Restaurant Service Rant

[Agurs Wish]

Not naming names, but we went to one of our favorite restaurants the other night and were treated horribly. This restaurant is one we frequent frequently and recommend to anybody coming here. We, a party of six, showed up about 5:30 pm and ordered a round of drinks and the large appetizer platter to be shared among us. We asked that we be served the appetizer inside since it was cold outside. We went inside, the appetizer got served outside and the waitress was obviously peev'd the whole time that we were even there. We were the only people in the place at the time. We fully intended to eat dinner but were never offered a menu and had to go ask for glasses of water and go outside to the bar to order more drinks. By then it was 7:00 pm and there were only two other couples seated for dinner. We said to heck with it and walked down the road to another restaurant. The captain said to the hostess, sarcastically, "Thank you for the wonderful service," and she thought he meant it. You all know I love it down here and I love the people, but the service industry needs to start walking the walk and not just talking the talk and take care of their loyal customers. I hope all restaurant owners down here read this post and recognize this if it applies to them. As you all know, it takes a lot for me to say anything bad about the Abacos. As someone who spends an extended time down here, I don't expect to be treated better, I just expect to be treated well, just like all of us deserve.

[SusieAndAl]

Ouch!

Two quick funny restaurant stories that happened to us.

One February we caught the 5:55AM flight from LGA to MIA after battling near blizzard conditions. The flight was delayed but somehow we managed to barely make the conection in MIA. We were ecstatic upon arrival in MHH. Hungry, thirsty, tired but so glad we made it and went to a favorite restaurant. It was 1:45 PM. We ordered two ice cold Kaliks and menus, peeled off the sweaters and long sleeve shirts and enjoyed that first great sip. No menus, but we weren't in a hurry. The waitress came back in 20 minutes and asked if we wanted anything else. We said sure but could we see the menu? She said "No, the kitchen closes at 2"! It was 2:02! We just laughed and went across the street.

The second was on a hot summer day last year. It was a Sunday and we had spent the day on the boat with some good friends. We were all thirsty so we went to a restaurant with a bar right by the door and ordered some Kaliks to go. Without looking up, the bartender said sorry, but they were preparing for a private party. We said OK, upon which she looked up and said : "Oh! No problem! I thought you were just tourists"!

99% of the time though, everything is better than good.

CHeers -- SusieAndAl

[Marc Marino]

I get the feeling that not only restaurants but all shops seem to not care about customers (now this is not in Abaco). You would think that with lean times the opposite would happen...I never got it anyway.:confused:

[Agurs Wish]

Believe me they know we're not tourists(they can tell by the subtle aroma of our T-shirts) and even so, if they want return customers....We are used to the "island" concept of time, just not used to rudeness down here. We did return to the same establishment that night and danced the night away so there are no hard feelings. We just wanted to put mouth on it.

[Marc Marino]

Some establishment dissed you and you went back...you are more forgiving than I am...when I'm in Abaco I tip like a drunken salior but the days of take my money and give me the cold shoulder are over ...can't afford to do that anymore...:o

[Agurs Wish]

Well, we happen to love the manager and the band. The big sampler platter has definitly shrunk and we flew back in last Wed and met 3 different couples on the plane that we recommended the place to and saw them there. So we brought in business. With the 2 other couples we were with and those from the airplane how much money would they have made off of us if only they would have showed us a menu? The bartender was wonderful but left with half of his butt since the other half got chewed off by the waitress because he told us we could eat our appetizer inside. That's all I'm going to say.

[trubahamian]

Well Muddos sic! All this time I thought only we locals got poor service and tourists got the best! lol!
Seriously, wen we are treated poorly in a shop or a restaurant we complain. Our tourist product is not nearly as good as it should be and sometimes it almost seems as if some clerks and waitstaff have a sense of entitlement and act as if they are being bothered.
Please complain if you get poor service. I think guests are likely to get a better response than a local and Lord knows we need to improve business....not chase it out the door!

[SamFamAustin]

I've lived around resorts a bunch of my life too, and the complaints come even the best joints, trust me. An errant waiter, totally bad plate of food, and rudeness ... well, sometimes happens in the service industry because it's run by ... people! And sometimes people are cranky, forgetful, mad, or their mind's on vacation.

What I see a lot of is people hopping on a computer to vent their frustration, which is a normal reaction although talking with the manager is usually best and the most direct. True, some people don't want the aggravation of giving the manager a piece of their mind, but you can even write a short note and hand it over without talking about it. In many cases the manager will try to make things right - times are tough.

