I've had the opportunity to experience both regular dinner service and a private event at Posh and my three star rating reflects a very mixed experience. Additionally, I have attended over ten events at Posh's sister location, The Colonnade, where I can happily report that I have always been pleased. The atmosphere and the effort put forth is certainly something that Scranton has lacked in the years past. However, this effort truly falls short, missing the "mark" by far. I'll explain....
Firstly, let me quickly discuss the positive. The decor of Posh is classic, beautiful and a truly positive ode to Scranton. The food at Posh has indeed been consistently excellent and back of house staff clearly have excellent culinary skills and keen insight to serving food that is a favorite of all levels of culinary interest. That is why it is such a horrible shame that your culinarians are failed by the atrocious service and complete lack of front of house understanding of what real quality service means not to mention also lacks experienced event planners who are let loose to make a mess of what could be a five star dining and banquet experience.
Having attended a private event, I was completely taken aback at how poorly prepared the staff and POSH event planner was to handle such a small group. To start, the room wasn't even set for our guaranteed count, when brought to the attention of the event planner and staff, it took numerous pleas, to get anyone to actually rectify the situation, and without getting into more detail, the service was very average for the large number of staff who merely stood around the room, deep in thought throughout the event. I, as a mere guest of the event and not even the host, found myself inquiring with the event planner and staff on whether an additional table to could be set up quickly or at least chairs set so that guests could sit and to address what was clearly a seating issue, only to be met with well... blank stares. It seemed that the staff seemed lost or in need of direction, and clearly, they weren't getting it from the planner in charge, during my time spent there. Refills were never offered. Only select guests at each table were offered drinks, such as coffee, tea., etc. and the event coordinator seemed completely "put out" by our presence and clearly struggled to lead any decision making that was asked of her throughout the event for her staff.
My main concern with the overall experience was that we never once felt that we were welcome. We seemed to be a complete inconvenience to the property, as we rushed to clean up our things from the event room, post event, and told that we "must use a back door and back staircase", because "the restaurant was opening".
I can appreciate the logistical challenges of running a business in a historical building. However, this is YOUR problem, not your guests and will continue to be a challenge for all of your future groups. You must make some sort of plan to accommodate loading and unloading that does not require your guests to feel like they are second class citizens who are in your way and who are told by staff that they are not allowed to exit through the front entryway without an alternative plan as to where to actually exit!
I would expect that an average shower/birthday/banquet or other such party event require three hours. Having been at Posh for a mere two and a half hours, we were rushed and made to feel unwelcomed as we hurried to remove belongings from your event planners "sacred space", who instead of ever actually helping, opted to spend her time verbally rushing everyone to leave.
As a guest I can honestly say that I found myself feeling like I was part of an "assembly line" of events being coordinated that day and on Posh time, two and half hours for a private event, clearly set off the "you are no longer welcome and have outstayed your welcome" alarm.
There is a place in Scranton for a quality banquet event space and restaurant and I, more than anyone, am excited to see people step up and embrace this challenge, as the owners of Posh have done. I give them great credit for beautifying numerous historic spaces in the community and for giving Scranton a choice that is on par with the type of experience most metropolitan areas have been used to seeing for decades. Just don't take us Scrantonians as fools. Many of us have seen just as good, if not better, events many times and know the difference between good service and bad in addition to the ability to clearly observe a lack of experience when it comes to event execution and leadership.
You have a right to charge a premium because your food and ambiance is superb! However, people will remember the service far longer than the cocktail they drank or dinner they have eaten and it would be a right shame if such service as I experienced this weekend continues. read more