Phil R.
Yelp
We had a terrible evening at Greenhouse Bistro last night with rude, inattentive service, fake prices on menus that they won't honor, defective hookah they charged for anyway, over an hour wait because they took our items to the wrong tables, and a mandatory 20% tip on our check, with no desire or willingness by the staff to fix anything. Our entire treatment and how the staff handled our night was completely unacceptable.
We were a party of 4, sitting in the left side of the patio area on Sat evening 1/27/2024. One friend arrived early, so he put down a card to be able to get a table. 45 minutes in, he had to leave, but the rest of us planned to be there for about three hours. No one told us that when one person leaves, he can't just pay for his items and go. You have to close out the WHOLE table's check, just because one guy is getting up and leaving.
We were told that someone should have warned him up front at the door. So we had to scramble for our cards and figure out how much each person had, who has to give whom money, and what other people are going to use their cards. They also don't split checks by items, only dollar amounts.
I ordered a hookah. When it came out, the flavor lasted for about 20 minutes. I asked about this. The hookah server said her that manager told her to take a puff of it to prove that it was bad. She agreed that "it tastes like nothing", then went to talk to her manager again. She came back and said the only option was for me to pay for an extra head of a new flavor. Totally unacceptable and disgusting treatment, if they can't get it right the first time.
So I ordered the second head anyway, because I came here to smoke a hookah and enjoy my time with friends. It took over an hour. I didn't understand. I was looking around. Hookah servers were continuing to bring out hookahs and extra heads to other tables, but I'm just left sitting. I had to ask my table server about it three times and she finally checked with someone, and when the hookah guy finally came around with my extra head, he told me that it was originally taken to the wrong table.
There were fake menu prices as well. They don't have paper menus, and the QR code menu did not work, so a friend just looked up the menu online and asked for the Greenhouse Burger, for $13. He even pointed to the menu with the server there and said "I want that burger, with no bacon." When the check came out, the item was called "The Burger" at $19. Not that $6 is a huge deal, but it's pretty disreputable that they would just give you a fake price, and charge you another, higher amount. The check even said "No bacon", lol.
The final check amount had a "mandatory" 20% added. I didn't agree to that, and no one told me up-front about a required 20%. The amount I tip would depend on service. But I didn't argue, and let it slide. I asked my server after we were forced to close out and pay early, 45 minutes into the evening, if I could get another diet coke and ice water. She said "Yes." Over the next 45 minutes, I watched her bring trays of iced waters and coke-looking drinks to several other tables, and she never came back to our table once.
I guess they figure since they're getting that guaranteed 20% no matter what, they can just treat you like s**t.
So I called tonight, on Sun 1/28/2024, to speak to a manager, and that's where things really went off the rails.
The manger I spoke to said their policy is not to split checks by item, and that when one person leaves the table, it's customary to close out that whole table's check. He also stated that "this is the way all restaurants are" and that "Our clients all understand that. We shouldn't need to explain that at the door." - but I recalled a server mentioning that this is something they are supposed to make a point to warn people about at the door. He could've fooled me, saying every restaurant in the world requires a table's check to be closed out, so somebody can leave.
On the 20% for poor service, he stated "Our servers work for tips, no we can't adjust anything." I asked "What about for poor service, and a 20% that they didn't earn?"
On the failure to my drinks after the check, he said "The expectation is that after you close out your check, you will be leaving." But I mentioned again that we were FORCED to close out our check early. So now we're talking in circles. He wouldn't help.
On the hookah and burger price, he said he would get back to me about that.
I'd say if you're looking for a simple dining night, definitely DO NOT go to Greenhouse. I'd highly recommend against giving your money to people who give such horrible service, lie about prices, make you pay early (and then stop serving you), take your stuff to other tables, and then tack on 20% to your check just for your privilege to be there.