My worst dining experience ever…and it happened at the Joyce on 4th

So normally, I’m pretty laid back when it comes to dining out. I’ve been there…I know what it’s like to be a server totally overwhelmed and in the weeds. I hardly ever rant about service because really, I know that everyone has a bad day. But yesterday, I was absolutely horrified by the lack of service we received whilst catching a “quick” bite out at the Joyce on 4th. Let’s start by saying that it was bar food that we craved. After drinking for three days straight…our bodies were telling us to get to the grease ASAP.

First of all, there were ten tables in the entire place, with several only having drinks (it is a pub after all). TEN. Between two servers. Let me do the math here…that’s five tables each. Not busy…nowhere near being in the weeds. I should mention that our server never once smiled…and looked so miserable that I had to bite my tongue to keep from telling her that she should just quit if she didn’t want to work on a “holiday”. It’s part of being in the service industry. No weekends / holidays off. Deal with it….now put on a damn smile because no one wants to see you pout.

It took 15 minutes for our server to even address the fact that we had been sitting in her section before coming over and taking both our drink and appetizer order….fast forward 15 minutes and we are still sitting there sans drinks. Another 15 minutes go by and we finally get our potato nachos and mini yorkies. 30 for appetizers when the place is dead seems like an awfully long time to wait…but no matter, the food is as always divine.

She never once came by to do a quality check….never bothered to bring drink refills (even though three glasses sat empty) and took 30 minutes after we finished our appetizers to come back and take our entree order….before heading over to the bar area to have a long chitchat with her co-worker.
When our food finally arrives, we discover that we are missing some items (food, cutlery, condiments, etc). We wait….and wait…..and wait…before finally flagging down the other server (who I may mention was probably at our table more than ours was) who so kindly and promptly brought over our missing things.

Asked THREE times for several take out containers because at this time we are too pissed off to eat and ready to just walk out. She brings one. We ask again for two more. She brings one. Third time is a charm. She brings one more container…and one ice tea (there were three people sitting with empty glasses all lunch).The only thing that arrived with any kind of prompt service was the bill. We were going to leave enough to cover her 5% tip out (three of the four of us are ex-industry, with one having received a white hatter award)….but decided that she didn’t even deserve it and should tip out out of her own pocket.The other server on was fantastic. Ours….should quite honestly be fired. She was miserable and non-existent at best. No excuse for that level of service when there were ten tables in the entire place. Appalling service.

Round one (app round) took 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Round two (entree) 1 hour and 15 minutes
Asking for and getting bill – 1.5 minutes
Standing at the bar waiting to pay bill – 10 minutes

I must say though….I felt quite bad that the kitchen didn’t get their three percent share from us. If it was an open concept kitchen, I would have walked over and tipped them. The food was awesome…my steak was cooked to perfection…and everything else was delightful. 10 out of 10 for the nosh!

The restaurant will be hearing from me sometime today…I think the management team deserves to know why four people will never go back…and will never recommend their establishment to anyone.