Okay - the service at Soda sucks

brookfetish

There, I've said it.

I go there fairly often (not enough to appease candiscimma or alafairnadia), but enough to average out to about once a week. "Frequent" in my mind.

Here's the deal - about 90% of the time I've been there (including tonight), I've recived sh!tty service. I'm even the kind of person that puts up with quite a bit. Having waited tables myself, I usually give the benefit of the doubt. However, this place is beyond tolerable.

Tonight, it was suggested that perhaps I don't go enough. That's entirely inexcusable. That logic would dictate that only "regulars" get good service and everyone else is subject to poor service. There are other restaurants/bars in the area that I visit with the same frequency and get recognized and apprecitated. At Soda, I'm forgotten when I leave.

Why do I come back? I don't know. Location, $3 happy hour pints and a back yard - I guess. I really don't know beyond that.

I should note that I know exactly which waiters/waitresses have been great/not so great, but I'm not going to go that far. Let's just say that tonight, I had the same individual that has always been less than accomodating.

(Side note: I once had a cockroach land on my face while I was in the restroom. My fiance wanted me to mention this....te he.)

apollonia666

Waitaminnit... are you actually POSTING from happy hour, or had you left already when you wrote this? I would know the answer,b ut I had five mojitos, therefore I think I have a valid excuse.

brookfetish

apollonia666 wrote: Waitaminnit... are you actually POSTING from happy hour, or had you left already when you wrote this? I would know the answer,b ut I had five mojitos, therefore I think I have a valid excuse.

I'm home now. I only live a block away, which is one more reason why I go...but, overall, I've been treated very, very poorly here.

apollonia666

BrookFetish wrote: [quote=apollonia666]Waitaminnit... are you actually POSTING from happy hour, or had you left already when you wrote this? I would know the answer,b ut I had five mojitos, therefore I think I have a valid excuse.

I'm home now. I only live a block away, which is one more reason why I go...but, overall, I've been treated very, very poorly here.

I've only been about three or four times, but I think I would have to concur. Same complaints. I'd been there about 15 minutes before I got a chance to order a drink, and it's not like they were packed.

brookfetish

My ultimate wish is that someone that has power over at Soda sees this and realizes...even ONE bad experience is too many...

alafairnadia

the service does suck. there are a lot of factors involved, tho. there is generally one bar back, one bartender and one waiter scheduled per shift. so yeah. the bartender - only one allowed to pour drinks. massive bottleneck. waiter - taking orders from everywhere not the immediate bar. again, massive bottleneck. pair the bottlenecks and insert human factor? yeah. I usually go to the bar for my drinks. but, well, today I didn't mind waiting for a half keg of cider delivered to me one pint at a time. I think I might have been drunk.

whyfi

BrookFetish wrote: My ultimate wish is that someone that has power over at Soda sees this and realizes...even ONE bad experience is too many...

Unfortunately, I think, they would also see that people keep going back despite the shitty service... Maybe they'd really take notice when they start seeing more "hey, how was it at Soda? I've been hanging out at XYZ 'cause I don't have to sit there with an empty glass 50% of the time..."

ana.log

The cockroach-on-your-face situation is horrifying! Ew! I will say that I have seen that back bathroom in pretty disgusting condition.

joshb

Really, I've started to go to Beast more and more; early-evening happy hour, sidewalk seating, late-night happy hour ($3 pints after 11 p.m.) and, well, I actually feel appreciated when I go there. What a novel concept.

oneasternparkway

I couldn't agree more. I was also there last night (not at the dh happy hour, but with my girlfriend, sitting in one of the couches in the old pool area), and got progressively angrier as the night went on. I'm going to just start using the bar for all drinks and use the wait staff for food delivery only.

At first I thought that the understaffing was the leading factor, but it's hard to believe things couldn't be faster when I consistently see the waiters standing at the end of the bar shooting the shit with their friends.

brookfetish

OnEasternParkway wrote: I couldn't agree more. I was also there last night (not at happy hour, but with my girlfriendf, sitting in one of the couches in the old pool area), and got progressively angrier as the night went on. I'm going to just start using the bar for all drinks and use the wait staff for food delivery only.

At first I thought that the understaffing was the leading factor, but it's hard to believe things couldn't be faster when I consistently see the waiters standing at the end of the bar shooting the shit with their friends.

