Cafe 95 — Restaurant in Ponderay

My family called Cafe 95 and asked them to reserve a 7 top for us, we told them we would be there in 20 minutes. It took us 45 to get to the restaurant. I didn’t expect them to hold the table since we’d taken much longer than we had stated to get there. Two of my kids got there before the rest of us. They ordered. We got there and the waitress asked for our drink orders and completely skipped my brother. Then we order. She said the menu was newly revised so she wasn’t up to date on everything that was on the menu. She was confused by my order of the burrito on the menu. I asked for no meat, add cheese and substitute the chips for slaw. Waitress came back and asked me about the burrito again, and she was mistaken and ran to check on it in the kitchen. She came out again and asked about my order, then said she’d be out with it soon. By that time everyone else had their meals and were finishing up. She brought my burrito out and it looked great, big burrito with avocado and crema on top and they gave me the chips as well, though I hadn’t wanted them. I cut into the burrito. Full of chicken. So I took the plate up to the counter because the waitress ignored me the three times she walked by our table. Asked for them to remake it and put it in a box to go. Another employee came to the table and asked if we wanted to take the chicken burrito as well since they didn’t want to toss it in the trash. I didn’t want it, I don’t eat meat. My dad decided to take it. And she told us that she comped the burrito. It took another 20 minutes and they brought the remade burrito out in a to go box. I opened it up and it was half of the size of the first burrito and no avocado or crema on top. I cut into it to make sure there was no chicken. But I went to the counter and asked why my meal was half the size. The brunette pictured said “what more do you want, I already gave it to you for free” and I said I wanted the meal I ordered. She said “ I already held the table for you for a long time and you’re taking the chicken burrito too” I said she could have the other burrito back and I stated again that all I wanted is what I ordered. She said “ if you want it remade you’ll have to wait, can’t you see were busy?”. At this point I was appalled by her lack of customer service. I said I just wanted the crema and avocado. And she repeated that the kitchen would remake the burrito but that I would have to wait because they had a bunch of tables walk in. I said no thanks and went back to my table. The brunette came over with a container with crema and avocado in it and opened it up and said “here I hope this makes you happy”, i asked for a box for my toddlers meal, not responding or acknowledging her snarkiness and she said “you just can’t make some people happy”. She came back with the box and I told her that I wouldn’t be coming back and she slammed the box down in front of me and said “aren’t you just spreading joy around the world today”. A terrible experience and I won’t be...

I've eaten here multiple times, usually because Hoot Owl closes earlier, and the food is good. The service has never been great. The waiters all seem to be unhappy with their jobs whenever I've been there, but I put up with it. It was never a big enough problem to make me stop going. However, the other day was inexcusable and put me off of this restaurant forever. My mom and I walked into the restaurant at exactly 2:27pm, fully aware they close at 3pm. We had already looked at the menu so we wouldn't hold them up deciding what to order. The second we walked in, it was obvious the waiters were mad we were there. They were giving us dirty looks, making it super uncomfortable. The waitress told us to wait as she went in the back. She was back there for a couple minutes and when she came back out she reluctantly sat us. I mentioned to my mother that she was back there hoping the cooks would tell her to have us leave. (I was right). She sat us and gave us a lunch only menu. We were disappointed because we wanted breakfast and she told us how she went to the back and told the cook "two more people came in" and his response was "fine, but breakfast stuff has already been packed away" only proving my theory that she was hoping she could tell us to leave. We decided to leave not only because there was no breakfast but because the waitress was making it obvious how not welcome we were. On the way out she very loudly said, "GREAT! They left!" How unbelievably rude. Hoot Owl has welcomed us 30min before closing and been so sweet and accommodating.

I've worked in restaurants and NEVER have I experienced the food being put away more than THIRTY minutes before closing and treating customers so horribly when the restaurant is still supposedly open for another half hour. I've sat customers 20min before closing because THAT IS WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE STILL OPEN! I would have understood if we came in 10 or 15min before closing, but to be so rude when you're still open for another half hour is insane. If you don't want any more customers after 2:30, then close at 2:30. The way we were treated was awful and we will...

Updating review from one to four stars. The owners of this business asked my wife and I for a 2nd chance. We gave it to them. They explained to us what happened, offered a sincere apology, and asked for a chance to make things right. We wanted to make sure we were fair so we went back on a Saturday around the same time. What a pleasantly different experience this time! We were seated right away, were able to place our orders in a timely fashion, and were served in a very reasonable amount of time. And the food and drinks are absolutely amazing. Best drinks and sandwiches we have had in a long time. While we were dining we heard a few regulars which is always a good sign. Strawberry lemonade. Amazing. Huckleberry Ice Tea where you could really taste the huckleberries. The smashed sausage sandwich and the California chicken club were prepared expertly, well presented, and full of flavor. And then the owners picked up the bill. I am not sure what changed there but it seems to be all positive. The owners more than made things right and we will definitely be back.

My wife and I went in at about 12:20 for lunch on a Sunday. Not much wait; about 5 minutes to be seated (the place was not crowded but there were a lot of dirty tables). Ordered a drink, the Reuben and Smashed Sausage sandwich, both with fries. Got my beer right away. Left an hour later without having ever received our meals, and after watching a few other parties wait a LONG time for their meals. Maybe the kitchen was in the weeds. Server never let us know ahead of ordering that things were going to take so long. Server never offered anything to us while we waited. Just left us there. And then let us leave hungry with...