Of course, we can talk about the "crazy tourist" who gets bombed and obnoxious, eats a plate of food and says its no good, refuses to pay, and then passes out in the hibiscus bushes ... we've seen it all my friends! Anyway, try the manager route and the most common solution is to be "comped" with a second try to sway your affections back. If something like that doesn't work, to heck with 'em.
-sammie

[Local Knowledge]

I agree with trubahamian, complain. Tell the manager & the sooner the better. Even the best employee can have an off day (still no excuse) but any good manager will make it right for you because (presumably) they want you back. But if you don't say anything & just leave....
On the whole I think the "service industry" here in Abaco does well, but we could do better. The BahamaHost program ('grad '94) by the Ministry of Tourism has been & continues to be a big help. More employers need to get more employees to take the course. Unless there is somthing wrong with you head, when you graduate you have a much better understanding of the words "customer service". Despite all the Ministry's efforts there are still some Bahamians that just don't "get it". That I find frustrating. I occasionally witness visitors getting poor service & it makes me just want to grab the offending service provider & (out of sight of the visitor of course) slap them once or twice & say "don't you get it yet?" Then there are the many that do provide service above & beyond expectations or the call of duty. Let the manager know when you feel you have been treated as such. Thats how some people get to be manager! Thats my rant.

Local Knowledge.

[Flatfish]

Having been in the service industry years ago, we (the restaurant staff) worked very hard for good service because that is what we made our bread and butter on. I eventually ended up on the kitchen side of things since I liked to eat, but I remember a very good friend of mine who ran a whole bunch of very well respected restaurants in Washington State give me some sound advice.
If you don't have a good meal or service was bad or whatever you experienced that wasn't up to snuff, let the restaurant know. If they don't know, they continue to serve the same bad attitude and service to the next couple/group and so on, eventually to the point of losing so much business they shut down not knowing what happened. Although this is typically a sign of horrible management, enough complaints do make a difference.
While it certainly is justified to rant on this board which is seen by quite a few "locals" which hopefully pass along the message, the strongest point anyone can make is to talk to the manager, send a note by mail, talk with the waitress, call in later, etc. You don't have to be rude about it, just explain nicely that you didn't feel like you were being treated nicely as a paying customer or the food was served cold or that island time took a vacation on your watch and then walk away. Walking out of a restaurant without purchasing a meal makes a powerful statement, especially in this horrible economy trust me. If you go back a second time and it happens again, then get ugly!!!!

[Marc Marino]

Why should you have to? I mean if you have to go through all that what the heck there is enough stress in a person's life....just don't go back...unless you like getting riped-off....the owner knows something is up...sales will start dropping off...if he needs me to tell him or her ...get out of the business.;)

[SamFamAustin]

No need to get ugly, just make your displeasure known in a nice way, maybe even try to be constructive, smile, wink-wink, well hello!

That said, there is a kind of "resort mentality" that says if some folks don't like the food, prices, or service, there are thousands of other unknowing tourists who will stumble in the front door. It's unfortunate but it happens.

When I worked on Block Island at a high-dollar seafood restaurant we always had a devilish saying, "if you don't like it here, go on down to Baroni's." Baroni's was a cheap spaghetti shack that sold unidentifiable meatballs, horrible table wine, and a lot of gas. :eek:

So it's not just a local Bahamian thing, at least to me - it's worldwide. I'll tell you what works, though, is a manager or owner who is there to greet customers, learn people's names and recognize the regulars, make sure the stuff is right, and smile like a Cool Cheshire Cat even when totally flustered (exploding chefs and commodes are the worst, hopefully not at once).

That up-beat spirit can't be taught, sold, bought, trained, or learned. It's "the way" or as we say in Texas "snap," and either you have it or you don't. ;)
sammie

[Shelby]

I would agree that complaining to the restaurant itself is probably the best approach if you want to effect real change. But this is the rant section of the board, and sometimes, even if you have complained in person to the restaurant or business, you just wanna rant. Service-based businesses encourage you to tell your friends when you’ve had a good experience. Why would they think you wouldn’t do the same when the experience is negative?

We all pay a lot (especially these days) to get to, and stay in, Abaco, and we're entitled to quality service while we're there. The vast majority of Abaco business owners recognize this and deliver beautifully. But I can think of one or two who could use a stern reminder that we pesky visitors pay their salaries. Of course I realize this issue is not specific to Abaco, but this Forum is.

No doubt I've mentioned that our favourite restaurant in GTC is Miss Emily’s. The food and service are both lovely. The only way they could improve would be to start offering breakfast as well (hint, hint!) For years, however, we had a different favourite in GTC. It’s an easy walk from where we stay and the food is always good. We used to eat there virtually daily during our visits. During our most recent visit to GTC, however, though the food was fine, the service was simply intolerable.

