Penny’s Diner — Restaurant in Alpine

Strike 1: Walk in, two people woking grill and behind bar, don't acknowledge me. There were three tables seated, 7 total customers in the place. I stand at the front and look around, wondering what to do. Eventually I see on each table (not up front) a sign that says "seat yourself." Ok.

Strike 2: Sitting down, I now see the sign at each table says to use your phone to scan a QR code to see what they have and to enter your order - at a tiny dinner in a rural town. No menu to look at, just your phone screen and the crappy blurry pictures they posted of each item. Ug, ok. Was looking for a little hospitality and small town service, but fine I'll just eat and go.

Strike 3: Figure it out and enter my order. It requires you to select an item to see what the options were, so you had to select something to see what it comes with and what could be changed/added (sides, toppings, etc.), then remove it and select the next thing to see what it came with. I add something to my cart and try to submit the order - but now it wants me to enter a tip - before I know if they got the order right, how fast it comes out, how good it is, follow-up service - a tip for zero human interaction so far. Not even a cup of water. Not even a glance.

Strike 4: Doesn't allow cash. Requires credit card. I look around and still no acknowledgment by a human. Fine. But requires me to enter my whole home address. Fine. Then requires me to enter my email address - will not process the order without that. I do not want their spam emails and other BS, and an email is not needed to process my credit card... nor is my entire home address for that matter.

Strike 5: Getting frustrated I look up hoping someone will just take my order and put me out of my misery with a little hospitality, a cup of water in the heat, maybe a real menu. Now there is only one person standing behind the counter, working at the grill. Still zero human acknowledgment. Nobody to flag down.

I walked out. I don't think they even knew I was there.

Went down the street to another spot where I was immediately greeted as I walked in, lead to a table, given a cup of water and a menu and told about a special they had for the night.

I lived in the Silicon Valley for 20 years, and even there - with super high costs, employee shortages, and tech-savvy customers - a server actually serves you unless you are in a quick serve juice or Boba shop. Even if they have QR codes and online menus, the server walks up with a menu and says "just tell me when...

Just go to Sonic, this isn't a diner experience.

My partner and I ate at Penny's about 10 years ago when passing through town and had a great experience. We were passing through again and hoped to relive the experience, despite recent reviews.

Unfortunately, the recent reviews are accurate. We were greeted by a waitress who had the aura that they would rather be anywhere else.

We were directed to use the QR code for the menus. The sign she pointed to had three steps: open camera app, scan QR code, put in order. I tried to enter order and it wouldn't work. I asked the waitress for help and she flatly stated that she would be taking my order. Why do the instructions placed at every table say otherwise?!

We placed the order. It took longer than expected to get the food, but not a horribly long time like other recent experiences. A reasonable wait in general, but surprising, as the person cooking was simply pulling out individually shrink-wrapped burgers, tots, and fries and dumping them into the fryer or placing on the grill.

There was 1 waitress, 1 cook, and 1 person who appeared to mop a patch of floor at some point. They spent a fair amount to time sitting or leaning against the counter, eating, and looking at their phones. At one point, I saw one of the women use a napkin to wipe sweat off of her brow and chest, notice something on the counter, and then use that same napkin to wipe the counter.

A visit to the bathrooms revealed mostly clean stalls, but one with no toilet paper. I stole 1 of 2 half-left rolls from the adjacent stall and left it there.

The food was edible. The atmosphere and service was lacking. I was not expecting 5 star service, but at least folks that seemed like they wanted to do a good job. Instead, it was folks that looked unhappy and like the could muster up zero hustle.

I'd recommend just...

If I could give a minus 0,I Would!!!!!This Place Is AWFUL!!!!Was in town 2019,had a miserable time as well,but came back to town for work once again,and decided to give it another try... . WORST MISTAKE EVER!!!! October 12,2022 @ 10:19 in the evening whomever was working was very rude,very disrespectful especially to any of the women that were there.I understand trying to make tips,but women tip,too!!!The Cook WAS AWFUL AS WELL!!!! Only thing on the menu at that time to order was a burger basket.So we ordered 2,1 with No Cheese (because I'm allergic)and one with cheese.Noticed our order coming up and the cook had put cheese on the burger with NO CHEESE,tried to peel it off while laughing with the lady who was taking our orders,saying oops I can't get it off...Then our lovely server knowing that it was a mistake,bagged it up anyways,and Thank God we noticed and my husband removed the meals from the bag opened both and said look there's cheese on one of our burgers,and my wife's allergic.The Cook proceeded to say yeah I put on cheese on it,and continued on cooking the rest of her orders.No,hey I'll make you another one...I'm Sorry....Instead they tried to act like nothing was wrong, thinking we wouldn't check until we left!!!!! THIS PLACE NEEDS TO BE SHUT DOWN!!!! My husband tried to eat his burger,but it was a hockey puck,no taste,dry,just THE WORST EXPERIENCE WE COULD SAY WE'VE EVER HAD AT ANY RESTAURANT IN OUR 50 YEARS OF LIFE!!!!! I would starve first before EVER stepping foot back in this establishment!!!!So Please Save Your Hard Earned Money,And Go Somewhere Else,Or Eat out of your vending machine at your hotel,and don't even waste your time and money if you're a local, because it's Not...