CQ's - Friday Night

My girlfriend, her daughter and myself decided to enjoy dinner at CQ’s Friday night. When told that we would have to have a 45 min. wait to sit outside we opted for the inside dining. We were sat at one of the nice ½ round booths. Still close enough to enjoy the outside.

I had a few bourbons and my girlfriend had a couple glasses of wine along with an order of the wonderful banana peppers. Drinks came…banana peppers came. Still enjoying the evening when we noticed it was taking a little long for the dinner to come out (salad w/ Salmon, fish tacos for me and a Pan Fried Flounder for my GF). When our server stopped by and we were told a food runner dropped our food. And he would like to comp us rolls and chips w/ salsa and a small queso. To which I was whatever and bring us another round. Yes, I am one of those guys restaurant people dislike. I don't bitch to the server, or the Management. I just never go back and tell all my friends.

Now, I have not eaten at CQ’s for years…due to one reason…yes, in my option the food. But, hey things change and I do enjoy the view and the bar.

So, our food comes out about ½ hour later…ok we have been here for about a hour and 15 min. Which again…I was not in a hurry…but, Queso and rolls to please me!

To review the food…My fish tacos…well sucked. Small chopped pieces of fish…I mean crumbs. They were just terrible. I have had them in the past and enjoyed them. Nice pieces of WHOLE fish. Never…never again. To be fair my GF and her Daughter did enjoy their meal.

Cost including 20% tip…89.00 or so.
View…Priceless.
But, in my option…drinks and the view...just saying

And as long as I have a complaint and it happened this night. Restaurant owner and managers...please instruct your servers when presented with payment to ask me "do you want your change" I gave you a $100 Bill for a 90.00 dinner incl a 20% tip...NEVER Assume it's all yours. In fact I have been asked if "I want change back" when I was charging the meal. Servers...this is on you. Your tip goes is at risk...

Thank you...

"Restaurant owner and managers...please instruct your servers when presented with payment to ask me "do you want your change" "

Actually - that is REALLY REALLY tacky.

The proper server reply "I will be right back with your change"

Yes, I am one of those guys restaurant people dislike. I don't bitch to the server, or the Management. I just never go back and tell all my friends.

Hmmmmmm...kinda sorta makes this entire diatribe pretty much invalid in my eyes.

Food quality is a very subjective thing and your opinion is certainly as valid as anyone else. That being said I have always found Alan and his crew at the CQ the quintessential hosts. Had you talked to one of the managers I can't imagine the situation could not have been addressed to your satisfaction. To post something like this on the forum NOT having done so is quite frankly a little vixenish. Next time how about we "man up", talk to the manager and THEN post your complaint.

Good one, Steve!

Next time how about we "man up", talk to the manager and THEN post your complaint.

Post your complaint and their resolution to it and whether it satisfied you! As has been posted many times here, it's inappropriate to complain in public if you don't even give them a chance to correct the problem. As far as the offer goes for some appetizers while you were waiting, I think it was very generous considering the problem was just an accident and not intentional in any way. If the order has gotten lost or made incorrectly it would be one thing but it appears this was purely an accident!

I ate at CQ on Saturday night with husband, two sons (eldest ones 18th), son's girlfriend and parents. We reserved a table - if you had sent Alan a private message he would willingly have done that for you.. I had told Alan, either the lower terrace or the patio. They took us to the patio, right by the band. I asked if they had nothing on the River Deck. He went away, came back and told us he would move the entire table. Witihin a couple of minutes we were all seated in the center of the River Deck - perfect position.

We ordered drinks and threee appetizers, the amazing green chili wontons, the mediterranean trio and the spinach dip. This arrived quite quickly. We had no silver ware, however due to the fact that the table had been moved I assume. This was quickly rectified and side plates were brought. Our server sat down to take our order. This doesn't bother me at all unlike some people on the forum.

Joe and I split the bufalo chicken quesedillas. Jay had a Piza, Alex had the seafood tortillini which looked amazing. DeAnna had the steak sandwich minus the bread (she is seriously lactose intolerant) and my inlaws to be had the fish sandwiches. All the food was excellent.

Alan came over to wish Alex a Happy Birthday and offered to take us for a tour of the CQ Princess after we had finished our meal. They put candles on the birthday cake I had brought for Alex and brought it out with them lit.

Service was a little spotty, but that really doesn't bother me. I would rather that than be over attentive. I asked for a glass with my Stella, but it never got brought, so I drank out of the bottle - not a big deal.

