The Greek — Restaurant in Ferguson Township

Racist Warning!! Suspecting racism against Asian diners!!

I came to this restaurant hoping to get some delicious Greek food. I walked in, saw an ordering counter on the right hand side. With no sign saying “wait to be seated” and no greeter coming upfront, I naturally thought I was supposed to order food like I would in McDonalds. Except, I didn't know the counter was for takeout only. While ordering, I said at least three times to the young lady at the counter that I wanted to dine in, just to make sure. However, she did not hear me at all and thought I was ordering a take out. After paying and then seeing my order still showing as “take out”, I emphasized yet again to the lady it was FOR HERE.

Here comes the interesting part. The lady turned to a guy who looked like a manager, and then turned to me, said (here I quote)

“You are NOT ALLOWED to eat here.”

This is the rudest statement I have ever heard so far as a paying customer. I explained I wanted to dine in the moment I walked in, and explained how I accidently ordered takeout and it wasn't even my fault. I was then told to wait on a tiny chair by the door so they could have a table ready.

I waited like 10 mins. Meantime, customers who came much later than I did were seated and served. I lost patient and asked the guy: “Sir, can you let me in with a proper table and a server?”

Then I was showed a tiny table while there were many other tables available, so I asked for a proper table.

The guy looked at me with an absurd looking face and refused because I ordered takeout. When I explained how they didn’t listen, have any signs, or have server upfront, he interrupted me and ridiculed: “we are busy”.

Then he condescendingly EDUCATED me how restaurant in "here" works --- "each server is assigned to a section so they received tips" blablabla --- and assumed that I was not going to tip them.

When he brought this whole “restaurant in America” thing, it couldn’t be more clear to me (and I believe to any Asian Americans too) why he couldn’t allow me in --- he thought I was an Asian who didn’t understand the tip culture and assumed I wasn’t tipping.

He realized, and changed his point from me "not understanding how tips work" to "people who order takeout won't tip". But I wasn't even ordering takeout and I could easily write tips on my receipt, or, they could have cancelled the transaction and started everything over. The guy kept refusing to serve me a table with a server.

I was really offended at this point. Even if he wasn't racist, it's still odd that he refused me just because I ordered takeout. Something was wrong, therefore I asked “is it because I’m Asian that you think I will not tip? I sure can tip the server if I received good service.” After a few rounds of arguing, he finally stepped back and gave me a proper table, but still no actual server and no apologies. I asked for an apologie. He said “Sure, I will apologize. I apologize for…..?” he paused --- he didn’t even know what to apologize. Another round of argument to get him reluctantly apologized for what they had done to me.

I’m actually not a demanding diner so I decided to step back as well. I was thinking if I didn’t get the actual service I would just not write any tips on my receipt and finish my dinner and never come back again.

After a couple mins, the guy came back with my food IN TWO TAKE OUT BOXES and just threw on the table, “here is your food”, then left.

I was really upset at this point. I had to call him over again asking why I can’t get a proper plate and service like all other dining customer had. And yet another round of argument over and over.

I left without a single bite on my food, paid 24 dollars for nothing. After I left, a couple (who were also persons of color) who were sitting next to me came over and said “I saw what happened, I’m really sorry that happened to you today.” I want to say thank you to this couple for making me feel much better. I sincerely hope no diner would suffer what I had...

There are many pros and many cons, but I think the cons outweigh the pros by a long shot.

The place looks pretty and the menu has a great design with greek aspects to it, and it has an open middle square where you can view down below on the second floor. We sit down in our comfy booth and were presented with high expectations for what was shown so far. That is all the pros this place has to offer.

First of all, for the cons, this place is outrageously expensive for what they have to offer. A single appetizer can cost up to $20 for so little. I ordered a grilled kalamri for an appetizer, and not only was it bland, it was also bitter and drenched in oil like a soup. My friend ordered lamb chops, and for $32, it was not worth at all for the price.

I have celiac disease, and told them I can't eat gluten whatsoever, so I can't eat pita, nor have my dish touched by it whatsoever. I asked for a dish that was gluten free and asked without pita. They gave me my dish with pita right on top. The worst part about it is that they only took the pita off, instead of remaking the order, and I know this because of the pain I suffered from not too long after.

As for the service, it was abhorrent to a level that I can't imagine anyone could enjoy, let alone tolerate. We sat down and waited TWO HOURS for our appetizers.

The server was new, so I can understand some stress in an environment he's not used to or being forgetful, but there were so many mistakes made that I don't believe he had any training. He wrote everything down on a piece of paper, and the order was still messed up. We asked for napkins, which thankfully we received right away, but my friend asked for water which took so much time he was about to get up and fill the water himself.

If I knew that not only the service was disgustingly terrible and the food was expensive and tasteless, I would've just gone somewhere else that offered better food for cheaper. I really hate to be a karen about this, but this place just made me extremely upset with a bad taste in my mouth for the rest of the day.

I never like leaving bad reviews, but this...

I wanted to leave less than one star but apparently you cant. I ordered food tonight for my family thru Grub Hub. The driver never showed up. I got a text message from Grub saying my driver was here. Both my son (22 years old) and I went out to look as i could not find any one. I also asked my neighbor who was out with her kids if any one had come and she said no. So I called the number sent to me via text and got an automated message saying my food would be delivered in an ETA of 5 min. So again we waited. This was about an hour after I had placed my order. 15 min. Later NOTHING. So I called again speaking to a rep. Who "attempted " to contact my driver. So after 20 min. On hold the phone rang back becaise #1 my driver couldn't be located and #2 they had forgotten about me. She asked how she could help me today and I told her I was still on hold for a previous issue. After another go aroumd she PROMISED my card would be refunded but would take 3 business days. And then the lovely dear hung up on me. SO that being said I just got an email saying the Greek WILL NOT refund my card for the food I do not have because it's been prepared. I dont see how this is my fault as it was never delivered to me. The order was just shy of $50. Not alot to some but alot to me for something I do not have. I feel this situation was handled poorly by grub hub and The Greek. So even after I was PROMISED my bank card would be refunded. I got another email saying I can have grub hub dollars because the Greek WILL NOT refund the card. I do not want Grub hub dollars. I want MY money back. Grub hub should have taken it from the drivers wallet as he apparently had a lovely meal on me.I will be posting in ever forum about my horrible experience...