Date: Wed, 5 Oct 2011 13:44:35 -0400 (EDT)
From: Sheila Holland
Subject: Re: Chatham Chatlist #4160 – General Store Cafe
I completely agree with the comments regarding the General Store Cafe’. I too, on many occasions have received terrible service and less than mediocre food for a very high price.
Like the person in the recent post, I decided to give them yet another try and went in for lunch just last week. I arrived after the normal lunch rush hour in hopes of better service. I walked in and the only other customers there were just leaving. I thought to myself, “hmmm surely being the only one here I can get somewhat good service”. How wrong was I. There were two waitresses feverishly mopping floors and cleaning tables. The remainder of the staff was in the back near the kitchen area  chit chatting. There was a sign that said take a menu and seat your self, which I did. The two waitresses that were cleaning did see me walk in and did see me sit down at a table. As a matter of fact one of them did look my way a few times. NOT ONCE did anyone come to my table to take an order. NO ONE even acknowledged my presence. I waited for 15 minutes and NO ONE came over. I gathered my belongings headed out the door and went to Al’s Diner down the street where I ALWAYS get GREAT Service and good food at a reasonable price.
Yes GSC needs a complete overhaul in management and wait staff. With the current crew bankruptcy inevitable. It is a shame. GSC has great potential but definitely does not have what it takes to be a mediocre restaurant let alone a good one. The organization obviously has serious problems. It makes you wonder, do they really care enough to be a good restaurant or are the just arrogantly clueless. I am done with them. I will not waste my time nor my money at a place that could care less about it’s customers .
RE General Store
We have been dinner guests at this establishment at least three times in the last 4 months. We travel and that limits our visits. We have never had to wait for a waiter, nor for dinner or lunch. The staff is delightful and the food is sensational.
As a famous American said, ” you can please some of the people all the time and all the people some of the time. . .” AL
For sure – good things come to those who “wait” be it tables or sustenance.
@ Al..So VERY right..I think a person expects fast food from everywhere now..a good rule of thumb if you have to stand inline, give your order, pay for , and then have it handed to you at the other end of the counter…Then you should expect fast food…So maybe ppl. should choose their eating place accordingly….If I am not pleased with a place ..I just don’t return..I certainly don’t publicly “Bash” the establishment..
We’ve been frequenting GSC for several years now, and have never had bad service nor bad food. While we’ve mostly come for breakfast or brunch, the food has always been good (especially the huevos rancheros), the service pleasant, and the speed reasonable. I don’t understand all the fuss. Maybe we just get lucky every time we go, but that’s highly unlikely.