East Bay Deli - Oakland Market — Restaurant in Mount Pleasant

Last week I was in Mount Pleasant to purchase an item off of FB Marketplace. After picking up my purchase, I realized I was hungry and as I had a two hour drive home, I decided lunch was in order. I went on line and found East Bay Deli as it was on the way and had decent reviews.

Upon entering, the atmosphere is really nice and the staff seemed friendly. There was a Specials board that had a chicken salad club on it for $10.99 and as I was in a bit of a hurry, I thought a cold sandwich to get in and get out was best.

I ordered my sandwich, along with a large, unsweetened iced tea. The bill came to right around $16. OK, so inflation has raised the prices on everything but when the young lady who took my order turned the register around with a tip menu on it, it immediately soured my experience.

Why do restaurants do this when they do not have actual wait staff? You want me to add 20%, 25% or more to my already expensive lunch for doing your job and simply taking my order? Then they give you that look of distain, like you just spit on them, when you hit the none button. I worked in the resaurant business for 20 years as a younger man and always tip well but as I had to fill my own iced tea, you clearly are not waiting on me, nor have you done anything to earn an additional tip. This problem started 15 or so years ago with tip cups and has only gotten worse, as now many food businesses encourage it.

So after waiting longer than I believe I should have for a cold sandwich, I got back to my vehicle and wanted to eat. The croissant was a little stale and while tasty, the portion of chicken salad was lacking as was the bacon, lettuce and tomato. What could have been a great sandwich was just OK.

As I was finishing eating, I couldn't help but think if it would have been the great sandwich it could have been if I'd just left an unearned tip or if their sandwiches are just OK. Either way, I won't be back and I'm glad I didn't up my $16...

The Salad Bar Situation: I'll start by giving credit to the salad bar itself. Props to management for choosing ideal american salad bar items and keeping the containers tidy. I'm sure we can all agree, it's not a good day when the beet bits fall in the ranch dip.

HOWEVER, the designated employee salad bar server defeats the purpose of salad bar automomy which makes the self-serve salad bar a great experience in the 1st place.

Studies have shown every indivual is hard-wired to a salad-plate-matrix. Everything item has it's place, volume, and proximty perameters that are nearly impossible to communicate to someone within a 1-minute interaction.

My suggestion would be a "Salad Bar Proctor" who watches over the salad bar like a life guard, yet doesn't get invloved unless it's an emergency. Someone's getting double-dip spoon happy, they step in. Someone uses their hands to grab a mandarin slice, they blow their wistle; "that's a warning". Someone sneezes, everybody out of the pool; bring the hazmat crew in and disinfect the whole thing.

Whereas the responsible patrons could still enjoy salad-bar-adult-swim without having to give slight nods when the server says "more cottage cheese?" after the 3rd spoonfull. "Yes, more cottage cheese and it has beef with the ham, so please keep them...

Amendment: We got the refund settled over the phone. So that's good. But I'm still angry this happened at all. And I'm still hungry. So we're clear: 1) Made me wait after over a dozen orders placed after mine. 2) Never gave my food to me. 3) Did not refund my money. Yes, they kept my money and did not give me food.

I wish I could give it less than one star. I'm furious. I work 10 hr days till 3am 6 days a week. I made the mistake of trusting East bay with my lunch and today. I waited for 20min watching one order after another come in and go out before mine. Sheryl waited almost as long as me, except she came in after me and left with her food... Oh, and they didn't keep the money for the order without giving the food like they did me. I'm spitting fire. I forgot I paid with cash because the girl at the counter told me she could refund it back onto my card, no problem. So I thought, 'thats easy, I'll just be hungry, at least I have my money back'... Except I don't. I didn't realize it until I got to work. So... Absolutely the worst service I have EVER experienced, in my life. -Made me wait longer than anyone -Didn't give me my food -Didn't give my money back either, but they made it sound like they did. Well played. I'm coming back tonight...