Nicole N.
Yelp
Disappointing, Discriminatory, and Unprofessional Experience at the Door
We were extorted by a racist at the door. His name is Rob. He's tall, white, bald headed with a beard. He was hired by the owners and not the hospitality group. This wasn't my husband's first encounter with him in over 20 years of residing in Houston: for perspective.
I had high hopes for Tago and was genuinely looking forward to enjoying dinner there. Unfortunately, our experience was tainted before we even got inside. When we arrived for our reservation, we were stopped by the doorman, Rob, who immediately scanned my husband from head to toe and told us he wouldn't be allowed in because he was wearing colorful Jordans. This was incredibly confusing and frustrating, especially since we had carefully reviewed the restaurant's dress code policy in advance and made sure his attire was appropriate. My husband was dressed very dapper and stylish overall.
What made the situation even more appalling was what happened next: we were ultimately let in, but only after my husband paid Rob $40 at the door--just to be allowed to eat dinner. It felt more like we were entering a nightclub than a restaurant, and this unprofessional "fee" was never mentioned on the website or by the restaurant beforehand. It was egregious and left us feeling taken advantage of.
To make matters worse, as we were leaving, we noticed other gentlemen of a different ethnic background being welcomed in wearing Air Force Ones--a type of sneaker that is, in our opinion, no different from Jordans in terms of formality. They were not stopped, questioned, or asked to pay anything. This double standard made the experience feel not just unprofessional, but discriminatory.
As someone who considers herself a restaurant connoisseur--and someone who travels the world for food--I can confidently say this was one of the worst hospitality experiences I've ever encountered.
Tago needs to seriously reconsider how its staff handles dress code enforcement--and more importantly, how guests are treated at the door. No one should be made to feel profiled or pressured into paying an unofficial fee to enjoy a dinner reservation they rightfully secured.
I will be posting a separate review detailing our overall dining experience after being let in, including our interaction with the co-owner, Will.
Part 2: Inside Experience - A Slight Recovery, But Still Subpar
Once we were finally let into Tago--after the unprofessional and discriminatory ordeal at the door--co-owner Will made a sincere effort to address the situation. He was apologetic and acknowledged how unacceptable the experience was. He took $80 off our tab to help make up for the entry door heist, which we appreciated. While I believe the entire meal should have been comped given the circumstances, his gesture did help soften the initial sour taste. He also assured us that Rob, the doorman, would be held accountable.
Unfortunately, the service inside didn't quite redeem things. After being seated, no one approached our table for over 15 minutes. My husband had to get up and find a server himself. When she arrived, she was pleasant, but clearly inexperienced.
He ordered a screwdriver, which somehow came out with pineapple juice instead of orange. I ordered pasta with shrimp and specifically asked--five separate times--that it be made with no cheese. She reassured me each time, yet it still came out with cheese and had to be remade.
The ambiance and scene were aesthetically nice, but the overall experience was disorganized, unprofessional, and far from what you'd expect at a restaurant trying to present itself as upscale.
As someone who dines around the world and takes food and hospitality seriously, I was very disappointed.
If this is how guests are treated in their own city, it's no wonder many of us prefer to travel elsewhere for quality dining experiences.