5/18 Famous Dave's Horror Story

Hence why they should have people there from existing chains to TRAIN these employees.

Don't just hand them an apron and tell 'em to go take orders, or don't hand 'em a spatula and tell 'em to cook something when they have no experience.

^ blink....blink

They DID have employees at Friday's from the one out on Rt. 6 so there was no excuse.

So they do bring in trainers. Yeah, there's no excuse then if they've got people who SHOULD know what's what and they still Eff it up.

halltd...the "early season so I would expect less" argument is only good enough if they are going to charge less as a result of the anticipated shortcomings.

I'd be willing to bet the food and drinks were the same price now as they will be in August when the staff should be properly trained. That ain't right.

Loopy said:
I'll have to agree with both Cable and Josh M..

Closing day last year we ate and Famous Dave's and it took FOREVER to get our food. Not only that but they were out of french fries. Well, supposedly out of fries.

Three of the four of us wanted fries but they were "out" so one person ordered the apples instead and myself and Josh ordered the onion straws. After taking a ridiculous amount of time to bring our food they miraculously came up with some fries. Without even asking they replaced the onion straws with fries but left Jen with apples. I'll never eat there again.

We (Midway Matt and I) ate at Famous Daves the last day of the operating season last year as well (I remember that cause we got pics of the rolled back Raptor on our way to Famous Daves). They warned us beforehand that they were out of their french fries. I needed some mayo and they were out but they did their darnest to find me some loose packets (which they did). Plus they were running out of ketchup but got us some of that also. We understood because they were closing after that day so we were pretty cool about it. Our food came out in a reasonable time and we had no complaints.

Cable, I personally would not have (I know YOU didn't) gone into the kitchen to raise a fuss when you were leaving. Those cooks already knew the situation and knew that things were not going well. And I am sure they were so frazzled with the whole situation. And then their bosses and other customers are not happy either on top of all that. There is only so much a person can take. I am not saying what Famous Daves employees did was okay (their retorting/laughing), but making a situation worse after seeing what was happening wasn't very fair to those NEW employees. You guys should have just told your waitress/"manager A" that you are leaving and to cancel your order, that would have been the appropriate thing to do. If the cooks were drinking and dancing and horseplaying around and NOT doing anything at all that would be different.

I hope a Famous Daves cook is in this forum, it would be interesting to hear their side of the story.

Well, there's a bit to say on this:

First, to Cable, as customers you were certainly entitled to a coupon for a free meal for all, etc, or something, and if you would have stayed calm and/or just spoke to the manager I cannot imagine you would not recieve at least this.

My father loses his mind, much screaming and cussing ensues. I can not blame him, this was an entirely unacceptable situation. I've seen restuarants go to hell before, but I've NEVER seen the staff mock it's customers when it did

What? This is where you lose all credibility, because you treated the staff even worse (or at least as bad) as you feel you were treated. Your dad had no right to enter the kitchen, and certainly had no right to "scream and cuss" at a girl who is doing their job.

You want my opinion? I would ask you to leave and never come back after that. Yes, you had a bad experience, but your father handled it like a 3 year old. Great job!

That's why my trips to CP are always mid to late season. I went once early in the season, had awful service, and have never gone back during that time since.

And thats great, but still no excuse. If you are going to be open, you need to be ready to open.

That said, you dug your own hole, Cable.
*** Edited 5/22/2007 5:47:27 PM UTC by Kevinj***

Kevinj said:
If you are going to be open, you need to be ready to open.

Agreed 1000%. There's always some room for improvement, and bugs to work out when any place opens for business, but what I've read about food service in the past few days makes me wonder if there was any preparation done at all. *** Edited 5/22/2007 5:43:49 PM UTC by Jess***

^^well said kevinj

Actually, Mr. KevinJ, I lose nothing and am happliy hole free. You lost all your credibility when you jumped on my case for something I didn't do. I never implied that my Father's actions in this case where appropriate, or the actions I would have taken (this should be obvious from the fact that I didn't take them). So off the bat, you don't have a leg to stand on, please throw your dirt elsewhere, kthnx!

