Saigon Cafe — Restaurant in Jersey City

Updated after the reply: After reading other 1-star reviews, I realized that my experience—though frustrating—pales in comparison to the way this restaurant has treated other customers (forcing parents to fold strollers with sleeping babies, not accommodating allergies, refusing to serve children). This place has a well-documented history of being unfriendly, rude, and inflexible. They adhere to a laundry list of rules with zero regard for customer experience. If you enjoy being treated poorly, then by all means, this place welcome you!

For the record, I do respect the policy against outside drinks, (even if I find it unnecessary). However, the way the staff handled the situation was unacceptable. Watching me like a hawk while I finished my last sip felt more like an act of intimidation than policy enforcement. I was deeply offended by their hostile and overbearing attitude. Just treat your guests FRIENDLY.

-- Original comment

Disappointed by the Unwelcoming Attitude!

We were denied entry because one of us had a last sip of matcha latte in hand. The staff actually stood there watching us finish it rather than allowing us to come in and settle.

This kind of rigid and unwelcoming behavior is not what we expected from a place that supposedly values good service. It’s a shame because we were excited to dine here, but after being treated this way, we won’t be returning. Customer service should be about making guests feel welcome, not monitoring them for something as trivial as finishing a drink. Truly...

I hope the owner of this restaurant knows how bad his employee is affecting his business. He is a bald guy that works as a hostess and waiter. He is beyond rude and unfriendly toward customers. I asked a recommendation about which Pho to get and his answer was ‘I am a vegetarian so I don’t know’ in a very unpleasant tone. I wanted to order a second dish and he asked me ‘what do you need?’ from the other side of the room. He didn’t even bother getting close to my table. I ended leaving just because I couldn’t deal any longer with his unpleasant attitude and unprofessional service! He comes across as a person that is very unhappy with the job he does!! It’s sad because the food is not bad and I just moved to the area and I was planning to become a regular customer. I also don’t think is right this restaurant charge a 20% tip without even asking you. He never passed the credit card machine to me; as the owner is saying on other reviews that you can change it. This should be illegal. Now it makes sense why this employee can’t care less doing his job so poorly because he knows he is getting his 20% tip no...

I went to this restaurant because it was recommended as delicious, but the service was really unfriendly. As mentioned in other reviews, waiter insisted that we had to fold the stroller, and his tone and attitude were extremely rude. Even though my child was sleeping in the stroller, he insisted on folding it with no flexibility at all. If there had been no space to place the stroller because of the crowd, I wouldn't have gone in, but there were plenty of seats and not many people. The place is really unkind to families with children. It's the first time I've encountered such unfriendliness towards a mother with a child. If he had asked us to fold the stroller in a slightly more polite manner, it wouldn't have been as upsetting, but the way we were treated left me feeling very bad.

Updated after the reply

As I mentioned earlier, his attitude and tone were rude. That is what was concerned about rather than the fact that there was an available place for park my stroller.

This restaurant doesn't accept any family with a baby because stroller must fold in the room even there are...