Charlie's Tap House — Restaurant in Hampton

I took my family here recently and had an unpleasant experience. Reading some of the more recent reviews, I do not think my experience was an isolated incident. There seems to be sufficient evidence to suggest deep service issues within the establishment.

We sat down and were greeted promptly. Within ten minutes of sitting our drink and food orders were given to the server. I am assumed that our order was put in relatively soon after this, however events later make me question that assumption. I noticed about 10 minutes after our order was given another table sat next to us and their order was taken sometime after that.

After waiting for roughly 35 - 40 minutes for our food, I begin to look for a staff member to inquire about the timeliness of our food. I flag down a staff member and she goes proceeds to investigate. Meanwhile the table next to us who apparently ordered nearly identical menu items received their food. This certainly got my spidey sense going.

15 minutes goes by and the staff member who I submitted my inquiry to returns stating food should be out the kitchen is very busy. Another 10-15 minutes go by and our food is still not out and I request our bill. My family departs and I pay the bill, and yes despite the service I still tipped over 20%. By the time I signed the check I noticed our food was coming out of the kitchen.

To be fair to the establishment and provide context the place was busier than I had previously experienced. I am extremely happy to see any restaurant especially a local establishment to be thriving. That being said I was given no indication of any possible delays nor were there any check-ins from our server. Either of which would have significantly mitigated the poor service.

What shocked me the most was the fact that not once from any staff member did we receive any apology. In addition, no manager spoke to me. I eventually did reach out to the manager, in hopes they could ensure this was an exception and not the normal. I respectfully requested to have an dialogue with the owner. The manager replied stating the owner has declined my invitation and that I am dwelling on my experience. I am a huge supporter of hampton businesses and a firm believer of second chances, however I am not sure if I will return. I am a huge supporter of local businesses and it was very disappointing to be treated this way. If you decide to visit this establishment, I hope you experience is...

Went in to this fine looking establishment with positive vibes even after waiting for 2 hours to get in they said that the kitchen is closed, after the bouncer told us outside that they will be able to get food still when we get in. After getting inside it took another hour and a half to coax them into giving me what I came for and they decide to make me a lobster roll!! Meanwhile, they are shoving free jello shots down our throats with no food. My friend got too inebriated and looked for the bathroom. While he was stumbling around, the bouncer came back over with a look of vengeance as if we didn't just wait 4 hours to get a lobster roll. The bouncer order us to get him out of the bar to all 5 of us or I'm going to rip you out saying this as he is standing less that 9 inches behind my back, clearly meant to threaten me. All of this happening so fast that he didn't allow us time to do what he ordered us to do. After that was said I turned a switch and changed my positive vibes to bring it on fatty vibes (if you want to start a fight make sure you're not at work). He is so keen to get us out of the building that he forgot to have us pay and seeing as the lobster roll got there as he kicked us out I paid for it without eating anything or even having them wrap it up for me. Needless to say, this encoutner made me resent bouncers... and can't stand being bullied especially when the system is rigged and the cops would automatically take their side. Take more time to hire your *body guards. It's a bar people get drunk, deal with it. He escalated the situation and insinuated that he would fight me outside!! Another gentleman appearing to be a patron started in with me and apparently he was an employee being very aggressive and drinking. I barely had a chance to pay for my tab. We should have just left without paying seeing as the bouncer never said anythjng about it and the only thing he could say was get out. As a business owner myself, I don't leave bad reviews.. this was very necessary. He claimed that I wasn't allowed to come back ever and said he was going to call the cops... needless to say I don't want to get assaulted for being a...

We came for my birthday a couple weeks ago. The food was awesome...however it took more than 2 hours to get our order. Downstairs was not busy at all, there were more staff than patrons. Maybe sitting up on the deck is a better experience?

In case you want the details: party of 7, it took awhile for someone to come over and get our drinks ordered, a few people got apps before arrived and these came without real issue - no utensils and some sloshed beverages, but its a bar and our server was new so that's fine. The waitress takes our dinner order. No issues.

Maybe 30 minutes later the first half the party was served and 3 people had no food at all. No one checked in for more than 30 minutes and then someone from our party had to go to the bar to see whats up...mind you, no one had touxhed their dinners because they were trying to wait to eat together. This is when we find out half the order wasnt put in at all. Hey, it happens, we've all been new.

However, when brought to the attention of the manager there was a lot of back and forth, no support, apologies, or kindness. They didn't have any basic customer service skills of trying to make it right... it was rough. Another 30 minutes to get the missed meals and another 30 to refire 2 cold ones and they had to be explicitly asked to.

My whole family has worked in restaurants so we are patient beyond measure, but this was brutal. Not a single thing done by the establishment to make it better - we had to ask to refire meals so we could eat together, no comp'd drinks/meals, not even an apology. Pretty rough birthday.

Again, food was awesome, we had a decent table, just a rough day. They didn't seem short staffed where we were, but hard to tell with the deck being upstairs out of sight. This was a Wed night. I'd probably try it again, but with just 1 other person. They have a pretty small kitchen and maybe the party of 7 (we called ahead, they don't take reservations, but said they could accommodate us) was...