Lockspot Cafe — Restaurant in Seattle

I have received a lengthy response from the owner that is full of the same accusations cast by his employees. Perhaps he needs to go back and look/listen closer to those cameras. We were treated very poorly, and his response is insulting. His staff should be better trained (can't cancel or change an order?) My dog is a service animal and is trained to sit on my lap, or she wouldn't be able to do her job, which she is very good at; most of the time people don't realize she is there. Note to owner: Please read the ADA requirements on service animals; you could end up in court. It's pointless to quibble about the owner's accusations; I don't have time or inclination. I didn't realize ownership had recently changed until I read other reviews here and elsewhere.

A few days ago, I had the unique experience of being 86'ed from the Lockspot Café, a restaurant my family has patronized for many years. Two septuagenarian grandmothers, we ordered a fish fillet and fries with a cold drink on a very hot day after a stroll around the locks. After we put our order in at the porch window, we were told the only available seating was "alongside the bustling parking lot" (their website words) exposed to the full sun. We asked if we could change our order to go inside the restaurant and we were told no, we couldn't because the employee did not know how to cancel our order. We rounded the corner with our food to sit in the outdoor covered seating area that adjoins the restaurant. There were several empty tables, only one 4-top occupied. Before we could get comfortable, an employee came out, I believe his name was Declan, and started YELLING at us that we could not sit there; that was seating for the restaurant people only. We said that it was too hot for us to sit out front in the exposed sun, and that we would eat quickly. He noticed my dog and said we could not have the dog there, even though it was an outdoor space, and my dog is a service animal, which I had explained. He became very flustered and said we needed to leave immediately. With one fish fillet and some French fries, plus some ice-cold cokes, we informed him we would eat quickly and leave. We were nearly finished when another man came out, trailed by a young girl, and we thought he was going to apologize for the behavior of Declan, who stood alongside. Instead he started shouting at us, louder and spitting with each word. He told us we were no longer welcome at the Lockspot, to never come back again. He was visibly shaking, and his face grew red. We listened, in shock. My friend let them know she was from New York and had never been treated so poorly in her life and was startled by this kind of treatment in Seattle. We let them know we were leaving momentarily; other than that, we said nothing. What was there to say? As world travelers, we are still baffled by the whole episode. It felt like ageism, but really, we weren't sure why we were treated so horribly. We apologized to the people at the 4-top and they responded that the Lockspot staff's actions were extreme, unnecessary, shocking, and abusive. Frankly, the food wasn't that great. The fish fillet had no flavor. I had praised this restaurant to my friend and wanted to share with her one of my favorite places. I've patronized this restaurant for decades. Needless to say, I will cooperate with the Lockspot employees and...

I hope the owner reads this because I had a horrible experience with one of your waiters. To preface, I've been a customer multiple times over the past couple years and always come back for the fish and chips or clam chowder (they're fantastic!). This evening over the course of a two-hour dinner, I had a soda and three refills. After the last refill, the waiter working the bar said he would be charging me for two sodas. When I protested because the menu says nothing about a refill limit (which I literally pointed to the menu to demonstrate), the waiter replied, "Where does it say free refills?" He then added, "This isn't Red Robin. You can't just sit there and guzzle soda all night." Direct quote.

I've never been so angry in a restaurant. I'm not upset over paying $3 extra. I'm upset that it's not in the menu and that your employee has the audacity to treat someone in that manner. If you charge for soda refills, that's perfectly reasonable! PUT IT IN THE MENU. In most restaurants in the United States, culture generally dictates that soda refills are free unless stated otherwise. In the alternative to reprinting your menus, you could ensure your customers are aware of this nuance before charging them. If Mr. Inconsiderate would've opened his smart mouth to this fact, I probably would've shrugged and requested a water refill instead.

Second, to talk down to a customer about sitting there and guzzling soda is absolutely uncalled for. I do, however, find his comments to align with his dismal work ethic because my table repeatedly tried to flag him down due to his inattentiveness.

I was joined in my dinner by a friend from Oklahoma whom I haven't seen in over a year. We came to your restaurant at my recommendation. I wholeheartedly regret that decision based solely off the actions of your employee. My friend is also a more generous man than me because I was inclined to leave a single penny as gratuity.

I know Seattle isn't in the Midwest or South, but it can't hurt business by incorporating a little southern hospitality into your establishment. Notwithstanding my experience with the front of the house, please give my genuine warm regards to your folks in the kitchen. The food was great as usual, and my one star is not reflective of their efforts.

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I cannot say enough good things about this place. For one thing it is black female owned , which is already rad, and by far not even the coolest thing about it. For another, it’s over 100 years old, which makes it probably the most legit hipster pub restaurant around. It feels simultaneously like the Awesomenest dive bar and the kind of restaurant you might have gone with your grandma for lunch when you were a kid.

It also has amazing old school Seattle sailor fisherman vibes ,and looks like a Wes Anderson set inside. And the food, my god the food is actually good! The fish and chips are perfectly Amber , flaky and amazing , the French fries fatty crisp and delicious, the clam chower is wonderful and bringe and rich and actually has favor and the salmon chowder is zesty and spicy and umami and just slap your mamma good. The bacon blue burger with and little salt was the first one that made my husband smile in a while, perfect balance of smoky and ooey guey bluey barnyard goodness. And the margarita was as good as or even better then at nacho borracho! (Sorry guys.) steamer clams were also delicious after a healthy salting, but the garlic and wine flavor was there , and the calamari was very strange and more like clam strips but still well seasoned.

Also our beautiful Blue Haired server Lani was wonderful , charming , hillarious and coquettishly charming, was great with our kid, and we just had the best time. Bring your friends, your kids and your grandma. ( but maybe not all together) they will all live it. 5 stars. (Also ps sorry some of my photos are half eaten and thus ugly. We demolished it all immediately . It...