Pier 500 — Restaurant in Hudson

Here is an update to my original review of 5/6/2024 re: no dogs on the patio of Pier 500, Hudson found below.

I did reach out to Rachel per her response to my review. She did not identify her role at Pier 500 to me .I explained to her that our research about Dogs on restaurant patios in Wisconsin is that no variances are now needed to allow dogs on restaurant patio premises as of October 2020. She continued her postion that dogs are not allowed on her patio due to food service and she stated that they do not have room to post a “ no dogs” sign on the premises. She did not speak to updating her website. She did agreed that “further training for the host staff would be a good thing “ in regards to how staff responds and perhaps “redirecting people to other patios that may take dogs”. ( We did find another establishment in town on that visit to Hudson to accommodate us and our pet after being turned away at Pier 500) I do find her comment about other establishments a bit contradictive since her stance is that STATE law prohibits ALL restaurants from allowing dogs, ( which by my research and experience does not ) but she did say she would speak to her staff . I appreciate Rachel taking the call and hearing the feedback. However, just know that this establishment has chosen NOT to allow dogs on the patio unless they are service dogs. I respect that decision but still ask that the update on the website and the sign be implemented for other animal lovers . Thank you for the time Rachel. I have changed the rating I gave for service from the original one star to three for your direct conversation with me. I appreciate you hearing the feedback.

5/6/2024 Original Post No dogs on the patio!! This post is for travelers and for pet lovers…this is NOT the restaurant for you! I tried this restaurant many years ago, without my dog. At that time I had a rough experience with the host staff too. Details are fuzzy about that visit but I remembered enough that on this trip I was cautious about the staffs response to our request to sit on the patio with my small dog secured in a pet stroller. However I wanted to give them a try as it had been many years since I had been there. Perhaps the service had improved?? . No. It had not. We had the dog with us , in the stroller and the 2 hosts and a supervisor could see the dog and how secured she was, in person. Unfortunately , I was met with a very curt, short and unaccommodating “ No! We do not allow dogs on our patio!” No offer to set us away from others or even to offer other restaurants in town that might accommodate us so that we could enjoy the town . I understand policy ( which by the way was not posted on the website or in person at the door) and would have happily followed it if I had access to it before having to get to the host stand, as well as the manner and tone of the staff was so off putting , AGAIN , that I will definitely NOT return, with or without my pet. We were traveling and were looking to enjoy the town of Hudson and its offerings. I would love to see Pier 500 Hudson take the initiative to update their website and the signage at their door so that other traveling dog / pet lovers can know to find another establishment to enjoy the town(with all of its open walking and family areas ) all while avoiding the unpleasant, unaccomodating experiences that we had at...

Another great time at Pier 500. Wonderful evening, sunny but cozy day. Great service and top service to feel like home. Everything delicious. Until next time

What is a gray day when we always have very sunny and happy days during our dinners at Pier 500? It absolutely does not affect anything. I also have my gray days, anyone can have gray days but the important thing is to know that one arrives at a restaurant where you are well received, where the hospitality is always there and the professionalism of all those smiles makes you feel at home adding the delicious dishes that are included in the Menu. Until next time....

I have always been fair and balanced with Pier 500. I have always been a loyal customer and expect the same from the service at Pier 500. I invited some international guests this Monday, July 22, 7:30 PM. Greater disappointment. Everything was terrible. The waiter, a young man, without experience, without ideas or training, inept at how to serve a table with 7 diners, a total disaster. He took the order and he disappeared until he brought the bill to the wrong person when I was specific that I was the host. He brought the bill without asking if we wanted it or, for that matter, if we wanted coffee or some dessert. Nothing! He didn't ask again if we wanted more water or another drink. The rest of the service was even worse. They brought 3 dishes and after waiting 2 soups. Now, being a Gourmet Amateur Chef, you never do that. The soup is served first. It's not McDonald's. The third soup came a long time later and the rest of the meal much later. As RULE Number 1 of good manners, you do not start eating until ALL diners have their plates served. Therefore, everything went cold. Anyway, the chicken arrived cold. I felt really frustrated because I had planned this for my international visitors for many months. Speaking of chicken. I had told them that I suggested that wood-fired chicken was one of the most delicious that was made in the region. Wrong! I ordered half a chicken and they brought me two breasts, cold and dry. One can see that they were cut because they were left over and they were under the infrared light. The rest of the chickens were equally bad. The skin was not crispy but soft and gummy. A burger was ordered and also mayonnaise on the side. It didn't come complete. Since the waiter did not return, we asked a person who passed by if he could be so kind as to bring us some mayonnaise. He brought 3 loaves of bread when, I repeat, we were 7 people. The table is the second - round table on the right facing Walnut Street. We did not have the Chocolate Cake, super delicious. The only thing I wish is that Pier 500 management takes account of the matter and corrects this terrifying thing, I know I exaggerated, but it was like that. Instead of having a good time it was like the Titanic hitting an iceberg. And there was no iceberg, happily. It looked like we were not at Pier 500. All The attendants were not recognized. All different. A restaurant like Pier 500 does not deserve to fall into a situation like this when we know that it always provides excellent dishes and very professional services. Until next...

I gave them 2 stars only because of their recovery attempt, other wise it was 1 star.

We stopped on this past Saturday, mid afternoon. 3 Hostesses on duty, immediate seating at outside patio. But thats when things got bad. It took a full 30 minutes to flag down a waiter. He was no help but he advised the bar manager who dropped by apologizing but said it was a bad time of day because it was shift change time. ( That is not my problem.) After the bad experience started, we paid close attention to how other guest/customers were treated. One guy, sitting at a table alone did not get service for 1 hour! Another couple that came in right after us, just walked out. Another couple, at a table right next to us, got great timely service because after we finally got a waitress, she took care of them too, immediately. What I found especially curious, was the 3 hostesses just kept on seating people, who were not getting served and walking out. I used to own 4 restaurants-and if any of my managers were this clueless;, they would be gone! Also, according to the reviews, this is a repeat problem. That indicates to me, the ownership doesn’t really care and responds to bad reviews with no intent of correcting the problem. The only reason I gave you 2 stars is because once we got attention, the assigned waitress was great and the on duty managers comp’d the drinks. It was comical and a bit disappointing to watch 2 mangers go to various tables to apologize for bad service, apparently once we got someones attention, management started to pay attention! I find it incredible they still work at this establishment, since they have to make excuses for bad shift management and this place exploits their employees by paying them barely $4 per hour and then adds their reported tips to their paycheck to get them up to minimum wage. This is a common practice in Wisconsin, but I think it is based on greed and exploitation. On the other-side of the River, in Minnesota, that practice is illegal. If you are having a hard time hiring employees, perhaps that is why? This was an unfortunate horrible experience, ˆI was ready to walk out after 20 minutes, but my wife is persistent/stubborn. Remember, the only reason you were able to recover was because my wife flagged down a waiter after 30 minutes. I was NOT because someone on your staff noticed the problem. However your hostesses walked right past us, many, many times and did nothing. They just brought in and seated more guests to be...