Sean M.
Yelp
I have been coming to Salish Lodge for years, and we kicked off what was meant to be an early Mother's Day celebration on a high note. The host, kitchen, and valet teams were fantastic. Jason got us a perfect table, the host team was warm and attentive, and the valet was professional and kind. The food? Absolutely excellent. The steak was cooked perfectly, the tuna tartare was fresh and flavorful, and my mom loved her salmon. Big credit to the kitchen and valet teams for making it a great start.
Things even started well with Athena, our server. She was kind, engaging, and a pleasure to work with until I asked if I could get some cash back to tip the valet. I have done this before at Salish without any issue, and I think most people would agree that tipping well, especially when service is good, is part of the experience.
But this time it was different. Athena told me they no longer allow that and said my only options were to buy a drink at the bar (which did not make sense, especially since I do not drink) or use the ATM, which charges a $4 fee and only dispenses $20s. Then she added an odd comment about how if I did not do that, she would have to pay it herself and did not have the money. The whole thing felt weirdly complicated and unnecessarily uncomfortable.
I went to the ATM anyway because I wanted to make sure the valet was taken care of. After paying the fee, I went to the front desk to get change, and that is where things took another turn.
Nicole, who was working the desk, at first agreed to break the $20 into a mix of smaller bills so I could leave a good tip. But when she came back, she handed me two tens instead. I said, "Wait, this is not the change we talked about," and her exact response was, "Didn't you give me a 20? Well, that is $20 in change," and she walked off with a facetious smirk on her face. It was unsettling and really icky. There is no other way to describe it. I just stood there, surprised by how unnecessary and rude it felt.
Not long after, someone else came out, and I calmly asked for the name of the person who had just been at the desk because I was still surprised by how the interaction had gone. As I was explaining what happened, Nicole made her way back and stood behind him. That is when, out of nowhere, he turned the conversation around and asked me for my name. The way it came across felt unnecessary, like he was more focused on who I was than addressing what had actually just happened.
We left feeling disappointed and frustrated after what should have been a great night. I spent a few hundred dollars to celebrate my mom, money well worth it for a great memory, especially thinking about all she has done for me, but instead of walking away happy, we both left feeling disrespected and aggravated.
Salish is not exactly known for being the most diverse environment, and I would be lying if I said there was not a point where the experience felt isolating. As someone who clearly presents differently from the rest of the staff, the tone of the interactions, especially as they escalated, felt even more unsettling. I cannot say for certain what was at play, but it left an impression that went deeper than just poor service.
It is a shame because the meal itself and the teams who took care of us at the start were outstanding. But what happened with Athena (after things shifted), Nicole, and the manager completely flipped the night. There is a serious disconnect between the quality of the food and the quality of leadership and service, and that is the part that leaves a lasting bad taste. Salish Lodge, you have the location and food dialed in, but if your service cannot match, does any of it really matter?