Brick Oven on Truro Parish is a Nightmare!

I have never had a worst dining experience.

First, we sat at a dirty booth because it was the only one left in the restaurant. After about 15 minutes, the waitress came over and took our drink and food order BEFORE she even cleared the table and wiped down the table.

Then you have to wait 10 to 15 minutes to get your first drink.
Then I started watch watch everyone else.....

They had to get their own plates.
They had to get their own silverware.
They had to get their own napkins.
They had to get their own drink refills.
They had to get their own "to go" boxes
They had to sit next to dirty bus pans.
They has to sit next to a cleaner bottle and a rag.

People had to clean their own tables.
They would come in and wait for someone to clear and clean the tables. Well, one family with little kids waited like 15 minutes when finally they asked and she cleared off part of it and then went to give someone else their food. So, the family started to do it themselves.

Meanwhile, customers would walk by the cashier (who might have been the owner) and would give him dirty looks because he didn't even help the poor girl once. He just smiled at the people while got their own supplies as if it's just natural for customers to get up from their seats and get their own silverware, plates, and napkins. At least she gave us a straw with our drinks. We did not get plates, silverware, or napkins...we got that ourselves.

Then I figure, at least I ordered lasgana...you can't screw that up. Guess what? The lasagna was disgusting....it tasted like Hunts tomato sauce from a can mixed with sugar and cinnamon. I've never not been able to eat lasagna before!

Everyone in this place was in shock. You could see it in their faces. If this were any other restaurant..every customer in the place would have had a free meal.

They really need to get their act together....

I am still in shock from this whole experience.
I go out alot and I have had some really bad service...you just kind of expect it. But this one takes the cake.

 

Why didn't you just leave from the beginning, YUCK! I would have been out of there before the 15 wait, and especially if I saw this behavior going on. that is disgusting!

 

You must have been there the same time we were. And it wasn't great -however, we didn't think it was as bad as you made it out to be, Cappy.

We also weren't expecting it to be a "full service" restaurant.

In total fairness - the food was good (others were commenting the pizza was great). And the owner discounted our food, and was doing the same for others, even giving away pizzas. The reason for this is they had 2 people not show up tonight, and I don't think they anticipated the onslaught of folks.

All in all, we'll give them another shot. Just our two cents....

 

In fairness..I did try my husband's...it wasn't terrible

 

I am glad to hear that they were giving away pizza's and that 2 people didn't show up...at least then there is hope for them.

It was</u> the worst service I'd ever seen and it was the worst lasagna I'd ever had. The pizza was ok, but no Emilios...as a comparision to brick oven pizzas. And, I wasn't expecting full service dining either...just some basic service. I wish them luck....I'm pretty certain I won't be back. And also, I'm not one to be so open about these experiences in general. This one just blew me away because it was happening to everybody..not just us.

 

We also attempted to eat there last night. Service was poor, only the one server there. Pizza took a long time, I realize it takes a while to bake. Child was getting antsy, so we decided to take it home. When the pizza came, it was just dropped. I had wanted to ask for a box, but she left too quickly. I figured she'd come back in a second with plates. Well she didnt, I sat there for almost 10 min waiting for plates and finally flagged her down for the box. She just dropped the box, didnt put the pizza in. I put the pizza in, and went to wait in line for cashier, knowing that it would have taken forever for waitress to take care of it.

Pizza wasn't bad when we finally got to eat it. I'll try again in a few weeks, but only take-out.

 

I've met the owner. Really nice guy. I'm sure that if you talked to him and shared your experiences he would try his best to make a change. Obviously he wants his customers to be happy. But he cant know there is a problem until someone tells him. Just remember to do it politely and with a "win-win" mindset. If it were my place, I'd be mad at you for not being honest with me. Kind of like when I'm out with my friends and no one tells me I missed a spot shaving!!!

As far as the staff goes, well for me, I think this is a great example of poor work ethic in the youth that we now see in America. And I picked up on it the second I walked in. I dont blame the owner for even a second. Hopefully, he'll be able to find some better help down the road.

 

Actually I do blame the owner, instead of ignoring the fact that he is short handed, he should have either placed himself or one of the other staff members he had on dish duty and table bussing duty, instead of answering the phone continuely. A few missed phone orders are better than people in his door, with money in hand ready to spend. \

To be honest, the food was OK, but service was bad, and I don't blame the young lady there, she was obviously overwhelmed by the whole situation. I think she did a good job for the amount of work and people she was handling. I do aggree that the poor work ething in the youth of America is to blame for alot of things, but in this example, not the case.

Oh, I didn't get a discount, or free anything when I was there Friday, I got ok pizza, bad service and a complete bill.

That's two resturants in the new shopping mall that I won't return to.

 

Well obviously you own your own restaurant and are expert on such matters.

Hmmmm...and a discount or "free anything" would have made it all ok??? So I guess money can by happiness...

 

I've managed Food Service and whole areas at Kings Dominion. You don't treat customers like that and expect to get repeat business. At PKD we gace out free tickets, lunch, whatever to make the customer happy b/c we wanted them to come back.

 

Absolutely. There are times and places to do such things. And when service is poor you need to step it up. But, when people EXPECT free stuff or they are gonna throw a fit...that's not right (I'm holding my tongue!).
I waited tables in undergard at a high end restaurant. One night I had some...gentleman(holding my tongue again)...who decided to complain about the taste of the wine promptly after he had finished the entire bottle. And of course, the owner came out, kissed his hiney, and comped him the bottle.
As I've been reading all of the restaurant comments over the past few weeks one thing has stood out: people complaining like babies and wanting things free.
Kings Dominion is massive. Handing out free things is nothing to them (i'm assuming. Apologies if it severly damaged the budget.) This restaurant in particular is a single entity. They are trying to get their feet on the ground. And instead of the community being helpful, it seems as though certain sqeaky wheels are being harmful.
If you worked in food service like I did then you can appreciate that there are good ways and bad ways to complain. And this carries over into daily life as well.
1. Instead of just pointing out the negatives, spend some time trying to point out the positives. Give them something to build around.
2. Rather than just complaining, try to give some constructive criticism. A good rule of thumb is at least two positive suggestions for how things can be changed.


