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Cleveland Park restaurant refused service because we had a child
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Anonymous
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I am the owner of Dino and this is just a patently untrue story. I did have a conversation to day with someone who had made a reservation for 5 people. She called me to day to let me know that they would have a child needing a high chair and would need a table for 6. I said we were fully booked and I had to check to see if I could accomodate them. I was then told they already had a reservation. I did point out that their reservation, buy their own admission, was made for 5 people. we have tables for 5 that will simply not fit a 6th person, even a child in a high chair and we were unsually booked tonight being the night after the holiday.
I kept on asking them for their name to see if I could accommodate them. The person kept on refusing to give me their name and telling me they had a reseravtion. I finally said I was trying to acommodate them and she said I was not. At no time did they give me their name or let me look at the situtation to see if I could fit them in. They then angrily told me they were not coming in and hung up on me, all without ever givng me their name. At no time did I refuse them service. At no time did I use profantiy. I just was trying to see if we had a table that could fit their needs. The person on the phone just kept on repeating that they had a resevation and that there was no reason for me to check anything. I finally said I would be happy to check or to cancel their reservation. We had a huge number of tables booked, several with children. Every table which was capable of seating 6 was already booked with a party of 6 or more. We had a child in high chairs tonight as well as several other children. We have over 9 high chair and have participated in Kid's Restaurant Week and have a kids menu. We love children at Dino. It is easy for someone to make up a story like this. But in this case, it simply was not true. As it turned out, we could have offered them a table for 4 where they could have pulled up an extra chair and a high chair, but not a larger table. They were all prebooked. Short of not honoring other reservations made for 6 people, there was nothing I could do. ANyone who wishes to further discuss this can call me at 202-686-2966 Dean Gold |
Anonymous
| In addition, their original reservation was made over Open Table and no advance request for a high chair was made. The request for the high chair was made by phone when I tried to accomodate them. I would be happy to show the open table records to anyone interested. |
Anonymous
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Knowing how many crazies are on DCUM, the owner's denial of the story could be plausible... IF it weren't for the many accounts on review sites across the web detailing his hostility, vulgarity, and all-around lack of hospitality. I'm inclined to believe OP, and I thank her for the heads-up.
I also worked in restaurants, about 10 years altogether, and have found restaurant owners and managers to be the rudest, most foul-mouthed and impatient group. I've met longshoremen with more class and sense of the appropriate. |
Anonymous
| Interesting how the owner specifically mentions that the reservation was made on open table. I always wondered if diners who reserved via web got worse service, if/when there were problems. I assume the restaurants have to pay a fee to be a part of the service, and thus resent it; anyone know how it works? |
Anonymous
| Mr. Gold (if you are truly Mr. Gold), the manner in which the reservations were made and the last minute request for a high chair (if it was a last minute request) in no way excuses you from using profanity and insulting the guests when they arrived at your restaurant. I believe the OP's story is true-I might think a possible vendetta was at play here if not for other previous reports of your outrageous behavior. You have chosen a service profession, have provided poor service and intend to lie in order to deflect criticism yet your response again shows no awareness of customer appreciation and service which is key to your business. You don't have enough good food reviews to weather you through this-maybe it's time to think about doing something else for a living. |
Anonymous
| PS- the customer called in regards to the reservation and refused to give their name?total and complete BS. Just admit it-you fucked up. |
Anonymous
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Ther person refused to cooperate when I said I was very booked and had to check. They thought having a reservation for 5 peplr entittled them to a reservation for 5 plus a high chair at a larger table, which I did not have available. I never used profantiy to the person. I just could not accomodate their request without being able to see if I could juggle things.
As far as food reviews, please take a look at our website to see what the press thinks of us. We have many reviews linked to our website. We have almost 1000 postas about Dino on Don Rockwell.ocm with no reports of any such behavior and on chowhound as well. Again, and finally, anyone who wishes to discuss this with me further can call me at 2020-686-2966. |
Anonymous
YOU HAD THE REQUEST. You didn't need their name to know if you could juggle things or not, you were just trying to be difficult and give them a hard time. You either could find a table or you could not. If you couldn't you should have just said it wasn't possible, they could have made other plans. You did not want to accomodate them. |
Anonymous
| If you are not the OP, why are you so invested in debating an incident of which you have no first-hand knowledge? |
Anonymous
| I have to respect Dean Gold for coming on this site to give his side of the side. The truth is probably somewhere between the two versions. I believe OP probably refused to give the name when she sensed antagonism because she feared having the reservation cancelled. |
Anonymous
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Dean Gold's version is probably a bit closer to the truth, but I'll bet he used profanity, too.
It is like on Judge Judy, when someone comes on and starts the case by saying "I was minding my own business when the other person came up to me and started going all psycho for no reason at all!" The the other person tells their side, and it turns out that the first person did something just as hideous to instigate the situation. Sounds like OP and Dean Gold got into it with each other and it wasn't pretty. They both acted like idiots. |
Anonymous
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8:45 Even if OP didn't give her name, how is that "doing something just as hideous to instigate"?
He makes it sound like the conversation occured over the phone while OP said that she was in the restaurant (gave a description). Sounds to me more like he did not accomodate (and cursed) 2 DIFFERENT parties that night. He sounds like he is a wacko, whether due to drink or otherwise, he should not be in a service business. This was a holiday outing for OP and her family and friends and it was ruined just because they showed up and wanted to spend $ at his establishment. That is outrageous and unacceptable. If he is unable to manage the tables or be civil and professional when interacting with the public perhaps a competent employee should take over. |
Anonymous
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I don't "respect" him for coming on this site, he's just trying to cover himself and salvage some business. Given all of the other poor experiences people have had there I am inclined to think that OP did nothing wrong whatsoever.
For an establishment that seems kid friendy (kid's menu and highchairs), it's surprising that the owner thinks that screaming profanities creates an appropriate environment. |
Anonymous
| OP - You should post your complaint on the Cleveland Park listserv. It has 6,000 subscribers. You can join by going to Yahoo Groups. |
Anonymous
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It sounds like OP made a reservation for 5 and then after the fact thought she should call to confirm they would have a high chair available for the infant. The owner got bent out of shape because she wouldn't give her name. She got bent out of shape because he wouldn't accommodate her.
OP's suggestion that children are refused service at a restaurant that has a kid's menu is just stupid. She was refused service because she got into a fight with the owner. The owner may well be a nut job, but OP is not taking responsibility for her role in this right. |