Claret Wine Bar — Restaurant in New York

Editing My Review In Response To The Owners Response:

As expected the owner is sorry for my experience, but not sorry that it was ONLY their direct actions that contributed to the poor experience. I'd be willing to back up my personal account with a police report if necessary. I'm sorry that you misheard a personal conversation outside, and I'm also sorry that you decided to do what you did. Feel free to give me a personal call fully apologizing for confronting me verbally (wrongly, I was bragging about your service outside), and putting your hand on my SO, and I'd be happy to discuss removing this review about my poor experience.

Unfortunately, I just had a very poor experience at this establishment. Was here as a part of a group for a party and had an otherwise excellent time throughout the night.

I went out front toward the end of the party and was joking and having a good time with other party members, and had positive things to say about the establishment. The party was ending, and I made a joke regarding how even though the party was ending, it was highly unlikely that they would kick a large party out of their establishment, especially with everyone drinking and having a good time. I mentioned that doing something like that would result in poor reviews, which I couldn't possible imagine.

During this time, the owner of the establishment overheard my personal conversation and sadly misheard or misinterpreted my personal conversation.

The owner personally confronted me and asked me to come to the front of the restaurant. Here, she confronted me and told me that her husband, the other owner, heard what I said and wanted to know what the issue with their service was. I was obviously confused, as this was highly unusual. My girlfriend started to interject and the owner turned to her and touched her, and told her "I'm not talking to you." from there I walked away from the situation.

It's highly likely that the owner may disagree with my account of events, so I FULLY CONSENT to the sharing of any and all surveillance or security footage that the owner may think would refute my description of events.

My partner and I left the establishment disappointed in this very uniquely...

Editing my review to respond to owner comment:

You did not ask me anything simply. You were aggressive and rude from the beginning yelling for us to get up after we had already sat down and go wait on a nonexistent line. But we did what you asked nicely - we got up, we went to the area where a line would have been - only for the waitress to tell us we can go sit down where we had just sat! It was ridiculous, rude and a power trip for you to make us get up just for us to be sat down 30 seconds later in the same exact chairs! I gave you the benefit of the doubt since we had been there before and went to sit even though you were being very rude from the beginning.

As we approached the bar the second time, you did not ask me to step outside and wait for a table because you saw a dog on my chest, you said “you need to leave now, can’t have a dog in here “- I then approached the bar and responded - it’s a service animal - in a light voice so that it wouldn’t be announced to the entire bar that someone in our party has a disability that requires a service animal. You then yelled while announcing this now to the entire bar - SERVICE ANIMALS NEED TO BE ON THE FLOOR AND YOU CANT PET THEM! - I again approached the bar and said lightly - I don’t think that’s true. You proceeded to yell and repeat the same thing and tell us that we needed to leave while getting unnecessarily angry! You

I hope you spent some time that night doing some research and realizing how wrong and ignorant you were. According to the ADA - Service animals DO NOT need to be on the floor - nor is it your place to tell a handler where to put a service animal and whether they can or can’t pet them! You can only ask if it’s a service animal and what task they perform - maybe then you would have understood why it can’t be on the floor.

I was in utter shock at your rude and aggressive tone. Never in my life - had I experienced something like this at any service establishment. It was completely appalling and no place should exist where an owner can treat a patron that way. Anyone who goes to your establishment supports this...

Adding to my review in response:

You are blatantly lying and you know it. I hope someone has the time to review the cameras and see how you treated my friend for no reason. At no point did he ever ask if it was a service animal - let alone to ask about what task it performs. You were rude from the beginning. My friend was speaking in a light tone after you yelled at us and all he said was that he didn’t think you were right - you just didn’t like that he said you were wrong about service animals having to be on the floor. You also made the scene and let everyone know someone in our party had a disability - DISGUSTING! Also - you are still denying it! Read the law! You can’t tell a handler where their dog has to be and whether they can pet them or not. Second review in another name? How not to respond to patron complaints 101. lol

Absolutely stunned at how one of the owners treated my patron friend and his service animal while creating an embarrassing scene. Never experienced anything like this! Really needs to do his research before he has legal issues for discrimination. Lied and said service animals need to be on the floor - NOT TRUE AT ALL - as it depends on the service they provide. Some need to be able to smell the owner’s breath or be near their chest for diabetes/seizures, etc. Whatever position they need to be in to perform their service! Also said that he can’t pet his own service animal! Where do they get this nonsense! Other people may not pet a service animal - but the handler can!

You can only ask two questions: is it a service animal? What task has the dog been trained to perform?

That’s it!! Nothing about petting or putting the animal on the floor.

Unbelievable how the owner treated us - did not even ask us to wait for a table outside - just told us we need to leave while...