Michelle P.
Yelp
Visiting Asheville, we went to a church about a mile away from Corner Kitchen, we decided to try a Sunday Brunch here today. I looked on the website beforehand and saw how you supported local non profits and also believed in giving a living wage to your employees, having served & worked in the restaurant business , I was pleased to see this. I am someone who has all the empathy and compassion for those in the food service industry. In Charlotte, where we live, I feed and minister to our unhoused community, which began when a local business donated food to this labor of love. If you are ever in the Charlotte area, I recommend visiting Community Matters Cafe, where every visit supports those in recovery for addiction. Chef Chayil is a lesson in excellence. I strongly support the work done there. https://communitymatterscafe.com/ and was hoping to have a positive experience here. Unfortunately, that was not the case.
My husband and I read the reviews and saw that it was recommended to make reservations, which we did. We entered the porch waiting area, and the first one to greet us was Marla dog and her nice humans. This touched our hearts as our beloved rescue dog recently crossed rainbow bridge. We went to Lake Lure to honor her memory at the rainbow bridge there. Marla dog could give lessons to your hostess on how to greet and treat guests. When we arrived, I was rudely and abruptly told by a young woman in glasses to wait outside when I inquired about our reservation. We did so. I watched as she rudely and abruptly interacted with and called other guests. The hostess is your first impression of an establishment, and unfortunately, this one did not leave us with a good impression. When we were called in, this young woman sat us at the bar area. I was not pleased with this either as we had went to the trouble of making a reservation and my husband has pain in his knees due to arthritis it hurt my heart to see him have difficulty in sitting in the high bar stools. It was very uncomfortable and painful for him. I would deduct more stars because of this, and only leave a one - or two star review, but my husband says because the food and the waitress were good to give you a three star review. The deduction is solely for the hostess in glasses and her lack of courtesy and care . As you can see from the pic, there were open tables that were available. Apparently, making a reservation does not guarantee you a table, even if there are available ones. Sitting at the bar in the high chairs caused increased pain and discomfort to my husband. We did not make reservations to be rudely seated at the bar. This is the worst expierence I've ever had with a hostess, and a quick look at your reviews, especially the negative ones reveals this is not the first time guests have been treated rudely by a hostess. Though I do hope it will be the last. All people should be welcomed and given a seat at the table, especially if reservations were made beforehand specifically for this. Being seated at the bar by the hostess caused increased pain , discomfort, and stress to my husband, and made it all a very unpleasant experience.
Due to the discourteous hostess, who is a reflection and first impression of you and your establishment, I would not recommend going here if you are visiting the area. Be aware that even making a reservation, you may not be seated at a table. Also, if you are disabled the bathrooms are upstairs and do not appear to be accessible to those in wheelchairs neither is the entry wheelchair accessible if you or someone in your party is disabled this is something to be cognizant of.
Of all the wonderful food places Asheville is fortunate to have, the experience here was the worst for us. I hope you will take this review constructively and use it to sharpen and improve the experience at the Corner Kitchen. I would not want anyone else to have to experience the rude mistreatment and physical pain and discomfort that we did.
Sincerely ,
Pastor Michelle
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Update 9/15/24
From my husband: We dispute what you say. Furthermore, neither of us enjoys sitting at a bar. We would never choose to do so.