Shindig Uptown Bistro + Catering — Restaurant in Martinsville

In January of 2017 I reached out to Shindig to plan a retirement event on site at their venue for November 2017. Within a 10 day period I sent a Facebook message, left two voicemails, and sent a second Facebook message in hopes of working with them. Tammy Pearson finally gave me a call on the 11th day after my initial contact. She was friendly and apologetic for the delay in response, and I felt positive that we would move forward without issue. Sample menus and standard pricing were sent to me via email a two days later, and Tammy responded within reasonable time to questions that popped into mind over the next week. Because I was planning the party with my sisters who live in different locations, I explained that I needed time to communicate before making decisions.

My sisters and I decided to book Shindig for November 24 at the end of February, and Tammy sent new menu ideas for our tropical theme. After a few weeks of thought and communication with my sisters, we made decisions for the menu in the last week of March.

I requested a meeting with Shindig, and we agreed to a date in April after I returned from an Easter vacation. That meeting was postponed by me because of an unexpected doctor appointment. We rescheduled, and both Tammy and Will Pearson met with me on April 16. We negotiated beverage pricing and worked out details regarding set up and decor, and I was promised contact information for their DJ of choice; a contract was promised by email. I left our meeting feeling confident that we would have a great event.

As of April 26 I still had not received a contract or DJ information, so I reached out to Shindig once more. On May 1 I received a response email with the contract. However, the contract included two additional menu items that I had not selected, and higher prices on non-alcoholic beverages than I had agreed to. I sent the contract to my sisters for review, and after hearing back from them, I sent an email with a request on May 3 for revisions to the contract. I did not hear back from Shindig, but since our meeting had been so good, I didn’t worry about it.

The summer was full of events and traveling for my family, and I learned that Shindig had opened for dinner, so I knew Tammy was busy, too. I waited to reach back out until the middle of August— three months prior to the event. I first sent an email on August 17. When I hadn’t heard back from anyone in five days, I called Shindig on August 22. An employee named Loren answered the phone and told me that Tammy wasn’t present, and offered to help me. I explained that I needed to speak with Tammy in regards to my event on November 24. Loren commenced to question me about who I planned it with, when I planned it, where it was to be held, and if I’d signed a contract and paid a deposit— all of which would have been normal questions had he not been so rude when delivering them. He then told me that there was no record of my event on their calendar and that if they could still host it that their would be a lot of changes to the original discussion. I asked him what kind of changes and why, and he told me “well the price will go up a lot, for starters, because we are a full functioning restaurant now.” I ended the conversation by asking him to have Tammy call me.

I did not receive a call back on August 22, so I emailed Tammy and Will on August 23, expressing my anxiety and concern. I also noted in the email how rudely I was treated by Loren. There has been absolutely no response to that email or my phone call; furthermore than has been no response from Tammy or Will since May 1.

The lack of communication is appalling. The lack of follow through is disgraceful. I do not recommend Shindig for catering or events.

The 100 +/- guest event that we planned for Shindig has now been moved to an event space in Rocky Mount, Virginia. We are happy to spend our money with an establishment that welcomes...

Extremely slow service, order was not cooked raw in middle. Acting manager came over and apologized, which was nice. When replacement order came, still raw in middle and fries cold. Acting manager acknowledged we were trying to get her attention but kept talking to 2 customers. Waitress finally came back to the table, showed her food was still raw. She was going to have food delivered since we were already late going back to work. As we walked to the door the acting manager said thank you have a good day. I responded yeah right to which she says "that was rude". If I was rude sorry, we sat for almost an hour to get lunch which wasn't cooked not once but twice then called rude when leaving. WOW With that type of attitude the place is not going to fare well. Some people aren't meant for management positions. It wasn't the acting managers fault the food wasnt cooked but she was told we were already going to be late getting back to work. She chose to be rude by not ensuring 2nd order was prepared correctly. Knowing there is an issue and not asking if 2nd order was cooked. Obviously there was an issue, I had no carryout box in hand as I was walking out the door . Maybe it would have been more understandable if they were busy but only 5 people total (3 tables). Maybe my comment was rude but when you go to purchase lunch and leave with nothing you tend to be upset from the experience. I have went to this business on multiple occasions, never experienced such a miserable time. I will not return and will no longer...

It was very awkward when me and my family walked in. What looked like a manager and a server stared at us from across the restaurant while we waited to be seated, then turned back to each other and started to talk to one another again. There wasn’t a sign saying seat yourself. After we stood there for a few more minutes, I decided to walk up to them and ask if It was “seat yourself” she said “no not really” then told us to sit where ever. It was odd. I ordered the goat cheese salad and I asked for no tomatoes and to add chicken on my salad, It came with tomatoes, and It didn’t have chicken added. There was only two goat cheese crumbles on it. I had to ask the server and the manager both twice for water (which I needed before I even got my food) and I didn’t get It until I was almost done. I even got up one of the times because everyone at the table needed one. I love to give places the benefit of the doubt but there was only two other tables beside us in the whole...