The First Post

This review might be hard for some to understand, but in all fairness, read on…
Upon arriving to try this place for our first time, I met a couple in the parking lot who had just come out and asked them if this was a restaurant and if so, how the food was. (Asking if it was a restaurant to clarify it as more than Unilocal states… «a coffee and tea» place) Their immediate response of not only is this a restaurant, but they just had one of the best meals, especially noting «the best steak» this gentleman ever had! The last thing they said was, «Hurry in there as they’re getting pretty busy!» We followed their advice.
As it turned out, I ended up holding the door for a few different couples. We stood in the check-​in line for a moment and did what those in front of us did… After spelling out our last name, I was handed one of their remote buzzers being told it would be around 20 minutes. So we abruptly headed for the restrooms, having arrived straight from a road trip! On the way to the restrooms, I had noticed several tables for two with place settings waiting for occupation. Bathrooms were nice, clean and well stocked (much different than our previous night at another local establishment that had no TP to be found!)
Upon returning to the waiting area, we patiently did as one does in that area. Being a typical man, I started counting down our turn based upon who was initially in line before us (the folks I held the door for coming into the restaurant). This started my hunger’s anticipation.
Wait…now the people we seen come in after we returned from the restroom are standing at the counter with a flashing remote! Weren’t we supposed to be next?! Then we watched more and more latecomers seated ahead of us for an additional half an hour past our initial 20 minutes. Something had to be wrong. I studied our remote wondering if it had maybe gone off while we were in the restroom. Now, as my man tendencies where in full form, I found myself looking for a way to take the buzzer apart, as it just had to be in serious need of being fixed!
Eventually, my wife mentioned that I might want to approach the desk and simply ask the question. I did as most other men would do and quietly dismissed her request as that would mean that I wouldn’t get the chance to fix the «broken» remote, –saving the day for all who would undoubtedly end up holding that thing for all the tomorrow’s to come, all thinking the same thing! Well, without having any «tools» around to help me «fix it», there was only one option… I stood up (following my wife’s thought) and approached the desk.
Upon arriving to the desk, I asked THE question and made a statement of having watched later arriving folks being seated. This turned out to be «good timing», as I was then assured that we were the very next name on the list! «They were just waiting for the very next available two-​top!» Honestly at this point, we began thinking about somewhere else to go. But having all our waiting over with at this point, we begrudgingly decided to stay (after all… the guy in the parking lot raved about this place!) I just wanted to rant about it at that particular moment. We were sat at a table over looking the bar which would normally be a great place to sit, but I was so frustrated by it all that I really wanted to complain to somebody important! When our server approached our table to welcome us, her smile turned to an honest look of concern when I told her my fuss and that I wanted a manager to come to the table. Sharla, quickly soothed us without patronizing us and went to find the owner who happened to be there.
Athena, promptly came to our table as the owner and allowed me to express myself; my feelings about the evening so far. She was real, she was genuine and she honestly cared about our experience and expectations. She, along with Sharla, did everything possible to make up for the mistake (an honest mistake as it turned out) The owner asked if we were willing to stay and try their food. And that she was more than willing to reflect it on the final bill.
We asked to be moved to a table that was more private so Sharla quickly found us a nice spot out of the crowd. We were a little bummed that by doing this for us, Sharla had to relinquish us into another servers care. We were introduced to Ashley who added to the kindnesses of Athena and Sharla.
Bottom line, they were not only humble in their real heartfelt apology, but they also showed us their determination to make it a much better evening than we thought it would be. Not only did Ashley do an amazing job as our server, but Sharla and Athena individually made their way back to our table to check in with us, making sure we were well taken care of; that we were happy with our newly changed experience!
This FAR EXCEEDED our expectations (the expectations of a phenomenal restaurant experience) and I now wholeheartedly agree with the previous parking lot review! We WILL return again & again!!!