Copper Skillet Courtyard — Restaurant in Martinez

I had went to this place for few years and I love their food, waitress and the owner. The very last time I brought my wife and 2 kids there, it was Memorial Monday(holiday). The place is packed as usual. We sat down after 15 minutes wait. The waitress took our order in 5 minutes. We were starving and we felt luck because everything seems so smooth. But after 30 minutes wait for the food. We didn’t see those customers sat before us get the food yet. So, we call the waitress and asked her what happened. Then she told us our food is coming up next. Another 15 minutes went by, still no food yet. We tried to talk to the waitress again but didn’t see anyone on the floor. Then the owner came out then we asked him what happened. He told us they were short handed in the kitchen. The food will take longer than usual. Our food should be come out in a minute. But are they supposed to let us know before we sat down first? Then we can decide to sit down and wait for the food or not. After another 5 to 10 minutes wait, we decided to leave and go get some fast food instead. Our kids were starving. We didn’t see the waitress and the owner on the floor, so we told the bus girl that we were leaving and we willing to pay for the drinks we already drank (2 coffees and 2 apple juice). We asked her to cancel our order. We put down $20, I think that’s more than enough. We decided not to come back anymore but after a month, I think we should give them a chance cause they were so nice to me before and I feel bad also just left like that last time. So, I went there this morning and tried to get a table. The owner told me we can’t comeback anymore because we left last time and wasted $45 food they brought out after we left. He told me he is really upset about us. I was like “what?” Don’t you know we were upset also? The first thing you talk to me is not letting me comeback? Not even an apology? Is that totally our fault because we can’t wait anymore after 50 minutes? If anyone let us know they were short handed before we sat down. That will never happen. Is the owner supposed to treat us (their...

I just got married yesterday, and we decided to come here to eat afterwards. The food was decent, and they kindly let us push the tables together upstairs. I understand it was a bit inconvenient for them to serve the food since it was hard to get in, but that’s not on them, and we were happy to help pass the plates ourselves.

The only thing that really bothered me was when my dad was giving a little toast. It was very emotional, and one of the younger waitresses came upstairs. Instead of waiting for him to finish or at least saying, “Excuse me, sorry for interrupting—here are your drinks,” she just said, “Here are the drinks,” right in the middle of his toast. Of course, my dad got quiet, and we were all stunned by the lack of empathy and basic manners. We did grab the drinks she handed us the first time because we understood she had to deliver them, but my dad tried to keep going after that—and then she interrupted again!

The second time? At least read the room! It was so awkward, and she asked if anyone else had ordered drinks, but by then we didn’t even care. We just wanted to hear my dad’s toast. On top of that, English isn’t his first language, and he was trying so hard. I got upset and told her, “Can you ask after? We’re in the middle of a toast.” I was hoping she’d at least apologize, but no—she just left the room like nothing happened.

The food was good, and the other blonde waitress was actually very nice. Even though we were a bit of a bother with the tables, she was polite and patient. But overall, this was my first and definitely last time...

Today’s visit would have been a two star, but two stars are added for past experiences that were actually good. Today I veered off course & tried something off the pancake & French toast menu. . .I ordered Huevos Rancheros & what I was served was a plate of thick yellow cheese & chips. I wasn’t expecting so much yellow cheese on a dish that by custom is not served with yellow cheese. I sent the plate back & expected to be asked to replace the dish with a different order but no server came back to our table. We never got our coffee refilled either. Normally I treat my parents out to brunch here when I visit them & it’s a great experience. I felt bad that my mom’s quality of service was affected by me sending the dish back. They did remove the dish from our bill which wasn’t something I was expecting, normally I pay for the dish & the new order when I’ve had this happen at other restaurants since I’m the one that ordered the food I don’t have a problem doing so. I was very disappointed with the service today, not just the quality of the dish I ordered, but I would still give this place the opportunity to serve you good food just don’t order the Huevos Rancheros & send the food back because they will quickly give you your bill & get you to just leave instead of trying to serve you...