It is nothing like it used to be.
My first bad experience: My husband, our sons and my mother-in-law were dining there. Our drinks stayed empty for quite a while. We were close to the coke machine so my husband got up and started to refill our drinks himself. A lady approaches him and tells him he can't do that. He informs her that he WILL do that until his server gives him good enough service to refill his drinks! I'm not sure what position this lady held but she wasn't a server. I think she may have been a mgr. but I'm not positive.
I understand Mother's Day is one of the busiest days of the year. I am a server at another local restaurant. I do know what days are busy and what days aren't. But all I ask is to keep my drink filled.... especially when ALL you have to do is fill my drink and clear the dirty plates. When our server FINALLY refilled our drinks this past Mother's Day, she didn't add any ice to them. I had NO ice because I had ate it all waiting for my refill while she and another server stood over by the drink area laughing and cutting up. While she is walking off I catch her and ask for more ice. I don't like hot tea. I order ICED tea for a reason.
At Christmas time my Grandma gets all her kids and older grandkids Ryan's gift certificates. She is unable to leave the house so I pick them up for her. She buys over $200 in g.c.'s every year. The manager had to sell these to me because I received free ones (buy $50 and receive $10 free or something). I'm still not sure why the cashier couldn't do this ...but oh well. After waiting 18 min. for the mgr. to bring my gc's, he finally approaches me with a paper I must complete. I ask him why he wants this info (my name, mailing address, PHONE NUMBER, etc..). He looks at me as if I'm a moron and says "WELL FOR YOU FREE ONES!!". I fill out my name and address but won't give him my number and tell him that I am not providing such info. He seems mad. I really don't care. I shouldn't have given him the info I did. I just feel that if I am buying over $200 in gift certificates I should be treated a little better. I'm leaving and I don't even get a thank you from this guy!!!!!! I turn back around and say, "Oh, can I get some envelopes for these". He says "no" and I just give him this "are you serious" stare. He says "I can only give you 2"...... Hmmmmm....... Then he turns around and goes back towards the kitchen. Needless to say, I told my Grandma what happened. She informs me that next year she'll be buying over $200 in Cracker Barrel gift certificates.
So last week my husband, two sons and I go back to Ryan's. While our drinks sit empty our server is at the empty table right next to us filling her sugar caddies, napkin holders, etc. After I suck on the straw of my empty glass to make the "hey, my drink is empty over here" noise she continues to finish her table top work. This really bothers me. As a server, your tables come first... NOT sidework! My husband turns around and tells her we need refills. Our server says "I know. Hold on." Ahem..... WHAT?
?? HOLD ON? She rolls her eyes, lays down her tray and then comes to refill our drinks.
Let me leave you with a piece of advice: If you want good service ask for the server named "Tonia". She has been the ONLY good server we've had in the past two months. She was working the other night when we went in but she was serving a private party and could not take anymore tables.
