Happy Camper Pizza — Restaurant in Chicago

Had a very disappointing experience this past Saturday. Normally I love Happy Camper but this particular time, we had quite the time with the wait staff. I'm not sure if she was really stoned or just really overworked but she had a very difficult time focusing on us when we were placing orders and repeatedly came back around asking to hear what we ordered again. First, we were seated at a table where the tv hadn't been claimed. I was instructed the only way to 'claim' a tv is through the waiters/waitresses. I asked our waitress to put on our game and gave our drink orders. Our drinks showed up 15 minutes later incorrect, I ordered a carafe but only received a glass and the tv had not been changed. (we are 10 minutes into the game at this point, so sad I missed kickoff) My friend went to ask the bartender to change the tv to the game but he was unable or unwilling to help. I asked the waitress again to change the tv and she admitted she forgot. No biggie, lets just get it changed now. Ten more minutes go by and no change. I finally looked around the restaurant for our waitress again and notice a tv on the other side was playing our game. We turned our chairs to see it! Yay it was finally on and we were happy. Food came out and it was EXCELLENT. Very happy with it. We ordered a second round of drinks and an actual carafe came out this time. Once our bill came, it noted an extra drink that we never ordered (a mimosa) and 2 carafes. I let the waitress know that we never ordered tat drink and I only drank a carafe and a glass not two carafes. She huffed and puffed about it for 5 minutes arguing with me until she finally changed it. Such a weird and uncomfortable situation from a restaurant that is typically one of my faves...

Arrived with six people (my two daughters their boyfriends and mine) sat at a high top and waited a long time for a waitress. One finally arrived and started taking our order. She started taking mine and turned ghost white and then walked away. We were sitting next to a table of police officers in uniform. We waited for some of our drinks to arrive. Shortly after an employee walked up and said we triggered something in the waitress and we had to leave the restaurant! This waitress was very good friends with my daughter in college years ago. She had a traumatic experience one night during college which my daughter was there for her as support well afterwards. This young woman moved away from Illinois. It’s been years. We went out as a big family today and ended up at Happy Camper for a beverage and she was our waitress. We did not recognize her. She had us removed from the restaurant!!!!! We have never harmed her!!! We had nothing to do with her traumatic night!!!! We are so humiliated! We were having such a lovely day and this happened! Both my daughter and I have had traumatic experiences in our lives and this rocked us! We had nothing to do in any way with harming her. It would have been so lovely to say hello and hug her! How can a restaurant just kick out six people because a waitress says…I can’t see her because she helped me during a tough time? We were there to spend money and have family time. The manager could have sent a different waitress to our table. This whole event came as a total surprise to us! We are respectful people with so much love for others. I’m still realing from this. We are the kindest people. How can a waitress have such control of a whole restaurant? So...

I usually don't write reviews unless the experience truly is deserving- this is one of those times.

Happy Campers is one of our go to places- especially during Covid since they have outdoor seating and are puppy friendly on the patio.

We have NEVER had a bad experience there, but Sunday was above and beyond.

We had brought our family to our favorite spot on an exceptionally windy Chicago day and decided to sit on the patio since we had our puppy with us.

We ended up waiting for about 15 mins to order food and I ended up having to go inside to see if they had forgotten about us! Carter (the GM) met me at the door (he was coming to check on us) and profusely apologized that his team had not communicated that there was someone sitting on the patio. To us, the fact that Carter himself came out, apologized and personally took our order was truly enough. But Carter, he went above and beyond - not only did he have his team bring out extra appetizers, he loaded our table with desserts after the end of our meal.

I have been in the customer service industry for over 15 years and I can honestly say, this is what true customer service is!!! Going above and beyond even when there was no need and making the experience personal!!

WE truly had a wonderful meal at our favorite pizza joint and would absolutely recommend trying all the delicious food at Happy Camper Old Town!

Thank you Carter and your entire team for really making our family afternoon truly memorable! I hope that all the restaurants around you take note of your hard work and care that you show to each of your guests- there is no doubt why you guys always have customers who keep coming...