WiseCracks Cafe — Restaurant in Corvallis

I used to go here allll the time. Like, more than twice a week, on weekdays, for about 2 years. Loved the food, had some good conversations with servers, but the same problem persisted: dining alone, I would seat myself at the bar. Server takes my drink order (coffee with cream & sugar), and fails to deliver silverware. No spoon or stirrer stick to stir in cream and sugar. Takes my food order, doesn't bring silverware. Delivers my food, sometimes rushing away before I could even ask for silverware. (Like today.) Guy brings food to couple next to me, starts leaving without giving them silverware. I flag him down and request silverware for the three of us. Keep in mind, this restaurant gets busy. On weekends, there's a line out the door. Today, Labor Day, no busier than a normal weekend for this place. 3 servers and a busgirl/hostess, they have much of the back closed off and aren't seating there. I've seen them busier many, many times. That's just how it is. They've had more than enough time to adjust to the pace, and yet this is an ongoing (2 years +) issue, whether at the counter or a table, EVEN THOUGH the host has a basket of silverware up front, so that she can grab when seating people. I asked the manager "hey, can I bring something to your attention?" And explain the issue; that every single time I've gone into this place, I have never been given silverware by default. She gives one excuse, and I emphasize that it's been an ongoing issue, not singular to today, which is a fast day for them. She gives another excuse, and then sticks on that one, giving supporting excuses, until she finally says she'll pass it on. I don't remember her saying, "oh, I'm sorry about that." I'll give her the benefit of the doubt, but if she did apologize, it was lost in the tapestry of excuses she wove. She's head server, presumably FOH manager. Poor ownership means poor leadership, and it was one of the most unprofessional ways she could have handled that. She may have been having a bad day, but if you're at work: you're at work. You do your job, and you don't make a customer feel like they are somehow at fault for sitting at the bar, which the restaurant designates as a "seat yourself" area. Food is your job. Giving people the tools to eat it is the bare minimum of service. It presented a significant mood kill, and I've actually resolved to...

Came in 1.5 hrs before close. Three tables active. Two servers and full kitchen staff. Told the waiter my usual order (emphasizing that I am severely allergic to milk as usual--no sour cream, no milk, no cheese, no butter). This Is a decent sized ask since the burrito comes with sour cream and cheese on top traditionally. Still, I always acknowledge the extra effort, talk clearly about how my allergy causes swelling in my mouth and throat (although not life threatening).

The service here is usually pretty good, but this male person (wearing frat gear and earing with a necklace) confirmed how allergic I was, confided in ne about his peanut allergy, offered extra guac to help with the lack of other ingredients, and then proceeded to forget to bring out our food for almost 10 minutes while we could see it sitting there. Instead his coworker realized that he was distracted loudly discussing his gambling and dating exploits and brought me the burrito made covered in sour cream and cheese. Embarassed to be a burden and asking for yet another thing, I had to politely let him know that it wasn't what I had ordered. He didn't say a word, but with a sour look on his face instead wisked the burrito back into the kitchen and emerged not 5 minutes later with a burrito stripped of veggies, and with a barely warm tortilla. Also, no guacamole (which is explicitly listed on the menu). At this point feeling like I'd rather leave than ask for anything more, my friend pushes that we should request the guac and when asked (again As carefully as possible since I've worked service jobs and they suck) he rolled his eyes, went back to the kitchen, came back with the smallest dollop of guac, and tossed it(no joke) onto the table. After we ate (and we're 2 of four customers in the place), we also waited over 15 minutes with our plates stacked, and clear signs of being ready to leave to for anyone to even check in.

I should mention that the other waiter was continually covering for ours, and than she was the one who finally noticed that we were waiting to pay. We tipped her well and made sure to thank her for going above and beyond.

Would happily turn this into a very different review if I felt like this wasn't going to happen again next...

I'll start with the food. It was very good. I had 2 eggs over-medium, hashbrowns, bacon & a 1/2 side of sausage with a \ Spritzer to drink. My companion had a "For Love of 'Benny'", and as an Eggs Benedict lover she said they were very good. She was a little surprised that it was made with actual bacon, but admitted she didn't read the menu closely. So be sure to read what you're getting. My eggs were cooked perfectly, the hashbrowns were crispy on the outside and soft in the middle - perfect in my book. The bacon was crispy but not crunchy, hard to do, but when done well, I consider it perfect. The sausage was very good also.

Overall, we loved our meal. There were some drawbacks, though. The restaurant was very loud, not from the kitchen but from the dining room. The acoustics in the restaurant are horrible and acosted the ears when entered, if busy. We asked to be seated toward the back of the room, where it was tolerable. The other issue we had was we had to ask the bus person for several things - a box and if we had to pay at a register. While our server was pleasant, took our orders relatively promptly, and brought our check with appropriate timing - not too soon or late ‐ once the check was at our table we seemed to be forgotten.

My recommendation - ABSOLUTELY, it is worth going time and again to try everything on the menu. But go when it's less busy or sit near the back. And don't hesitate to speak up or ask for what you needn't and read the...