I haven't visited this restaurant for a long time for several reasons: their rat situation when they had to close down for a number of months and their diminishing food quality. But I made a mistake to give them another chance. My little sister wanted to dine here a few weeks ago and I thought I'd try it again now that they are offering out-door seating. Recap: I met her there and sat at the outdoor table with no mask on upon arrival. No one said anything to me. It was a good experience, our server was really attentive. I decided to go again today due to my last experience. Which was a mistake.
The owner, today, created a terrible experience and I will never return because of his unfair and discriminatory actions towards me and my sisters. At exactly 1:17pm we arrive and one of my sister's ran out of the car to put our name on the list. She realized she forgot her mask at home. We take the pandemic very seriously in my family, but we didn't think that being outdoors requires a face covering [especially when being seated at an outdoor table] and they have shields/masks. She requested a table of 3 and the gentleman in the front said she cannot put her name on the list since she didn't have a mask. No problem. After I parked the car, she stayed in the car, and my little sister and I (WITH masks on) went to add our names on the list. We waited 45 minutes and received a call to come to the table when it was ready. My sister, who forgot her mask, did not come with us until we called her to come to the table and until we were seated. We were being respectful and responsible by making sure she only came to the table when we sat, which was how our experience last time was. A server came, took all our temperatures (which we didn't have any) and then we were asked what we would like to drink, everything was great. Until the owner Shawn came out and treated us unfairly and was discriminatory against us. No one sitting outdoors at a table had a face covering. Even people who had no drinks yet did not have one on. However, the owner Shawn was very adamant that WE must have a mask. This was new to us and even new to all the people at the restaurant. He wouldn't leave us alone, even when they brought water; he kept harassing us and saying "it's the law." I couldn't even take a sip of water because he was in such an argumentative mood. How am I supposed to drink water with a mask on and with the owner harassing me? We "needed" a mask in his eyes, but no one else sitting down needed one and when I would ask him this he wouldn't answer me, just kept reciting that "it's the law." Actually, the law is that when you are sitting outdoors at an outdoor restaurant, you do not need to have a mask. Also, Shawn, have you heard about the first amendment of the Constitution?? We were abiding by the rules and being respectful so why was he targeting us? We even asked him for a napkin for my sister for the time being and were willing to wear our masks but he kept badgering us with "it's the law."
In addition, this establishment doesn't have any fans or an AC unit in 100 degree weather. They took our temperatures when we sat down. We did not have any fever. So what is the problem, really? I wanted to eat there with my sisters, but I'm glad we didn't. The owner is not kind, he was condescending the whole time, discriminated against me and my sisters, humiliated us, and even when our water arrived and I was trying to open a straw to cool down from sitting in 100 degree weather, he still wouldn't leave us alone. He also mentioned that he "cares" about people's health and wants to make sure people are "safe". I chose to leave because I didn't want to give my business to someone who is so unaware, so illogical, and so unfair. And also because he wouldn't leave the table and stop harassing my sisters and I.. We felt threatened by his actions.
Hey owner - If you "care" and want people to be "safe", don't seat us in 100 degree weather with no fan or AC unit. In addition, if you "care" and want us to be "safe", don't have your restaurant open for other people to dine in. Don't make your employees risk their lives with a mask and shield in 100 degree valley weather. He is actually a contradiction - he is selfish and discriminatory. I see another Yelp review also went through this experience, so it looks like he preys on certain people with no rational. If you want us to wear a mask when seated, ask others too.
Never again will I order or dine from here. You would assume the owner of a restaurant would want to accommodate and make the guest happy, or would just be more understanding and fair. He did not treat my sisters and I the same as everyone else. I don't trust him or his business practices. I think he purposefully and deliberately targeted us. This is called discrimination. read more