Charleys Steakhouse - bad experience once !!

[kevin harrison]

I am interested if anyone else has ever had this experience at Charleys Steakhouse. I have bnever posted this story, but have vague memories of someone posting something similar...

Last time we visited, a couple of years back, I was really looking foward to visiting after reading comments about the place, but when we got there, we ended up with the waiter from hell....

We were under dressed, and I asked if it was OK to wear shorts, I told them I would go back and change if needs be...they said it was fine

Anyway this very short, fair haired man came to us and rudely asked what we would like to eat, no friendleness, as is usual everywhere else. We asked if he could give my 18 year old daughter a bowl of chips - he just replied NO , no explanation or anything just NO!

So we ordered our steaks and the waiter never asked us if we wanted a drink or anything, and we had to attract another female server who obliged and was much nicer...

Our food came, my steak was burnt to a crisp, so I asked him to swop it, he just walked off without saying a word and brought a replacement without speaking either....

Now here's the best bit, when it came to paying, he said "Sir I've added the 15% gratuity to your bill allready, is that OK?" Normally I could start an argument in an empty room if I have to, but this time I was speechless. Can you believe it?

I am willing to give them another chance, but my wife says no chance.

 

[trevorsem]

Hi Kevin,

I had a similar experience with Race Rock, where our server chased us into the car park for a larger tip (service was bad). DW put Him in His place sharpish

Each place will have it's good and bad staff. I guess if it's somewhere you'd like to try, then give it a go again, making sure you tell your server when you arrive that you had a bad experience last time.

 

[Muppet]

I know thwy do not serve chips in any of the 3 locations.

I have eaten here many timea and have never had anything like this BUT it seems as if you had a horrible waiter.

Try the one on the OBT, this one is more locals than tourists.

 

[floridalol]

Hi Keven

I've always encountered wonderful service at Charley's but there is always the chance of getting the waiter from hell anywhere - personally I would have asked for the maitre d' and complained long and loud from the start. Don't forget that chips over there means crisps as we know it so he probably didn't understand (does not excuse his rudeness though), and has been said earlier they don't do fries in their steakhouses but a range of baked potato and mash.

Please try it again because it is IMHO one of the best dining experiences in Orlando.

Best wishes

Lol

 

[kevin harrison]

Hi Keven
Don't forget that chips over there means crisps as we know it so he probably didn't understand (does not excuse his rudeness though), and has been said earlier they don't do fries in their steakhouses but a range of baked potato and mash.

Having been to Orlando and the States I knew not to ask for chips, and I only asked specially for fries so my 18 month old daughter had something to eat as a plate of mash doesn't hold the same appeal.

I'd love to be able to find a very similar thread to this from a couple of years back, I'm sure we are talking about the same man.

In all my years I've never encountered manners like this man had. Like I say I'd normally have thrown a huge shouting fit, but was too stunned and didn't want to upset my daughter.

Where are the other Charleys in Orlando then?

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

All restaraunts in the USA are franchises, run by individuals under a generic name.
they are supposed to keep to a development book, but of course its down to the individual owner.
You will probably find the waiter has long gone, as poor service means poor customers.

However, this does bring us onto why poor service to Brits.
Many places will either put their newest server or give poor service to UK residents because of the terrible reputation we have of crappy tipping.

As with everything else these days, we have become a country of "buy the cheapest and brag at the cost" attitude and unfortunatly, many go to the USA (its not just Florida where we are known for crappy tipping!) and see leaving a poor tip or no tip at all as another way of saving money.

Most servers are on minimum wage and can only survive on the tips, so who are you going to give the service to? an American who will tip 15% or the family of noisy brits, wearing their football shirts, brand new sneakers, demanding "English food like, chips and call this a cup of tea?" who will leave no tip at all even though they have taken up more of your time?

 

[Muppet]

There is one on the Orange Blossom Trail. Not the Florida Mall diecetion but a quarter of a mile in the other direction.

International Drive.

192 Up towards the enterance to Celebration.

Go to the OBT one or 192. Much better than the Idrive one.

They have never served fries. So I don't know what would be best for your little one.

 

[kevin harrison]

However, this does bring us onto why poor service to Brits.
Many places will either put their newest server or give poor service to UK residents because of the terrible reputation we have of crappy tipping.

As with everything else these days, we have become a country of "buy the cheapest and brag at the cost" attitude and unfortunatly, many go to the USA (its not just Florida where we are known for crappy tipping!) and see leaving a poor tip or no tip at all as another way of saving money.

Most servers are on minimum wage and can only survive on the tips, so who are you going to give the service to? an American who will tip 15% or the family of noisy brits, wearing their football shirts, brand new sneakers, demanding "English food like, chips and call this a cup of tea?" who will leave no tip at all even though they have taken up more of your time?

In all my visits to the states, this has been the only time I've encountered bad service. I think most servers I've ever encountered are wonderful. I've told my stories about tipping before and what I've been told and can't be bothered to go into it again, I in the main agree though...

Most people here all know about servers and their wages, and has been covered here many times, this had nothing to do with any of that, it was just a very rude waiter. Trust me, I am not the sort of person who says give me "English food like, chips and call this a cup of tea" at all, I asked very politely if he would mind helping my daughter, as an 18 month old won't enjoy steak particularly and we had rang earlier to confirm if it was alright to bring her.

 

[kevin harrison]

There is one on the Orange Blossom Trail. Not the Florida Mall diecetion but a quarter of a mile in the other direction.

International Drive.

192 Up towards the enterance to Celebration.

Go to the OBT one or 192. Much better than the Idrive one.

They have never served fries. So I don't know what would be best for your little one.

Thanks, She is nearly 4 now, so not as much a problem anymore.