Tavern on Dean (when you have absolutely NO OTHER CHOICE)

souled_cheap

How does this Tavern on Dean keep its doors open?

We had the most surreal awful time there today! Granted, the four or so times I've been there, the service has always sloppy-to-marginal at best. But today actually set the bar for my worst restaurant experience ever (including experiences in communist countries).

We sunk 2 hours there today, before we got our food. We had to ask 4 times to get some bread (which finally came 30 minutes later) to hold us over as we waited. We would have left, but were hungry and tired and afraid that we'd only encouter a line somewhere else. Denial, really. The steak and eggs (when they finally came) were respectively rubbery, gristly, and cold. The waitress told us that the ticket hadn't been turned in to the cooks. Apparently, the staffers didn't think it strange that customers could spend 2 hours at Tavern on Dean before finally getting a crumb to eat?

So, if there are any budding restauranteurs in the area, Tavern on Dean sure could use a little nearby competition. I know several people who're now looking actively for an alternative.

armchair_warrior

dang that sucks, well if people stop going eventually it will go out of business . and i'm stating the obvious.

emily

I've never had problems with the service there. Then again, I've never been for brunch. Have you had dinner there?

souled_cheap

I have been for dinner, and the service then was okay (but still not what I'd call good). Certainly nothing like today.

Perhaps it is just a terrible place for brunch. But quite honestly, after this experience, I won't be going back for any meals again.

I hear there was one really great waitress there, once. But I don't think she's there anymore(?).

emily

There's one waitress who's often there at the dinner hour who's been there for what seems to me a long time, but I'm not sure that's the person you're talking about. I have a tendency to go there on random weeknights when it's likely quieter than it is on the weekends.

dailyheights

I don't think this was a fair day to pass judgment on any restaurant... how packed was it for New Year's Day brunch?

ToD service is consistently fine to great... not usually spectacular, but nothing to complain about. And the food (dinner) is far above average for a neighborhood bar n' grill. Brunch is much better elsewhere, but it's definitely in the "OK" range.

On the other hand, the 17% gratuity they quiety apply to every check is totally unacceptable, and it's been complained about repeatedly here on DH.

There's also the newer Tavern on Nostrand - any experiences further east of PH?

axel foley

I also went to Tavern on Dean for brunch today, and had surreally bad service, as well as really crappy food. The explanation we were given for the service was that our waitress walked out of the restaurant in the middle of her shift (she apparently had problems with the working conditions--not suprising). After another woman showed up and said that we would have to talk to the bartender to remove the 17% gratuity they tack on, she didn't come back with the check for a few minutes, giving the impression that the restaurant just doesn't give a shit about its customers. I left my twelve bucks with no tip on the table, and walked out.

I have been there a number of times, and usually encounter good food with fair to mediocre service, so I was puzzled at the disparity (I realize it's New Years Day, but this was really absurd). I think the 17% thing has something to do with the consistently subpar service.

To add insult to injury, I later went to Soda Bar (where I encountered some DHers) and waited the predictable hour for a tiny pizza that you might find at a baseball stadium concession stand, and which can probably be prepared in about 45 seconds. Maybe I should just cook more.

axel foley

I hadn't read that the gripes about the 17% charge had already been mentioned...yes, it's pretty ridiculous.

alafairnadia

I posted earlier in another thread -- a person from their wait staff quit today during their brunch shift. it fucked everything up. we spoke with their wait staff and everyone was taken aback. it was a very bad day for them - and they knew it. try them again.

carnivore

I agree. It's easy to understand how someone leaving in the middle of a busy shift would screw everything up. I've been to ToD many times, and while the food and service aren't anything to rave about, they're way better than average for a neighborhood, every day kind of place. ToD is a great assett to the neighborhood, and I'd hate to see one bad day ruin their reputation.

bewitched

Axel Foley wrote: To add insult to injury, I later went to Soda Bar (where I encountered some DHers) and waited the predictable hour for a tiny pizza that you might find at a baseball stadium concession stand, and which can probably be prepared in about 45 seconds. Maybe I should just cook more.

That was us, and we ordered food as well without an unusually long wait. Admittedly on our regular Wednesday night the service just for a drink is ridiculously slow, but I thought the service tonight was pretty good and definitely friendly. Sorry you had a bad experience, but I vote you give it another chance.

axel foley

Oh, I certainly will be back at both Tavern on Dean and Soda. I'm not writing them off or anything, but I think I won't go to both in the same day in the future (the food service at Soda has always been extremely slow in my opinion--I love the place, but they're obviously understaffed).

jack krohn

I've been to Tavern on Dean many times and have never had a problem with the service. Must have been an off-day for them.

I, too, have experienced slow service at Soda, especially when it comes to food. Most of the time, however, the service and food were fine.

If you want slow service, go to Tavern on Nostrand. My wife and I tried them once and the waiter was about as inept as can be. The food was good, though.

qtrain

Axel Foley wrote: The explanation we were given for the service was that our waitress walked out of the restaurant in the middle of her shift

I think that's the issue; I had brunch there on Saturday, and have no complaints about the food or service.

axel foley

I really wasn't trying to indict the whole restaurant, but I have had some spotty service there in the past.