, I left my Serengeti sunglasses hanging on a wire rack on the wall behind my seat. Please respond on how soon I may arrange with you for their recovery. Thank you.
You are welcome and I did find your glasses I have them on the counter for you. I am running errands right now but I can let you know when I'm back at the restaurant later this afternoon or tomorrow. I will keep them safe.
Thank you, and I look forward to your next message. My phone number is (360) 232-4059.
It is now Thursday the 17th. Please let me retrieve my glasses from the World's End Public House. Thank you.
As you know we are closed Monday through Thursday. We have other jobs and we both work very hard. I had explained I have your glasses safe and would try my best to meet during our closed days however that did not work out because again, we work non stop even though the pub is closed. There are many tasks at hand to work around besides our other job obligations. I thought I showed concern for you and that I was taking good care of your glasses and Well, we havn't had any sun for the need so I figured I would get your patience and understanding. I am sorry for the delay. I will be here briefly doing some chores and waiting for deliveries. If you can catch me, that's great. If not we will be open at noon tomorrow. Thank you again for you patience and understanding
You are very fortunate to not REQUIRE quality sunglasses as I do. I am very dependent upon them, and like you, my plans for the week didn't "work out" while I eagerly awaited word from you when I could recover them. I'll be at the restaurant at noon tomorrow.
I guess then you would think you would keep better track of them then. Please we do not message us further on this matter."
So I waited from early Monday afternoon until early Friday afternoon before I could retrieve my sunglasses. I'm aware that Bryan may have several irons in the fire, but I sincerely indicated to him that retrieving my property was very important to me, that I was awaiting his making them available and I provided my telephone number for that purpose. What he did do was not keep his word on Monday that he "can let you know when I'm back at the restaurant later this afternoon or tomorrow."
In the absence of an update, I wrote to him on Thursday to request that I be permitted to retrieve my property. To this, he downplayed the sunglasses' importance to me and emphasized how busy, hardworking and responsible they were and had already been to me with utter sarcasm. He then requested that I not write to the restaurant again. As Ben Franklin noted, "He that lies down with Dogs, shall rise up with fleas."
I've read several reviews, and to most of the less positive replies this restauranteur has responded with much of the same, self-serving minimizing and sarcasm. If a patron was extremely concerned that the server was not wearing a mask pursuant to the laws currently in effect for Phase 3, then that is matter to be brought to the attention of the Pacific County Department of Public Health and Human Services. If a patron were to become ill after visiting, then a good personal injury lawyer would have a field day showcasing such a cavalier attitude, pirate theme notwithstanding. I should know; I was a civil attorney for 25 years. read more