My experience at this establishment wasn't nearly as nice as the reviews. At check in both hostess were extremely generous. This is was my first time dining at this establishment, it was something that my guest and I found on a whim TIKTOK. We had no idea of the price point of things we just know it was something we'd be interested in trying.
We were seated, got our menus and ordered. I ordered a bowl of crab soup that came out luke warm and also a chicken and dumpling dish. Both that I literally picked over and sent back. I didn't complain, I just did not like and but against my better judgment I decided to just pay. The waitress can attest to the fact the the food had barely been touched. The chicken was not seasoned, there were literally two, may three dumplings on the plate. (I will attached the photo) plating was nice, food disgusting. The same with the soup, it was not fresh, it wasn't hot, or flavored. Fast forward the bill comes, which was about 3 dollars shy of 200 dollars. Everything with the exception of two spirits I'd order I did not consume but I paid. I wrote in the tip, (which is optional) that I saw fit on the receipt. Both my guest and I signed our receipts and went to the restroom, before we went to retrieve our coats that were checked in. Standing outside of the restroom was a gentleman whom I'd thought was just waiting for someone he had dined with because he looked very careworn. He approaches me and says are you " Jill" I said yes, he said, oh I see here that you and your guest both left tips on your receipts that are under 18% and I know my waitress are great waitress, this would have to be some sort of mistake. I responded and said no there wasn't any mistake. The waitress in my personal opinion didn't give any extraordinary service and what I tipped was what I felt was sufficient. I proceed to get my coat, he follows us and says I'm sure this has to be some mistake you really aren't going to leave a better tip? My guest chimed in and explained that tipping is not obligatory it is optional, the waitress did receive a tip from the both of us, we were not interested in leaving any additional money and that the food really didn't meet our expectations. As we walked away he continued to speak loudly to us in earshot of everyone else who was dining, never once pulling us aside, never tried to have a discussion that should have never been having to begin with in private or anything, he actually tried to humiliate us.
My problem with that is, first and foremost everyone seated in the restaurant were predominantly white, so us being two women of color already made us stand out. Secondly The owner, or manager or whoever he claimed to be doesn't know our financial standing or and other patrons in the restaurant. We are still in the mist of a global pandemic. This man doesn't know if we were treated to this restaurant and tipped all we had left. He didn't know if what we tipped was our very last. Should we have missed out on a opportunity to dine somewhere because we are worried about the manager hunting us down if our tip wasn't sufficient enough for him, because it isn't 18 or 20%. Not always can I myself and I'm sure people in general tip as generously as this man would have liked for a plethora of reasons and it's none of his business. To be humiliated in front of an entire restaurant, and staff because HE wasn't satisfied is absurd. I wasn't satisfied with my things that doesn't give me the right to treat a person poorly. I would never patronize this establishment again and if you are a person that can't tip to the liking of the careworn, owner that harassed us about a tip I would suggest you take your business elsewhere. Instead of stalking the tips on the check he could have been walking around getting feedback from the guest and could have potentially found out about our unsatisfactory dining. Maybe he did but just happened to miss the table with the two black girls. Stray away from this business. read more