I The bill was $131 before the tip. not bad for 7 people. I love the place, the view, the atmosphere and it is a shame that you will miss out on that because you didn't like your fish tacos!!

Yes, I am one of those guys restaurant people dislike. I don't bitch to the server, or the Management. I just never go back and tell all my friends.

I'm asking myself if this thread is the best marketing plan for the company in your signature...or maybe you need to tweak your slogan a little bit:

"We Supply the Pro's (sic)...and Then if They Aren't Satisfied, We'd Rather Not Know."

Is that what you prefer any dissatisfied customer of yours to do? Not inform their salesperson, or your management - just never come back and also tell all their chef friends to stay away?

Yes, I am one of those guys restaurant people dislike. I don't bitch to the server, or the Management. I just never go back and tell all my friends.

I'm asking myself if this thread is the best marketing plan for the company in your signature...or maybe you need to tweak your slogan a little bit:

"We Supply the Pro's (sic)...and Then if They Aren't Satisfied, We'd Rather Not Know."

Is that what you prefer any dissatisfied customer of yours to do? Not inform their salesperson, or your management - just never come back and also tell all their chef friends to stay away?

Touche Marsha lol

You're in the biz and apparently sell to chefs and restaurant owners, and use a public forum visited by many chefs and restaurant owners to complain about a guy's product/service without giving him a chance to respond and make things right at the time........wow.

I find this entire post disgusting. Marsha, if you want to get dirty, we can examine everyone's autosig for veracity and accuracy. And we can look up the definition of libel, while we are at it. Don't you dare attack another entire business and other people's making a living for Scott giving his opinion on his meal.

Nothing about Scott's post was worth the attack he received. Disclaimer, Scott is a friend of mine, and I work at Chef Supply. Regardless, this is supposed to be a forum where just such posts can be aired. Apparently Alan didn't know Scott and his party as he personally did some of his other guests. Regardless, it was a bad experience for a customer and to chastise the person for the way they handled being treated rudely (why does this sound familiar?) is ridiculous, and quite beside his point.

Also, I have worked at CQ, and know the highs and lows that occur in such a large establishment. It happens, folks. That's why this forum exists. Isn't it?

Reagan's right, everybody - I'm not teaching any classes this summer or fall to help get the Dining Hall at Sullivan's new dorm up and running smoothly, and had forgotten to edit my signature line. Done!

Reagan, nobody libeled anybody - the OP seemed proud/bragged that he never tells management when there's a problem, but does attempt to warn other potential customers away - he didn't just "give his opinion on his meal". I thought this was the height of irony, considering his business. I just wanted him to look at it from a businessperson's perspective.

Marsha. Defamatory comments misrepresenting an entity, including misrepresenting the SLOGAN of that entity. Is libel. Just because you say it isn't doesn't make it true.

You turned a comment about food and service on a food and service web site into a chance to question someone's business practices, acumen, and view towards customers in their own business. Methinks you are getting big for your britches. For such a business person with such attention to OTHER autosigs, you forgot yours.

And as for you "helping" set up the dorm, that is not what you told me personally, and I am leaving it at that. Misrepresentation seems to be relative.

If this forum has a policy that a forumite can only complain on the forum when they have made issue at the restaurant, then let's post that mother to prevent this kind of gang attack for the umpteenth time ("Touche", etc.). Otherwise, refrain from bringing your comments unless they have a point about the food or service; not everyone thinks your comments are funny or cute.

Now, I think we were talking about tip etiquette and other people's experiences in this same thread. Hops Slam for anyone who can either kill it or save it.

Methinks you are getting big for your britches.

You're telling me - I HATE that soft-serve machine we had installed in the Dining Hall.

Good save! I owe you a beer next festival!

Reagan, I guess you were talking about my "touche" comment. I agree wholeheartedly with what Marsha said in her post. I find it unbelievable that some forumites will either not go to a place based on one persons view, or give it one try and if everything isn't up to par black ball it. Or even worse, decide not to go to a place again without letting the management try and sort their problem out. In this case though, I don't really understand what Scott's problem was. The food server dropped their food - accident. I, for one couldn't carry one of those big trays full of plates on my shoulders. Scott's attitude of "whatever, bring me another round" sounds in print probably the way he sounded to the server. No, my service wasn't perfect on the Saturday night as I stated; but that will not stop CQ from being my favourite place. It takes a lot for me to stop going to a place whose food and atmosphere I enjoy. As long as they take my order, bring me my drinks and food in a reasonable time, I'm happy