Smokin' Burgers & Lounge - Palm Springs, CA — Restaurant in Palm Springs

I went on a Friday eve. As I enterd the doorway, a blast of music greeted me. While the singer wase't bad, he was just god awful loud, ex/specially when the place was about 1/3'd full. I went to the and too a seat, the high tables were kinda dark and I had a paper I wanted to read. I was by myself, so the bar it was. I took a seat, the bartender; who by the way is the center fellow in the intro page of this site, came over too my drink order. Then a woman sat down 2 seats down from me, kinda a Palm Springs type, older, no male companion now and a bit too much sun and makeup. She was talking now to the bartender about a drin and I thought I heard about the space at the bar. I joked to her saying I would be glad to move for a free drink. She turned to me and said I would never buy a man a drink. Aw, so much for a joke. I ordered my hamburger and waited and look through my paper and sipped my drink. The music was still blasting, the 9 or 10 TV's were all on in silence on various sports stations. I looked around and watch the other customers and no one, no one was watching the TV's. So much for sports bars on quiet Fridays. The one TV in front of me, the show ended and the programed changed to one of Scot McFarland's cartoon adult shows. No sound but sometimes you can watch the action and figure the base out. I'm eating my burger when a woman walks in, a bit tired in the tooth, but dressed for a night on the town, but by herself. She then sits next to me, evidently she and the woman who won't buy a man a drink are friends, She plops her purse down on the bar and gently shoves my burger to one side with her purse, I turn and cough, she then pulls her purse back through the purse design had these long pink strips of leather embellished with rhinestones. Really kind of cheap but hse appeared to like it and was dressed kinda like the purse. Well, then the bartender walks over to the TV, I'm watching and flips the station to another silent sports game. I asked him then, can't he leave it on the other station. He turns around and says, "this is a sports bar". Fortunately I heard him over the wailing of the lone musician. And thought, screw you. No one in the place is watching any of the TV's. I got mad. At this point my burger was finished and I asked for the bill, the bartender sorta throws it down. I gave him my CC and paid the bill. I am by this time fed up with the huntresses next to me, the bartender with his "this is a sports bar mentality. I leave,, get into my car start to back out of the parking space, when the bartender raps on my window, holding my CC. I take the card and don't thank him, but said something entirely rude and out of place. I apologize to him for that. I will not be back at Smokin Burgers again, through I live 2 blocks away. `They somewhat have an attitude if your a single male, they would prefer you go...

Dear Pete and The Smokin’ Burger’s Staff,

I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt appreciation to you, for your kindness, generosity, great food, exceptional customer service and an overall excellent experience at your restaurant.

It is very easy to complain about someone’s work and equally difficult to appreciate her/his work or give a compliment for the efforts. As a former Dir. of Operations in the service industry, I know, it is very crucial for an owner, employee or for any individual for that matter to get compliments on good work done or sincere efforts put in. It works as a great motivator that helps enhance productivity and raises the morale of an individual and the company as a whole.

On March 1, 2013 at around 9:00 pm; I had just finished watching my thirteen year old son’s, Robert, scrimmage baseball game, and afterwards; he wanted a burger. He asked for McDonald’s, and I proposed that we go somewhere much better and get a real burger!

As I walked inside Smokin Burger’s, I was greeted by a man (whom I would later learn is the owner of the restaurant) who was engaging with guests, as the music played. Prepared to order two mouth watering burgers with fries; unfortunately, it was little late and the kitchen was no longer serving hot food. Without hesitation, I received the most genuine apology and was invited to come back the next day, for a fully comped lunch with my son for the inconvenience.

In addition to telling this story to everyone I know, I am humbled by your act of kindness, generosity, and great business sense. We live in a world where you have to pay $0.40 cents for a second package of bbq sauce for your twenty piece chicken nuggets.....a world where people no longer greet you when you walk into a place of business, or say thank you to consistent patrons of local establishments, so to you, I say, “Thank You!” Between work, drop off at this practice, pick up at that practice, out of town games and school, it gets hard sometimes to find a moment where you can relax, take a moment to enjoy each other and NOT be in rush. Thank you, for being a prime example of a business owner, and thank you for allowing me to enjoy a beautiful lunch with my son’s.

Great Food, Great Service, Great Atmosphere,...

"Not A Clue" — Have been here before & this time {2-18-22) was beyond awful. Having made our 3-ple order 45mins past & never hearing from our waiter, with all others around us having ordered & finished, I went to find our waiter (not to be found). Asked for a manager...the bartendress asked what I needed. I relayed the 45mins of nothing & the manager (who was right next to her) THEN spoke-up. He said the "computer dropped our order". I said, "I understand things happen; the problem is, that no one came in 45mins to communicate Anything to us. That should have happened." To which he said, "Well, no one's perfect." NO CLUE OF THE ISSUE — 'COMMUNICATE'. Then 10mins later our food arrived via the bartendress who said, "Is everything fine now?" To which I said, no one here seems to understand the problem was the Lack of Communication. No response. After we finished eating, magically, the waiter re-appeared to give us the bill. I repeated the ISSUE, he said nothing and walked away. Of course we were afraid to ask for drink refills with additional shots of snot. Horrible Snotty - NOT A CLUE - Service!

ADDED After the below Response suggesting I contact management: "I tried via the Contact Info supplied on SmokinHambers.com website and the email bounces-back as blocked - hence a REVIEW was the only way to get the CLUE THROUGH."

AGAIN ADDED AFTER...I managed to contact the Managent - weeks later, no response / follow-up....