Zinc Brasserie — Restaurant in Phoenix

Prior to getting through security to the terminal, you have to deal with TSA agents. I put this in here because I want to preface how I felt at the Brasserie. I had an unusually good experience with the TSA group and complimented them. One told me, "Well, we're America's friendliest airport."

"Wow!", I thought, looking forward to the rest of my experiences waiting for a flight. While waiting, my wife and I decided to explore our dining options and find more comfortable seats to wait in than those at the gate.

We found the Zinc Brasserie and thought, Why not? Here's why not.

From the moment we walked into the place, it seemed we were an inconvenience. The hostess had to take time from standing with her arms crossed, sulking, to see what we might possibly need. When she found out that we actually wanted a table, rather than to sit at the bar, she sullenly huffed and ordered us to, "Follow me." It was so obviously full of attitude that my wife and I exchanged a look and exclaimed loudly, "Wow. Ok then."

She put the menus on the table and basically pointed out where she thought we should go then walked away without any response to our gratitude. Once seated, we decided to look at the menu, not realizing we had just missed breakfast by minutes - my fault. Our waitress came over to take our order, informing me that we had missed breakfast - not a big deal - but starting the process over.

My wife asked for some information about the French Onion Soup. The waitress said, "Like what? It's this big by this big and it's salty. I love it when customers ask about the French Onion soup and then complain about it being salty. French Onion soup is salty." I wasn't aware that we needed a critique about the customers and their audacity in asking questions about the food. She walked away to give us more time to think. That was enough time for us to decide that the prices they ask for their food did not justify the attitude that you had to endure to eat it. In fact, you would have thought that I'd walked into a Michelin starred French restaurant where the featured language (and attitude) was French. Silly me. Airport restaurants that make their money on overcharging traveling customers should probably realize that what they are selling is actually a service, not a product. It's customer service and they missed the mark in a huge way.

As I walked away, I made sure to inform the "hostess" that her table was open again. I didn't stick around to see if she uncrossed her arms and took any action, or just a deep huffing...

Stopped in with 2 hours to spare due to a flight delay. The hostess was really nice and seated us quickly. The server (Kelsie D, according to the receipt) came by and asked if we wanted drinks. We ordered two vodka seltzers. Not difficult, at all. 22 minutes go by. We noticed more people come in, be seated and ordered from the same server and got drinks. We didn't get anything-not even a check-in. The hostess asked us if she could take our menus- we told her we hadn't ordered yet. She looked surprised and said "I'm so sorry". We then watched as our server waited on other customers who came in after us, took their orders and served their drinks. We decided to leave. As we were walking out, the hostess mouthed "sorry" to us and then the server said "Sir, you didn't pay your tab". I responded that we didn't get our order and she replied "I don't have control over the bartenders. You can wait for your drinks or pay the tab." "We've been waiting for over 20 minutes. We'll pay the tab and take it up with AMEX". Then I watched as she put our order in the computer. She didn't bring up our table and the order was there, she entered it in front of me. I paid the tab, did not tip and then she took the receipt, crumpled it up and was about to throw it away when I told her I wanted it. She handed it to me and then stated, as we were leaving, "That's illegal" (referring to our supposed 'dine and dash'). Again, the hostess mouthed "sorry" as we walked out. Can't rate the food but the...

Ordered a soup and a salad and a drink. Drink took 10 minutes. Watched my onion soup set under the heat lamps to be served for 20 minutes after my drink was served. Was served my soup. I ask for my salad to be put into a to go for my flight which when I decided to check what I had at the flight check in. No fork or any utensils. Paid $50 for a soup, salad and a drink have you. Walked backed and asked for the manager. I explained to him the this whole event and also said that what soup I was able to scarf down was actually good. But the service was snail paced and I had no utensils to eat a salad I paid for. He told me to lower my voice while pulling his phone out and said I’ll call the police to the restaurant if you don’t tone down. I told him too; and grab me some utensils while you’re at it. Just because someone is inside TSA and gets bad service doesn’t mean you can’t raise your tone when you haven’t been served well, especially when there was very few in the restaurant. The 5’3” bearded wonder needs a lessen in tolerance when the restaurant is in the wrong and not threaten a passenger in a terminal with police because he is upset that he’ll have to eat a $15 dollar salad with his hands on his...