Ding, ding, ding. Right on.

Some of the problem does have to do with understaffing, but...

I'd be willing to put up with the occasional delay if it weren't for the MAJOR attitude being spewed out by some of the staff. Their JOB is to make my time there enjoyable...not to act like they're King Shit because they work there.

Now, BEAST is a different story. Sure, the atmosphere is entirely different, but that's not a "minus". Plus, they have GREAT staff that makes an effort to try and remember you and make you feel welcome. Novel concept. [EDIT: Just realized that this very thought was already posted by Joshb]

emily

OnEasternParkway wrote: I'm going to just start using the bar for all drinks and use the wait staff for food delivery only.

But they do usually discourage that. I can tell a story in which they lost money. Once, Mr. M and I went to happy hour and arrived slightly late, when the place was pretty packed. We tried to order drinks at the bar, and after waiting for quite a while to get the bartender's attention, were rebuffed and told to order from the waiter in the back. We headed back there, found the group, noticed that there were no chairs, couldn't get the waiter's attention anyway, and realized that this was not going to be the way to get food in a remotely timely fashion. We were hungry enough that we just abandoned the entire enterprise and went elsewhere, even though we'd been planning to hang out with DH people.

11238

Subject: Re: Okay - the service at Soda sucks

BrookFetish wrote:

(Side note: I once had a cockroach land on my face while I was in the restroom. My fiance wanted me to mention this....te he.)

OK, this just FREAKED me out... ewwwwwwwww! :shock:

brookfetish

Subject: Re: Okay - the service at Soda sucks

11238 wrote: [quote=BrookFetish]

(Side note: I once had a cockroach land on my face while I was in the restroom. My fiance wanted me to mention this....te he.)

OK, this just FREAKED me out... ewwwwwwwww! :shock:

No kidding. At least it was in one of the bathrooms near the kitchen... :roll:

alafairnadia

I haven't yet had a problem getting drinks at the bar (though sometimes I have to wait awhile) - even if they tell me to order from the waitstaff I argue that I don't know where I'm going to be sitting and I want a drink NOW.
the other thing that helps is to learn everyone's name. I didn't know the waiter's name last night so I couldn't yell it - that's a problem. I prefer to know someone's name - it helps both at the bar and with table service. finally, if someone is giving you a lot of shit (like a waiter) I've definitely seen the bartenders call the waitstaff on their slowness when patrons complain. for instance, I've seen the bartenders insist that the waitstaff hurry up and deliver a round of drinks and not wait for another batch to be poured (they like to let things pile up and just take out big groups of drinks, rather than each order as it appears).
in any case, if these are factors that will actually prevent you from ever going back to Soda, I'd let Toly know.

as for Beast - every time I try to go there for drinks the bar is full. I generally prefer Sepia or Indigo as a Soda substitute, but both places are a little older and more "adult" than Soda.

oneasternparkway

alafairnadia wrote:
in any case, if these are factors that will actually prevent you from ever going back to Soda, I'd let Toly know.

Absolutely. It would be much appreciated. This isn't directed at you, but I would hope that consistent complaints about speed of service would concern even a successful bar owner. I like the atmosphere and crowd at Soda, but in many ways it's the only game in town for bar food and beer, so that may artificially inflate its crowd.

alafairnadia

OnEasternParkway wrote: [quote=alafairnadia]
in any case, if these are factors that will actually prevent you from ever going back to Soda, I'd let Toly know.

Absolutely. It would be much appreciated. This isn't directed at you, but I would hope that consistent complaints about speed of service would concern even a successful bar owner. I like the atmosphere and crowd at Soda, but in many ways it's the only game in town for bar food and beer, so that may artificially inflate its crowd.

well - let him know. I'll mention it to some of the folks I know who work there, but they kinda know I'll still keep going back so I'm not the best person for the task.

alafairnadia

OnEasternParkway wrote: (not at the dh happy hour, but with my girlfriend, sitting in one of the couches in the old pool area)

oh, and ... WTF?

