There's a Martha's near me in Astoria, so on a recent trip to Forest Hills, I made a date with 2 girlfriends to meet for food and pre-wedding talk.\r
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I arrived first (about 2:30 pm on a weekday). I eventually seated myself because the 2 teenaged servers kept walking around me. No one said a word or even made eye contact. The place was about 1/3 full, and had no large parties at the time. There was no long line at the pastry counter, either.\r
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I sat myself, and nearly 10 minutes later, a young girl swept by with a menu. I made my selection and waved to catch her eye eventually.\r
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She comes over and says first thing, ""you can't have that here."" Uh, what? I can't have what?\r
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""You can't have THAT"" (points across my face, distainfully)...ohhhh, my cup of Starbucks which I'd been carrying around with the girlfriends while shopping. I told her it was empty, and I'll put it by my purse on the floor (no trash can was in sight).\r
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""NO, you can't have it,"" she stresses. \r
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At which point, I left. And called the girls to meet me someplace else....where our $40-50 would be welcome.\r
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I understand a 4-star restaurant not wanting a paper cup on its tables, but a casual cafe? Which, if I'd been allowed to get a word in edgewise, would have known my first item was ordering a coffee from them...along with several meals and desserts.\r
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Teach the staff how to deal TACTFULLY and POLITELY with customers, please. And if they're so young and sullen, then don't hire them. Of course, 1/3 full with bad reviews, and unfavorable word-of-mouth may be this branch's goal....in which case, well done.
Pros: presumably consistent fare to other locations
Cons: tactless, unaware, confrontational
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