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Mussel and Burger Bar

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Gary Z

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Re: Mussel and Burger Bar

by Gary Z » Wed Jun 19, 2013 8:29 pm

The problem is their system leads to inflated wait times. If I've never been there before and I'm quoted an hour to an hour fifteen, I'm probably going to leave. Knowing that an hour wait time there actually means half an hour means all the difference. Unfortunately that won't help the first time diner who didn't want to wait.
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Jackie R.

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Re: Mussel and Burger Bar

by Jackie R. » Wed Jun 19, 2013 9:56 pm

I can't agree with the statement that there are inflated wait times. I think people are more likely to leave without notifying the host if they arrive and put their names down with an hour an a half wait (and no intention to stay) than people that give their phone #'s or call ahead. I think people that do these things are more likely to fill the seats, hassle-free, and they don't hold seats for their arrival.
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Re: Mussel and Burger Bar

by Gary Z » Wed Jun 19, 2013 10:28 pm

I can't say for sure that your're wrong based on two experiences, but both times I was there I was seated at least 30 minutes earlier than my quote. That kind of practice will make you lose butts in seats. Just sayin'
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Jackie R.

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Re: Mussel and Burger Bar

by Jackie R. » Wed Jun 19, 2013 10:41 pm

I hear what yer' saying, but I have to add that I hardly ever have to wait as long as I'm told I will in a normal wait situation. Probably because most people on the list haven't thought to call ahead or drop their digits :-) !
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Jason G

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Re: Mussel and Burger Bar

by Jason G » Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:51 am

Gary Z wrote:The problem is their system leads to inflated wait times. If I've never been there before and I'm quoted an hour to an hour fifteen, I'm probably going to leave. Knowing that an hour wait time there actually means half an hour means all the difference. Unfortunately that won't help the first time diner who didn't want to wait.


This. Its like, you go in a get quoted a 45 minute wait, and there are two parties there ahead of you. Uh, what? Oh...you take call ahead seating. Fantastic.

Or half the time if you DO call ahead, you get there and then you're still waiting anyway. Why? Because someone who did a call ahead was late. Well they don't bump those people to the end of the wait, they will just get them in at the next available table. So then when a few people that did call aheads are late it ends up bottlenecking everything and screwing up the wait times even more.

Either take reservations or don't. I just want to be able to go to a restaurant and get an ACCURATE wait time so i can decide whether to stay or go somewhere else, thats the main thing. And call ahead seating will destroy the wait time estimates.
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Doug Davis

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Re: Mussel and Burger Bar

by Doug Davis » Thu Jun 20, 2013 11:22 am

Jackie R. wrote:I can't agree with the statement that there are inflated wait times. I think people are more likely to leave without notifying the host if they arrive and put their names down with an hour an a half wait (and no intention to stay) than people that give their phone #'s or call ahead. I think people that do these things are more likely to fill the seats, hassle-free, and they don't hold seats for their arrival.



That hasnt been our experience either time. Both times we called ahead 30 mins. Both times upon arrival we were told it would be twenty more minutes. Both times those twenty minutes turned into 45min to hour long waits.
This last time we asked over a 30 min period how much longer and each time were told six more tables were ahead of us despite seeing people seated multiple times. Surprisingly, after waiting nearly an hour, when our daughter started throwing a Class A tantrum in their waiting area an open table was found in seconds. :?

Jason G wrote:Or half the time if you DO call ahead, you get there and then you're still waiting anyway. Why? Because someone who did a call ahead was late. Well they don't bump those people to the end of the wait, they will just get them in at the next available table. So then when a few people that did call aheads are late it ends up bottlenecking everything and screwing up the wait times even more.

Either take reservations or don't. I just want to be able to go to a restaurant and get an ACCURATE wait time so i can decide whether to stay or go somewhere else, thats the main thing. And call ahead seating will destroy the wait time estimates.


^ This has been our experience exactly.
I eat, therefore I am.
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Re: Mussel and Burger Bar

by Jackie R. » Thu Jun 20, 2013 10:34 pm

Gary Z wrote:I can't say for sure that your're wrong based on two experiences, but both times I was there I was seated at least 30 minutes earlier than my quote. That kind of practice will make you lose butts in seats. Just sayin'



Doug Davis wrote:That hasnt been our experience either time. Both times we called ahead 30 mins. Both times upon arrival we were told it would be twenty more minutes. Both times those twenty minutes turned into 45min to hour long waits.

.



And therein lies the rub...

I've worked many wait stations, and could go on for hours, but we'd all be bored senseless if I did!

At the end of the line, there's always a little slack to hang yourself, but you try to keep it short. We're not f'ing fortune-tellers :-) !
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Re: Mussel and Burger Bar

by RussB » Thu Jun 27, 2013 8:56 pm

I just got back from my first visit to the Mussel and Burger Bar, and I have to say, they scored a lot of positive points for me, this evening. I will definitely be returning.

