From the outside this looked promising. The building has the look of
a new log lodge. Walking in you are greeted by high vaulted ceilings
and impressive timbers. The impression is the dining is casual but
the prices are high. We went early in the day ...
more
From the outside this looked promising. The building has the look of
a new log lodge. Walking in you are greeted by high vaulted ceilings
and impressive timbers. The impression is the dining is casual but
the prices are high. We went early in the day to look at the menu and plan
for the evening. The hostess handed us a small soft leather bound menu.
The prices were a tad high on most items and very high on some. We decided
we would come back for dinner. A little before 8pm we returned. The place
was far from busy yet we stood at the hostess station for several minutes
seemingly invisible to the numerous staff milling about. That was
the first tip off that all would not be going well. Someone approached
us and asked if we were being helped. That was the second tip off. Patrons
standing at the hostess station would seem to be an obvious clue. The
gentleman who asked the question scurried away when we told him no.
Soon what appeared to be a server appeared and asked us how many in our
party, then asked us for the first and last name. That seemed odd since
there was no waiting. Soon the hostess we had seen earlier in the day
appeared and took over. We asked how many people come in, look at the
menu, say they will be back, but never return. She said "a lot".
We were seated in a corner of the room and left with menus. We waited,
and waited, and waited. Staff wandered about attending to other diners.
We were never acknowledged, offered water, or told someone would be
with us. So we waited and waited. We watched the male server chat with
the table next to us. We saw him take their dessert order, then return
for more chat. He never even nodded at us. He just seemed satisified
showing us his rear end and yammering with the dessert ordering patrons.
He left and we waited and waited. We watched employees walk by, attend
other tables, and at one time watched what appeared to be a bus person
yawn, look bored, look through us and wander off. The server brought
the dessert to the table next to us. He sat the desserts in front of the
diners and stated how wonderful they looked (We assumed he was speaking
of the desserts not the diners.) Then he began chatting with them again.
So we knew it was time to make our exit. We got up, gatherd our belongings
and walked through the room to the front. Not one employee bothered
to ask why we were leaving. When we got to the hostess station we saw two
young ladies standing there talking to each other. One looked at us
and walked to the register with the annoyed look of a hostess who has
to ring up a patron who did not pay the server. We told the hostess we were
leaving because we were never served. She looked surprised and said
she was sorry. She said she thought someone would be with us. That was
an odd statement. If I worked in a restaurant I wouldn't think customers
would be served, I would KNOW they would. We asked to talk to the manager.
A young man standing by the station hurried away and soon a gentleman
in a white shirt appeared. We explained what happened and he bobbed
his head in acknowledgement and blinked his eyes. When we said no one
should be treated this was he said " You are right". He blinked
and bobbed his head but NEVER offered to make things right. He never
offered to seat us and make sure we were served. He seemed content to
know a very unsatisfied party of diners were walking out. While we were
talking to him a group of employees gathered in a group across the room
and whispered and watched us. We pointed out this to the manager and
told him how annoying that was to see. We left with several thoughts.
1) If you charge high prices your service must be high. Blue Canyon failed.
2) If your service is lacking and it is pointed out to management, take
some quick action to satisfy. Blue Canyon failed. 3) Blue Canyon made
a wise decision in locating next to Hooters. Our night ended on a high
note with great food at a much more reasonable cost. First impressions
are important. We won't be back to Blue Canyon and from the look
of their business on a Friday night neither will be many others.
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