Corridor Brewery & Provisions — Restaurant in Lake View Township

Corridor has been on my list for months and this past Sunday evening, opportunity finally presented itself. At 5pm, my wife, my brother, his wife, and my niece shuffled into the front door. Sister-in-law spoke with the hostess stating we had a party of five with potentially a sixth who may be joining us (friend of the family who lives nearby). I stood back from the reception counter and took it all in. The bar was hustling with mainly couples. There was not an empty bar stool to be had. The dining area, not so much. There were three empty tables for four in the front near the windows. An empty booth could be seen along the North wall as well only two persons at the high-top (seats 8) behind the hostess. I figured perfect timing, there should not be a wait. The hostess disappeared and then reappeared with the manager. She then asked us if she could seat us at the square table for four by the front window and add a fifth chair. I then responded, no, as there are five of us and we would need space for five as we would be eating dinner and not just drinking. My sister-in-law followed up with, "You could put two of the tables together - That would then allow seating for six". The hostess said she could not do put two tables together but did not give reason. The manger and hostess informed us that there would be a 30 minute wait to accommodate us. I was baffled by this as we contemplated going elsewhere as we were hungry. The front door opened and a group of six entered. A member of their party gave me a friendly nod and asked if there's a wait to be seated. I responded that there appears to be and asked him if they made a reservation - He said that they did not think they needed one. As the group of six spoke with the hostess, we decided we would go elsewhere. I could then see the manager sliding two of the tables up-front together for the party that just entered. We told the hostess we would be leaving and we walked out. My brother stopped and stared in the front window once we exited and asked us all if we see what is going on. They just pushed two tables together to accommodate the party of six - Yet they would not do that for us? We walked the block to locate somewhere else to eat. My mind spun with curiosity as to why they wouldn't seat a group of five (with the possibility of a sixth joining us). We failed to find another place to dine so the family headed back to the car. I returned to Corridor and asked the hostess if I could speak with the manager. He came to me and I introduced myself and I asked him why he would not seat us by pushing two tables together, yet he did it for another group. He stated that it is, "corporate policy" to not do that - He also stated that it is not "efficient" since we were currently only a party of five and they are not allowed to do that. He offered up his boss' business card, but what would I do with that? I thanked him for the response and left. I have never ever experienced something like this. You are not busy - There are tables available - Why would you not want to seat us and let us spend our money? Who wrote the policy of leaving tables empty in order to maximize revenue? My brother mentioned that we looked like the oldest people in the place - I will not let myself believe were not seated because we are not in our...

The robots are in control.

I was out with a group of three friends Friday evening , grabbing a drink before deciding on a neighborhood restaurant. We decided on Corridor Brewery & Provisions, having heard above average reviews, since it was only 2 blocks away. So, I snuck out and walked down the street to put in my name for a reservation at Corridor. Simple process, as they took my phone number, and told me they would text me as soon as the table was available. Estimated about one hour, and said I would receive a text message as soon as the table was ready. Upon receiving that text, I was told I would have 10 minutes to check in, or the reservation would be automatically canceled. Seemed reasonable.

One hour and two minutes later, I received a text message saying that the table was ready. It also requested that I respond to the text message with the number "1" to confirm the reservation. I did that immediately, and we all put on our coats, paid our tab, and headed in the direction of Corridor(2 blocks).

We arrived at Corridor a few minutes later, and waited patiently as the hostess took reservations for newly arrived customers. Once at the podium to check in, she politely apologized that I missed the 10 minute window, and our table was no longer available. I laughed, and said that I'd been in line for a few minutes, but was easily inside the restaurant within the 10 minute window. I pulled out my phone, showing her the text message I received 11 1/2 minutes earlier. She reiterated that her iPad showed I had missed the window, and that was how the, "system" works. Nothing could be done. I laughed again, and asked to speak with the manager, knowing there would be a simple remedy. I was wrong.

The manager responded with the exact same answer, that everything is controlled by the iPad; there was nothing he could do. I laughed again, this time slightly louder. Our only option was to resubmit our reservation, and be put at the back of the line, which was now a two hour wait. Wow. A manager that cannot overrule an iPad. I asked where the logic was in this whole, "system"? He was powerless against it. Ridiculous.

Hopefully the chefs are permitted more creativity/freedom than the powerless, meaningless, people-pleaser out front. If the kitchen is controlled by the same fleet of iPads, they will be serving memory chips, with a silicon dipping sauce, in the very near future. A manager cannot overrule an iPad. Simply shocking.

Anyway, not going back. Most ridiculous thing I've ever experienced in a restaurant.

The robots...

Bartender (manager?) yelled at us and everyone in the bar that he was locking the doors in 5 minutes if we didn't leave. It was rude and really awkward for us and other patrons. We still had half-full beer glasses and were still chewing our last bites of food.

Hospitality industry folks would have been horrified at how this was done. We weren't somehow overstaying our welcome - we had been in the establishment only 45 mins.

Our server, who was helpful herself, was apologetic but said they were closing and no blame on her. We had arrived for dinner a little after 8p. The patio and bar space both were 80% arrived was full when we arrived. We ordered beer and then eventually burgers when she came back. The smash burger is pretty delicious here. I got it with the bacon (which is probably overkill but sometimes you need it--you know?).

At 8.45p the lights went up real bright. We were still eating dinner. Many patrons still in progress. Our server told us last call--AS she delivered us beers that we had ordered. But that was ok with us--we didn't plan to order additional drinks.

At 8.56p, the yelling happened.

Proper restaurants that "close at 9p" don't take new tables after a certain point, but they still serve their current customers, while the staff begins the process of shutting down service and cleaning. There's always a server on the floor still taking care of folks during close. This is typical of standard hospitality industry practice, and it makes sense. Not sure where this team learned.

I said to the bartender after he yelled--we've still got over half-full drinks here, and his retort (!) was "how long have had that drink?" implying that we weren't drinking fast enough? The fact that we got a attitude and blame on us for being there revealed the culture pretty clearly.

I get that staff should get home at a resonable time. But I've worked in 4 restaurants, and this was not super late on a Tuesday summer night.

Beer wasn't top in the city, but it was delicious enough, and an otherwise good experience ruined by an impatient manager telling us to chug beers and leave. Positive view flipped to...