Uncle Bill's Pancake House — Restaurant in Manhattan Beach

First time dining here at the suggestion of a friend for meeting up before I headed to the airport for a flight. I found the energy of the place to be unwelcoming - as if it is not customers willing to spend their money who make it happen for them.

We requested outdoor seating after being "shoo'd" away by someone instructing that we check in out front. He laid off when we told him we had checked in - we were just looking inside to make our decision for where we want to dine. Once we decided on outdoor seating, were denied opportunity to take a table so that we could order coffee while our third person was enroute. After our party arrived, we watched empty outdoor tables be filled up by patrons who arrived after us. We were then approached about "we can seat you faster if you dine indoors." I reminded them that we had requested the type of table we wanted and saw them being filled by people who arrived after us. Clock was steady ticking in order for me to make my flight. After I made a request for the manager - he came over with an unusually defensive demeanor informing us how "some people lie about the arrival of their entire party - I'm not saying that you do..." Anyone who understands cultural microagression will understand the (perhaps unconscious) bias demonstrated in statements like this and behaviors of those who are there to serve us. Suddenly a table was available and the greeter said the reason she didn't seat us was because the table was small. It was not a small table and fit 3 people with no problem. By this time, I had no desire to spend a dime of my money in that space.

My friends were willing to stay because we were short on time and they knew I needed to get to the airport and this was our only chance to do the breakfast we had planned. Because of the negative, unwelcoming energy of the place - I refused to eat their food. Then the food comes and the person bringing out the orders is once again aggressive, rude, shoving my friends plate in her hands and becoming very condescending as my other friend was telling her that he did not order either of the plates she had in her hand. After a brief standoff, she checked the order and realized that the error was indeed hers. My friends described the coffee as bad enough to need to make another stop for coffee, the food as "just ok" and the view as "nice." Nope. Nope. Nope.

Here is a customer facing, non-biased suggestion: Try, "our policy was put in place to help maximize the revenue we are able to generate (or increase our efficiency for service) when all patrons are present and ready for seating." But say that only if it is true. Not - "we are displaying this behavior toward you because of the behavior of others." That's a free consultation for you on what makes customer service good, even when situations may be difficult and keeps really bad reviews off your board. However, in this instance, I realize we were dealing with immature greeters who I would recommend NOT be for interfacing with the general public. Customers make you who you are. You are not doing anyone any favors. If you don't like your jobs, go do something you enjoy. If you hold bias in your heart (racial or otherwise) that type of energy works against you in the long...

I just wanted to comment on what an enjoyable place Uncle Bill's Pancake House in Manhattan Beach California is to eat! My name is Bill and of course my nieces and nephews call me Uncle Bill. My brother, that lived in Utah, would travel to California to see his daughter. One time while they were driving around, they saw Uncle Bill's Pancake House, and in my honor, they had to stop and eat there. They ended up going there every time they went back to California. Every time he went there, he bought me an Uncle Bill's Pancake House t-shirt or Uncle Bill's Pancake House hat! I love them. He is my little brother and sadly he passed away recently. I live in Arizona but I set a goal that I was going to go to Uncle Bill's Pancake House and eat. It started off with me calling them from Arizona. A really nice girl, Kathrine (I’m not sure of the spelling), answered the phone and I told her my story. I told her that I wanted to come and eat there. She was so nice, she told me that she looked forward to meeting me. When I got there unfortunately Kathrine was off but I met Jeanette and told her my story. She immediately set me up with the best table in the house. It was a beautiful day and this table was outside overlooking the ocean! Then I met Alicia who came to ask about my order. I then told her my story (they were so patient to listen to my story) and she couldn't have taken better care of me if I would have been her own grandpa! Then to top it all off the food was amazing! I love breakfast, so even though it was around noon, I still ordered breakfast and it was absolutely delicious! It was seriously one of the best breakfasts I have ever eaten out! I later found out that Jeanette is the owner and Alicia is her daughter-in-law! If anyone who reads this travels anywhere near Manhattan Beach I would recommend going there to eat, not only for the care that you will feel from them but for the amazing food! With lots of appreciation, Bill Allen from Arizona (aka, the other...

HORRIBLE service and very RUDE staff! Good reviews at yelp made me check out this place. Well, it was a weekend and brunch time, so understandably there was a wait. I asked the lady at the door, how much is the wait, and was told 15-20 mins, first come first serve. Got my name on the list with a party of one. After waiting for more than 30 minutes, I started noticing, people who came after me, were being called. Confused, I rechecked if my name was missed or something. The lady affirmed, my named would be called, as because I am single, they can't give me a table of 4. Great! was never told before. After 10 more minutes, when I noticed a party of two had been called for, I told them, see, its really unfair for me to stand and wait till 40 minutes when people arriving after me had been seated. To my surprise, the lady rudely replied - "Its our policy ma'm, we have one table for single person, but that is occupied right now!" WHAT? I was told, it is first come first serve, and they don't mind a guest waiting 40 minutes (on a usual waiting for 15-20 mins). Even worst, not once she said sorry for the situation.

Well, I understand, restaurants are here to make business and would not like to give a table of 4 to a single person, but then they also need to be fair enough and that judgement call has to be made at some point of time. The least a guest expects the staff to be polite and understanding. Seating was offered to a number of parties of two, that itself raises questions on their integrity. Anyhow, the staff was not even worth to ask anything. Bad Option! I left this place the next moment.

Their food might be great, but its the overall experience that matters. I would never go to this place...