Odd Restaurant Experience last night

[clh2]

It was my B-day yesterday, and DH and I went out for Father's Day and my B-day. (Our DD is out of town visiting an aunt and uncle this week, so it was just the 2 of us.)

We went to a restaurant that has new owners. We had not been there for years.

The food was great. Really great.

I'm sure our waitperson was new, except she was just a ditz. I've had new waitpeople before, and generally LOVE new waitpeople, because they tend to be very proper about the service,, very attentive and make sure everything is great!

It would take too long to describe my experience ordering a drink, which was simply a brandy old fashioned sweet. Brandy drinks are very popular in Wisconsin, so while many of you will not understand what that is outside of this area, in WI, it is a very common drink. Let's just say - I did not get a BOF - and she tried to convince me that is what she requested from the bartender. Yep - maybe what you requested, but not what the bartender made. The color was all wrong. There was stuff missing, like the old-fashioned mix.

I don't know...just call me crazy. If my DH and I order an appetizer, we expect it to come out before the salad. And, it always irritates when we get the salad first, with no explanation why. We were surprised to see the salads first, and a little bit later, asked her if we were still getting the appetizer. She then explained that the appetizer we picked takes a little bit longer. Once I have the salad/soup course, I do not want to "go backwards" to the appetizer - UNLESS we've given the waitress a special request. Once we got the appetizer, it wasn't long before the meal came out, and I felt really rushed, on what should have been a nice leisurely dinner.

OK vent over...again, the food was great. I just had bad service, so I am not sure I would go back.

 

[happygirl]

To me the it doesn't matter which comes out first. The salad or the appetizer I do get annoyed if my dinner comes out before my salad or appetizer.

 

[Kirby]

I'm like the OP, I like my appetizer first, then the salad and last the main course. If you really liked the food, give the place one more chance. How long has it been under new management? Wait awhile and go back. If you get the same kind of service, let that be your last time.

 

[WDWBarb]

I seem to be getting the salad before the appetizer quite often here lately. I prefer it because it gives me a chance to "warm up" the salad before I eat it. They are often pre-prepared and they pull them right out of the 'frig. Too cold to eat - ick!

So I just eat it when it warms up a bit.

 

[Ohiodislover]

We once had our salads come out after dessert--I'm not kidding. Bad service all the way around, and we got our salads, right after our ice cream sundaes. Really bad thing was that the waitress was the wife of one of my husband' best customers, and she knew us. We sat there and debated for about 10 minutes on whether or not we leave a tip. We couldn't risk pissing off a good customer- so we tipped.

We've had a few instances where the salad comes out first, or at the same time as the appetizer. I like to have a little time to enjoy the appetizer.

 

[1stluvispooh]

It was my B-day yesterday, and DH and I went out for Father's Day and my B-day. (Our DD is out of town visiting an aunt and uncle this week, so it was just the 2 of us.)

We went to a restaurant that has new owners. We had not been there for years.

The food was great. Really great.

I'm sure our waitperson was new, except she was just a ditz. I've had new waitpeople before, and generally LOVE new waitpeople, because they tend to be very proper about the service,, very attentive and make sure everything is great!

It would take too long to describe my experience ordering a drink, which was simply a brandy old fashioned sweet. Brandy drinks are very popular in Wisconsin, so while many of you will not understand what that is outside of this area, in WI, it is a very common drink. Let's just say - I did not get a BOF - and she tried to convince me that is what she requested from the bartender. Yep - maybe what you requested, but not what the bartender made. The color was all wrong. There was stuff missing, like the old-fashioned mix.

I don't know...just call me crazy. If my DH and I order an appetizer, we expect it to come out before the salad. And, it always irritates when we get the salad first, with no explanation why. We were surprised to see the salads first, and a little bit later, asked her if we were still getting the appetizer. She then explained that the appetizer we picked takes a little bit longer. Once I have the salad/soup course, I do not want to "go backwards" to the appetizer - UNLESS we've given the waitress a special request. Once we got the appetizer, it wasn't long before the meal came out, and I felt really rushed, on what should have been a nice leisurely dinner.

