Wence's — Restaurant in Pleasant Hill

This very popular place has a problem, the very rude and bigoted manager 'Sandy'.  It is obvious she is a family member of the owner; no employee would behave so brazenly rude, confrontational, and belligerent.  This outfit probably can get away with really poor service, so-so food and inflated higher than SF pricing because it's the only game in town. Still, poor service is poor service.  The woman was so hostile and miserly when we asked about Crostini that usually comes with seafood broth dishes like Cioppino or Bouillabaisse.  The waitress had assured us that my dish comes with Crostini.  When it was missing and we inquired about it, Sandy showed up, like a prison guard in demeanor and tone.  In an angry accusatory retort she said we should have read the menu more carefully, that Crostini or any kind of bread was not mentioned on the menu.  If we really wanted Crostini, we'll have to order it for $2.  This is a $32 dish and she is arguing about a piece of Crostini!!  After much insulting harangue, she gave us the cold bread and butter, something many restaurants would automatically bring to you before your orders arrive.  My friend was dumbfounded and felt really bad for bringing me there for my birthday.  I have been to many well known seafood restaurants in SF, Oakland, and Sausalito over the years and have never experienced such a demeaning and rude manager.  We noticed she was all chummy with some other customers.  Perhaps she has a thing against seniors, which we both are.  Or, perhaps she is a begot against non-white which one of us is, or she just does not understand what restaurant business is all about. She did not have to be interviewed for the job. Whatever it is, she should not be working in a restaurant - the 'Hospitality' business.  There is nothing hospitable about her.  The place would not have survived if it were in SF or Oakland, with its over-priced mediocre food and sub-par services.  We skipped dessert and went to Jack's after the meal, the bartender and wait staff there were by comparison, very 'normal', as restaurant staff ought to be.  Wences probably will continue to be very popular where it is, but if one is a non-white senior, is discerning about consistent good services, and excellent food quality appropriately priced, this is not the place. On a side note, we ordered ahi tuna for appetizer, it was a small dish at $20, room temperature, not chilled, and the measly sauce made the dish an overly priced chopped up sashimi, only without any of the fresh cool taste...

The worst restaurant experience of my ENTIRE life. Quite possibly the worst experience with any business owner in my life as well. After my dinner didn't come 25 minutes into my friends and family eating the "owner" of the restaurant came over to blame the entire issue on the new waitress. I told her that's fine if you want to blame her, I just need you to make it right. Many minutes later I got my food, the poor waitress was terrified of her manager obviously. My husband spoke to the "owner" and told her she needs to do something about my meal coming out after everyone had eaten and now toddlers trying to escape the table leaving me to eat dinner by myself. Many more minutes later we received the bill, the only adjustment made was for my meal, not covering my wine, any of the sides of fries. Granted I appreciate they took off my meal the whole experience was ruined for everyone-not to mention that the "owner" took ZERO responsibility for the issue which is customer service 101- don't blame someone else for it, just make it right! I calmly approached the "owner" and said I appreciated she took off my meal but it would be nice if she could take of something else. She was immediately FURIOUS with me "I already took off your meal- it is a VERY expensive meal (it was $18 or 20 for a chicken dish). Where is your husband? I already talked to him." and she takes off for the table to find my husband. He wasn't at the table bc he was outside with our child. She says "well you already sent back a glass of wine so why are you complaining?" I explained that it was my friend who sent back her wine and that it is a pretty typical cost of doing business when you own a restaurant as I have over 6 years of waitressing experience. She turns to my friends husband - the only one left at the table and says VERBATIM "Can you please get her in line?" MY jaw hits the floor and I grabbed my purse and walked out. Eventually she comes outside to tell us she will be calling the police, asks my husband "This is your wife? You let her act this way in public?" After she goes back inside the husbands went in to try to pay but she had decided our money was no good there and that we aren't welcome.

I refer to this woman as the "owner" because I don't think there is ANYWAY a restaurant owner would behave in this manner. Completely unprofessional and beyond rude to ask the men I am with to keep me in line when I was calm the entire...

This establishment totally deserves zero stars for their deplorable business practices. Six weeks before my birthday I chose to rent the Xela Room at Wences for a private event. My husband and I took time off work to sit down with their event coordinator to go over all the details. We were required to pay a non-refundable deposit "to reserve the date for this event and complete the booking." In addition, we had to give them a credit card number and sign a two page contract to reserve the room. Since this was a special milestone birthday I had invitations printed with the event details. With invitations in the mail I started purchasing table decorations to match the venue. Three weeks after signing the contract I get an email and a phone call from the event coordinator telling me that they were cancelling my contract because it was on Mother's Day weekend. The Friday evening before Mother's Day is hardly Mother's Day weekend, and the day was just fine with them when I signed their contract and paid the deposit. I was totally dumbfounded that a restaurant would do such a shoddy thing. With only three weeks before my birthday I had to scramble to find another venue that could accommodate a large party and notify twenty-five guests of the change. So much for the cost of printing and mailing out invitations. They offered no compensation other than to give me my deposit back. I should have known better than to book a large party with Wences, since the last time I had attended a family birthday dinner at Wences, they forgot to serve my dinner. By the time I could flag someone down, point out that I didn't have any dinner, and wait for them to cook it, everyone else had finished their meal. I believe in second chances, and they had their second chance, but they will never get my business again. If you are planning on holding a private event at Wences, think twice about it and make sure you have a back-up venue reserved. A contract and deposit don't mean a thing to this...