sandra dee

I have to say that I will NOT go back to SODA ever again!
I had THE worst experience there the last time I went which was about 2 weekends ago. I was there with a couple friends on the back patio. The waiter came around after we were sitting there for about 20 minutes, and asked if we wanted a drink. we said we needed menus to order food and he brought them after about 10 minutes. 20 minutes later, we pulled him aside to ask to order and then the food did not come out for an hour and we had empty glasses for about 2 hours. When I approached him to gently tell him we were missing a veggie burger still, he gave me a rude and cocky response. What a jackass!
I don't know who Toly is, but if he at all cares about his clientelle, he will make a HUGE change in the the way they get treated and hire some nice people to work there. Heck, I should work there on a weekend and turn that place around :idea:

kosherdave

Sandra Dee wrote: I have to say that I will NOT go back to SODA ever again!
I had THE worst experience there the last time I went which was about 2 weekends ago. I was there with a couple friends on the back patio. The waiter came around after we were sitting there for about 20 minutes, and asked if we wanted a drink. we said we needed menus to order food and he brought them after about 10 minutes. 20 minutes later, we pulled him aside to ask to order and then the food did not come out for an hour and we had empty glasses for about 2 hours. When I approached him to gently tell him we were missing a veggie burger still, he gave me a rude and cocky response. What a jackass!
I don't know who Toly is, but if he at all cares about his clientelle, he will make a HUGE change in the the way they get treated and hire some nice people to work there. Heck, I should work there on a weekend and turn that place around :idea:

This sounds like the usual bad service they have. Sure they understaff, but I've waited places like that, same amount of understaffing, and the places were way better, plus that does not excuse the regular rudeness of the staff either. Soda's servce sucks. Bottom line.

jack krohn

I had a similar experience last summer. Hence, I rarely go there anymore, but when I do I always sit at the bar, which I've found is an easier place to get the staff's attention.

Otherwise, I suggested Beast or Sepia. The former has food (though a big pricey), while the latter has prompt and courteous service.

And, of course, you can always get some rice and beans at Meaty Wind and then hang out at Mooney's.

alafairnadia

I'll reiterate what I said further up in this post: if the server is giving you lousy service, complain to the bartender. if everyone is surly, have a chat with Toly. if you know me and want me to point him out to you, I'll be happy to do so. I've talked to some of the folks who work at Soda about this issue and they are concerned about giving you good service. but, unless, like Sandra Dee, you have no plans to go back, passive-aggressively whining about it on the board isn't going to change anything. and guess what - the folks who WORK at Soda read this board. they know what you're saying about their service and they'd appreciate a heads up - no one likes to get trashed for something that has not been brought to their attention.

kosherdave

alafairnadia wrote: ... passive-aggressively whining about it on the board isn't going to change anything. and guess what - the folks who WORK at Soda read this board. they know what you're saying about their service and they'd appreciate a heads up - no one likes to get trashed for something that has not been brought to their attention.

Alafairnadia, I disagree, these boards are a perfect medium for "whining" about things that bother you... like the poor service at Soda. Not everyone is comfortable confronting a business owner about their poor business practices, not to mention, if the owner disagrees, nothing will change anyway. But spreading the word on a community board like this might warn others not to go there. And if nothing else it gives people a chance to see it's not just them, that the services does, in fact blow, and that plenty of other people agree with that.
And if the folks who work at soda read this, then there really is no need to talk to the owner, they can relay the fact that the place is getting trashed.
If most people agree a place sucks (service-wise) and the employees are seeing that, it is THEIR duty to report back, or change their own behavior. Otherwise the place will dwindle, and eventually close, and the employees reading this will be out of a job. I personally would not like to see that happen, so maybe they can at least make a half-assed attempt at reversing the situation and making it a nice place to go.

alafairnadia

kosherdave wrote: [quote=alafairnadia]... passive-aggressively whining about it on the board isn't going to change anything. and guess what - the folks who WORK at Soda read this board. they know what you're saying about their service and they'd appreciate a heads up - no one likes to get trashed for something that has not been brought to their attention.

