Alpana — Restaurant in Chicago

As a person who never writes a review, I am writing to express my deep disappointment and frustration with the recent experience I had with Alpana Singh, the owner herself. I feel compelled to share my experience in the hope that it will shed light on the unprofessional customer service I encountered.

Initially, I reached out to Alpana's catering department via email to make a reservation for a large party of 20 people. I received a prompt email confirming the restaurant was available to accommodate my party on the requested date and time. Naturally, I was thrilled and proceeded to coordinate the entire group, even releasing a previous reservation elsewhere.

However, my excitement quickly turned to dismay when I received an email the following day, stating that there had been a mistake, and the date was no longer available. This was incredibly disappointing, considering the effort I had put into organizing such a large gathering. Despite this setback, I believed it was necessary to call and speak with a manager to express my disappointment and seek a resolution. Maybe an offering for a different day, the option to split my group into multiple tables, etc.

However, the person I spoke with on the phone, who I thought was the manager, exhibited a shocking lack of professionalism and empathy. Instead of acknowledging the mistake and offering a solution, she responded in a nasty, rude, and dismissive manner. She even said, "what do you want me to do, expand the restaurant?" Moreover, when my phone accidentally got disconnected during the call and I called back wanting to escalate it to higher management, the woman identified herself as Alpana, the owner. This behavior was even more disheartening, as it revealed a lack of accountability and disregard for customer satisfaction.

During our conversation, she dominated the entire conversation and refused to let me speak or explain my concerns. She abruptly cut me off and said, "I don't know what you want me to do, we're booked" and when I asked if she'd give me an opportunity to get a word in, she cut me off and said, "at this point, I don't want your business here" and hung up the phone leaving me shocked and appalled. As a fellow business owner, I cannot fathom treating any potential customer with such disrespect. Basic customer service principles dictate empathy, understanding, and a willingness to find alternative solutions. Unfortunately, this was not the case at Alpana.

I understand that negative reviews may not hold much significance for some establishments, but it is my sincere hope that this review reaches the right audience and brings attention to the unprofessional behavior I encountered. I intend to share my experience with every person in my network, as I believe it is crucial to inform others of the treatment, they may receive at Alpana.

I genuinely hope that this feedback prompts Alpana Singh to reflect on the importance of customer service and its impact on her business. It is my wish that no other customer has to endure such dismissive and abrasive treatment in the future.

I hope they will address this matter appropriately and take the necessary steps to ensure a more positive experience for any future...

My friends and I had a terrible experience here on Friday. First, we waited over 15 minutes past our reservation time for a table. When we eventually sat down and ordered food, we ordered a combination of main dishes, appetizers, and sides to split. They brought the dishes out as they were ready rather than all at once (that was fine with us) but they took our plates after each dish and never replaced them, so we had to keep walking over to the outdoor busboy stand to grab our own. Brussels sprouts was one of the dishes we ordered, and while serving ourselves a second helping after each of us had already had some, the waitress came around to see how everything was tasting. At that time, I had noticed a large shard of glass in the Brussels sprouts. The size of the shard of glass was alarming-- it was about 1/3 of the size of the plate, so it seems incredible that the kitchen staff would have missed this. I was obviously a bit shocked and immediately said "is this a piece of glass in my food?" to which the waitress said, "are you sure it's not just plastic?" First of all, it was definitely glass because I tapped it with my spoon and it made a loud clinking sound. Second of all, why would it really matter if it was plastic or glass? After making that unnecessary comment, the waitress was very apologetic and immediately took the dish away. After coming back, she told us that our entire meal would be comped which we were pleased with. She never brought out a new order of Brussels sprouts until we asked (after waiting a significant amount of time because she started becoming a lot less attentive after the glass incident). Throughout our time there, the manager was walking around but NOT ONCE approached us to apologize for the incident despite the waitress saying that the manager was really upset and went right into the kitchen to talk to the chefs. After we left the restaurant I found a piece of glass in my mouth, and I'm still not sure if my tooth is okay. My friend, who lives right down the street, went back the next day to talk to the manager about the incident. The manager was patronizing and disingenuous, never once apologizing or taking any responsibility. She was [fake] smiling the whole time while saying "there's nothing else we can do about it-- we already comped your meal." DO...

I am profoundly dissatisfied with the entirety of my dining experience at Alpana on December 1. Our server, a white man with numerous tattoos and an overly sassy demeanor, set a tone of discomfort from the very beginning. His disingenuous approach and blatant disregard for our comfort were evident from the start. Throughout the course of the meal, his demeanor bordered on pushy and peculiar, leaving us feeling far from well-taken care of.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, he forgot to put in one of the dishes we ordered. Throughout the entire meal, he pushed and prodded, creating an environment that was anything but comfortable. Fast forward to the check, and it’s like entering a whole new level of deception. The items listed didn’t match our actual order – he randomly deducted dishes and drinks from our tab. Now, I know how the Toast works; you can’t make a dish without it showing up on the tab. This wasn’t a mistake; it screamed scam. Given my background in the industry, I recognized this as a classic case of someone manipulating the numbers for their own gain.

The climax of this disastrous evening came when my boyfriend urgently paid using Apple Pay. Lo and behold, upon inspecting the digital receipt, it was crystal clear – we were charged for an entirely different check. This wasn’t an accidental mix-up; it was a deliberate act of presenting a discounted check to our table and then charging us for items we never even ordered. The sheer disrespect we faced as guests is beyond comprehension. The dishonesty displayed by this server is nothing short of appalling and entirely unacceptable.

To add insult to injury, I took the initiative to call Alpana, informing them of the incorrect charge. Their response? A promise to call me back. Well, it’s been over a week, and I’ve been met with absolute silence. This lack of regard for a customer’s concerns is downright unacceptable and has pushed me to the brink of frustration. Alpana needs to address this urgently and rectify the situation, or they risk losing the trust and respect of their patrons. The clock is ticking, and their silence is deafeningly...