Kathryn Ullmann ..
Yelp
If I could rate negative stars, I would. This place is dog shit. The food is mid as hell and the customer service was TERRIBLE, and the most important part of my extremely negative review about this place is the fact that they are not transparent, and they are extremely dishonest. After going in with the party, I got my shared receipt that was split off with another person from a bigger party. Nobody told us going into it that if we were to split an entrée (with a set-up), we would be charged for an extra set up (not to mention the fat that we ordered and split the shrimp scampi, which just came with five shrimp and some sauce). After getting the receipt, we noticed that they impose an 18% tip on the total charge, which is understandable given that it was a bigger party, but the problem is the lack of integrity and transparency, as well as their extreme dishonesty that was illustrated by what occurred today.
When we walked up to the front desk to ask why there was a seperate set up charge on our receipt, I said nothing before she came up to ME to explain why it was on my receipt before I had mentioned anything about why I was up there. So quick to come up to me without me saying anything, but couldn't be that quick to mention it prior to serving us the food? And then proceeded to say that this is done at all basque restaurants like this (actually only done here and that's with having been to a couple in town and even the ones that may charge at least they are honest and transparent about it rather than literally being purposely misleading, which is clear by the fact that she came up to me to explain why my receipt looked the way I did before I even said anything)!
And even if restaurants (basque) like these do this (i've never experienced this in my life at any other basque restaurant, even high quality places with better food in town and out of town - Bakersfield), at least have the decency to put it on your menu and mention it to your customers prior to them being served. That is just common courtesy, at least if you are a reputable, honest, transparent, and well-wished local restaurant spot that Bakersfield locals have known a long time. The attitude of the likely manager was also just ridiculous and it's just a HORRIBLE overall first impression to give to your customers, especially those of a big party of 20+ people. None of us will be going back!
There's a reason why this restaurant is so empty midday on a Saturday, don't even waste your time with this place. Just go to Pyrenees instead!