I've been a regular of this place since it opened and have had great experiences there until recently. The last time I was there with a date and friends, I noticed that the food portions have gotten smaller and the menu changed so that the quality has gone down as well. We usually have a few drinks at the bar and then have dinner there.
The quality of the clientele also have diminished with mainly 55+ divorcees that could use another drink.
Tonight, we went there again for old times sake and called our friends to come meet us at the bar. When we went to pay for the bill, it was all on one check ($185) ,where as it has always been split for us by our regular bartender. I tried to explain this to the shift "manager" that we need to have two checks since there are two couples and we have two restaurant com $25 gift certificates that we'd like to apply to our bill. Mr. Thomas, the manager rolled his eyes and shook his head in front of all of the other patrons, embarrassing me. When he came back 10 mins later, I noticed that there was a 35% service charge applied to the ticket. I didn't debate the service charge but just explained to him that I dont' think that I was unreasonable for asking him to split the check in two and apply two certificates to the checks since we come to the place alot and we know several folks that are there and it just so happens that our friends were also there. He started to say that he was just doing us a favor and he's off of his shift and wasn't supposed to be working anyways. He then just walked away.
My date started questioning the 35% service charge with our bartender and she tried to explain it and got her calculator out. At that point, it wasn't about the $, it was about being embarrassed in a place that we've spent thousands of dollars with over the years. The last thing I said to the bartender/waitress was "I just want to be sure that you're taken care of because of the way that the $25 was applied." She said she appreciates that. I signed the bill and started to leave.
My date tried to explain that the math should be very simple.... you take the whole number, divided by two, add the 20% service charge and take $25 of of each check for each certificate applied. She got frustrated and then just told us to get out of there. I WAS FURIOUS to be embarrassed as a regular customer and asked for the owner (who was away on holiday).
Then the guy bartender (30ish) started to tell us to get out. My friend, who is 60, gave him a few choice words as we were walking out and the bartender shoved him.
My date then socked the bartender in the jaw and said, "you just hit a 60 year old man!"
This is the first time I've used the gift certificate after given them my business for at least 8 years and it will be the last time. I still have the certificates because we said that we don't want to walk out of there with them feeling like we owe them anything. We asked them to void out the certificates, tag on whatever service charge they want and for us to leave with our dignity.
You bet we will address this with the owner once he comes back but we won't be back.
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