Liberty Tree Tavern Review...third time is NOT the charm

[Grumpy by Birth]

I tipped her figuring a low tip would indicate I wasn't pleased with the service, whereas no tip might have been viewed as an oversight. It wasn't so much self control but bewilderment, lol...I just couldn't believe what was happening!

Ate here today and had fantastic service. Great meal and loved the dining room, tables not too crowded together.

Can't believe the server in the OP got a 10% tip for rude sarcastic service, it would be a zero from me.

Growing up, I always recall people saying they tipped .02 cents if they received bad service to send a message.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

I hope you emailed a complaint

 

[mickey916]

I hope you emailed a complaint

Unfortunately I did not. I intended to email but we got home and the holidays were in full force. By the time I had a chance it was a month later and I figured it was too late.

 

[mickey916]

I realized I never actually posted the pictures from this visit so here they are:





The requested fries that seemed to upset our server:

 

[Mousetopia]

Recently dined at LTT on Thursday, December 8 for the third time this year and boy was this a different experience!

Background: The first time my DH and I dined here was this past April. We received excellent service and the food was phenomenal. In fact, it was so good that we revised our plans for our May trip to be able to share this great restaurant with our adult sons. The second time, during our May trip, the service was fine, nothing extraordinary. The food was still very good but we didn't think it was quite as good as the first time or quite as good as Garden Grill in May. As we planned our December trip, my DH and I decided to dine here again, hoping to enjoy the meal as much as we had in April. Unfortunately this third time was an utter disaster.

We snagged a 6 pm reservation during a MVMCP night for which we didn't have tickets. I verified ahead of time with a Cast Member online that we'd be able to dine as long as we were checked in before 6 pm. We checked in at 5:45 and were seated promptly. The table was a little odd, it was against a side wall with seating for the two of us on just one side facing some sort of prep area. As we were seated, we overheard our server complain to a manager that it was 6:03 and she didn't know why they would seat someone after 6:00 at her table.

She approached us and explained the menu. We had seen on various vlogs that steak fries were available upon request. My DH was craving fries so I asked if it would be possible to get a side of fries with our meal. She looked at us like we were crazy and said "You want fries???" I sheepishly said "Yes if that's okay." She went off and quickly returned with a plate of cold fries and then said in an annoyed voice, "Do you also want ketchup?" My DH said, "yes please". She then brought the salad and a basket of stale dinner rolls.

Another server eventually brought out our patriot's platter, mac n cheese, mashed potatoes and green beans. We started to fill our plates and our server came back and said "Do you want any more of anything?" We hadn't even had one bite yet of our food so we said, "Not yet. Let's see how we do and we will probably want some more of a few items."

Here's our thoughts on the food: the turkey, pork, pot roast, and stuffing were just as good as always. There was also a shredded meat on the platter that we hadn't had before that was excellent (more on that later). The mac n cheese was terrible. It was cold and it seemed that they forgot to put any sauce on it. The mashed potatoes were really dry and cold. The green beans were so salty that we couldn't eat them. Keep in mind, we loved all of these items on our prior two visits.

We polished off the platter, leaving most of the sides uneaten. We never saw our server the whole time we were eating. We decided we would like to have some refills of the pot roast and shredded meat. Finally our server came to our table and said "Are you ready for dessert?" I respond, "No, not yet. We actually decided we would like refills of the pot roast and the shredded pork." She responds, "turkey". I say, "No thank you. We just want the shredded pork and pot roast." She says "You're not getting it. It's turkey." So I said "the shredded meat is turkey?" She responds "Yes it's turkey. This is a turkey dinner." So I simply said "Okay whatever that shredded meat is, we'd like that and some pot roast." She disappears for a very long time.

When she finally reappears she puts the platter of two meats on the table and leans over and says really sacrastically and slowly "here's your turrrrrrkkkkkkey". At this point since she had never offered to refill our sodas, I said "Could we please also get a refill on our drinks?" She snapped back "Yeah, I was just about to do that. Coke and Diet Coke. Right?" She stormed off and then brought our drinks. When she did I said "we'll be ready for dessert next too." She came out with the dessert, which seemed to be a much smaller portion than our previous trips. She placed it on the table and also placed our check next to it and said "here's your check." At this point we both we sitting there stunned. We couldn't believe how rude she was the entire time. I've never been treated like this by a waitperson ever in a restaurant. We quickly ate our dessert and paid the check, leaving a 10% tip since we did actually get food brought to the table.