On the day we arrived, we went in for lunch, only to be told by the waitress she was just about to close. (The sign outside says open all day.) She sat us anyhow, along with several other groups who came in, but she ignored us most of the time. We asked for water, which never came, and when our drink glasses were empty, they stayed that way. On several occasions, the waitress complained loud enough for customers to hear, “I should have been off long time.” Thanks for the enthusiastic welcome!

But being hardy souls, we shook it off and returned. Later that week, at the same restaurant, my husband tried paying with a credit card, only to be told by our server (a different lady from the first day) the card was declined. We tried several of his credit cards, and one of mine, all declined. The waitress seemed as perplexed as we were. Finally, as we were beginning to freak out about the prospect of being thousands of miles from home with no useable credit cards, the waitress mumbled that the credit card machine hadn’t been working lately. Uh, thanks.

All week, we watched as customers at the same restaurant were told by the various servers that their credit cards were declined. Some were, understandably, embarrassed until we (not their waitresses) reassured them it wasn’t their cards, but the machine. I’m not sure why the servers kept taking cards and swiping them, knowing what the result would be. Hope springs eternal, I guess… But why create needless embarrassment for your guests? And what would have happened if folks hadn’t had cash?

For us, though, the final straw came later in the week. As my husband and I were enjoying a late lunch, and shaking our heads as the credit card confusion continued, a woman came in and ordered a lemon bar from the display case. The waitress (a different server than the other days) shook her head. “They’re not cut,” she said. “There’s a special way to cut them, and I don’t know how.” (Huh?? They’re lemon bars for God’s sake, not gold bars.) The customer insisted the woman try, which she finally did, with a huge sigh. Why put the food in the display if you don’t want to sell it?

About 3:20, we finished our lunch. We had been looking forward to dessert, as I’m especially fond of this restaurant’s guava cheesecake. Before we could ask for dessert, however, the waitress snatched our empty lunch plates away, slapped the bill down on the table and said, “I’ve got a ferry to catch.” I glanced up at the clock and said, “I didn’t realize you were closing.” She snapped, “We’ve been closed since three.”

Now, the sign out front says open all day, and she had not once told us when we came in around 2:30 that she planned to close the restaurant. Still, I felt bad, and didn’t order my cheesecake. My husband, however, was less willing than I to be shooed so shabbily out of the restaurant. He looked the woman in the eye and ordered dessert. She brought it to him in a takeout box with a plastic fork. We paid and left and have never returned.

And that is how Miss Emily's became our new favourite restaurant!

[Flatfish]

Great story! LOL keep these coming folks! Hopefully there aren't many more though!

[Patti Puzo]

Amanda, I wonder if we had our bad experience at the same place?

We stopped in town before exploring GTC for the day, and saw a place that I remembered having favorable reviews on the forum. We popped in for what we hoped would be a quick lunch. We were greeted with "sit anywhere, but it's going to be a while". No explanation. We looked at each other and decided to try someplace else.
On the way back into town, fresh from our golf cart explorations and having a wonderful lunch at Jolly Roger's, my Mom and Mark decided that ice cream sounded good while waiting for the ferry.
The line at the ice cream window of the same place I initially mentioned was about 6 people deep. They had a list of about 8 or 10 flavors taped to the window. After about a 1/2 hour, it was our turn. When we placed our order, it was met with "sorry, we are all out of that one". This went on for several choices. It turned out they only had one flavor in stock at the time, which was probably still in stock for good reason. Not a favorite.
I wonder why they didn't just take down the list?:confused:

[Agurs Wish]

We went to a restaurant on GTC a couple of years ago and were charged an exorbitant tax. We'd been here awhile and explained that there was no tax in the Bahamas and the owner/bartender laughed in our face, like "What are you going to do about it?" We did do everything that was suggested here and we will go back because choices are limited here. But as one of you guys said I just wanted to rant.

[Alan Brown]

Three of us went out recently to a local Outback. Although the service was great, two out of the three meals were unsatisfactory. We asked to speak with the manager and this young fellow came to our table. He was very defensive and borderline insulting. Rather than go home pissed off, we asked to speak to his boss.

This young gal came out of the kitchen, listened to our concerns in a most polite and professional manner and offered profuse apologies. She not only comped all our meals, but gave us a $25 gift certificate to use at a future visit. Guess what restaurant we'll keep going to.

P.S. Sammy. I loved the food at Baroni's and the gas it gave me helped propel the ferry back to Pt. Judith!

[Shelby]

[quote=Agurs Wish;43027]We went to a restaurant on GTC a couple of years ago and were charged an exorbitant tax. We'd been here awhile and explained that there was no tax in the Bahamas and the owner/bartender laughed in our face, like "What are you going to do about it?" quote]


Agurs Wish, you were clearly cheated. I would have paid the bill, excluding the "tax", and walked out, inviting the owner/bartender to call the police if s/he had a problem with it.

