I am part of a group that has eaten at X-tra Bacon every Wednesday for at least six months. The food is good. The chef/owner gets my eggs right every time, and the servers are warm and friendly - especially the twins!
Early on, I realized the manager (I think the sister or close relative of the owner) did not approve of Republicans. But that is okay. Things went well anyway, and her attitude was subtle and did not interfere with our enjoyment of being there.
We are members of the county republican party and like to meet for breakfast. Very informal. Usually 4 people there, sometimes five, but when we have five we need the one table that seats more than four. There is an understandable rule that they do not seat a table until everyone is there.
We give the restaurant great word-of-mouth, and free attractive advertisemnt on two websites and two Facebook pages. One of us who cleans Air BnB houses, has put copies of their menu in every house.
Yesterday we knew we had five people coming. I was last as I have the longest drive. I personally, have missed only one Wednesday the entire time, so I am pretty much a fixture of the group. They were taken by a server to a booth before my arrival and asked for the table. She said no, very nicely, but they called me and I was outside parking. So, they immediately moved over to the table.
As I was coming in the Manager was at their table reaming them out for moving without permission. We were allowed to remain at the table. I had just arrived, so was unaware of exactly what had transpired. During breakfast they told me this manager had been extremely rude to them. Two of them said they would not be back.
This manager checked me out, and since there was no one else standing around the register, I said, very politely, to the effect "We are regular customers, we give you a lot of publicity, and we should not be made to feel unwelcome." She said she had to go by the 5-people rule and could not play favorites. I said, certainly she could in that situation, since she had already been told I was just ouside. She certainly had the discretion to treat good customers more reasonably.
I honestly belive this was pretty minor, and a result of her not liking Republicans. We have already found another place to meet from now on.
But what I found really inexcusable was that she also told me one of our group had cursed at the server. I could not argue, because I was not there. But I was especially surprised that this particular individual would ever curse at someone. I got the whole story later by speaking to each of the other individuals in my group separately. Without exception, each one of them said the first interations with the server who seated them were friendly all-round. That no one in our group cursed at anyone, and the only rudeness came from this manager.
It is with great regret that we will not be going back, because every other single thing about the restaurant - especially the other emplyees - is wonderful. I will not even give them a low star rating because on balance, they deserve better. So they get 4 rather than 5. But that discount of one star was all due to this one, very unpleasant, hostile woman.
The main reason I am writing this is so her boss or owner knows she needs an attitude adjustment, and so that the other servers - who will probably miss us each Wednesday - do not think we are mad at them!
If I were her employer, I would want to know. read more
