Gordon R.
Yelp
I want to share possibly the worst dining experience in VT I've had since moving here several years ago. I regularly host clients and staff at The Guild. In fact in my role as a director of a financial institution, I make a business of regularly entertaining clients at local restaurants, Quietly, over the years, the Guild has been a reliable go-to place. I just left this evening shaking and beyond-belief upset as I write this. By the way this review will replace a few 5 star reviews of the Guild.
My guests and I had a perfectly good meal when a "manager" approached the table telling me I've been over-served double vodkas. She claimed I had 5. We had 5 between the 3 of us between 4:30pm to 8pm. I informed our waitress that - and this is a QUOTE "I'm sorry but that was really disappointing, I really wish she didn't come over and just loudly tell the table that we're cut off." We wrapped up coffee and 15 minutes of disbelief conversation, and when leaving I tried to introduce myself to the other "manager" who would only write "J. Gorman" on a piece of paper. He wouldn't even let me speak as I desperately tried let him know how much business we do together - and that it was a miscommunication! He laughed at me. He told me to gladly call the "front office". He berated me, called me names, raised his voice, and claimed I caused a scene. The only person who caused a scene this evening was Mr. Gorman.
Am I devastated a waitress was apparently "in tears" which we didn't see? YES! But he caused an even bigger scene while I just tried to have a quiet conversation . By the way, this all happened TONIGHT only twenty minutes ago... I will NEVER trust the Guild or Farmhouse Group to my business or trusted clients ever ever ever again. If I can write this, I think that at a minimum I deserved better than being called a "rude drunk".
Mr. Gorman claimed to mix the drinks himself. I told the waitress that they weren't doubles by the way which is probably what got under his skin. He didn't make the drinks. We know the bartender who did. The same bartender I saw him high-five on my way out... He was looking for a fight. Shame on you and shame on a business that thinks that it's ok to call clients names. If it really was such a big deal how come Mr.Gorman didn't personally come to our table between the initial conversation and our departure? You could all use a class on customer service in a miscommunication.
I highly encourage you to take your business elsewhere and plead with Farmhouse Group management and ownership of the Guild to take a step back and closely examine what happened tonight. The embarrassment is not on my end, but theirs. Good luck doing business like this. By the way, I parked my car next door, and took an Uber to my hotel next door as a precaution just to be safe. By the way, taking Uber was also communicated to the waitress during our meal.
I would never in a million years condone driving under the influence and paced my consumption to be WELL UNDER the limit. Shame on the Guild and I hope the waitress who reads this knows that our issues weren't with her good service but with the two people who claimed to be "managers" AND turned out to be bullies.
NEVER EVER EVER EVER AGAIN.