OK vent over...again, the food was great. I just had bad service, so I am not sure I would go back.

Old fashioned have been popular in Wisconsin forever. My parents are from the Milwaukee area and my grandparents always drank and old fashioned. Thanks for the memories!

 

[Evil Genius]

You might want to explain this to the new owners. I wouuldn't blame this all on your "ditzy waitress" Possibly ev eryone there is new to this and need more training to help this restaurant succeed. There are too many small business owners that lose their budding business and don't have a clue as to why.

 

[ndelaware]

I would have canceled the appetizer and asked for a new drink.

 

[paintnolish]

I am a server in a fine dining restaurant- apps come out first! As far as the drink goes, I wouldn't have known what it was, but you said it was regional thing. If I don't know, I always ask-the customer, the bartender, etc. to make sure I get it right! Also, you never 'argue" with a customer...reminds me of a recent CR experience...dh had a martini that was supposed to have a sugared rim-it was salt! We mentioned it to the server and he said it was supposed to have a slated rim-on a fruity drink? I went to the front and got a drink menu-it said sugared. He had it remade then told us the bartender said she used sugar...I think we can tell the difference. It was salt! Anyway, rant over...if the food was good and the service wasn't rude, just ditzy, I would go back.

 

[dis-happy]

Old fashioned have been popular in Wisconsin forever. My parents are from the Milwaukee area and my grandparents always drank and old fashioned. Thanks for the memories!

My grandfather was from WI and I have fond memories of him making these drinks for himself and my grandmother through the years. In fact, when he passed away the one thing I wanted was the muddler he used (a brass dish with a brass press to mix the sugars and zest together). I love it...it sits in a place of honor on my bookshelf. Thanks for the memory!! I had no idea it was a WI thing.

 

[Ran]

There was stuff missing, like the old-fashioned mix.

what is Old Fashioned mix? I've been in the restaurant business for over 30 years and I've never heard of that.

 

[MariDisney]

I don't care much whether the salad or appetizer comes first. But, one of my biggest pet peeves is when the appetizer comes out and the entree comes out five minutes later. I always ask them to take it back and keep it warm. I wonder how many times my food has been spit upon.

 

[Ohiodislover]

what is Old Fashioned mix? I've been in the restaurant business for over 30 years and I've never heard of that.

Its a premade mix to make an old-fashioned. This isn't the brand my grandmother always bought, but here is an example

http://www.mixuptheparty.com/glossary.php?family=10&id=27

 

[MoniqueU]

The only thing that really irritates me is having to wait forever for my cocktail. I am use to having to tell people how to make drinks. I can get a malibu rum punch in Vegas but no one in CA seems to know what it is. It's not a hard drink to make. I also like peach martinis, again real easy to make/ I usually have to tell them the 2 ingredients that are in it, peach schnapps and vodka. You would think that would be common sense for a bartender. And then the waitress never comes back to see if you want another cocktail, you don't see her again til you get your check at alot of places. I don't drive and I don't often drink at home so when I go out I like to do it up. I have gotten to the point I order another before the other is gone just to make sure I get my drinks.

Salads are really quick to make, appetizers take some time to cook. Maybe she was just trying to be nice and get you something to eat as soon as possible. That wouldn't bother me. I don't see what the big deal is. The last time we went to ClaimJumper a nice upscale west coast fhain my DH found huge glove in his salad. Now stuff like that bothers me but getttinga salad before an appetizer doesn't register on my radar.

 

[gonzo76]

Old fashioned have been popular in Wisconsin forever. My parents are from the Milwaukee area and my grandparents always drank and old fashioned. Thanks for the memories!

My parents are from Milwaukee. Old Fashions are a staple at their house.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

What irritates me is when the entree comes out before the salad or like 2 minutes after they put your salad plate down. I like to finish my salad first rather than have to push it aside.

 

[Ohiodislover]

The last time we went to ClaimJumper a nice upscale west coast fhain my DH found huge glove in his salad.

That is just really ickky