Toni & Joe's Patio — Restaurant in New Smyrna Beach

Terrible Management and customer service!!

The day of my friends' wedding, I went over to talk to the manager of Toni and Joe's Patio and the band playing that night to see if it was possible to get a 10-15-minute window where the band could take a break so the bride and groom could say their vows to each other. When we did the rehearsal the night before we noticed the band's music was drowning us out and thought it wouldn't be too much problem to ask for such a request since I'm sure they deal with weddings next door often. Well, I was wrong. I started with the band and they immediately interrupted me while I was talking and said I need to talk to the manager. After I found the manager, I started to tell him the situation of what happened the night before and we were hoping it wouldn't be too much of a problem. He was immediately annoyed with me, started talking in an extremely rude manner and told me I was disrespectful for coming over 4 hours before the wedding to ask such a request. He told me if I came over the night before or a week before that would be appropriate. I guess thinking talking to the band 2 hours before they started their set wasn't efficient enough time to find a way to stop for 10 minutes while the vows were exchanged.

Wait it gets worse....

Completely defeated I apologized to the manager for disrespecting him and walked back to the venue to explain to the groom what had happened and it didn't seem like they were going to comply with our request. No big deal, I understand, we will manage. Right before the ceremony was about to begin we thought we would try one more time to ask and sent over the wedding coordinator to ask again. At that time the manager threatened to call the police for harassment if anyone from the wedding stepped foot on their property. Completely dumbfounded, we brushed it off and went on with the ceremony. As soon as the wedding party walked down to the beach and the bride made it to the archway to begin the ceremony, the band for Toni and Joe's started a heavy metal cover from Nine Inch Nails. For Toni and Joe's Patio being an outdoor relaxed type of atmosphere, this song seemed out of place and almost chosen for a reason, or a statement if you will. The band played the same verse from the song over and over again until the ceremony was over, making sure the loud obnoxious song was playing the entire duration of the ceremony. I was in the wedding party and was 10 feet from the groom and bride and I could not hear a word either of them said.

Never in my life had I been treated so poorly and saw an establishment vindictively try and ruin a wedding ceremony with loud abrasive music. Shame on you Toni and Joe for leaving a manger like this guy in charge who represents your name and establishment. Shame on you for your response to a few of our complaints trying to push the blame on someone else and not owning your mistake. We noticed that you blocked everyone who left a review on your Facebook page, I'm sorry but that won’t keep up silent, you can keep ignoring the issues you have in your establishment but it’s not going to make anything better. Good luck in future business.

EDIT*

In response to the owner, you completely missed the point of my complaint. The manager was rude to me and treated me poorly for coming over for a simple request. The manager could have easily apologized and told me they would try, but no promises. You know, like how a real professional manager of restaurant is trained to do. Instead, he called me disrespectful for coming over there to ask and then he threatened to call the police on the next time someone made a request. Your staff lacks customer service and compassion. That is the point we are making. In addition, you had the band post a advertisement on Facebook the morning after the wedding about hosting weddings at your venue, that will beat prices of your competitors. Coincidence?...

First off I’d like to say how amazing our waiter was. We got a cheese pizza for our kids (2 and 9) and he was smart thinking and went ahead and put it in the pizza to go box which made everything so easy! You sit wherever you like when you walk in and when we first sat down we sat outside, beautiful view of the ocean. Definitely get that bar and grill feel, but it was a bit chilly this day so eventually we moved inside, when we sat down one of the waitresses who was off the clock immediately have us attention which I thought was sweet considering she was off the clock. The picnic tables out side are huge. We are a family of four and it could probably seat 6 -7 people. They had a great selection of food, I had the Philly hoagie which almost made me tear up because of how beautifully delicious it was. We went on a Saturday afternoon around 5. It was not too busy, seems like a good place for locals to hang out. Their prices were amazing. We spent under $50 for a family of 4, that’s including a alcoholic beverage. Which was also delicious. Some citrus orange drink.. definitely try it out ! They also serve breakfast which we will be back to try! Great place for laid back family beach dinner, or a little sport dinner date with your spouse, or somewhere to have hang out for a while while you sip your drinks and watch the beach goers. Our waiter was great, always attentive and friendly, the food came out fast and hot. It is big portions for the price which I love because your definitely getting your money’s worth. Whatever this place is doing keep it up because you just gained some more...

Your poor management can try to defend the fact that you have live music year round but it is human descency that when asked nicely to stop playing for 10 minutes for a wedding of all things, that you would stop! You made yourselves look like complete jerks. You’re the type of people the world doesn’t need. We were very well aware of the music situation which is why someone came over hours prior to and asked, as well. Please keep trying to defend yourselves as much as possible. You’re making yourself look worse. Good luck with your dilapidated building in its future endeavors. This all could have been avoided with an easy smile and some nice personalities but the service industry has clearly ruined any bit of kindness and professionalism you may have once had. You could have taken the money we offered and put it towards that mold issue. That’s okay though, it will get proper use down the road, where the good folks of NSB know how to properly run a business!

Your poor responses are ridiculous. Music being planned a year in advance has nothing to do with common courtesy. Anyone in their right mind knows that. You are so right about all of this being avoided, on your part. I loved seeing your patrons watch the wedding while your awful band played. I guarantee if you took a poll from the guests at your establishment, that they would have opted to stop the music. As stated, you are what is wrong in the world. We had plans to come give you our business and I am thrilled we went elsewhere. ...