The Bayou — Restaurant in Bethlehem

On April 7th, I had an experience at the Bayou restaurant in Bethlehem that I would like to forget, but I believe this horrific restaurant experience with the restaurant manager Gary Turba should be shared.

Before ordering, I asked the restaurant staff if the cornbread had corn, and she said, “no, the cornbread does not have corn in it”, so I decided to order the cornbread. I asked prior to ordering because I can’t have corn. After returning home, I open the container and see that the cornbread has corn. I immediately reach out to the restaurant, I inform the manager that I asked if the cornbread had corn before I ordered it, and that I would like to request a refund for the cornbread.

He asked, “someone from my staff said that there was no corn in the cornbread?”

It was as if he was in disbelief that the staff told me this, and he continued with he had never heard of cornbread without corn. He implied that I was lying about what I was told by his staff. He says that he will give me a one time courtesy refund. I was surprised, and asked to clarify, a one time courtesy refund? Again, I shared that I can’t have corn and that I did ask the staff before ordering. He appeared to still be in shock and stated that he had never heard of cornbread without corn. Believe it, I was raised on cornbread made without corn because I cannot eat corn.

The rude unprofessional and insensitive manager offered a one time courtesy refund for something I confirmed with the staff before I ordered. If the restaurant had said yes the cornbread had corn I would never have ordered it because again I can’t have corn. This experience at the Bayou was disheartening, how I was treated and how the situation was handled is unacceptable. It appeared that he was doing me a favor giving me a one time courtesy refund. I declined the one time courtesy refund because he was rude, and disconnected the call. What restaurant manager treats a customer as such, arguing and questioning me as if I was lying about it, this is so not cool.

Even though the catfish po-boy sandwich was everything, I will not return to the Bayou, for me it is all about the customer experience, and how a customer concern is resolved by management. Honestly, Gary Turba is a poor representation of Bayou Boys Hospitality Group, he is in need of management training, as well as coached on how to speak/interact with the public. I would hate for someone else to be treated as I was today. With everything going on in our world today, I prefer to spend my money at an establishment that respects...

I usually steer clear from negative reviews but I had to say that the service here was beyond disappointing. My mother and I sat outside and ordered our food because we were told there was only bar seating and the available seats indoors were reserved, which is not an issue. Instead of wait, we elected to sit outdoors. Two of the other tables that sat after us had their orders taken after us, yet their food was brought to them first and finished before we even got our starter dish. Then, once we finished with the dishes, dirty plates, and silverware, the waitress serviced all the other tables by removing their dish, plates, and silverware and giving them a vase of water. It wouldn't have been an issue if I hadn't observed her look at the dirty plates and water several times between taking orders for new guests and checking on the seated ones. This was a truly disappointing experience.

When our main course finally arrived, much later than those who had arrived after us, we asked for water. The waitress, who had been polite throughout, said she would bring some. However, she made several more trips to other tables to serve water, food, and clear dishes, seemingly forgetting our request.

Furthermore, there was a raffle event for a good cause, but it seemed the young lady promoting it visited every table except ours. I can't help but wonder if our race played a role in this, as we were the only African American patrons in the area. It was disheartening to feel so ignored and receive such poor service.

The food, unfortunately, did not meet our expectations. Given the overall disappointing experience, I doubt I will return to this establishment. I wish the best of luck to the management and...

Service: pleasant server, no where to be found after taking the initial order, beverages came after the first course.

First course: Gumbo: Neither warm nor tasty. Gray thick and gooey, no flavor, no heat, no good. It's important to note that I really love most versions of gumbo, and that even a mediocre gumbo is fine with me. This gumbo was notably bad.

Cast iron pierogis: Not warm, ripped up ( scraped from the pan and served broken?) a congealed pinkish cognac sauce that was clearly cold( and glooped onto the plate haphazardly like a kindergarten painting) and the "crab" that was billed as crab was surimi. That's pollock folks, not actual crab. Untruthful menus leave me scratching my head about other policies, especially in a seafood based restaurant.

Corn fritters: ALSO cold.

Fritters should have some semblance of warmth.

These had no actual corn kernals in them, so they too were named incorrectly, they would have been better billed as hush puppies. These were tough and dry.

Beer selection: decent, unusual. That may have been a plus, except the beer was the only warm thing I was served that night. I would have asked for a replacement had I seen our server again.

By the time she came back, our apps were finished and my beer sat untouched.

While waiting for our server we noted the colorful language that clearly loudly came from the kitchen including swearing and another subject that most hospitality based businesses would consider unapproachable. Very uncomfortable situation.

She asked for our second course selections.

After the nearly $55 first course (2 beverages and 3 apps) We decided to self select and asked for a bill.

We ...