The Watershed Tavern & Grill — Restaurant in Meridian Charter Township

The food and drinks were excellent....

However.

Once we placed our orders, everything was legitimately fantastic. But then we got our bills, and there was an issue; the waitress didn't explain one of the specials properly. When I brought this up, politely I might add, I was met with mild disdain and was told if there is an issue we may speak with the bartender. I asked if we could speak with him/her, and he came out within a few minutes. After asking what the issue was, and I explained it (again, as politely as possible, I'm typically a very polite customer (from many years of customer service)), I was insulted. Literally; first he claims I lack common sense, then he challenges my age. Instead of acknowledging that one of the workers may have made a mistake, this man insults a customer. Instead of getting angry or yelling or doing the typical angry customer things, I simply explained in more detail why I felt wronged, and let him know insulting me would not work in his favor. He claimed to have not insulted me with a "its just a common sense issue"....insult, is it not? Even after he agreed to give me the discount his waitress misrepresented, he then told me, once again, that it is just a common sense issue, and that "everyone here knows it". Everyone, as in, the other patrons on the patio.

So not only did they mislead a discount, they refused to acknowledge the error, proceeded to insult a polite customer, and tried to turn their other customers against me.

But wait, that isn't where it ends.

I get home and call the establishment, asking to speak with the owner. I only wanted to talk about how the issue was handled, nothing more. After they asked what incident my complaint was about, they knew it was me. So I got told that the man who insulted me WAS the owner, and that he had nothing more to say to me.

I don't write bad reviews, customer service is harsh enough. However, people must know who they give their money to, and this person does not deserve it.

With all this said, the waitress was still very good and friendly and the food was excellent. The owner's people skills, however, need...

Bad experience. Steak was overcooked, gristly, and fishy. We should have known better than to trust them with a steak. I was embarrassed that you served that old hockey puck to my husband. My order was made incorrectly and was delayed because you put meat in it even though I very clearly specified vegetarian. You begged us to forgive your incompetence, and we were gracious even with the constant disappointments. You invited us to spend new year's eve with you. Assured us over the phone that you would encourage new year's eve celebrations. You gave us free champagne, which might have been a nice gesture had the blonde waitress not screamed at us to leave the second she deemed the party was over, before closing time. Why the hostility? Unbelievable that an abusive person like that would be employed. You have to allow a gracious moment between boozing up your patrons, accepting huge holiday tips, and then kicking them out in the snow to wait for delayed ubers. We called for an uber 1.5 hours before the bar closed and you still screamed profanities at us to encourage us to leave, minutes after serving last call. I've never been so insulted by a waitstaff. We were trying to get home responsibly and were momentarily stuck in the snow, waiting for ubers who were coming from the MSU area. Why punish people for doing the right thing? You guys are not good for...

Worked my arse off all day doing yardwork… Wanted a couple of beers and some food… Headed to Watershed with my GF.

Got there around 7:45 pm. Ordered beers and brushetta. Bartender came back about 8 pm and said they were out of flatbread for brushetta, so I changed order to Nacho Grande. Finished my beer after 15 minutes… no food. Ordered a water and asked the bartender at about 25 minutes if the nachos were done. He and the manager were socializing at the bar, he said no (without checking).

At about 35 minutes, after finishing my water, I asked bartender about nachos. I told him I was bailing if I didn’t have food in 2 minutes. He went to kitchen and returned with a cold plate of nacho grande—obviously been sitting long enough that the cheese solidified. Even my GF was aghast. I refused the nachos. He insisted I pay. I refused.

Bottom line: If The Shed wants to cater to the 20-30 yr old crowd (who don’t necessarily value service as much) then GO FOR IT! But out in Haslett, you’re gonna have folks like me who want reasonable SERVICE and QUALITY. Lose me, and all the folks I share this experience with, you’ll be folding up quick or laying off staff!

I won’t be back for awhile. And I’m a paying, tipping customer! Get your schmidt together Shed, because 35 minutes for cold nachos is...