Family of 4 arrived at 12:30, seated ourselves, as instructed. (2 former restaurant workers and their kids) We have a 3yr old and 1yr old. We chose what looked like a good family place on purpose. Our mistake. Less than half the tables were occupied. Had to approach the kitchen and ask for someone to take our food order. That finally happened at 1pm. Food did show up 45min. after we were seated in a half empty restaurant. Our poor young waitress was busting her hump - not her fault. Actually heard *the other* waitress chastise her for not bringing the bus tray back to the kitchen. Meanwhile we count 6-8 employees setting up expanded patio seating for dinner. Seriously, carrying chairs, moving tables about, even taking new tablecloths out of the bag. When we left there were more employees on the patio than diners. (Pause for effect)
We wolfed the food and waited. And waited. No offer to refill drinks, no pitch for dessert. I considered letting the baby bang a bread knife on my plate, she really wanted too. My wife got up to ask for the check and for the manager. I was already standing up with a baby in my arms, getting ready to leave when "Shorty" (the manager) arrived at the table. She failed to identify herself-at first I thought she was a waitress who just showed up to help, and began explaining that the additional staff was there for the dinner shift. And that only *2* servers were scheduled for lunch. The server who finally bused our table was the one who chastised our server. I recognized her - we saw her walk back and forth a lot - hands empty. We left our waitress 30% and hoped the complaint didn't make the rest or her day too miserable.
Really unacceptable when the manager responds to your complaint by simply stating that, those employees over there, in uniform, setting up tables, aren't working yet, and we had two servers on, so you see, its too bad you had to wait. Management FAIL.
