I believe Sinbad's was the THIRD worst restaurant experience I've EVER had & it was because of the Owner! So exceedingly rare in how bad this experience was in my over 20 years of adulthood. Earlier this year, a group of us were here visiting Rochester. The organizer of this trip said we were going here for dinner, which initially I was happy with this choice not knowing what would happen.
First, they weren't well prepared with the number of people we had. Initially, I had one friend sitting next to me but ended up moving as his g/f was off the table. My g/f ordered a wine each, appetizer, & 2 entrees.
People were getting their food at various times sporadically. And it wasn't just a few minutes difference. Interestingly, I got my entree amongst the earlier people. But my g/f was significantly longer. I shared a bit of my food while she was waiting. The owner comes around trying to clarify what she got. She said what she got, and the owner was arguing no you didn't, it's this you got. I said she got this and pointed at the menu, but he was still arguing like she didn't know what she got.
It was about 25 minutes after I got my food, my g/f finally got her food. I was pretty much done with mine at that point. We were already upset by how the owner treated my g/f up to this point as well as the huge time difference on our food.
When we got the bill, we had hoped they would apologize for the mix up on the orders, give a discount for their disorganization, but they didn't. I decided to speak up and say the time difference was unacceptable. The owner rudely barked what do you want me to do? Shaken, I said take $10 off. (This was less than cost of the entree; essentially taking 1 of the 2 wines off. And remember we got 2 entrees, 2 wines, & appetizer; so it was like giving us like 15% off. I wasn't demanding to take the half off the bill or even 25% off, just $10 or around 15%.)
The owner said fine and stormed off to cash register seeming to take the $10 off and/or dealing with other people's checks. When the owner came back, he said I'm not taking $10 off, you're going to pay the whole thing. I was livid at him doing this! I was so angry, I was shaking. I still paid the same amount, I put approximately $2 on the tip line instead of $12 and wrote a note on the bill explaining to the server who would see why I tipped low.
I'm hoping the owner was nice to that server and gave her the $10 to be nice because although she wasn't outstanding and seemed overwhelmed, she was nice & trying the best she could. But I doubt the owner gave the server the $10, and I observed him barking at her and she seemed to be in tears; this was before paying.
I honestly feel like the owner was sexist the way he demeaned my g/f questioning her like she didn't know what she ordered & the server. Further, I hope that server quit working with that man; she can do better for a job at pretty much any other restaurant or elsewhere. Sinbad ruined our night and what had been a great day. The next night my g/f explained to a couple of friends who were skeptical as to why Leigh was angry and how upset she was too as they observed from further vantage point and what they didn't see about how they owner acted, and those friends came around to our side when my g/f explained the whole story.
I got 3 pics but will only share one. One was of the appetizer, which looks delicious in the pic but don't want to promote their food or their wine menu (the other pic). I'll share a pic of the sign.
Finally, I'll end on a positive note. This block of Park Ave wasn't ruined for me as the Chai Guy was outstanding for friendly owner & outstanding iced chai. See my 5-star review I wrote for Chai Guy a few months ago. Avoid 719 Park Ave (Sinbad's); go to 729 Park Ave (Chai Guy)! read more