The Wandering Tortoise — Restaurant in Phoenix

Normally a really fun local spot. Dog friendly, lots of options to choose from beer wise. There’s a really good taco truck out front and the food is amazing! Usually go there to finish up studying and work with my friend (we’re both in medicine). Unfortunately didn’t have the most pleasant interaction on our last visit. We were confronted shortly after sitting down informing us that if we didn’t purchase something we needed to leave since that’s loitering and my friend responded yeah I was going to get up and order something now we were just in mid conversation and the bartender said okay because last time you didn’t. So my friend immediately got up and purchased two drinks. However upon sitting back down, I brought up the comment the bartender had made. And we sat there trying to recall what time she was referencing. We ended up leaving shortly after since we felt a little embarrassed, uncomfortable and not welcomed. Upon leaving I asked the operations manager if there was a sentiment about us being there, and she said that it was brought to her attention that we had brought our own drinks and food (things we had purchased at another business prior to transitioning there and I brought in my lunch bag from the hospital). she said she has a business to run and we can’t just sit there on laptops and not purchase anything. I said I totally understand however we always make a point to purchase something there too for this very reason such as their tea, beer or food from the truck and thus I felt that the comment was unwarranted. Maybe there was only one time out of the handful of times we had gone there in the previous week or two where we didn’t because we left shortly after arriving. But it felt like it was predetermined that she wanted to say something to us and given how often we frequent there, I didn’t think that was the tone we had set. It was just an overall humiliating experience and we felt saddened that they clearly felt...

First review I’ve ever felt I had to write. I’ve always loved coming to wandering tortoise, so much so, that when my friend group recently lost one of our own, I suggested wandering tortoise as the place to gather. We all met on monday night, 4/14, and things on our end were emotional (again we had just lost a best friend). This is where the negative review comes in and why I will never give wandering tortoise my business again. Sheldon, the bar manager, thought he was better than everyone. When my best friends wife was overcome with emotion of seeing friends again, he decided it was imperative that he belittle her and tell her that she’s too emotional to continue drinking and made a point to say that she was done drinking for the night (she had had one beer at this point). When another friend went to the restroom and asked her to hold his beer, Sheldon again thought it was important to step in and belittle her, telling her that he had already cut her off and took the beer. We all were in such a shock that it took everyone a minute or two to even register what he had just done. One of our members said, maybe he just didn’t understand so he went over to Sheldon to explain our current situation; Sheldon could not care less and stuck to his guns. I’m sorry, but a place that has such a heartless person as their manager is not a good place, and it certainly is not a place that deserves ours or anyone else’s business. I’ve been here several times, have always loved coming to this place and always recommended it to friends. But never again, if your staff can’t understand that people are human, then you do not deserve our business or to...

Very disappointing. I ordered drinks, and made my way back to my table. Normally drinks are served at the bar, but I was distracted due to personal business. I was answering an important text on my phone, when a coaster whizzed past my eyes. When I look, the strawberry blonde bartender held up my drinks. I don't know this person at all. It wasn't my intention to be distracted, and I was very kind to her when I went to order my drinks. She had a blonde guest who ordered white wine sitting at the bar and the two of them continue to look at me and made me feel uncomfortable during my time there. I didn't feel comfortable getting a manager's attention, as I was honestly shocked that happened. She also wasn't slammed, she had plenty of time to do dishes and wipe down empty tables, and there were three to four other people working with her. That being said, as somebody who has worked in food and beverage for most of their working life, I would have never thrown a coaster to get a guest's attention. I would have just walked the drinks to...