Folks, as Agurs Wish says, there is no sales tax on food/drinks in the Bahamas. Having said that, many restaurants/bars in the Bahamas use receipt books from the U.S., which, of course, include a space to add in the tax to the total cost of the meal. It's not unheard of for Bahamian restaurants to put an amount in the tax box, knowing most tourists won't bat an eye at paying "tax", since they do it back home. If you question this "tax", you'll likely be told that it's a gratuity they've added "for your convenience." But most people don't question it -- they assume it's actually sales tax and add a tip ON TOP of it all. Call that what you will -- to me it's stealing.

Speaking of tips, always CHECK YOUR BILL before adding a tip, because many Bahamian restaurants include an automatic gratuity, regardless of the size of your party. Sometimes it shows as a gratuity, but other times it's shown as a "service charge."

I'm in no way opposed to tipping fairly, and even generously when appropriate. But I absolutely object to being cheated. And if you're being charged sales tax of any kind on food, beverages, etc., you're being cheated.

Amanda

P.S. I find these practices to be less common in Abaco than some other parts of the Bahamas, but they do occur.

[divapam]

Okay, here's my story. At a Gatlinburg restaurant I ordered trout....What I was served was huge and pink! Absolutely not trout, but salmon!!! When I pointed this out to the waitress, she sent the manager/owner to the table. She was a sweet little lady who insisted that this was a very special trout. It came from the other side of the mountain where the trout were pink! We both bit our tongues and declined the meal. From that day on, in a situation like that one, we look at each other and say, :rolleyes: "pink trout"! Just goes to show, sometimes the person running the show doesn't know trout from salmon. At that point, the only thing to do is leave and laugh. :D

[theKurp]

We all pay a lot (especially these days) to get to, and stay in, Abaco, and we're entitled to quality service while we're there.

I'm going to respond to the above statement from the perspective of the vast majority of Virgin Island locals in the service industry. Whether this applies to Bahamians as well I'll let others who are more in the know decide.

If you visit the Virgin Islands and think that the money you spend *entitles* you to quality service you will not only be disappointed, but very frustrated and likely, very angry.

V.I. locals employed in the service industry don't care how much money you spend. In fact, the more money you have the more likely it will be that you will be resented - ESPECIALLY if you think your money entitles you to special treatment. Do the locals want your money? Of course they do, but they will not kiss your @ss to get it.

Virgin Islanders, above all else, want you to respect them. You are only entitled to "quality service" if you greet them first with a respectful "good morning", "good afternoon", or "good night" prior to saying anything. If you come across as demanding, or superior, or anything else but respectful you will not get good service no matter how much you happen to be spending. Your money entitles you to nothing! On the other hand, good manners and a respectful attitude will usually get you good service and a friendly attitude from the service people in return. It also pays to know local customs because you may offend a local without realizing it.

Again, this may or may not apply to Bahamians, but at least you'll have a heads up if you ever visit the V.I.

[AbacoPeach]

I have to tell you Divapam, there is such a thing as pink trout. The pink ones are farm-raised and big and used to stock the lakes and rivers in North Georgia. They are simply delicious!!!! You might have missed out on a really tasty meal...

[divapam]

I have to tell you Divapam, there is such a thing as pink trout. The pink ones are farm-raised and big and used to stock the lakes and rivers in North Georgia. They are simply delicious!!!! You might have missed out on a really tasty meal...

Trust me, this wasn't trout. I tasted it and it was salmon. That being said, I didn't know REAL pink trout exsisted. Very interesting. Why have I never heard of this? Uh oh, it doesn't taste like salmon does it? Dang it, I might have to go back there and eat my words.

[AbacoPeach]

LOL No, it doesn't taste like salmon. I think it has a better taste and more succulent than the native trout. When we would go camping growing up, we would catch both natives and farm-raised and I was always really pleased when I got the "pink meat"! :D

[boatbum]

We gave up on the restaurant at Sea Spray after having some of the conch fritters. They came out as doughy gelatinous masses of goo that were dark brown due to old oil. The marina bar and music are great, but dinner is not on our agenda here. Nor is lunch any more.
That being the case we quickly learned that happy hour at the Abaco Inn was where you wanted to be. The bar menu is good and drinks are 1/2 price on Wed and Sun..
At the Green Turtle Club, they include the tip on the tax line. Look out.

[Shelby]

I'm going to respond to the above statement from the perspective of the vast majority of Virgin Island locals in the service industry. Whether this applies to Bahamians as well I'll let others who are more in the know decide.

