Chips' Pub III — Restaurant in Clinton

The worst service I've had in a long time. I went in by myself for dinner on a Saturday night and sat outside. The restaurant was busy, but it wasn't full. I waited at the hostess stand for several minutes and was passed by four employees with zero acknowledgment. Finally, one of the servers stopped and said, "You're being helped, right?" When I said no, she was apologetic and moved to seat me. It took a few more minutes for my server to come over. She went to the table next to mine first, and it was obvious they had been waiting a while for service. This server was clearly overwhelmed (she also had tables inside). I have more than 15 years of experience in the food and beverage industry in all FOH roles from serving to ownership, so I understand being busy and I was willing to give her grace. At first, she was courteous but also curt because she was busy. As the evening progressed, the service got worse, even though the restaurant emptied greatly, to the point where I felt completely unwelcomed, so I asked for my entree to go.

I'd been shopping at the outlets nearby all day and stopped in for a meal before heading home, and I felt totally judged for being there by myself. It was like she figured my tip wouldn't be worth her energy. Had she put in the effort, I probably would've given her the best tip she'd gotten all night because I know the industry and always significantly overtip. When I ordered my soup, I told her I would finish it, then decide on a meal. Once I finished that course, she came over and said, "You don't want anything else, right?" I had just ordered a second drink right before that... It was so rude, and I felt uncomfortable having to correct her. She was so dismissive that when my entree arrived, she dropped it onto my table with zero acknowledgment as she immediately began speaking to the table next to mine. In my haste to get out of there, I didn't check my to go order and did not realize until I got home that she gave me the wrong item; worse is that it's something I'm allergic to and can't eat. I hate to leave a one-star review because I know that hurts small businesses, but I'm hoping this gets the management's attention and they consider retraining this...

After going on a bus to go on a boat ride, I was very "sea sick" by the time our large group arrived at Chip's pub. Upon entry to the pub we were greeted by a very chipper, friendly bartender. The host sat our party in the spot reserved for our group. I however did not feel very well and needed a quite place to sit and get my sea legs. The bartender told me I was welcome to join her at the bar. There were only two people there so I took a seat in a quiet corner at the bar. Michelle got me the soda I ordered. She kept me company and placed my food order when I felt better. While I was sitting and chilling, for about 20 minutes at the bar, the entire restaurant became a sea of hungary people. LITERALLY within minutes there was a line of about at least 20 people. I watched ALL of the staff on hand in a very professional manner do their very best to " control the crowd " Michelle made sure her now crowded bar was set and went around to help seat people. I have never seen a restaurant get so crowded so fast in my life. People kept coming in 2 to 4 at a time. I watched from the "sideline" bar, EVERYSEAT in the place become occupied.. THE ENTIRE STAFF WAS CALM AND FOCUSED. MICHELLE HAD to give the wait staff/ hostesses the notification vibrating devices for people that chose to wait for a table with an approximately hour or more wait. IMPRESSED BY ALL IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT!! WHAT A WELL OILED GROUP OF PEOPLE I WATCHED WORK A CROWD ON A RAINING THURSDAY AFTERNOON!! My group and I were reunited about a hour and 45 minutes later. Not a single person complained about the service, even though they had a wait for their food.. EVERYONE said the waitstaff was pleasant and the food was delicious. My hat goes off to Michelle for her beautiful spirit, friendly smile and taking such good care of my sea sick self. BIG KUDOS TO ALL OF THE COOKS, AND WAITSTAFF, ETC. AT CHIP'S PUB ON THE RAINY AFTERNOON OF AUGUST 8TH 2024!! A TRULY WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. Like Arnold says... " I' ll be back" unfortunately I and the group are from the BOLTON area, so it might be...

I've been coming here off and on for years. Was there last Saturday night. The service and food has been sliding south. It seems like they got a different cook, as well as new staff. The quality is not what it was a few years ago. I ordered the brazed beef dinner. It came with way too much garlic on the brocoli...I love garlic but this was too much...overpowering. same with the so called gravy on the brazed beef. Was a weird tangy relish that was not gravy at all.. not a great taste that overpowered the beef, which you couldn't even taste. The service was no better. Sat at the bar. The place was less than half full, including the bar. Took over 15 minutes for the 2 bartenders to even notice me. The female bartender who was making drinks for the service bar and the guy was walking around doing side work and helping out the service bar as well. I was a bartender 30 years ago and a waiter for years. These 2 do not have the right personality for service work. It was tiring just watching them. After over 15 minutes or so she tells the guy that I'm sitting there. He needed her to point that out even with only 5 other people at the bar . He comes over, doesn't even make eye contact with me. No personality . He asks me if I'd like a drink. I was tempted to say, no I'm just sitting here for the ambiance... I ordered a beer off the tap and a menu ...he pours it over an inch from the top!! seriously? Doesn't even know how to pour a beer. I was about to tell him to finish the pour but at that point I said screw it, let's just move on. It took them another 10 minutes to take my dinner order. Watching these 2 bartenders especially the guy looking too busy for such a slow restaurant. One good bartender should have been able to knock the service out of the park that night... instead of 2 sub par bartenders looking put out as if they rather be somewhere else. I've worked in a lot of restaurants... chances are , there's a manager issue. Hiring the wrong people and not paying attention...