I was meeting a colleague for an early business dinner .
We decided on Reid's because neither one of had tried it yet and we're both foodie types.
First, the entrance was partially blocked by a trash can on one side and an employee office door on the other.
I made it in and stood there for a second wondering if I had come in a bad way or if they were even open.
There were two employees behind the counter in front of me and one behind me at the pastry counter. No one acknowledged me.
So I walked around until my friend arrived and although the products and food looked beautiful, it was just glaring how many employees were there with zero customers. And yet I wandered for about 5 minutes without a single smile or greeting of any kind.
The meat department even had a row of men standing staring out.
Nothing.Not even a smile.
Then in the wine department, there was Mary the lovely sweet sommelier.
She greeted me warmly and was friendly and informative.
At that point my colleague arrived and we sat in the wine department at a table for two adjacent to the dining room.
My food was fresh and delicious but my friend didn't enjoy her artichoke and didn't eat it.
When the plates were bussed the server asked why. I stated she didn't care for it .
She is shy and would never have said that but anyway he said we wanted to comp it.She protested but he insisted that she not pay.
At that point, the manager came over and in a fairly loud voice, explained that she and the kitchen staff had done some kind of forensic analysis on the artichoke and determined she just didn't know how to eat it.
Meanwhile the entire wait and bar staff is lined up staring as if they're watching their favorite t.v. show.
The manager went on and on and my friend was humiliated!.
I just felt like yelling "Hey, either comp it or don't but just bring the check so we can get out of this place!"
Reid's has so many people working there and no customers and when you walk in they are gathered like a high school clique and you are not welcome.
I don't spend my money where I'm not greeted or welcome and that dinner experience was beyond awkward and bizarre.