The Alley Room — Restaurant in Port Huron

I don't like leaving a bad review. To anyone. I come from restaurant/business background so I know how hard it is for all those involved in this industry and I respect it. But I also have an expectation of excellence because I'm passionate about it having done it. I feel like a place has to really try for me to do write something like this but dang this really sucked. So many things went wrong. I came in for a quick dinner at 5:15. There was one table with a party of 8 in the place. There was someone at the end of the bar on a computer. I couldn't tell if they were the owner or customer but they helped me answer where I can sit and the bartender then came and was very nice and engaging. I ordered a wagyu slider and tater tots. I waited about 25 minutes and said I needed to get going soon and asked how much longer and that I didn't know it would take this long. She went and checked and brought it out. It was a regular looking slider with a slice of Kraft Singles cheese unmelted on it and the tater tot was like a greasy waffle. Neither of them tasted good. So fine, I don't feel like making a big deal. I'll just pay and leave. When I hand her the card she says they don't take cards - only cash. She tells me it's on the menu and outside. I didn't even think that was something I needed to pay attention to. What bar today doesn't take cards? My company gives me a card for meals and now I can't use it so fine, ok I'll just pay with my own funds. Now I just want to leave so I go to the ATM in the back. I agree to the ATM fee and it took a looong time to process and another guy who was now helping behind the bar said to let him know if it's not working - that the first person who uses it at night doesn't work well for them. Then the ATM said THANK YOU but never dispensed funds. WHAT! The guy comes over and opens the back and does something but now I'm pretty upset. I said that I would pay for the meal out of principle but that it was terrible and now I'm stuck in front of this ATM doing this and he could tell I was upset. He didn't say anything but then I could see and hear him, the guy at the end of the bar and the bartender talking about my burger. So I waited for the ATM to finish again and I walked to get my check at my table and he just said "did it work" and I said yes. I gave the bartender my money, she brought me change and that was it. I tipped her $3 on a $9 (and change) meal because it wasn't her fault. She was very nice. She apologized in general but nothing from anyone else about it. Someone there had to have some sort of authority to just say something. If there would have been at least an attempt to have the conversation or engage with me I wouldn't have written this freaking review. I would have just written it off and walked out but dang this sucked. And I get it. It was 5:15pm right as the kitchen opened at 5. I know they got an 8-top right away but it was a slider and tater tots. Again just a conversation would do. Instead I just left pissed. I left and drove over to Moe's and had the freaking...

Unacceptable service. This is the second time I've been here and have felt unwelcomed both times. The first time I was immediately intimidated upon walking in when the entire bar was looking at me including the bar and the bartender and was silenced. Very awkward and didn't feel welcomed so we turned around and walked out. Second time upon entering my friends and I bought a drink and a shot (there was 3 of us) and asked for a to-go food order and said I couldn't because of policies....Took 15+ minutes for our drink and said I could put in an order as long as I put in for it as in-house and took a bite because the manager was at the bar watching...I put in an order but again, the server gave me a cold shoulder and almost looked angered that I was asking as such. As someone in the service industry that is super unprofessional and almost feel bad for new patrons visiting. I decided to cancel my to-go/in-house order. Took us 20+ mins. To get our CHECK for 3 drinks and 3 shots. I will never come back. The place is beautiful but the service is below...

The owner is a complete jerk. We wanted to place a food order right away as we were hungry, he stated if we didn’t order a drink then we couldn’t sit at the bar! He is lucky we didn’t walk out at that point! If it wasn’t for Chantel the server we would have left! I feel sorry she has to work for a person like this. Our food was the worst - the skillet burgers were raw and my husband asked for mustard for his bologna slider and was told the owner would give him ketchup only! This is one bar we DO NOT recommend! I should have really paid attention to the reviews. We felt like he only likes his regulars and those are the ones that will post good reviews. We were not drunk and very respectful to Chantel and did not deserve the treatment he gave us or our friends! Ps has the health inspector been there lately? He should check them out, raw hamburgers could...