Fat Dan's Deli — Restaurant in Bloomington

UPDATE: I went ahead and changed my rating due to the fact that the management took time to make sure that a situation like this would not happen again. The director of operations contacted me over the weekend to discuss what had happened. He followed up with me today informing me about how the company resolved the issue. I'm glad that they take safety and well being of their customers seriously.

I went to the restaurant with my daughter and my niece around 5:30pm on Friday afternoon (7/26/24). We chose a seating outside and ordered large French fries and two baskets of mini corn dogs. The server was really nice and promptly delivered the waters that we also ordered. In the meantime, my daughter and my niece went to the bathroom to wash their hands. I went right after them for a quick hand wash. The food came out later and, as always, the fries were great. About a couple of minutes into our meal, a staff member came outside and asked us how we were feeling. We responded that we were feeling great and asked her why she was asking. She said that someone just threw up in the bathroom. We said it wasn't us. She came back a few minutes later with a check asking us to leave. She told us that she viewed the security footage and it showed the three of us walking into the bathroom and leaving a couple minutes later, and that no one else was there after us. She added that we ruined her bathroom and she needed us to leave right away. I asked to speak to the manager to which she replied that she was the manager and there was no one else to talk to. I followed her inside asking to show me the footage because I knew it had not been us. She refused, saying it wasn't possible. I asked to speak to the owner, but she refused as well. She started talking about me to the customers around telling them that I was crazy and was refusing to leave. At that point I was very confused, humiliated and embarrassed. I asked her to call the police because I wasn't leaving until someone from the management would talk to me. She pretended she was making a 911 call and said into the handset: "There is a customer refusing to leave and threatening violence. I need you to send a dispatch." I said to her that I wasn't leaving until they arrive. Doubting that the employee made the call, I stepped outside and made 911 call myself. I asked the dispatch to send someone because, at that point, I didn't know what to do. I was waiting for the officer on the sidewalk outside of the establishment. The staff who accused us of vomiting kept telling  every customer arriving on the patio that I threw up in the bathroom and was refusing to leave, which was extremely uncomfortable. After about 15 minutes, the officer arrived and listened to my story. He informed me that the restaurant had the right to refuse service to anyone at any point and there was nothing he could do. He also told me that he never received any other call about the situation but mine. I thanked him and left the scene.

I called the Indianapolis location and the manager gave me the contact info. to the corporate. She was very understanding and apologetic. She also mentioned that the employee could not have access to the security footage in such a short period of time, so I was definitely lied to. I wrote an email to the corporate and am still awaiting a response (which is fair given that it's the weekend). I also tried calling the restaurant to get to speak to the management, but they never picked up.

I am still processing the experience.  I have not been humiliated like this ever in my life. I was not only accused of something I didn't do - I was lied to and verbally and emotionally abused. I find the employee's behavior unacceptable and extremely abusive, and I am hoping to get to the bottom of it. I need to add that although I've lived in Bloomington for almost a decade now, I have a noticeable accent and am wondering if the incident was...

Ok, this place doesn't belong in Bloomington as it has a Chicago menu. My IU daughter said to try it because she said it's always busy. Wasn't sure what to expect, but when I saw Maxwell Street Polish, Italian Beef and a Chicago Style Dog on the menu, I had to try one. I had the Maxwell Street Polish and it was quite tasty, very close to what you get at the best places in Chicago. 4 stars for atmosphere and ok ( but not great) beer selection. But hey, this is a campus restaurant and the college clientele probably don't care about that stuff the same as I do. This is one of the better places on the "IU casual bites after dropping your kid back at school after a visit home" places. We'll be back. Tasty...

For the food I can give this place kudos. I enjoy the food and the service is typically good. Here’s the bad.....don’t ever, EVER go in the evening. 3 of the last four times they tell me they are closed when I walk in (doors are still open) Keep in mind the google page states they are open until 10 and they appear to be closing somewhere between 7:30 and 8? Inconsistent hours and hours that do not match up with advertised hours eventually catch up with a business.

Again food is great and the service I’ve received at lunch is always fantastic. It’s frustrating it appears they pick and choose the hours to close. I understand “it’s a covid reality “ but let’s just post hours that you know we...