Leah D.
Yelp
This is the restaurant I always stop at in Ft. Lauderdale when I have a layover. This is probably my 4th or 5th time at this restaurant. I used to like it because it was chill and if you had a long layover, the servers were nice and had no problem taking care of you for your extended "stay" at their table.
Today was a different story. We had a server who was super sweet. My mom, 6mo old son and I ate, had some cocktails, and told our server we'd be here for 3-4 hours for our layover. She said it was totally fine! I told her when her shift ended to let me know, we'd pay our tab with her and start with a tab with our new server once she left. I wanted more cocktails, which I told her, so she said we'd have a new server once she left. Once we paid, no one came by until the MANAGER (at least an hour after our server left)
The manager, Cebelo, came on to work after we were already finished eating. My mom and I were in the far back corner booth, as not to disturb anyone with a baby. She was leaning against her backpack with my sleeping 6mo old, and I was laying down on the other side of booth when the manager, Cebola (I think that's how you spell it) came to our table. He told my mom to put her feet off the booth and I had to sit up, which we complied. I propped my backpack up, just like my mom had hers (not laying down, just leaning against my full Jansport backpack) and he came back to tell me I had to sit up again. I was like, uh I'm not laying down I'm barely leaning against my backpack, just like my mom, which I've also done every time I've come to this restaurant in the past. Apparently I'm not allowed to lean on a backpack because I don't have a baby, per his words.
I've never had problems here before. We had no problems for the 3hrs we were at this restaurant until Cebola came on his shift. Let's also express how EMPTY the restaurant was while this was going on. Maybe a handful of people at the bar and 4/5 of the tables were open, so it's not like they were busy, needed the table, or had anyone around us! I'm all about following the rules, but this guy was an a***ole for no reason.
He told us we had to pay to be at the table (which we already did, and planned on spending more money but none of his servers came back to take care of us once the first one got off work). We left since we couldn't RELAX in an airport after paying for food and drinks at a restaurant.
I will be finding a new place to chill at the Ft. Lauderdale airport. No need to deal with that a***ole manager when there are plenty of places that won't mind you spending money and sitting to relax during your layover.
Thank you Orlando for making our experience great, even with the crappy manager. He wasn't our server, but he stopped by and was super sweet. I'm already an anxious flyer, especially with a baby now, so he made me feel very welcome. Cebola on the other hand, the manger of all people, can kick rocks with no shoes on.