"The food was decent and somewhat competitive, but the overall experience was lacking. I also found it outrageous that a small glass of red wine at a bar and grill was priced at $12. When I visited the restroom, I discovered the reason for the poor service: the waitstaff was casually browsing their smartphones at the bar.
Other guests were looking to leave an appropriate tip as a message about the service, but as someone who has worked in the industry, I couldn’t bring myself to do that. It was the first time in a year that I tipped less than 20%. I usually believe in tipping fairly, especially since the industry is in need of staff. However, this situation largely came down to training; I hold the management responsible, as there were plenty of staff present but they were not directed to provide proper service.
The final straw was the difficulty in getting someone to bring us the check—it felt more like an inconvenience than a service. I would advise dining here at your own risk, as it wasn’t a positive experience for us. At one point, we even fantasized about going to Pete’s market, grabbing food from their bar, and eating it outside in the cold, as it might have been more enjoyable. I sincerely hope the ownership takes this feedback to heart and makes necessary improvements. We’ve had much better meals at Ellyn’s and certainly at other places in Glen Ellyn."