I was there as part of a party of 6, although our arrival times were spread out over an hour. This was the first visit for each of us.

I'm leaving out most of the story (good food, good friends, so many items on the menu that I wanted to try, that there was just no way to do it all in one visit), except for something that I really appreciated at the end.

The first three of us to arrive sampled the Short Ribs appetizer. It was excellent, and disappeared long before the fourth member of our party arrived. I thought it was good, but the other two were raving about how good it was. So much so, in fact, that when it came time to order entrées, one member of the first three (I will call her "M") knew exactly what she was going to order - the Short Rib grilled cheese sandwich.

This is one of the least expensive sandwiches at the M&BB. What showed up was gigantic. M was clearly surprised, because she had been expecting something smaller. She literally dug into the sandwich, pulling out the meat, and leaving behind the bulk of the bread.

When the waitress cleared the plate from the table, she apologized and asked if M was unhappy with the meal or wanted something different. M was not unhappy with it at all - it had simply been a matter of ordering too much food.

Mere minutes later, someone from the back kitchen was standing patiently by our table, waiting to speak with M. I am not sure who he was, but he was also concerned that M had not liked her meal, and offered to bring out something else. He was also told that the meal was fine, she was just surprised by the amount of food.

When the ticket came out, the staff had removed the price of the entrée from M's bill.

*boggle*

They were insistent on "making right" something that was not wrong in the least. That ... is memorable (for me).

Mistakes happen. As long as the staff fixes a mistake I tell them about, I will not judge that against the server. This team went far beyond that level of expectations, and actively hunted for problems. They truly impressed me.

---

I watched the staff as they went about their business. Their bussing team is superb, as well.
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Will Crawford

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Re: Mussel and Burger Bar

by Will Crawford » Fri Jun 28, 2013 8:15 am

According to their Facenook page, as of July 1st ,they will no longer take call ahead seating.
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Mark R.

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Re: Mussel and Burger Bar

by Mark R. » Fri Jun 28, 2013 7:43 pm

Will Crawford wrote:According to their Facenook page, as of July 1st ,they will no longer take call ahead seating.

Sorry to hear that, I hate waiting around at a restaurant and with the wheelchair is even more of a problem not only for me but for space in the waiting area. I guess until the crowd goes down or something else happens we'll cross this restaurant off our list.
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Nora Boyle

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Re: Mussel and Burger Bar

by Nora Boyle » Fri Jun 28, 2013 10:29 pm

At Mark,
Many locals don't take call ahead seating, and I'm sure you don't want to be "singled out" by being in a wheelchair, but why would you cross them off your list? You have extenuating circumstances. To me, that would be grounds for accommodating a customer. If you call and tell them your situation and then they decline to help, then by all means rule them out. But I'd not take the word of this forum (no offense) as to whether or not you should dine there. I've never been, ill be going no time soon, but they would be silly to not listen to your circumstances.
I work and live in a zip code that has the most visually impaired people in the entire country. (Clifton)
If I didn't make an effort to take exception with my neighbors regarding my normal rules I'd be a poor example indeed. Also, I'm honored anytime anyone with special needs makes the effort! Ill move the counters for a person who has a hard time getting to our facilties, and ill drop that whole "order at the counter" thing if its an inconvenience to a person for whatever reason. Please don't assume that the mussel burger bar wouldn't do the same.
And I add that I realize no one told him not to go, he made the call for himself by reading previous posts.
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Re: Mussel and Burger Bar

by Mark R. » Sat Jun 29, 2013 5:40 pm

Nora, I hear what you're saying but I really feel bad asking for preferential treatment because of my condition. We try to dine at restaurants that either take reservations or go at times when they are not so crowded, unfortunately for this restaurant those 2 options really don't exist. We've been here and enjoyed the food but trying to fight the crowd in the evenings when going out with friends is just something I don't want the hassle of. I might go for a late lunch in the afternoon (hopefully they aren't so busy then) but until things change we probably won't be going for dinner.
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Kris Billiter

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Re: Mussel and Burger Bar

by Kris Billiter » Sat Jun 29, 2013 7:45 pm

I've been multiple times around 5 and seen little to no wait. Not sure if going that early is an option.
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Steve Shade

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Re: Mussel and Burger Bar

by Steve Shade » Sun Jun 30, 2013 4:14 pm

I was at the taping of Mussels and Burger for Louisville Chefs Saturday morning. Fernando and his cousin did a good job. Also Randy Frederick from Corner Cafe taped a show.

Tim Laird and Kevin Harned did their usual good job. Laird will be on Good Morning America this week.

Have no idea when they will be shown.
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