Columbia Citizens

Unbelievable. I have never been turned away from a restaurant. Until tonight. We went to try out the new Bent Burger across from the PCC and were shocked to be turned away at the door. No, "we don't have a table right now but you are free to wait if you like." Just a straight up we won't serve you. You better believe I will not be going back there!

We did pretty well there. The atmosphere is good, the place was packed, the burgers were tasty, and the price was right. It took almost forever and a couple reminders for the (also tasty) fries to finally show up, but I'll chalk that up to a new line staff getting their bearings. It's a great place to take the family.

Okay, here's the skinny. The folks running the joint are not restaurant people by trade from what I've gathered and a burger joint is a good fit for this location although I loved the heck out of saffron -so here's my suggestion and maybe you did this already: Talk to them. Call up the owner and tell em. I have definitely been turned away from restaurants even with empty tables because of staff capacity or lack thereof, meaning they could only reasonably serve who they had a not enough staff to serve over that number. But, that was a reasonable explanation. You didn't get one so i hope you told the owner that - and I'm sure an overwhelmed, non pro person gave you that answer and was figuring since the space doesn't have a waiting area to speak of or anything resembling a bar, what was the point. That's a non restauranty logic head person speaking - not what you or I would want in the situation.

But I would urge you if you have no intention of going back, to at least call or swing by and let them know and offer some suggestions. This is something my grandma used to talk about how in her small town all the people knew all the business owners and all businesses patronized each other and etc. and pretty much the service at every business was good because if not people told you and talked about you and then quit going - your business would fail.
So, do not go straight to "quit going." I'm amazed at how lackadasical most businesses really are, and how they miss little and big things, but the majority are made not born to it. So for a new restaurant, non pros, and hopefully they are reading and getting in person feedback, give them another try.

At la spiga for example, anytime i've ever had a bad experience (maybe twice) i tell Pietro, the owner, and every time I've had a good experience I also tell him. He also inquires, which makes a good for a good place. I've done the same thing at Lunchbox laboratory, which is nothing but burgers, by the way. Both are family run places and both seem to take feedback. let's give these guys an opportunity to get better.