Longboards Olde Towne — Restaurant in Portsmouth

I HIGHLY DOUBT THEY MAKE ANY EFFORT IN SELECTING THEIR EMPLOYEES AS FAR AS BACKGROUND CHECKS AND DRUG SCREENS ARE CONCERNED! On Sept 5 I went out to eat at Longboards and had ANNIE CHERIE IBARRA from Newport News as my waitress. I had some business to do do on my iPad so I brought it into the restaurant with me. I know at one point I went to use the bathroom and left it on the table. Since it wasn't on the table I assumed it was already in my bag, well when I got home and realized I didn't have it with me I freaked unfortunately Longboards had already closed. The next I called and asked if my waitress or any one else had returned the iPad to management and they said no. They seemed busy and not pay too much mind to me on the phone so I personally went back to Longboards and inquired again. I was told by a male manager by the name of JUSTIN WHITE that no one had turned in a iPad and his employees were honest and would have returned it if they did find it, he told me to leave my name and number behind. I was really upset as I do most of my school work on there and hadn't backed up my pictures and school work. My iPad has cellular data so I tried to use the "find my iPad" app to locate it but it seemed to have died, so I set it one "Lost Mode" which locks your iPad screen with a message and my phone # so whoever finds it can call to return it. Well 3 weeks went by and finally I saw that it was turned on! The GPS located it on the 200 block of Exeter Dr, Newport News. So I drove all the way from Virginia Beach to Newport News and asked NNPD to assist me in asking the 2 houses closest the iPad GPS location. Anne Cherie Ibarra answered the door and denied having the iPad. NNPD informed me that they didn't have enough information to issue a search warrant. I continued to trace the iPad since this woman hid it in her vehicle I was able to GPS locate back to Longboards when she went into work, I immediately followed the GPS and again saw the same car that I had seen in her driveway On the 200 block of Exeter Dr Newport News. I went into Longboards and asked one last time giving her one last chance to give me the iPad back but even one of her fellow employees was attempting to cover for her whose name I believe is Jessica (wears a ridiculous bright red lipstick, heavier set girl). She said she wasn't in yet and didn't know whose car it was. I was able to make the iPad sound an alarm remotely from my iPhone and by this time had gotten the police involved. They issued a warrant to search her car due to all the evidence and the fact that you could hear my iPad making a pinging noise. Sad part is it wasn't until the tow truck came to take her car that she came out of hiding saying "Yes I have her iPad but I was trying to give it back to her." She immediately got arrested for "Grand Larceny" and "Destruction of Property" since she cracked after removing it from the case and trying to hide it underneath a pile of trash and clothes in her car! Couldn't believe this woman! Good job Portsmouth PD. I have seen other reviews of things going missing from this restaurant. I suggest they begin to do...

I wouldn’t recommend this establishment to anyone. I’ve never experienced such bad customer service in ALL of my years! My Bartender (Victoria) was extremely rude with no care In the world!!! You would’ve thought this dysfunctional individual was carrying the world on top of her shoulders... My goodness she never smiled once. Our presence was never acknowledged! While trying to ask questions we were treated as if we were bothering her.... We ordered a drink while patiently waiting for the food to come out ... 2 mins later.. She placed the tab on the counter stating in a harsh tone “You need to pay”!!! I then placed our method of payment on the counter ... She gathered the payment/receipt while rolling her eyes with a look of disgust...She brought the receipt back placing it in the water spilled on the counter smh... I overlooked the attitude that I was given signed the receipt leaving her with a tip of what she deserved nothing “0.00”!!! We then tried ordering another drink she yelled “ I’m done serving you” while walking away as we were inquiring about the issue at hand. The couple sitting next to us overheard the bartender, then stated to us that’s not right !!! We asked to speak with the Manager (Whitey) Surprisingly it was the same gentlemen that we vaguely overheard tell to females sitting across from us at the bar to suck his penis. I then thought to myself good luck with a solution & apology concluding this matter. Sad!!! However the apple didn’t fall to far from the tree.. He didn’t even attempt to listen to the problem .. He stated harshly “no tip no service” and walked away! I couldn’t believe my ears....This matter will be report to the Better Business Bureau... Customer service should ALWAYS be your number one priority.. Let’s not forgot Tips are earned!! They’re not automatic. It is insufficient for a server to simply take an order, bring the food out, then process the check at the end; the server’s job is to provide a pleasant dining experience & the tip earned should reflect how well the server accomplishes this. Meaning keeping glasses full, frequently checking on the needs of your tables while maintaining a pleasant demeanor & yes even when you’re feeling terrible! If you don’t like it, get another job! I’ve never worked as a server, however I’m well aware of what the job entails. The fact is, though, that working as a food server doesn’t require an education, so waiters have no reason to expect as much pay as someone who has invested years of their life and tens of thousands of dollars toward obtaining one. If your pay doesn’t cover your expenses, then it’s time to cancel the cable TV and cell phone plans! To the owner’s of this establishment —Never forget “Your BRAND is the MOST valuable thing YOU own...” The staff that you have in place is a reflection of you & your business!!!! Good...

Dining Experience

Date of Visit: 2024 March 26 Time of Visit: 11:00 AM Location: Loongboards Olde Towne Order Details: Two Avocado Burgers, $25 each

Description of Incident:

During my recent visit to your establishment, I encountered a significant issue with my order of two avocado burgers. Despite being the first customer of the day and the restaurant being nearly empty, both burgers were served with spoiled avocado.

First Burger Experience: Upon receiving my order, I noticed the avocado appeared dark and stringy. Giving the benefit of the doubt, I attempted to eat the burger after removing the visibly spoiled parts. Unfortunately, the taste was overwhelmingly bitter, akin to a chemical flavor, prompting me to remove all avocado from the burger.

Second Burger Inspection: Before deciding to save the second burger for later, I inspected it only to find the avocado in a worse state than the first, with an odor so foul it induced a physical gag reflex and left me in tears from the effort to not vomit.

Immediate Actions Taken:

I informed the serving staff of the issue, highlighting the state of the avocado.The staff offered to remake the meal or provide a complimentary burger on a future visit. Due to my travel schedule, I was unable to accept this offer.

Concerns:

Quality Control: The presence of spoiled avocados in not just one, but two meals at the beginning of the day raises serious concerns about ingredient quality checks prior to service.

Staff Training: This incident suggests a potential need for improved training regarding the inspection of ingredients and recognition of spoilage.

Customer Experience: Serving spoiled food, especially at a premium price, significantly impacts the dining experience and trust in your establishment.

Outcome Sought:

I am not seeking compensation. My intent in providing this feedback is to highlight a critical oversight in your food preparation process. I hope this report prompts an internal review and necessary adjustments to ensure no other customer experiences a similar situation. Quality control, especially with ingredients like avocados that can easily spoil and impact the flavor of a dish dramatically, should be paramount.

Closing Thoughts:

I chose your restaurant for a unique dining experience, and it's disappointing to encounter such a significant issue. I believe in the value of constructive feedback and hope this report assists in improving your service and food quality for future patrons.

After considerable efforts the first burger was salvaged and consumed. With the avocado completely removed, the first burger was both juicy and filling. While I ate the first, the rotting avocado permeated the second burger and it became unsalvageable; an unfair and cruel fate for what could have been a good burger.

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