Forum Index
»
Food, Cooking, and Restaurants
Cleveland Park restaurant refused service because we had a child
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| oops meant her role in this fight. |
Anonymous
I agree with you. |
Anonymous
She didn't call top confirm a high chair, she called to add a person to her party, moving it from 5 to 6. Both sides sound weird here - I don't buy the not giving her name and I didn't swear at her protests from the owner, and he sounds like a real piece of work. However, I don't believe that the OP accurately represented the genesis fo the fight, and for that reason, have a hard time feeling too much sympathy for her. |
Anonymous
|
I've been in the service industry for about 10 years and one thing I've learned is that customers almost NEVER accurately describe what happened. They want to put themselves in the best light which is human nature but also lying. I always thought it was interesting that what I say I did and what the customer says I did are the same, but what what the customer says they did and what I say they did is always different. We no longer have these problems as everything is on video and audio is recorded as well. Video never lies.
I'm not saying that OP or Dean isn't telling the truth but I do believe there's some misrepresentation going on. Regardless, Dean should understand what my boss always told me when I was frustrated at these situations. It doesn't matter who's right or wrong, it's always bad when a guest leaves upset. For that we have to apologize and try to make it right. It's the only way to do business. And there are very few exceptions to that. |
Anonymous
| Mr Gold,to paraphrase an old saying, me thinks thou dost protest too much. I'm an industry veteran and parent. Lame excuses and erratic behavior indicate even worse things going on in the kitchen. Opentable is one of the best things to happen to DC dining. Other managers use it as a timely feedback tool. Your tirade gives me yet another reason not to go back to Dino. Thanks OP |
Anonymous
|
May I ask, what did the owner look like? We've met him, and our experience dining there -- with our now 2yo but she's been there since infancy -- was nothing like you describe. She got a free dino's t-shirt, received special cheesy polenta gratis on slow nights, they have high chairs, a kid's menu, etc. In other words, they appear to be equipped to handle and welcoming of children. I think they even have a "kids and families" night.
So what you're describing is so far beyond what I've regularly experienced there that (a) I'm inclined not to believe it or (b) think the owner may have a psychological/substance use problem to create this Jekyl/Hyde personality. |
Anonymous
|
If Mr. Gold never got the name of the party, how can he say they made their reservation using Open Table? That seems like an inconsistency in facts.
|
Anonymous
|
Previous poster at 11:08, here --
I see that Mr. Dino himself replied... I rescind the psych/substance use problem comment.  Truly, we've had nothing but positive experiences when bringing our daughter from age right-out-of-the-wrapper to 2 yo.
|
Anonymous
|
Mr. Gold, I have never been to your establishment but I am the poster who googled Dino and saw several reports of a similar type, detailing behavior from you that is just not acceptable, regardless of the provocation you feel you encountered.
I generally do not act on a story on the internet because, as others have pointed out, it is easy for a person with a vendetta to make just about anything up, or at the least, leave out key information that calls her own side of the story into question. However, I found a substantial amount of posts from people who experienced similar enough behavior that I now think you sound like an eccentric with a bad temper and a sharp tongue half the time and a gracious host the other half. Who knows where you landed on that spectrum with OP? The point is, you're turning people off in larger-than-usual numbers. The person who said you don't have the food to back that up is missing the point. I would say that, in a service industry, you can never have the kind of food to back that up. Part of a restaurant experience is feeling like you've found a gem, you've had a great experience, you've enjoyed yourself. Here's the thing, and I'm not necessarily talking about OP, because I have no idea how her situation unfolded. But it is inevitable people will do stupid things at your restaurant. And it is inevitable that people will overstay their booking. You need to decide if you want your restaurant to be the kind of place where you lose a buck or two because you create some flexibility in your bookings to account for dawdling (and maybe turn down someone who wants to book a table that seems tight with respect to your schedule -- especially if they have 5 people). In any case, let's say that OP or the other posters who have described shoddy behavior from you completely deserved it. What about the other diners who might be overhearing you? What about the other folks in the same party as the person with whom you are arguing? They all go away from the place with an impression of you and your service, and I don't think it's the one you want to be giving. Nobody here can make you change your business model, but I wouldn't think it could be possible to read so many harsh reviews about your attitude and not think that maybe, JUST maybe, the problem really is with you. I have to say I'm a bit curious to see for myself whether or not you're as bad as they say and the reviews of your food made me even more interested because overall it sounded very good, but I have an infant and wonder if we'd be welcome, despite your assurances that kids and babies are okay? You've planted the seeds of hesitation in at least one customer's mind... (and we are always saying we'll check out Dino sometime, every time we're getting greek takeout from the deli across the street). I think I'll still come in, but please, keep this post in mind the next time you want to lose your sh*t on somebody. No matter how "right" you are, is it worth the risk that so many people will hear a story about how mean you are? |
Anonymous
|
Shades of Fancy Cakes by Leslie.
Dear OP: since you were good enough to provide the name of the restaurant, how about being good enough to provide your name so we can google you and see if other restaurants have reported similar outragious claims by you? |
Anonymous
| Can this thread be moved to Restaurants forum? Doesn't seem to have much to do with parenting (bad service is bad service, baby or no). Personally we've found Dino's food is mediocre, wine is overpriced for quality (especially with the plethora of winebars in DC) and dining room uncomfortable. After 3 tries, I wouldn't go again with or without kids. |
Anonymous
| Both sides could have done things different to have avoided this situation. Profanity should never be used. If the restaurant could not add a high chair to a 5 top and no 6 tops were available he should have let her know so Alt.plans could be made. OP should have given her name so he could review the reservation and possibly not confuse her with another party as requests like these most likely happen often. I do believe that rudeness and profanity was likely used by BOTH parties. |
Anonymous
| Anyone actually buying the story that the OP called about the reservation and refused to give her name? C'mon, Mr. Gold, as Judge Judy says "Don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining". Who the heck calls a restaurant about their reservation and refuses to give their name? BS. |
Anonymous
| If she really refused to give her name how could you look OP up on Open Table. I agree with a PP that Mr. Gold probably screamed at at least 2 different parties that night. We've always meant to check out Dino, we'll pass now. |
Anonymous
| Why did this get moved? Although it involves a restaurant, I still think being turned down by a restaurant for having a child in tow is very much a subject of relevance for general parenting. |