As we left I looked for a manager to relay our experience but didn't see anyone except for a few young College Program guys at the front and I didn't want to complain to them. We also had to catch the ferry to Fort Wilderness to ride the holiday sleigh ride so I didn't want to wait around for anyone. We're still in shock at how incredibly rude this woman was. Liberty Tree Tavern went from one of our best experiences to the worst restaurant experience we've ever had in our lifetime. What a difference a server can make!

P.S. If you want to see my review from our April trip click here: April report Here is our May review: May report

report to Disney!

 

[mickey916]

report to Disney!

I should have but it’s too late now.

 

[Mousetopia]

I should have but it’s too late now.

I would anyway if you have day of service and server name.

 

[rdevans_2000]

We are scheduled to eat there on Dec 11. Sure hope we get a different server!

 

[mickey916]

We are scheduled to eat there on Dec 11. Sure hope we get a different server!

We have been back since and looked for that server. She was nowhere to be found so I'm guessing you're safe. Enjoy!

 

[TheHulamuffins]

It sounds to me as though the server's shift might have ended at 6 pm. I would fault the restaurant manager for seating people at "her" table so close to the end of her shift.

 

[bobgobblin15]

I would definitely send an email. It’s not too late to send one. This kind of behavior is unacceptable and the uppers need to know. While we haven’t experienced this type of extreme behavior, it wouldn’t go over so well if we did. But it is this type of behavior that’s causing people to fall out of love with Disney. Along with other things reasons of course.

 

[TCRAIG]

I wonder if the server got grief from the kitchen staff about the fries…since they’re not on the menu, someone would have had to go to another kitchen and get them (which would also explain why they were cold).

 

[mickey916]

I wonder if the server got grief from the kitchen staff about the fries…since they’re not on the menu, someone would have had to go to another kitchen and get them (which would also explain why they were cold).

Perhaps, but she was already in a bad mood before we even asked for the fries. After that experience DH and I decided we'll never ask for an off-menu item suggested by a vlogger again. Sometimes I think the servers give vloggers special treatment and then when the vloggers advertize it, it becomes an issue with ordinary guests. We were under the impression that it was like a "secret menu" thing that all you had to do was ask for it. We definitely didn't need them for sure. Thankfully we have since dined at LTT and had another positive experience (didn't ask for fries, though, lol)

 

[TwoMisfits]

Perhaps, but she was already in a bad mood before we even asked for the fries. After that experience DH and I decided we'll never ask for an off-menu item suggested by a vlogger again. Sometimes I think the servers give vloggers special treatment and then when the vloggers advertize it, it becomes an issue with ordinary guests. We were under the impression that it was like a "secret menu" thing that all you had to do was ask for it. We definitely didn't need them for sure. Thankfully we have since dined at LTT and had another positive experience (didn't ask for fries, though, lol)

I imagine the fries might be the allergy free (for dairy) and vegan side option for folks who can't eat the mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. They probably take extra time b/c they go in an allergy fryer. So, she probably didn't love folks who could eat the allergy, non-vegan foods requesting them.

That's my only thought why they have them, but don't really want to serve them...at least to "normal" diners...

 

[kandb]

We had great service when we visited LTT in January however we didn't think the food was as good as it was when we had it in 2023. The quality didn't seem as good and it tasted like it was sitting around for a bit. Definitely noticed a big change. We will scratch it off our list.

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

Any bad cast member experience we write to the head of food and beverage, write to the head of the personnel office and resort head.

We eventually hear back.
They need three complaints before they terminate the employee.

Tipping positions are coveted, easy replaceable positions.

For quite sometime after a contract is signed with the Union we experience bad attitudes from “cast” members.

All too common now.

LTT used to be a solid choice.

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

I should have but it’s too late now.

It’s why it continues.
A lot of Sour, condescending employees from New York at WDW.

 

[mickey916]

It’s why it continues.
A lot of Sour, condescending employees from New York at WDW.

Lesson learned. Hopefully it won't happen again anywhere but if it does I'll be sure to send an email. I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt and try to charm them out of their bad mood (kill 'em with kindness). It just wasn't working with this CM. It's funny, I never hesitate to send in a cast member compliment but didn't send in a complaint when I should have.

 

[erinch]

Lesson learned. Hopefully it won't happen again anywhere but if it does I'll be sure to send an email. I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt and try to charm them out of their bad mood (kill 'em with kindness). It just wasn't working with this CM. It's funny, I never hesitate to send in a cast member compliment but didn't send in a complaint when I should have.

I imagine this turned into grace for that CM. If it was a one-off bad day, hopefully they got home, walked the dog, had a hot bath, and regrouped without having to overcome a reprimand. And if this person was simply in the wrong job, then others will handle the complaints. Who knows what positives came out of you simply moving on with life?