Tick Tock Diner NY — Restaurant in New York

We visited in May 2023 for lunch and fell in love with the place and the food, so much so that we went back for dinner the following night. Friendly service and food was typical diner food but good. Decided we would return the next time we were in the city. Fast forward to February 2024... The person who "greeted" us at the door was abrupt and seemed in a huge hurry for what seemed like a not full restaurant but whatever. Then the server arrived. Older man with a HUGE attitude! Was clearly annoyed by having to take our order and by my question about what the toast options were! Runner arrived with the food and seemed confused as to which orders he had and kept bringing over and taking back the plates until he figured it out. So weird... Hash browns were tasteless and bland, eggs were ok, toast was barely even warm. We had to ask our server for more coffee, which was like warm dishwater, and it took forever for him to return with it, never stopped back to ask if there was anything we needed or if the food was ok. We never complained or showed any attitude towards him or the food. He brought the bill and made sure we knew that they preferred to get cash tips because it was better for them--one of the few things he actually said us! After such "great" service, we did not do that and actually undertipped based on attitude and service which we rarely do. (We always tip well and are respectful of those waiting on us wherever we go but if you are that rude and ignore your customers, we tip accordlingly!) Then he disappeared with our credit card and we see that he has left it sitting next to the card machine and walked away to do something else! My husband made eye contact and he finally went back and ran it but we will we checking our statement very closely! Definitely our last time at was was the one restaurant we looked forward to...

We walked in on a busy Saturday night at 9:45pm. My group was a party of six but we were taken to a table for four. Server not realizing the other table he meant to combine ours with, still had used coffee cups.

Once seated, water was given but no menus for about ten minutes. Ordered drinks...three out of four were wrong. Ordered iced tea, got iced coffee. Ordered an Oreo milkshake, got chocolate milkshake no Oreos. Ordered an egg cream soda, got a watered down one pump chocolate syrup with seltzer.

Appetizers came out, Mac and Cheese bites were great. Chicken wings were a generous portion and quite "over" fried. One drum was fried to a crisp (super dry)...see photo. We were starving so it was devoured before we could even get plates! (Which the server brought over after the fact).

Entrees - 3 out of 6 were decent, arrived first. Salmon Benedict Florentine but the sauce was too sour and the poached eggs were overcooked. Skimpy salmon portion though. two eggs scrambled with toast and fries. Looked more like one egg. my custom burger, cheddar cheese with fried egg. Fries too.

The other orders were a disaster, in one case, we ordered but it was off the AM menu specials so they didn't offer it anymore. And the one entree, chicken and shrimp over rice, they ran out but either the kitchen didn't tell the waiter or what, we waited 25 minutes before we were told. We eventually all got our food (5 out of 6) and that was the one missing. Then we had to order a new order, something else. Grr!

We asked our server to get the manager -- but he never showed up at our table even after asking for him three times. At least they had the decency to comp all the drinks that were wrong. The server apologized and explained it was only his second...

Made reservations in person for me & 2 friends, one blind, 2 with back problems. I asked & Maria selected the the seats I needed for the next day. There was ample seats in that place. This guy came and kicked us out of there, and sent us all the way to the back, in a corner, by a booth with 2 chairs. I am so ashamed of having told my friends this was a very nice place! It was! Until that tall man pushed us out of the table- I understand there were 12 people - the same long table in the front was totally empty. We HAD reservations! He couldn’t care less! Well, here I am, complaining! He ruined my planned wonderful afternoon! We 3 came from quite 3 quite a ways from there. I came from NJ, one came from almost the end of Brooklyn and someone else had to take a special trip been blind. That man didn’t stop until he forced us out of our seats!! 2 new customers who believed in my words: It’s very nice, I’ve been there many times- but I never thought the service would be so disgustingly rude unprofessional and totally uncaring. I would give, for that horrible afternoon. A minus zero for service poor attitude towards 3 ladies, that very tall man was anything a gentleman is supposed to be. Maria, who made my reservations the afternoon before, and Jose went out of their way to be there for us! Maria brought the blind lady to me and settled her very, very nicely/ thank you, Maria, thank you, Jose a gentleman in every way! Both gave me excellent service both very respectful. Everything was going fine that Sunday afternoon until that animal pushed us out as if we were dirtying the place! You just lost a faithful customer. I’m so embarrassed! Vivian Estrada-Mora West...