If you visit the Virgin Islands and think that the money you spend *entitles* you to quality service you will not only be disappointed, but very frustrated and likely, very angry.

V.I. locals employed in the service industry don't care how much money you spend. In fact, the more money you have the more likely it will be that you will be resented - ESPECIALLY if you think your money entitles you to special treatment. Do the locals want your money? Of course they do, but they will not kiss your @ss to get it.

Virgin Islanders, above all else, want you to respect them. You are only entitled to "quality service" if you greet them first with a respectful "good morning", "good afternoon", or "good night" prior to saying anything. If you come across as demanding, or superior, or anything else but respectful you will not get good service no matter how much you happen to be spending. Your money entitles you to nothing! On the other hand, good manners and a respectful attitude will usually get you good service and a friendly attitude from the service people in return. It also pays to know local customs because you may offend a local without realizing it.

Again, this may or may not apply to Bahamians, but at least you'll have a heads up if you ever visit the V.I.


Hmmmm... not sure I like the implication that I feel I'm entitled to "special treatment" or deserve to have my "a** kissed" because I "throw money around" when I come to Abaco. :-) I can assure you that's not what I said, and certainly not what I believe.

I believe that people who work in the tourist industry -- or any service industry -- are entitled to be treated with respect and good manners. In return, I believe that, as a customer, I'm entitled to a reasonable level of service. Not special treatment, not a**-kissing, just plain old service.

Is it unique to the V.I. for service workers not to want to go out of their way to help boorish jerks who throw their money around and expect special treatment? I doubt it. I'm pretty sure Bahamians feel the same way. Who wouldn't? But that's not what we're talking about here. We're talking about the occasional service industry worker who clearly has no understanding of what "service" means.

As tourists, we are absolutely "entitled" to decide how we want to spend our own money. Why on earth, especially in tough economic times when our vacation dollars are more dear than ever, would we spend them in establishments that treat us with disrespect or contempt?

As I said earlier, this is not a common issue in Abaco. Easily 99% of the tourist-industry workers I've dealt with in Abaco have been unfailingly pleasant and polite, and most are willing to go far, far beyond the call of duty. But if I do come across an owner or employee whose attitude and service doesn't meet even minimal acceptable levels (in Abaco or elsewhere), why on earth would I patronize that establishment? That's not throwing money around... that's called voting with your feet.

[trubahamian]

We gave up on the restaurant at Sea Spray after having some of the conch fritters. They came out as doughy gelatinous masses of goo that were dark brown due to old oil. The marina bar and music are great, but dinner is not on our agenda here. Nor is lunch any more.
That being the case we quickly learned that happy hour at the Abaco Inn was where you wanted to be. The bar menu is good and drinks are 1/2 price on Wed and Sun..
At the Green Turtle Club, they include the tip on the tax line. Look out.

That's really too bad,I hope you spoke to Junior,Brenda or Delacean about it.Trust me,they care very much and I know they would want to hear about it. Seaspray is usually very good and has been for years. On any given day a good many locals eat there.

[trubahamian]

Hmmmm... not sure I like the implication that I feel I'm entitled to "special treatment" or deserve to have my "a** kissed" because I "throw money around" when I come to Abaco. :-) I can assure you that's not what I said, and certainly not what I believe.

I believe that people who work in the tourist industry -- or any service industry -- are entitled to be treated with respect and good manners. In return, I believe that, as a customer, I'm entitled to a reasonable level of service. Not special treatment, not a**-kissing, just plain old service.

Is it unique to the V.I. for service workers not to want to go out of their way to help boorish jerks who throw their money around and expect special treatment? I doubt it. I'm pretty sure Bahamians feel the same way. Who wouldn't? But that's not what we're talking about here. We're talking about the occasional service industry worker who clearly has no understanding of what "service" means.

As tourists, we are absolutely "entitled" to decide how we want to spend our own money. Why on earth, especially in tough economic times when our vacation dollars are more dear than ever, would we spend them in establishments that treat us with disrespect or contempt?

As I said earlier, this is not a common issue in Abaco. Easily 99% of the tourist-industry workers I've dealt with in Abaco have been unfailingly pleasant and polite, and most are willing to go far, far beyond the call of duty. But if I do come across an owner or employee whose attitude and service doesn't meet even minimal acceptable levels (in Abaco or elsewhere), why on earth would I patronize that establishment? That's not throwing money around... that's called voting with your feet.

