John Lyons
Google
What a disappointment the staff at this restaurant was. We had a very nice conversation with the woman who owns this restaurant the day before we tried to eat here. We are very intentional supporters of our local small businesses and especially immigrant owned businesses. After meeting her, we were intentional about giving this place a shot to add to our rotation of businesses that we support.
Since we live 8 blocks away, we asked her if they take reservations, as we don't want to walk all the way there and not be able to get a table. She said, "we do not, but please call ahead and we can tell you how busy it is and put you on the list". So this morning (less than 24 hours after meeting her) we called 3 different times and no one answered the phone. We decided to take a risk and make the walk hoping to get a table. When we walked in, half of the tables were empty, but we were told that we couldn't sit because they were all taken for reservations. This was confusing since they said they don't take reservations. At this point, we were asking the waiter how we can plan to effectively come to their establishment without wasting our time walking all that way and not being able to get a table. Since they supposedly "don't take reservations" and they don't answer their phones so customers can understand if they'll be able to get a table. Up to this moment their was really no issue for us, we simply wanted to better understand their protocol.
One minute into the conversation, a man that I think was in the role of host, came over and jumped into the conversation without any knowledge of the situation and started aggressively accusing us of being rude and chastising us. Again, he did nothing to try and understand what our concern or question was. He simply made a series of wrong assumptions. This instigated a disagreement to which he was closed eared and closed minded about. We asked for the owner so that we could tell her about his behavior. When she came out, she remembered us from the previous day. Unfortunately in the presence of her rude and aggressive employee (perhaps a family member) she was meek and completely unable to manage the situation nor help us understand their protocol, so that we could understand how we could eat at and support their business.
It's really disappointing as a local resident who makes so much intentional effort to support our local businesses to be treated so poorly. Needless to say, we won't be coming back. There are too many other great local restaurants with wonderful owners and staff who we love and appreciate our business.
With all of this in mind we walked 2 blocks to Tahona Mercado, a local business where we personally spend $2500 per year and have sent more than a dozen friends who spend at least as much combined. If you haven't been to Tahona Mercado...definitely go! The husband and wife owners are the most lovely people, and they will appreciate your business. If you go, tell them John sent you.