I'm writing this review as someone with years of knowledge about the dining experience *and* the behind the scenes of this business. This review is a fair warning as much for potential customers as it is for potential job applicants. With so much better competition in the area now, the Creek does not deserve the "hype laurels" it has rested on for over a decade and you can find somewhere else that actually deserves your money.
THE biggest advantage of The Creek is the antique building and serene riverside location. If this is tempting you, might I suggest opting for a picnic along the same public bank, and if you must, popping over to The Creek for an overpriced bottled beer on the patio and a bathroom break.
The Manager, Raul, knows this quaint setting and wealthy clientele will always be the mirage for his underlying ugly business practices. Being a San Antonio resident the entire time, he was poached from his long-standing position of a fine dining waiter in San Antonio along with the cook (chef?) from the same restaurant. You could say it was more of a family-style deal, not a job he applied for and competed for, and for ease of continuity the subsequent owners kept him in charge.
Until the turnover to a new owner around 2010, Raul employed illegal non-English speaking citizens with a separate punch card system openly displayed in the kitchen. He consistently abused their need for a job, working them to the bone for grueling daily double shifts, paying them less than legal employees in the same positions, and offering them the occasional beer or stale bread rolls to appease them at the end of their sweaty weekend shifts.
Speaking of employing illegal citizens, he brought his eldest son, Omar, on as assistant manager around 2010. A man who (no surprise) has daddy issues and a severe inferiority complex to the point of psychopathic tendencies, he proceeded to make work life even more hell for the actual genuinely good employees who were loyal.
His shameless predatory behavior included: 1.)Playing a giggly game of butt-slapping with a minor high school employee openly in front of the entire kitchen during lunch service. 2.)Sitting a teenage hostess (recently turned 18) on his lap in the front foyer in front of customers. 3.)Having an "outside" "relationship" with a minor teenage employee from the adjoining pizzeria that existed back then (while he was married). 4.)Sprinkling crumbs on the dining chair seats after morning prep so that he could dress down one of the best waitresses (his father's favorite) for "not doing her job". 5.) Convincing the hostess mentioned above to ask this same waitress "How long after having a baby do you stop producing breast milk" to humiliate the young mother to the point of tears while he snickered with his accomplice.
When Omar was fired it was NOT EVEN his father's decision. He got away without any deeper legal trouble due to the unfortunate social conditioning of women and the power imbalance of employee/employer relationships. Also, checks were mysteriously mailed out to employees who had quit for "miscalculated" credit card tips they should have received during his employment.
Raul, while a milder flavor from his son, makes the state of his psyche (and ethics) plenty known:
Speaking poorly of parties who have young children joining them, often relegating them to the outside tables, no matter if they were well-behaved, expecting to spend a lot, or had reservations
Letting a customer dress down a waiter who was held up from making their cocktail order because the waiter had to scramble to locate and clean the only TWO martini glasses in the restaurant. Raul never admitted to the customer this was his fault for not ordering replacements
Flirting and unprofessionally being clingy with young attractive waitresses who would let him (while he's married)
Drinking on the job, especially towards the end of the evening dinner shifts; taking business calls about employee scheduling while he's drunk, and then blaming the "no-shows" because he didn't remember the changes he approved
Raising his voice and damn near popping a vein in his neck when he's stressed (the bathroom became the place for the unfortunates to cry)
Gossiping and condescending employees almost literally behind their back to other employees
Insulting (behind their back) pretty much every health or TABC inspector who made reasonable citations or recommendations
Never taking charge of inspecting the state of the coolers, moldy produce or freezer, as a food-focused manager would
Making executive decisions to use convenience foods to cut corners and then overcharge customers. For example: frozen rolls, frozen key lime pie and cakes, Smuckers dessert sauces, Uncle Ben's quick rice as the "wild rice" side, giant tubs of processed dressings, and recycling unused brewed tea the next day
A negative-star review wasn't an option. Still need a 2nd opinion? See the review by Ryan M. read more