We visited Earls on my most recent birthday - April 14. After entering, we stood at the hostess stand. A few staff members walked by and smiled, but no one stopped or talked to us. Five minutes later, we were getting antsy. More people had walked by, but no one said a word. After ten minutes, we decided to give it five more and then go. Finally someone came (with one minute to go!) and asked if we were being helped. We said no, and he left. We were seated around five minutes later when someone else came.
While it took a while to be seated, things went fairly smoothly after that. We ordered appetizers and drinks, which arrived promptly and were very good. The problem was our waiter (Gregory) stank so much that it made us both gag. He had obviously stepped out for a cigarette right before our appetizer course and hadn't washed his hands or popped a mint or anything. The smoke smell clung to him horribly and ruined our appetites. I've worked in service and there are ways to mitigate your smell if you smoke; this was so unprofessional.
Our meals arrived, thankfully brought by a food runner, so we had a break from the waiter. The meals were wonderful; 5 stars for the food! Zero stars for the service, from start to finish. So kudos to the kitchen staff here, it's a shame that your front of the house staff isn't more on the ball.