The New Nature's Grill — Restaurant in New York

I have been a long time customer of this restaurant and have always enjoyed the high quality food and excellent service; however, my experience today was less than mediocre.

Please note that I write this review from the perspective of someone with over 20 years in the restaurant service industry and that I understand the pressures and challenges of waiters.

Today, my dining companion and I came in after the lunch rush. There were only a few tables so by no means was the restaurant busy. We were quickly approached by our waiter who took our order: burger and a chicken salad. Following the placement of our order, our waiter sat down to have his lunch one table from us. I remember the days of waiting tables with approximately 10 minutes to eat before running out to check on my tables.

Needless to say that I am happy to see this change in the industry — BUT what happened after that was inexcusable. I heard the bell from the kitchen alerting the staff to a meal being ready for service and watched a burger pop up in the kitchen expo window. Our waiter was now done with his salad but was sitting and playing on what I believe to be a dating app as I saw him scrolling through pictures on his phone while intermittently taking selfies of himself.

The other waiter on the floor and the take out food girl ignored the burger in the window for over 10 minutes (yes, I tracked the time). Until the other waiter on the floor almost took it for one of his tables and then pushed it back. Then went to our waiter who was looking for a date online and said “you have food in the window.” He jumped up and ran to the computer in the kitchen and within seconds the salad prep chef got a ticket and started making my salad.

About 5 minutes later, my salad was done and now sitting on the salad expo window while the other waiter on the floor and the take out food girl ignored it. I started talking very loud about the time it was taking for the food. Still being ignored by our waiter sitting one table away from us. I shot a nasty look at other waiter on the floor and he looked at the salad window and saw the salad. Grabbed it and went back to the kitchen and grabbed the burger that had been sitting there for at least 20 minutes by now and delivered it to our table. I made a complaint that the burger has been sitting in the window for 10-20 minutes and was told that I was mistaken. I said I watched that burger get placed in the window and have been watching this whole thing unfold. He said I was wrong and then walked away. The burger was luke warm at best and the fries were cold.

Meanwhile, our waiter sitting one table away from us never even looked up at the argument between me and the other waiter on the floor nor did he ever check on us regarding our meals.

We ate and were never spoken to again til I had to ask for the check. Our waiter still on break couldn’t be bothered to say anything to us even after asking for the check.

Now I don’t blame the other waiter on the floor. He was obviously trying to cover for his co-worker. But that was a $30 lunch and I for the very first time in my life stiffed a waiter. I am still feeling bad, but for someone who worked for tips, I worked hard to get a 20% tip and sometimes I only got 10% and I worked hard just to get that. But I worked for the tip regardless. Our waiter didn’t work for anything and his co-worker did the bare minimum.

I’m sorry but you have to work for the tip. You can’t just expect a tip...

So I've been eating at Nature Grill for about 7 years. My lady current lady friend and I really enjoy their food. I left a 5* review when they were at Court st, but I was so annoyed at today's experience in the New location I deleted that review to put this one instead.

My order started simple enough. I called in for a blackbean burger & sweet potato fries, an extra order of sweet potato fries and a protein brownie. I got there and it went sideways. First, my order was given to me in three pieces, instead of all together as usual. I tried to explain to the lady at the counter when she brought the first part of the order, I was dismissed. So when she brought the second part of the order, I just shook my head and took my brownie.

Meanwhile, a waiter on his lunch break watched me intently and quickly signaled to the lady at the counter I had taken something I didn't pay for in Spanish. What annoyed my most was when the woman and the manager corrected him, he looked at me and stayed silent. No one apologized. An easy mixup that was made worse by the lack of ownership of the situation.

To add insult to injury of the poor service, my lady stated the burger was bland, and nowhere near as flavorful as she is used to from Court st. They certainly lost two loyal consumers today as this wasn't worth the trip.

Maybe things will change, but we no longer care...

After coming here for such a long while cause I enjoyed their food, I'm shocked to see how they are now conning their customers including me. This last week I stopped there to get food all of a sudden their rewards machine is down and out which is fine as I expected it would be no issue and maybe they are working on it. But after yesterday, not only was the rewards machine was down but now they DOUBLE CHARGED!!!! me for my meal $15 dollar meal by adding another $15 dollars in tip and I caught wind of it when I went back to my office. Such a shame that you resort desperately to making money by conning people instead of rewarding them for actually buying your food. Sad to say but this is the last time I will ever go back to CON ARTIST restaurant cause they show they have no loyalty towards their customers who bring them the money but to themselves. Lower your prices and maybe you'll make more money instead of conning your loyal customers. Is this how you reward customer loyalty, this is the second time I was conned and it became obvious after that attempt you pulled on me. I called my credit card company to get my money back so if people think they can con me....