Being a customer is enough reason for good service where eva the establishment is.Speaking of which:As a boat captain I have had the oppurtunity to travel extensively up and down the Eastern Seaboard. New England is a good example where you may get the best service or the worst service. In Martha's Vineyard where most of the waitstaff is professional and local.....the service is usually very good.......but in Block Island or Newport where most waitstaff are high school or college summer help...it can be just terrible. I guess when it is your profession a person cares more?

[Shelby]

We gave up on the restaurant at Sea Spray after having some of the conch fritters. They came out as doughy gelatinous masses of goo that were dark brown due to old oil. The marina bar and music are great, but dinner is not on our agenda here. Nor is lunch any more.

I'm really sorry (and surprised) to hear that about Sea Spray. I second trubahamian's sentiments. We've eaten there on a number of occasions over the past few years and have always been delighted with the food. If this was your only negative experience with them, it might be worth giving them another try....

Amanda

[sail pending]

Abaco has the absoloute slowest service that I have ever experienced anywhere and I love it. I'm sure we could all tell hundreds of stories about slow service and "we all out a dat today" inventory woes. My favorite was when we showed up to meet five other boats at our favorite waterfront eatery/bar at noon on the week before the 4th of July. We had been offshore and everyone was starving so we ordered a round of specialty drinks and some fritters only to hear that there was no food until 3 o'clock because they were cleaning the frier that day. We all started laughing because it was such a typical Abaco moment. The cook had gone to run some errands while they cleaned the frier during lunch in high season with about 70 people standing around looking for grouper burgers and fritters. Just another reminder that when you are on the island you are on Island Time.

[theKurp]

Hmmmm... not sure I like the implication that I feel I'm entitled to "special treatment" or deserve to have my "a** kissed" because I "throw money around" when I come to Abaco. :-) I can assure you that's not what I said, and certainly not what I believe.

Obviously I've offended you and I assure you, that was not my intent. I'll chalk it up to a poor choice of words on my part and attempt to convey my point differently, but with the same objective.


I believe that people who work in the tourist industry -- or any service industry -- are entitled to be treated with respect and good manners. In return, I believe that, as a customer, I'm entitled to a reasonable level of service. Not special treatment, not a**-kissing, just plain old service.

Your belief cultivated by an environment in which a high level of competition dictates that the customer is *entitled* and should *expect* certain benefits in terms of service. Consumers enjoy a vast array of options for products and their choice often hinges on which company provides the best customer service. It is incumbent upon business owners to elevate their level of service to the customer otherwise they face the threat of losing business to their competitors.
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]This is capitalism at its finest and it

[boatbum]

It was not our only experience. I also had some onion rings that were suitable replacments for the ring hook game and a burger that was good for hockey. Since we were getting a good rate on dockage I did not want to push it.
We intended to support the restaurant but when we ate outside the waitress offered some hotsauce to sprinkle on the plate to prevent the invasion of flys. It failed horribly and our plates were engulfed with flies so we moved inside. We let them know how they managed the fly issue at grabbers with sterno candles but I suspect budget issues prevented their being ordered.
I won't pass on the second hand information we got from others.
By the way,

The staff was all wonderful and the band Junior played in was great. I think they have some kitchen issues to work on that's all. It could be a new or stressed out cook?

[SamFamAustin]

Oh dear, the tossing rings, hockey pucks, and a plague o' flies! Been there, done that.

Sure, Lori and I do a few meals out but we figured that:


Breakfast is usually cheap (we're light eaters in the morning)
Lunch is a great time to catch deals, huge meal --> siesta
Often we "graze" the appetizer menu instead of huge dinners at busy times

So I know many don't like the fuss, and many are on cramped boats and want out of galley slave duty, but nothing is better than home cooking, local vegetables, and bring-a-dish buffets. Relying 100% on restaurants just doesn't appeal to us much and can leads to cranky complaining behavior and pooty dispepsia! :eek:

And if you catch a bunch of fish and land some, ugh-oh, you have to cook it right up or pay for a restaurant to do the honors for like 5 bucks a pound or ten bucks a plate minimum. Soooo ... we have a party if we can. I'm not taking no nasty frozen, stinkin' fish back to the Mainland! Cerviche, fried (I'd hijack the thread with horror stories on frying stuff in a guest kitchen), and my favorite, BBQ grilled. Let's just say that if you BBQ fish and lobsta outside "on the barbie" the fishy smell and firemen won't linger as long ... LOL :D
-sammie

[Patty&Rudi]

Um, the gorgeous and delicious rainbow trout has a pink meat as beautiful, succulent and tasty as salmon! We eat it all the time! YUM!