Now, though we've determined that your an idiot and I owe you nothing, I will say that I do feel my father's action in the is case where completely innappropriate, and in fact I included them in the story in order to provide a fair and balanced picture of the scenario, that said I may not approve of his reaction, but I don't blame him for it, a guy can only be pushed so far and he was push way beyond what could possibly considered reasonable. Here's the simple fact of the matter: Our entire part (my father included) where VERY patient until Danny came into the dining room full of disgruntled customer to do his little cheer, under the circumstances this is completely innapropriate and amount to harassment of the customers, my father was in this case more than justified impolitley asking Danny to shut the hell up and work on getting food on tables (in fact someone employed by Cedar Point/Famous Dave's should have done this for him). Now, as to the kitchen staff, my father didn't want to say anything at all, my Step-Mother said he should let someone know we where cancelling. The manager was in the kitchen so that's where my father told him we where cancelling. I know they where having a hard night, but it is under no circumstances ever appropriate to mock customers. This isn't even when my father lost it. I was only after Danny threatened to call the cops, and then my father was met with yet another, "Thank You for getting boned sucker!" message leaving the resturant that he lost control, and trust me, I suffered more for that than anyone who works there, so speak not to me about digging any holes.

raptorqueen said:
^^well said kevinj

You know, I actually do understand how much both theme-park and food service work sucks, and combinging the two is the worst of both worlds, so believe me I sympathise.

I even understand that opening week is trial-by-fire.

Both of these reasons are exactly why we showed nothing but patiance, considerably more the reason would have aloud. The fact of the matter is that we no matter how patiant we where, we never got our food, and where met with mockery from the staff.

You need to relise something: Everyone who is more successful than you had crappy nights at horrible summer jobs. You can either apply yourself and be professional when things go bad, or you can be a whiny little baby and feel sorry for yourself, choose the former and your life will progress and you'll eventually get a better job than serving crappy food to tired angry tourists. Chose the latter, and you'll be serving crappy food to tired angry tourists forever.

Your choice.

I never implied that my Father's actions in this case where appropriate, or the actions I would have taken

Actually you did, when you stated "I could not blame him".

So off the bat, you don't have a leg to stand on, please throw your dirt elsewhere, kthnx!

You offered your rant on a message board. It's open to public scrutiny. And they're sexy. (the legs)

but I don't blame him for it, a guy can only be pushed so far and he was push way beyond what could possibly considered reasonable.

As a male, this is highly offensive. Your dad, apparantly, can only be pushed so far. I would have handled this situation completely differently, and would have gift certificates in my hands right now to eat for free at Famous Daves. And, in case you missed it, here is your endoresment of your father's actions again.

my father was in this case more than justified impolitley asking Danny to shut the hell up and work on getting food on tables

Again, as a rational human being, I strongly disagree. Danny was trying to cheer people up.

This isn't even when my father lost it. I was only after Danny threatened to call the cops,

And here is where we all know there is another side to the story, as a manager doesnt just threaten to call cops on customers. Your father has no business in the kitchen for any reason. Way out of bounds. Your party is lucky their weren't cops around.

Your hole is getting deeper, by the way.

Where I think Danny could have done a bit better, is before going into his song and dance, he should have taken an inventory of the patrons. If it was clear that the majority of the guests were angry/disgruntled, then instead of a RIBS cheer, he should have formally apologized and explained the situation. However, I do feel somewhat bad for Danny, in the fact that he was "trying" to cheer the crowd up, but got rudely shut down by Cable's father. I'm not surprised that the kitchen incident then pushed Danny to threaten to call security/CP police.

It sounds like there was a explosive combination of Bad Service, Angry People, and a few people trying to keep the atmosphere cheery. This always leads to bad things.

Picture Mickey Mouse, dancing happily into a License Branch/BMV/Secretary of State Office when the wait times are over 3 hours. You would see about the same result. When some people are angry, they don't like to be cheered up... they just want things fixed.

Actually you did, when you stated "I could not blame him".

That fact that I don't blame him, in no way implies that I agree with or approve of his actions. I am only stating that while I don't agree with his behavior I understand where it came from.

As a male, this is highly offensive. Your dad, apparantly, can only be pushed so far. I would have handled this situation completely differently, and would have gift certificates in my hands right now to eat for free at Famous Daves. And, in case you missed it, here is your endoresment of your father's actions again.

You do relise that basing your entire arguement on the confusion of understanding and endorsmentmakes you look like such an idiot right?

Again, as a rational human being, I strongly disagree. Danny was trying to cheer people up.

