Main Street Boutique & Bistro — Restaurant in Harlingen

Good food, but abysmal experience! We contacted the restaurant a month ago about setting up a baby shower brunch for my sister. When my sister initially called, the manager was very friendly and accommodating on the phone. They had no issues with reserving for our larger group of 15 people and gave us the sign off on bringing our own cake. I also called and spoke to the owner a week ago to confirm our reservation and headcount, and similar to my sister he was very kind and accommodating on the phone. Unfortunately that did not extend to our in-person experience.

When we arrived the waitress and owner, Steve, seemed instantly irritated with our presence in the restaurant. We heard them complaining amongst each other about having to serve our large group, which made no sense since we had called twice to reserve and confirm the tables/headcount. Also, we were the only patrons in the restaurant for the first hour+ that it was open, so they literally had no other customers but us to attend to. When we told them we were a single check and everyone could order what they want, Steve the owner was not thrilled, told me a few times it would take longer to get the food (which I said repeatedly was completely fine), and said parties our size usually do a limited options menu. Doing a prefix menu was NEVER mentioned to my sister or I either time we called, so again why are you upset and bringing this up now? When we asked about using a small unoccupied table to put the cake and gifts on the owner Steve told my mother “I want to be really mean to you, but since I went to church I’ll be nice and let you use the table.” Like WHAT! Absolutely insane and rude thing to say. 5 minutes later he changed his mind and said no because he might need it for customers. Not letting us use the extra table is understandable, but the completely rude and uncalled for they went about it was unacceptable.

Throughout the meal the waitress we had was in a terrible mood and was speaking rudely to us the entire time. She was arguing with Steve the owner right at our table as well, and I heard them bickering throughout our time there. She also stepped outside to take a call, not noticing my sister was outside, and was complaining on the phone about having to serve our group.

When we cut the cake we brought we asked for forks and Steve the owner didn’t want to give us any to use and said we needed to have brought our own, and then reluctantly handed us some sporks. Like HUH?? He also wanted my sister to pay first before giving her an itemized receipt, which was super shady.

The food was very good, but the experience was truly terrible. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a restaurant that had such obvious annoyance at having to serve its customers. It was clear to me they did not like large parties, but why they didn’t just say that when we first called to set it up I’ll never know. We could’ve taken our business elsewhere. The owner Steve was one of the rudest, most unprofessional people we’ve ever encountered. We kept our volume down, picked up after ourselves, did our best to not bother the other patrons and from the minute we walked in the door it felt like we were getting pushed out. Needless to say I will never be back, and would not recommend this restaurant to anyone no matter...

I never leave bad reviews but my first experience here was shocking. We had a reservation at noon and when we arrived the owner was getting upset at the waiter for not reserving our table appropriately. We were not upset and just waited. When we were sat we were one chair short and sat a two small square tables with already chairs squeezed close for our party of 10. I asked the owner for an extra chair and said I don’t know if we’re going to fit at that table. He exploded on me and got very close to me saying well what do you expect coming in at noon. I told him but we had a reservation we didn’t come as a walk in and this is not our fault. He proceeded to say well he can’t hold a table for us when he has customers already (grant you there was a table reserved with a reserve sign on it that was suppose to be one our tables so yes they do hold tables) there so I said then why did you take our reservation. He yelled in front of the small restaurant in front of everyone as we walked out. I was in shock and shaking as we left. I’ve never been treated like that. I can’t imagine what all the customers there thought as they witnessed the owner yell at us. He took out his frustration on the waiter then me and my family. There must be something bad going on in the owner's life for him to take out his...

They say 1st impression is usually the right impression. I was appalled of the treatment my family received while trying to be seated at this restaurant. My Family had made reservations earlier in the week to celebrate a job well done at my nieces recital. The owner met us with attitude,his explosive demeanor is no way to run a business, and needless to say, we will not be coming back. His loud and callous approach to the issue was uncalled for. Either a mistake made by him or his staff is not our fault. From taking our reservation a week ago to when arriving for our reservation, he said that reservations are not allowed... We were going to make the situation work and lacked 1 chair, as my niece approached him to ask for an additional chair, that is when things took a turn, he raised his voice, puffed his chest and got within inches of 2 family members faces. His approach to the situation was completely out of left field. WE decided to leave. He escorted us out and attempted to lock the door behind us with total disregard of those in the restaurant. Everyone sitting at their tables were in awe of...