You know, I wasnt there this particular night. Maybe if it was me I'd have lost my temper. And I would have been the one to start this thread. Who know's?? I'm trying to be realistic. From my life experiences though it seems better to just chill out, relax, and get some composure. And like I mentioned in previous thread, talk to the owner and help him understand how he can improve things!! Do you think his goal is to piss eveyone off and run himself out of business??!!!

 

UPA
Before you get on your high horse, let me in on a little secret, Customer service is not everything, it's the only thing and that equals repeat business. Customer service, good customer service is the key to any good and prosperous business. Secondly, repeat business is the next major key, you think COKE, PEPSI, and McDonalds run under any other code?

I didn't expect a free anything when I hit the door of that operation, I expect value for my dollar and nothing more. I will spend obscene amounts of money for good service, and I have at good restaurants both big chain and local cuisine.

Secondly, I don't own or a manage a restaurant but I have managed multi-million dollar retail operations in both medium and large markets in the United States and made a pretty good living at it, so I think I know a little about customer service, value for dollar and the keys to running a business, especially retail business.

Lastly, your right, a free anything would have not made the experience better, but at least explanation of what the problem would have been nice. Instead of taking phone orders while people wait to pay the bill It would have helped if he had handled the problems in front of him, like a Filthy restaurant, dirty dishes everywhere, food on the floor, people serving themselves drinks, having to get their own utensils, people coming in and leaving at the sight of a really unclean restaurant and the young, overworked waitress (singular) who was obviously new to restaurant operations. (oh and FYI I still tipped her because I know it wasn’t her fault)

Instead of getting mad, I did give the place a chance, order dinner and enjoy the free show, but the food was marginal, the place no cleaner than a hobo campsite, and the value of the entire evening was lost. The lack of management was a key to the entire problem.

I don't wish that business to go under, In fact I would love to have a great business like that one their around the corner, that place is really convieant, and if managed properly would thrive really well in this neighborhood, but competition in the form of other restaurant who have a higher standards for customer service will win out if that situation remains the same.

 

I NEVER said, nor inferred, that customer service was not important. And please back off the 'high horse' lectures comments as they weren't my intent. Trying to encourage people to take a more positive approach to life does not constitute others to say he is up on a 'high horse'. However, I will run that by my pastor today at service if you should like.

My initial response to this thread was simply to take a minute and talk to the owner. B*tching isnt a proactive way of creating positive growth and change. Now, I'm sure you're an intelligent person and we dont need to go back and forth about this.

So please, let me start over. And this is not a lecture of any kind. This is just me, sitting down having some french toast and coffee and casually talking:
As I stated before the owner seems like a nice guy. And it would be helpful to him to tell him about what a horrible experience you and others have had. As a manager of large companies you likely have taken many training seminars on leadership, motivation, and human psychology. The owner's 'perception' of his own restaurant may be that it is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Perception hits reality when you look at the monthly financial statements. But since he has not been open very long he may not have those numbers yet. And as I had been taught, people "vote with their feet". So he may be thinking that he is doing everything right when in reality, he is only getting a lot of business because he is new.

P.S.
"hobo campsite"??
-you've got me cracking up after re-reading your post. Funniest thing I've read on this site in weeks!!

 

You're right! PKD's budget is massive and comping stuff actually generated more money (as they'd come back again and buy food etc...)

I'd also comp folks who complained nicely. Those who were jerks got nothing and I would sometimes kick them out of the park if they kept it up.

But I also know that poor service = poor management. I ran a tight ship. But this guy is new so he probably needs to find his style, hopefully before he loses his business.

 

I stopped in there for a pizza ... I wanted to try it for myself since being of Italian extraction, and growing up in an Italian neighborhood in New Jersey I believe I know good pizza.

The first thing I noticed is that the setup was not well thought out. I realize that there is a finite amount of space, but the location of the wait station should have been one of the initial decisions after the location of the oven. The second is that there isn't enough wait staff. You'd think in a neighborhood with lots of teens, there would be alot of applicants for a part-time job. Doesn't look like it to me ... guess kids are getting a much larger allowance than I was used to. Third, there is no location for the wait staff to print up the 'check', everything has to go through the one register. And if the manager is not around, it doesn't get done. All in all, it looks like they are still getting their act together.

Anyhow .. when I got the pizza home, and I have to say, I enjoyed it. Its very close to the kind of pizza I used to get at the pizzaria across the street from my house in New Jersey. That said, it could use alittle Italian oregano, some olive oil, and a slightly thicker bottom crust. But the 'bones' were just right.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

There have been several articles on how teens are geeting out competed in these types of jobs from folks who had to down shift careers and immigrants. That's too bad since working as a teen is good for them.

 

Working teens are a lot better than those "outdoor teens" who urinate on my lawn furniture and scare my indoor teens at all hours of the night...

 

You have a dry sense of humor. I like!

 

Homer, is there any topic in which you have no opinion? I've seen as many as 14 new topics in 8 hours lately because you've chimed in on all of them. Any other forum would declare you a post (rhymes with fore). J/K, sort of. But I do think you need to go to a Postaholics Anonymous meeting.

 

Maybe Mr. Burns fired him again and he has alot of free time...