By Carol Patek Santa Monica
I read your Buzz’in column in Mondays paper and find the variety of situations amusing and sometimes hard to believe. Well, I finally feel that I can contribute to the weird experiences in Santa Monica. Not to be too specific about a restaurant on Main Street known for their omelets and Clucker Club Card, I recently got a good clucking right out the door from the their female manager on behalf of the male owner. Two months ago, I ordered an omelet at their counter seating, not booth seating, and after waiting 26 minutes, decided to leave payment for the coffee and walk out. I was the only patron at the counter and felt that 26 minutes was too long to wait for my breakfast order.
Two weeks later, I returned with a friend for breakfast and was admonished for my “discourteous” departure from the previous visit by the restaurant's hostess. I was astonished that I received a tongue-lashing and not an apology. The hostess said that I should have told someone that I waited so long. I told her that had the waiter been present, I would have had my food and not an excuse for the delay. She said that she would wait on my friend and me, but that I was wrong and not to do it again. We ordered. Food came. Food was fine. We paid. We tipped. We chalked it up as an establishment having a bad day.
One month went by and my friend and I returned for breakfast. Again, we were the only two people at the counter. We had only been chatting for a minute or so when the same female manager/hostess comes up to us and says that I owe $11 from the time that I left and that is per the owner. She said that if I do not pay that amount, I am no longer welcomed at that establishment. Can you say stunned? Whatever happened to people skills and manners? My friend and I left and sauntered down to another Main Street establishment. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 11, 2006. Read the original PDF.