Ok. So here's the story...
So I stepped inside the restaurant. And waited. And waited. And waited...
There was no greeter at the cash ready to seat customers, and it didn't seem like one would be coming by anytime soon. So I grabbed the phone book nearby and dialed the phone number for Freeman's Little New York. I heard the phone next to me ringing, then disconnected the call when I heard someone coming. I explained to her that I was just trying to draw attention, and that I needed help with something. I then proceeded to detail what had just happened to me, and asked her whether there was anything she could do. She said yes and started off (presumably) to do this...
This city is full of places with bad service.
First, it was the Gorsebrook. The other day, it was Freeman's Little New York. What is this city coming to?!! Now, I understand that wait staff aren't paid very much and have to live off of tips, but that doesn't mean that they can be as nasty as they want to be and still expect to receive those tips, or even receive repeat business. I have great respect for someone who does his or her job well, and I will return to their place of business repeatedly, always tipping. But someone who is rude to me when I am their customer? That person doesn't even get my BUSINESS anymore, nevermind tips! In fact, if I am angry enough, I might even publish a rant about it.
The other night, it was raining like a sonofobitch as I entered the establishment of Freeman's Little New York. I slid my bank card into the "no arm bandit" (high trasaction fee bank machines located in pubs, restaurants, etc.) for the purpose of withdrawing $20. The transaction seemed to go through, but no money or transaction receipt came out. Since it was the last $20 I had to my name, I was rather worried and did not want to try it again until I could find out what went wrong.
A few minutes later she returned with a slip of paper in her hand. I walked up to the woman and inquired about what solution she planned to implement. WELL... HOLY SHIT!!! This girl started SCREAMING at me!!! A potential customer! She howled and howled about how she only had "two hands" and things of that nature. Somewhat confused, I replied that my query had not been a demand for action, and I was in no particular hurry; I was just curious about the manner in which this kind of problem was usually handled (eg, I expected her to tell me that it happens frequently).
She proceeded to tell me that I needed to call my bank, and she wasn't going to call the person with the key to the machine until I'd done that. Ok...why didn't she just tell me this right away, rather than let me think she was "working on it"??
I called my bank and resolved the issue.
And I DO NOT plan to darken the door of Freeman's Little New York ever again!! Nice way to treat customers, eh? <--- sarcasm.