Why TaD's on Ryan Street in Lake Charles, LA won't last long...

(Note: I intentionally did not reveal our server's name for two reasons. 1) There is no intention to shame or put fault on her, and 2) we do not want social scrutiny placed upon her personal life. Also, a normal tip is 15-20% but we left 10% though it could easily have been less because it wasn't the best service; however, the fault rests upon TaD's to  properly train its staff and we believe her service is a reflection of this improper training and not her true potential ability.)

Now...5 people in our party; a teen, a 5 yr old and 3 adults; tab pre-tip $80; time on tab 5:17 p.m. ~Seating wait time--8 minutes, not busy, plenty of servers on the floor (obvious wait staff shift change happening for but not hostess staff; no excuse for any wait when it is not busy). ~Asst. Mgr-- either too young, under trained, or improperly trained.. We asked him for napkins-- he turned to a waitress (not ours) and said, "They need napkins." Seriously! Managers who build relationships get the napkins. ~Server was affable but indifferent. Felt like she was providing the service according to how she was trained. She's probably very dynamic under dynamic leadership/management...sadly, our party saw no dynamic management on duty. RR- 😳 yuck. White walls show every bit of filth. ~On staff: 2 hostess 2 bartenders 1 asst manager 7 servers ~Again, server was affable and would probably florish under correct training and management that was actually invested in making this location last. ~Iced tea...no ice...so it was just luke warm tea in tall glasses. Again obvious lack in point of service. A server ought to be able to see that there is no ice in an iced tea. ~Grilled chicken sandwich was ordered "no sauce" came plain-- literally without anything on it. ~Dinner salad was obviously premade as it was wilted onto the bowl it had been made in. It had 1...yes only 1... cherry tomato and 1 very thinly sliced cucumber. Seriously--that's not a salad worthy of linen dinner napkins. A better side salad could be gotten at Outback and/or Logan's and they use paper napkins. ~Don't get me wrong... Linen napkins are wonderful but usually bespeak a better dining experience...not food one can get down the road at a similar joint using paper napkins. ~Blackened shrimp salad had ready-made bacon bits including rubbery fat chunks instead of actual crispy bacon crumbled onto it. ~Fried catfish with flour breading that was just bland. ~Food and pricing not competative--- food was ok but not that impressive. ~Better food and service could be had within a small radius at multiple places. Two examples: Steamboat Bills or even RickinJaks just down the street on Ryan. ~Sadly, no one ever asked us how things were until we were done. ~After the bill was paid, the asst. mgr finally found his way over (at this point there were only 4 tables being served and 1 bar customer) to ask "How was everything" as he kept walking by...not stopping we responded very flatly and slowly "It was o-k", but he just kept walking-- no response.

Nothing-no questions- no inquiry--nada.

It seems obvious to my very well trained mind and years of experience that TaD's has multiple issues but correcting them needs to start at the top. Don't just keep flipping the management team. Find a manager and/or district supervisor who cares to build this location, cares about building customer relationships, and devotes herself or himself into developing a dynamic team at the top and middle then the bottom will follow.

Until then, closing is in Tad's near future.

(Let me follow up by stating that for 9 years I worked as an executive manager in a very profitable full service restaurant before entering the education field. I currently live in the greater Houston area--were eating out is king in the industry. I enjoy visiting Lake Charles often.)u