Since Salud is one of the nicer restaurants in Camden, we booked a Christmas lunch there for our department. My co-worker who booked the reservation was told we would be charged for everyone who did not show up for the 12-person reservation (which included personnel...who worked on off shifts, etc). So we made sure everyone was confirmed to go the day ahead (really, you will CHARGE a large party if 1 if them does not show?).
The real beef was, when we arrived WELL ahead of lunchtime (1130a because we knew it might take extra time-sometimes, like this time, their service is like molasses) the servers REFUSED to bring any chips and salsa to the table until we placed our order. Well, ordering and getting only cokes and water took at least 20 mins. I asked my coworker why we weren’t getting any chips & salsa and was told “that was their policy, they won’t bring it until you order”. Hmmm. I tried it: when I asked if we could have chips & salsa for the table, the girl smiled at me, kept walking to another table, and maybe 10 minutes later returned to finally take our order (we were all ready to order well ahead of that). All this time we are waiting, servers are buzzing to other smaller parties and helping them.
Some of our party had been at work since 6a and were starving! But that server sure as heck stuck to her policy!
EVERY Mexican restaurant I have eaten at in the area (small town of Camden, SC capital city of Columbia, all points in between) bring salsa to the table, pre-order! Stupid policy, especially for a large business lunch party (everyone’s going to order an entree, no one’s going to “just eat chips and salsa” and skip out). Salud was going to get paid so what’s the problem?
PS: when we finally did get the chips and salsa (4 baskets, 4 “community” salsa bowls for our party of 12) I asked for an additional salsa and was told “we are out of containers to bring more salsa in”. What? Can you WASH a container and then you can bring it out? How hard is that?
Overall made us feel like our business was not valued. I guess they figure they get enough good reviews for their food and therefore don’t feel the need to make any additional allowances to accommodate their patrons.More