Alafairnadia, I disagree, these boards are a perfect medium for "whining" about things that bother you... like the poor service at Soda. Not everyone is comfortable confronting a business owner about their poor business practices, not to mention, if the owner disagrees, nothing will change anyway. But spreading the word on a community board like this might warn others not to go there. And if nothing else it gives people a chance to see it's not just them, that the services does, in fact blow, and that plenty of other people agree with that.
And if the folks who work at soda read this, then there really is no need to talk to the owner, they can relay the fact that the place is getting trashed.
If most people agree a place sucks (service-wise) and the employees are seeing that, it is THEIR duty to report back, or change their own behavior. Otherwise the place will dwindle, and eventually close, and the employees reading this will be out of a job. I personally would not like to see that happen, so maybe they can at least make a half-assed attempt at reversing the situation and making it a nice place to go.

well, I don't think they have a duty to change anything. I know, for instance, that if I were reading this board where all of these people were bitching and moaning about the poor service they'd received on a particular night when I was working, and I knew for a FACT that not one person had come up to me and said "hey, listen, our table hasn't gotten any service in awhile - can you have your server swing by? and can that server please bring a blah blah?", I'd be really pissed off. and not at the server. on the nights when we've been at happy hour and others have complained about the poor service, I noticed that I never had an empty glass for more than a few minutes - but I also take into consideration that service can be slow and order before I finish my drink if I don't want an empty drink. when I'm not getting very good service, I go to the bartender.

this board has a reputation in the 'hood, especially in the minds of some of the business owners, of being populated by a bunch of whiners who love nothing better than to sit around a nitpick a business. not one of those folks is going to take this thread seriously and they're not going to change the way they run their business because you posted about your lousy experience. they would take you (any one of you complaining about this - don't tell me every single one of you is not comfortable with talking to the bartender or the owner) far more seriously if you discussed it in person.

let's put it this way: if you're in a restaurant, and you order a steak medium-well, and it shows up ultra rare, do you meekly nibble the edges, tell the server that the steak was fine, and then go home and bitch about it on foodcandy? no, you talk to the server, and get the situation worked out.

and, finally, if you find the place intolerable, don't go. they have plenty of business, and are getting more every day - I doubt they see any reason to change their business model just because of this thread.

alafairnadia

oh, and I think Toly sometimes does read/check the board - he posted once as a guest about the pool table removal. see this thread:

http://brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=132&highlight=pool+table+soda

bear in mind that Toly is not a native English speaker.

kosherdave

alafairnadia wrote:

well, I don't think they have a duty to change anything. I know, for instance, that if I were reading this board where all of these people were bitching and moaning about the poor service they'd received on a particular night when I was working, and I knew for a FACT that not one person had come up to me and said "hey, listen, our table hasn't gotten any service in awhile - can you have your server swing by?

But people DO tell them they have not had any service in a while, and they do nothing. I really don't understand your stance on this, if I did not know better, and I DO from knowing you, I'd think you were one of the owners! Take a second glace at this string, EVERYONE is saying the service sucks, and several people said they mentioned something, and got rude responses.

this board has a reputation in the 'hood, especially in the minds of some of the business owners, of being populated by a bunch of whiners who love nothing better than to sit around a nitpick a business.

whining or not, this board is made up of people in the hood, and if I was a buisness owner and read this, I'd change my business. PERIOD.

let's put it this way: if you're in a restaurant, and you order a steak medium-well, and it shows up ultra rare, do you meekly nibble the edges, tell the server that the steak was fine, and then go home and bitch about it on foodcandy? no, you talk to the server, and get the situation worked out.

Isn't this the WHOLE point of things like Zagat? I mean, people rate places, good or bad, and others read them and decide whether or not to go. Complaining at the place of business may or may not do anything, complaining where dozens, hundreds or thousands of people will read, just might.

I just don't really understand where you are coming from. You agree that it sucks, but seem to think it's on the customer's heads to make things change? This whole thread is testimony to why Soda's service sucks. I think that speaks volumns, and if the owners chose to ignore it, their loss, not ours. We can (and will) go to Beast or anywhere else that does not have rude/slow service. There are at least 9 different people (semi-regulars) saying it sucks, and some say they won't go back. That should be a red-flag.

alafairnadia

kosherdave wrote: I just don't really understand where you are coming from. You agree that it sucks, but seem to think it's on the customer's heads to make things change? This whole thread is testimony to why Soda's service sucks. I think that speaks volumns, and if the owners chose to ignore it, their loss, not ours. We can (and will) go to Beast or anywhere else that does not have rude/slow service. There are at least 9 different people (semi-regulars) saying it sucks, and some say they won't go back. That should be a red-flag.