Okay, here's my story. At a Gatlinburg restaurant I ordered trout....What I was served was huge and pink! Absolutely not trout, but salmon!!! When I pointed this out to the waitress, she sent the manager/owner to the table. She was a sweet little lady who insisted that this was a very special trout. It came from the other side of the mountain where the trout were pink! We both bit our tongues and declined the meal. From that day on, in a situation like that one, we look at each other and say, :rolleyes: "pink trout"! Just goes to show, sometimes the person running the show doesn't know trout from salmon. At that point, the only thing to do is leave and laugh. :D

[Patty&Rudi]

And I do have to say that the service we have experienced on this trip, and the others (though it seems a bit more attentive this time) on Hope Town is wonderful!

We try to frequent all of the local eateries at least more than once on all visits, and The Lodge (outdoor) service was faster than I've ever seen it, but I have to say for welcoming attitudes and politeness and thank yous this month - the Edge has been exemplary.

(I live for the Edge Salad...)

[Shelby]

Hi, Richard. Not to worry, I wasn’t seriously offended by your note and I full understood your point. But as a “customer”, I believe I’m entitled to a basic level of service. If people in the V.I. see things differently, fair enough.

However, may I respectfully suggest that if V.I. tourism workers feel subservient or “lesser than”, then that’s THEIR problem and not mine, as a visitor? (Obviously their government feels it's a problem, or they wouldn’t be implementing the various attitude-improvement programs you described.) If offering folks respect, decency and gratitude (along with my money) isn’t enough, then that’s not the vacation destination for me. I have no desire to spend my holiday in some psychological drama where my ability to get a meal depends on boosting someone’s pathologically low self-esteem.

Believe me when I tell you that I understand island living and small town attitudes. I was born and raised in Nassau. Green Turtle Cay is my ancestral home, and you certainly can’t get much smaller than that. But I must tell you that in 40+ years, I have come across very few Bahamians with attitudes such as you describe.

Generally speaking, Bahamians are the opposite, especially in the Out Islands. Most are trusting and welcoming of visitors and go out of their way to be kind and helpful. There’s no psychological warfare at play. Locals are nice, visitors are nice, everyone’s happy. As this thread shows, there are of course exceptions (among locals AND visitors), but they’re just that – exceptions. That’s why they’re notable.

Regarding your example of the farmhouse, here’s how I see it. If I stumble onto a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere and go begging for help, I would absolutely feel indebted to the people who helped me, as clearly they are under no obligation to do so, regardless of how much money I offer.

If, on the other hand, I stumble across a six-story farmhouse with valet parking and a neon sign saying, “Rooms for Rent. Free Breakfast. Heated Pool,” I expect be treated according to the principles of good customer service (unless I demonstrate that I am unworthy of such treatment.) The fact is, they ARE operating a business and, as a customer, my expectations ARE different. And while I will behave with respect and humility, and certainly demonstrate my appreciation for good service received, I probably won’t feel obliged to hand over my first-born child or include the owner in my will.

Clearly, according to your note, folks in the V.I. might see it differently. C’est la vie.



Amanda

[H2Os]

"My point is, I don’t take the attitude that good service is earned by my dollars, but by my actions that reflect the attitude that I am their guest, and they are my host"

Well put Richard. This should be the mantra of all travelers, to all parts of the world let alone a small close knit Cay. And having spent time also on St. John and GTC I would say that there IS a bit of a difference in attitude with the Abaconians we've met being a little less guarded. We feel as though we have been welcomed into GTC, and as such, we try to act accordingly. It's a small town, that takes care of it's own and is just plain friendly. That's what keeps us returning.

[DrRalph]

Never been to USVI, but we've spent some time in BVI, and I can only remember one time when a hostess at a restaurant abused us, and that was on an insane New Year's Eve. We've always met great people and had wonderful service throughout BVI.

We've been staying at Seaspray since it opened in '92, and I can't remember ever getting sub-optimal food or service. Now, they know us well, and I'm sure that counts for something, but that's one reason we are return customers, we love their attitude. We'll be there over the Fourth of July, come have a drink with us;).

[Agurs Wish]

Please note that I did not name a restaurant or cay, and regardless of the fact that some say we don't remember how to move our boat, we have friends that do and sometimes we hitch a ride. I think enough has been said and I'm asking for the kind doctor to shut down this thread. I never, ever wanted by any means to detract business away, hmmm I guess I just wanted a waitress to be nicer to the people I sent there on my recommendation.

[DrRalph]

Well, we don't really like to lock down a thread unless we're pushed. I think everyone who has contributed to this thread has done so in a responsible and constructive manner, for now let's let it run its course.

[DaGoose]

Agurs Wish, where's Gordon Ramsey when you REALLY need him?;)

All kidding aside, after many years of my family being in the restaurant business, I've never understood why the wait staff in some establishments don't come around more often to ask if you want another round. I'm not talking overkill but come on, when your glass is empty for 20 minutes that's just wrong. It's the bar that has the best profit margin, not the food. And in Abaco, I am sure that most folks will want another cold one!:rolleyes:Am I wrong?


