HORRIBLE Experience at Harry's Tap Room Clarendon

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to share something that happened at Harry's Tap Room in Clarendon that was incredibly rude and uncalled for. We were with my 6 month in the car system/stroller and could not go through the revolving door due to the large size of my stroller. We knocked on the door to have the hostess open it up for us. She pointed to the revolving door and walked away. Meanwhile, the wind is blowing and we are freezing outside...we knock again and she ignores us. Finally, she opens the door and tells us very cursly that we should have used the revolving door. I told her it was impossible for me to get the stroller in that way and she responded that "no one has ever had a problem". We talked to the manager who was apologetic, but it left such a bad taste in my mouth. In hindsight, I should have just walked away and not even bothered to come in. When I left the same hostess offered to "show me how to use the revolving door." Just a word of caution for those of you that live in the Clarendon area...they usually have such kind hostesses and are child friendly, so I'm hoping this was just a random incident.

[Anonymous]

Of course it sounds random. Your story is about one snotty hostess. Glad you talked to the manager and glad that person was apologetic. I wouldn't knock a whole restaurant for that one person.

(then again, I don't love the food there anyway...but still...)

[Anonymous]

you should had asked her name... sorry you went through it OP.

[Anonymous]

You poor thing! Sounds traumatizing.

[Anonymous]

I was sitting *right* by the door on Sunday and saw this scenerio play out with two different families. In both cases one of the adults used the revolving door to get in and then opened the other door for the person pushing the stroller. I didn't see anyone approach the hostess, but she certaintly didn't offer to help any of the couples in the moments when they were trying to figure out how to get the stroller in.

[Anonymous]

What a nightmare! You should sue the restaurant for psychological trauma.

[Anonymous]

My gosh, that whole experience must have taken minutes out of your life. Terrible.

[Anonymous]

I would have liked to see her demonstrate how she could get the stroller in through the revolving door.

[Anonymous]

Who cares!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I've had a couple of bad experiences with snooty hostesses and waitstaff at this restaurant. We live in Clarendon also and there are so many other good restaurants here that I haven't returned to Harry's Tap Room since the last incident.

[Anonymous]

New poster here. My husband and I had always been fans of Harry's Tap Room (Clarendon) until we tried eating there with our infant son. They are definitely not baby-friendly at at location, though I find that so many places in that area go out of their way for you. We had one instance of being completely ignored for about 20 minutes after having been seated, so we just got up and left to go elsewhere. The hosts definitely make you feel like they are doing you an enormous favor by even seating a family with a baby. In contrast, I find that the location in the Pentagon City Mall is quite baby-friendly. Never a problem there.

Really a shame, because I liked Harry's (Clarendon) and thought they had a great brunch. Won't be back there, and will tell others to look elsewhere too. Other fantastic options for dining with baby: Liberty Tavern, Boulevard Woodgrill, Clarendon Grill, and if you don't mind chains, Cheesecake Factory.

[Anonymous]

I've only been there once or twice - but honestly - it just doesn't come across as a family friendly place. Maybe the rude treatment was intentional - as a "hey, we don't really want your stroller in here" kind of thing. And the manager was just covering up.

Me personally, I don't mind places that aren't kid friendly (because I like having adult places for date nights), but it would suck to think a place was kid friendly and then go. I know I was shocked to find out that the Dogfish Brewpub restaurant was crazy kid friendly.

It would be nice if there was some sort of unofficial sign - maybe a picture of a stroller with an "X" through it

[Anonymous]

I would think it's a random incident - I've been there with my toddler maybe a dozen times and have always found them to be extremely kid-friendly. I tend to use our maclaren umbrella stroller when we go out, though, and it's not unwieldy enough to get stuck in the revolving door. (good thing, because i get weirdly claustrophobic in revolving doors.)

Harry's lost some of their good staff when Restaurant 3 opened up, if I remember correctly!

[Anonymous]

I went in with DD in her carseat (no snap-n-go), and wthout asking they offered me a sling so I wouldn't have to put the carseat on the floor.