I don't think it's on the customer's heads to make things change, but I also don't think that the owner is going to change things based on this thread.

okay, just reread the thread: it looks like the only people who have complained have done so to the server, and the server has been rude. uh. I don't think y'all can ask Toly to be psychic and figure out which of his employees is being rude to multiple customers - that's definitely an issue that would need to be brought to his attention so he could (or not) deal with that particular employee.

as far as I can tell, no one in the thread other than me mentioned that an effective way to get better service is to complain (nicely) to the bartender. I've done this myself, and have also witnessed many people do it. while witnessing, I've seen the bartender ask the server to step it up a notch, or to try not to miss thus-and-such table.

also, I realized that people were complaining about the service at Soda in that other thread about the pool table. so here's what I think: the owners of Soda do know that people complain about their service. doesn't look like they're gonna do anything about it. so, if you like going there, you can do what a lot of people I know, including me, do. work around the known issues. if you want a drink right away, go to the bar. learn the server's name so you can get their attention in a nice way. if the server gives you attitude, go to the bartender in a nice way. remember that soda is mostly a bar that happens to have good food - the folks that work there are used to dealing with drunk, entitled assholes. if you show them that you're not trying to be a pain in their ass, they'll probably be nice to you. if someone is intolerably rude, let Toly know.

if you want to go somewhere that doesn't have this known issue, don't go to Soda and get mad - that's just silly. go somewhere else. I know, for instance, that when I want food and drink and prompt, good service, I go to a restaurant.

anyway, just an aside, I guess what nails me about this whole thread is that a business owner is allowed to run a business however they want. if, for instance, it is extremely profitable for that business owner to run an establishment a certain way, then they're not going to change their business plan in a way that will cut into their profits. in Soda's case, there are a certain number of tables, a certain number of bar stools, and, therefore, a certain number of people that can possibly fit into the joint. if every time someone gets lousy service they leave, only to have their spot taken by someone else, what's it to the business owner? and if those folks who took the spot don't mind the lousy service, or are working around it somehow, they end up being more profitable for the business owner. given the influx of people to the neighborhood, and the new buildings nearing completion on Washington Avenue, there are always going to be tons of customers for Soda. so you pretty much need to assume that they're not going to change their business model just because you don't like it.

findcate

We had crap service there too. And we're pretty patient. We were sitting there with empty glasses trying to signal the stupid waitress to come over for 40 minutes while she breezed by, always looking in the other direction and popping outside for smoke breaks. Finally I went to the bar & ordered food & the bartender delivered & I tipped her instead of the waitress. Ha! Oh well, guess we can't go back now...

But it definitely left a bad taste in my mouth & we haven't been back in about 2 months. any business owner who doesn't care that people are complaining about their service is just lame. I can happily spend my money elsewhere.

findcate

I guess what nails me about this whole thread is that a business owner is allowed to run a business however they want. if, for instance, it is extremely profitable for that business owner to run an establishment a certain way, then they're not going to change their business plan in a way that will cut into their profits. in Soda's case, there are a certain number of tables, a certain number of bar stools, and, therefore, a certain number of people that can possibly fit into the joint. if every time someone gets lousy service they leave, only to have their spot taken by someone else, what's it to the business owner?

Really? Every successful business values their customers...and there are really lots of alternatives. It's the owner's job to look after things, not the customers job. I don't think it's too much to expect a waitress to take your order, regular or not. Alfairnadia, you've convinced me not to go back. It's just arrogant & rude, for owners not to care if their customers are treated like crap. Ridiculous actually. But yeah, I guess if an owner doesn't care that they have crap service then all you can do is move on & spread the word...

alafairnadia

FWIW and FYI, I do not represent the owners of Soda. in fact, I think I've talked to them twice in my 2 years of going there. and yeah, that's about it - it's up to you if you want to go. I was just there and had a lovely time chatting with a good friend and enjoying a few coronas. insanity. I had fun. with a server bringing me and my friend drinks, no less! INSANITY.

carnivore

alafairnadia wrote: in Soda's case, there are a certain number of tables, a certain number of bar stools, and, therefore, a certain number of people that can possibly fit into the joint. if every time someone gets lousy service they leave, only to have their spot taken by someone else, what's it to the business owner?

Well, if they got drinks to people faster, the owner might be able to squeeze more money out of that finite space. I love Soda, but there have definitely been times that I didn't drink as much as I would have simply because I was waiting so long between drinks. Now I know to order my next one before I finish my current one, but I think they could sell a lot more drinks simply by coming around more often. Incidentally, it was definitely better the last time we went.