Bad Experience in Pasadena..........
Last night (a Monday) I had made reservations at the McCormick & Schmick's in Pasadena. The reservation was for four at 6:45, and our party was early, arriving at 6:30. The restaurant was half-full, but we were not seated. Then, at about 6:50, the hostess informed me that the restaurant was "out of lobster". NOTE: The Pasadena store runs a lobster special until 7:30 on Monday evenings. I informed her that I was not so concerned with no lobster as I was not being seated. The response: "We are doing the best we can."
I then took my party to Smitty's where, despite the restaurant being full, a table was found for the four of us in the back room (very quiet and conducive to conversation). That meal was quite enjoyable, and the service was spot on.
But back to M & S: It is particularly disconcerting when I run across a restaurant that pays so little attetion to the front end of the house. The crowning insult?? Well, I had made my reservation online, and I received an email from OpenTable.com (the portal where I made my reservation) telling me they were informed by M & S Pasadena that I had "cancelled" my reservation. Go figure.
liscalcor
Apr 01, 2008 11:20AM
Whenever I am in Pasadena, there are only two places that I go two...and they are quite different. For an absolutely excellent dining experience in all ways, The Parkway Grill on Arroyo definitely is my pick. It is one of the most consistently excellent restaurants in southern CA. On a totally different scale, but still very good is the Houston's, also I believe on Arroyo. Typical of the Houston's group this restaurant has consistently good food coupled with good drinks and great service. Their ribs are terrific, and at this location they have some rather nice sushi dishes. Both restaurants are winners, but on a different scale.
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Around Christmas, I had the same experience at Smitty's. We had no reservations, but they acted like they really wanted our business. The food is not fancy but it's good and we had a nice bottle of wine. The restaurant seemed really loud, but once we were seated in a booth, we had no trouble conversing even though all three of us are somewhat hearing impaired.
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There is a difference between a chain and an individually owned restaurant. Not to defend McCormick, but it could've been because they didn't have enough wait staff to cover all the tables, esp. on a monday night.
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Your reservation was for 6:45, and you left in a snit at 6:50? Huh.
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after they'd been waiting for 20 minutes in a half-empty restaurant? Sure, why not?
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FYI - The ownership is the same at Parkway Grille, Arroyo Chophouse, Smitty's & Crocodile Cafe
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