I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

Believe it or not I came home with ZERO notes tonight of things that happened.  

It might be a first.

At least that was the case until I read an online review on Trip Advisor.

The review is from the guy who left a bad survey after being forced to eat outside, after he made a reservation to eat outside and it was cold.  

He fancies himself a clever writer.

He starts:

All the hype is there: the concept, the location, chef, menu -and service team … BUT, it all went rapidly downhill from there. 
Management doesn’t appear to be interested in or responsible for the back 50′ area beyond – which after dark in September, is cold enough to freeze ice cubes.   

I am truly sorry that you made a reservation that we honored.  Truly sorry.  Had we not had the patio open that night, you’d have been just as angry about the cancellation of your reservation.  You had every opportunity to call and change it.  You had every opportunity, to be responsible for your own well-being.  

As for the back 50’, we are very interested in it.  We make a lot of people happy back there from May to October.  Chef has spent a lot of time and energy making it beautiful.  And special.  And fun.  It has doubled the size of our restaurant.  

As for ice cubes, 55 degrees is not cold enough to freeze ice cubes.  BUT.  As you noted, it is September in Maine.  And the weather turns chilly and there’s nothing to do about that.  

He continues:

No mitigation with offering blankets or throws – let alone heat lamps to make the dinner experience acceptable. There seemed to be little interest that my guests and I felt freezing, unhappy and parked in the boonies for an expensive dinner.

No.  We do not offer blankets.  I personally find them gross.  People eat dinner with them.  Get food on them.  Wipe their hands with them.  And then a few minutes later they are given to another guest.  As for heat lamps, our patio is fucking huge.  We are not five tables, on a concrete slab as many people expect when they arrive.  There are almost 20 tables out there.  All spaced, judiciously away from each other.  Chef got a quote to get heaters and run propane and we’d have to generate about 30 times more revenue than we do to pay for it.  

Also, you are in Maine.  In the fall.  Wear a jacket.  

This is my favorite part:

 “Howard, the Manager” never appeared to see what he might do to put things right. 

You are absolutely right.  I never appeared.  That’s because I was on the door, getting people seated.  You also, never asked to see a manager.  There was no reason for me to come see you as you chose to eat outside, you were seated outside, there were no problems with your food and service.  I don’t generally appear at tables, where we have delivered on our promise.  

And:

There are some misrepresentations on the wine list Studio by Mival Rose is 
misrepresented as Mirval. 

It is misrepresented by actually stating that it is Studio.  There is a couple of dollars difference in the price of the wine you are suggesting we are trying to pass off as Studio and Studio.  I doubt the degree of quality is that different.  

And still more:

Our server was marvellous: charming, knowledgable and appologetic that were were about to ‘freeze our goolies off’… 

I’m sure your server was apologetic.  He’d be bad at his job if he wasn’t.  I would love to point out that it was 55* that night.  In the whole, big, wide world, you are acting like a spoiled 6 year old.  Pull it together, your life is not that hard, if you can afford to travel across the country, stay in a resort town and eat in an expensive restaurant.  Seriously.  First world problems.  

And finally:

.. no blankets, and definitely no table cloths to throw over our freezing bodies. “Too bad, so sad”… 
Could have been great -but a bit of smoke and mirrors a the end of the summer season. I came, I tried, I cried and will not be returning.

I think we are with that.    

But let’s be honest.  You won’t NOT be returning because of your experience.  You won’t be returning because you live on the west coast of Canada and it’s not like you were going to pop in a week from now.