To quote Sammie "HELLO!"

Tina

[Shelby]

We've been staying at Seaspray since it opened in '92, and I can't remember ever getting sub-optimal food or service. Now, they know us well, and I'm sure that counts for something, but that's one reason we are return customers, we love their attitude.

They don't "know" my husband and me necessarily, but I feel the same way about the folks at Sea Spray. We've eaten there half a dozen times or more in the last two years, and we've never had anything but top-notch food and service.

[SamFamAustin]

You seem like such a nice person, Agur's Wish, very diplomatic. I can't think of a good rant to get people's attention off this topic ... anybody else?

So ... there's a place that we dearly love because they let me play music, have reasonable priced drinks on the ocean, is like a second-rate Paradise, but their food just tears me up. I've asked them about that, since even fried frozen shrimp was causing me some problems - I mean how hard is that? I know the owners, the cooks, all the bartenders, and the regulars who are just like that old TV show, Cheers. I talked. It kept happening. Bummer.

The truth is, it comes down to "washing your hands." This place did get inspected every month for food safety by the way, and always got above an 80 out of 100. I lost the battle but I still love the place. And that's a tough story to write, especially when you love the place so very much.
sammie

[trubahamian]

They don't "know" my husband and me necessarily, but I feel the same way about the folks at Sea Spray. We've eaten there half a dozen times or more in the last two years, and we've never had anything but top-notch food and service.

We all know it is impossible to have a perfect experience at a restaurant everytime and I'm sorry to hear about "boatbum's" poor experiences at Seaspray.

No one cares more about quality or friendly service than Brenda or Delcean at Seaspray and no one cares more about Seaspray or it's customers than Junior.

These are tough economic times for all of our resorts and restaurants to stay open and no one can afford to lose customers.

To "boatbum" I say,please have a conversation with Junior and let him know of your bad experiences.Trust me....He cares very much....We all care....This Island is like a big family and everyone has family working in one or all three Resorts.

[SamFamAustin]

What an excellent post, like reading a great short story.

If I may, I like my restaurant staff to be a little stand-offish, I mean did you ever go into a place and the owner/manager/bartender just wouldn't leave you alone? Even eating, there they are, talking a mile a minute. Maybe it's a good problem to have but some folks just won't stop and it was always weird, at least to our Texas sensibilities. One time it was like a nightmare, like if I told the old boy to go away and shuddap he might kill us or something! So we sat. For hours it seemed. Him talking. I was never so glad to escape from that version of Heck in my life. :rolleyes:

[DrRalph]

The posts addressing nudity in the VI and BVI have been moved to a new thread, Shenanigans in the VI & BVI (http://abacoforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3788).

[Hank g]

So much for this thread.......

[Agurs Wish]

Guys,
To finish this off I just wanted to let you know that the manager of the restaurant I was ranting about called us personally yesterday to apologize. I think that shows a lot of class. You wouldn't get that back in the States.

[Patti Puzo]

Guys,
To finish this off I just wanted to let you know that the manager of the restaurant I was ranting about called us personally yesterday to apologize. I think that shows a lot of class. You wouldn't get that back in the States.


Mary, that's great news and a welcome follow-up. I love happy endings.

[badfish]

call it a misunderstanding, an off day, or whatever. If its a favorite spot of yours - let it slide. Some times waiters-waitresses have just dealt with a large table of #%*@ ers prior to encountering your party. I am always impressed with the servers' patience-particularly around happy hour. We love all of the many restaurants staff- even when prompt, personable service is a challenge. Sometimes establishments are unavoidably understaffed too! Its all good. Have fun, let it go- I know you have already. Tip well and often and dont sweat the small stuff- P.S. :DI do not work at a restaurant

[BahamaAngie]

Well either I am easy to please or just clueless but I have never experienced the above! The only thing is that the service is very slowwwwwwww but heck, we are in the Bahamas and that's how they do things! In TC we have always had good service, again slow but good and good food!

In GTC, also some very slow service but good food. Only one restaurant where the service was very pleasant, the fish I ordered tasted old!!! My uncle who use to own a fish market in NYC said if it smells fishy, it is not fresh! Also, there was an amount in the tax area of the bill and I questioned it knowing there was no tax in Bahamas and was told by I believe by Hazie that it was their tip. It did not seem enough, so we added a bit more to it! I always ask a lot of questions, just my nature. But again, I can't remember poor service just slow but that was okay. Everywhere we went and we don't eat out a lot, everything was acceptable!