As an (at least) equally rational human being, I strongly disagree, tooting your horn while people aren't getting fed is adding insult to injury.

And here is where we all know there is another side to the story, as a manager doesnt just threaten to call cops on customers. Your father has no business in the kitchen for any reason. Way out of bounds. Your party is lucky their weren't cops around.

Your hole is getting deeper, by the way.

If there's another side of the story let's here it. I know someone from Famous Dave's posts here, probably someone who was working that night even (in fact I have my suspicions about your employment KevinJ, care to share?). Also, I may be at fault here for the misreprenstation but my father never actually left the dining room when he went to kitchen, he was standing at the door, of course that's all a silly arguement anyway... if you want to argue about that argue with my father, I didn't go near the kitchen.

Kevin - if I'm waiting for my food, the best way for a manager to cheer me up is to bring some freaking food.

Coming out to do some corporate cheer while people (and Cable's family didn't seem the only ones since the place cheered when his Dad told him to get back in the kitchen) is just impolite.

And Cable already responded that his Dad didn't yell at the girl, but rather was just ranting on his way to the car.

Picture Mickey Mouse, dancing happily into a License Branch/BMV/Secretary of State Office when the wait times are over 3 hours.

Ha! Not pretty to imagine!

My take on this: Cable your Dad was way out of line. There is never a good excuse for losing control. People sometimes take pride in "having a temper" & saying they can't be pushed too far. But bad behavior from someone is never an excuse for your own bad behavior. I would have been very frustrated at the situation as well & I empathize with your plight, but handle it by calling the park about it & being rational. I understand you love your father though & will stand up for him as you should no matter what.

On OD I had undercooked fries & an undercooked cheese on a stick. (Junk food day!) Food service needs to be more prepared for customers whatever the time of year is. If the park is open, be ready to serve good food & give good service. Being new should not mean poor quality for the guest. I will say though they were very friendly at both stations, so I believe they want to give good customer service.

Man, people have some awful tempers. If that had happened while I was eating there, I would've just left. I don't see the point in yelling and screaming and people that are cooking food for me. If they can't do it right, just leave. You even said everyone had lost their appetite, so I don't see the point in all that drama.

Leave, write a letter to Cedar Point and the Famous Dave's organization and don't go back. Pretty simple actually. You even said they were TRYING to make a bad situation better, but you guys are the ones that made it worse.

I have no sympathy.

Cable said:

Now, though we've determined that your an idiot and I owe you nothing,

completely innapropriate and amount at all, my Step-Mother said he should let someone know we where cancelling.

Jesus how old are you? Would you learn to spell before you post your stupid rants and raves on here.

Perhaps I would be more clear if I specified that by understand, I mean sympathise with my father. I don't need to go into any details of my father character with any of you, because frankly it's none of your business, but I feel sorry for him that he was put into that position.

That's said, we've all lost our cool, acted inappropriately, felt sorry, and moved on.

BUT: to suggest that his behavior justifies the staff's is like saying the staff's behavior justifies his, which is preciosly the implication KevinJ is made.

KevinJ, let me tell you what I know about you: you are a current or former park employee (or an employee of some other food service, tourist attraction, store, telemarketing firm, etc etc) who has (probably numerous) bad expiriences with disgruntled (and often unreasonable) customers. I don't just know this from the tone of your post, I know it because everyone has had jobs like that. Personally, I've done all of the aforementioned. And it suck... but you know what? I put up with it, did my time and moved on. If you can't do that, you'll be doing these kind of crudy jobs your entire life... I'll see you the next time I need groceries bagged.

I can tell you this much... the RIGHT thing to do would have been to leave when things started going bad. There's no question there. Our big mistake was in letting things fall to the point they did. I readily admit that, but sitting around hoping for things to get better, we only let them get worse and that's why they boiled over.

That said, your taking your frustrations at your own job(s) out on me is no diffrent than my father taking his frustration over a ruined dinner (and rather expensive family vacation for that matter) out on staff that didn't deserve it.

ctheadoCP said:

Cable said:

Now, though we've determined that your an idiot and I owe you nothing,

completely innapropriate and amount at all, my Step-Mother said he should let someone know we where cancelling.

Jesus how old are you? Would you learn to spell before you post your stupid rants and raves on here.

27

or in other words, old enough that I have other work to do besides nit-pick spelling. Luckily I have you around to help me that! Thanks!