Do kids even understand sevice these days?

[OriginalWheelman]

I go to the local Indian restaurant here quite a bit. The food is good, and the service is usually top notch. Today I received the worst service I have ever had at a restaurant. I attempted to call from the train station, so I would spend less time waiting. I was on hold for so long, I was most of the way up the street, and in fact crossed the last road of the 12 minute walk as I was giving my order. I considered hanging up right as she answered.
When I arrived, the hostess, who was not wearing a name tag, met me at the door. I told her I had just placed the order, and tried to explain my awkward arrival time as we had just gotten off the phone. During my explanation, SHE WALKED AWAY AS I WAS TALKING. And never returned. During the 30 minutes I waited for my order (the longest I have ever waited here by 12 minutes) 5 tables came in. Of them, the hostess seated 1. One was seated by a young brunette server, and the other 3 by a middle aged blond waitress. The blond waitress seemed to be picking up A LOT of the slack from the hostess. My order came out of the kitchen only when another to go order walked in the door and asked if his order was ready. The hostess then summoned me by saying 'John, your order is ready." I met her at the counter, she says 'So it's 30." I said "ok" and she went about cashing me out. She then hands me the bill takes my credit card, cashes me out WITHOUT ANOTHER WORD. She sets the bag on the counter and looks away. I paused for an awkward amount of time, and then asked, "is this it?"to which she scowled, and said "yes." I left, even more irritated than before.

If I were a first time patron, I would never return. I am a chef. I spend my time in restaurants. I observed impeccable behavior out of all the other employees. While the rest of the wait staff was dressed in an appropriate black slacks, she was dressed in a white and black patterned short skirt and hosiery. I honestly find ti hard to believe someone could be this rude, let alone in a professional setting. It was infuriating.

[Bubba1]

Sucks that you weren't treated well by the hostess, who seems to be the primary offender here. If all other staffers wear name tags and she didn't, odds are like either she's new, or that hosting was not her normal function. Either way, it's clear she didn't understand or care about her responsibilities. I'm sure the manager/owner would like to know if he has an employee (or relative perhaps) that's pi$$ing off loyal customers like you. Have you spoken to them yet?

[LocAL_anarchy]

From the sounds of it, I'm going to guess she was either some sort of upper management or maybe even an owner. Probably filling in for while they are short-staffed. That would explain the attire and the disdain of having to work the floor, even as a hostess. Regardless of who she was, professionalism always needs to be demonstrated. Seems she thought herself too good to work hard.

[themadscientist]

F that place. Don't go back. You were too nice. I would have dumped on her bigtime and after she was put in her place and my order placed, left.

[OriginalWheelman]

I sent what I posted here with a little more as a note to the owners. No one was wearing name tags. No one was wearing names tags. Its annoying though when you want to register a complaint and can't name the person. I got the same impression, that it was a relative of the owner or a new girl or something. They did not seem to care at all.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I hate it when that stuff happens to me, and I have zero intentions of ever going back, but then for some stupid reason, a bunch of friends will think its the greatest place ever and that's typically the only place they ever want to go, and it STILL sucks every time you go.
I've spent a few Friday nights alone because of that.
"What's going on tonight?"
"Oh, we're going to Julep, you should come!"
"Nah.... let me know if you go anywhere else".

[Jesda]

There's a local pub that I go back to even though the service is garbage.
Why? The beer selection is VAST, the food is superb (and cheap), and the drink specials are excellent.

But man, the service is pure garbage. It's always polite but always terrible. I've learned to order all of my drinks and food all at once because that waitress isn't coming back.

[OriginalWheelman]

There's a local pub that I go back to even though the service is garbage.
Why? The beer selection is VAST, the food is superb (and cheap), and the drink specials are excellent.

But man, the service is pure garbage. It's always polite but always terrible. I've learned to order all of my drinks and food all at once because that waitress isn't coming back.

I can deal with polite and inept. But flat out rude is where I draw the line. I can't think of much ruder than walking away from someone mid sentance without even putting here finger up in a 'just a minute' manner.