Jeremy K.
Yelp
I absolutely LOVED this place.
It was my new favorite place.
Until I had an absolutely HORRIBLE experience. In fact, I went there there times in one week. And had planned to make it my new "go-to."
First Experience:
When my best friend (a veteran with six tours under his belt), I wanted to take him somewhere special.
I thought why not bring him to Chicken & Pickle?
We went there and had a great time. For whatever reason, he will never let me pay when we go out. I always try to pay. Isn't that what we're supposed to do when we go out with veterans who made tremendous sacrifices for our country?
But he's strong-willed. Obviously. He's a combat vet.
We had a GREAT time!
Second Visit:
I took my future wife, Renee, there another night. We share our resources. But she handles our finances. So she has the cards.
Third Visit:
I had an absolutely horrible day. Horrible. So I decided to go to Chicken & Pickle to lift my spirits. The first two experiences were so great, I thought it was a safe bet.
How wrong I was.
When the check came, I tried to pay with cash., because I don't use credit cards. The only person I want tracking my spending is Renee. Nor do I want to risk becoming a slave to a creditor.
They wouldn't allow me to pay with cash. When I said, I don't have a card. I use cash, the bartender became indignant.
"Didn't you see the sign at the front door that says "credit only?"
"No, I said. I've been here twice, and neither time did I pay myself. So I never thought about it.
Also, I used to be in the restaurant industry. Maybe things have changed. But when I ran restaurants, we loved cash. So much so that we encouraged cash payments by offering a 10% cash discount.
The man got his manager. Again, I tried to calmly explain why I couldn't pay with a card. But I was more than happy to pay with cash.
Again, he refused. So I offered an alternative.
"How about I leave you my drivers license or the cash so you know I'll make good. I live up the street. And I'll come back tomorrow with Renee so that she can pay with a card?"
I thought this was reasonable.
Nope.
Instead, the man yelled at me. And then accused ME of yelling at him!
This is called gaslighting or projecting.
Anyway, needless to say, I will not be retuning to this establishment without a formal apology.
Too bad, because I am planning a big 50th Bday party for August 2, and I thought o would celebrate at Chicken and Pickle.
Oh, well. Their loss. Not mine.
The bartender or lucky their superior has more patience with rudeness than I do. Because when I was a GM, I fired employees on the spot for lesser infractions than this.
Maybe I'm different than other people. But I don't like to patronize establishments that don't treat their customers with kindness and respect.