Note: when I was up here 80% of 2024, I made frequent stops here and was always happy with the food and service….
I NEVER tip any less than 20% no matter how bad or borderline the service may be; but for tonight’s less than regretful experience at Road Hog Saloon, I had to make an exception.
Arriving arounf 7:20 pm, I immediately noticed a smaller than normal crowd and took a seat at the bar and ordered iced tea from one of the two bartenders present. The more elder one took my order which was a rib eye medium rare (seared on the outisde with a warm red center), loaded baked potato (with extra butter and sour cream), and corn. To me, a very simple, straight forward order. After placing it, I turned my attention to my phone since I was trying to figure out my schedule for the rest of the month since requests were made for my time. I hear the bartender that took my order cuss and scream something and storm off to the other side of the bar which prompted the other bartender to address the situation.
Customers came and went and my order finally arrived. Knowing how well Road Hog Saloon seasons their steaks, I had no reason to worry about the flavor and started to cut in……to what should have been a tender piece of meat that would give way to streaks of juices streaming out of it; instead, I was trying to cut through what felt like a strap of leather. Inspecting the piece I finally freed from the husk, I saw a mostly brown strip with the slightest hint of pink in the center.
I set it aside for the opportunity when the bartender might swing by and ask how everything was and started in on my side items. When I was almost finished with my baked potato, the bartender finally makes eye contact with me and I told her that the steak was a little overdone (which was a gross understatement). To this, she snatches the plate from the bar top and bee lines to the kitchen. I didn’t catch all of the conversation, but I did hear her finally say, “just drop it rare then!”
She comes back to me and argues with me that the steak was medium rare and that is how they cook it with a pink center (but all the previous times I ordered from this establishment, it was seared with a warm red center). She says nothing other than, we are going to make it rare for you then.
Time passes and I am about ready to just give up, ask for my check, and leave when the other bartender brings out another steak looking extremely under-seasoned and asks me to cut into it, which I did, and just wanting to put the evening behind me; I told her it was fine.
Upon inspection of the new steak, I was amused to find that it was at least 1/3 fat and gristle and separated as much of it as I could for a side by side comparison (as pictured). Completely giving up, I just asked for a box (I have enough faith in my cooking skills to salvage the “steak”) and my check.
When she finally hands me my check, I noticed that the individual ordered items were not listed and I asked for an itemized receipt so I could turn it in for reimbursement from my employer. She then yells at me that she cannot produce an itemized receipt and what do I want her to do? Hand write the items on the receipt?!?!?!
I decided to cut my losses and handed her my card and said I was done with her attitude and I just want to leave. She shoves the receipt with $35.01 at me and takes my card to run it. I get back a credit card receipt that shows that it was run for $36.41!!!! I waited awhile for her to return so I could ask her about the discrepancy, but even though I was sitting at the bar and she is a bartender; she did not make it back around to me. Giving up on any further interaction with her, I left a 10% tip since I did take up some time at my seat and left.
I will probably never return here again despite all the good experience I’ve had, this one has completely...
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