Otter Bar and Burger — Restaurant in Seattle

Edited* Unfortunately the response from Ownership blames me for their failings. My reviews are honest and hope to bring light to missed opps. Now instead of my review the Owners response adds a warning to any potential customer who reads this, or the hundred or so that ask me where to eat in the neighborhood.I was 100% certain the response would be this pleasant! I understand 2 violations of Liquor laws can hurt a business, I don't know if this restaurant has any and I wouldn't assume so. Wouldn't it of been easier to say, "Sorry about that day gives us another try?" ** Owners and Managers need to be called out when they are responsible for terrible service and staffing issues. In 5 years I haven't visited Otter, hadn't heard any bad, or any good. On Sunday I stopped in at around 1pm. 7 customers at bar, a party of 12+, patio party of 15+ when I arrived. On a Sunday afternoon , prime season the restaurant was staffed with 1 (new) bartender, 1 apparently prep cook, and maybe another cook. I sat at the bar awaiting my friend and the bartender was polite and helpful. My friend arrived 10 minutes later, this is when I discovered the Bartender was the only server in the place, at 1pm Sunday in season for lake. It was 15 minutes before she got free from 40 current customers she had. I felt terrible for her , she asked what drink my friend wanted, took the drink order and said" okay I'll be right back in 10 minutes" This is when I knew she was unfortunately slammed busy, with zero help Zero I mean! No matter what as an owner/ manager the fault lies with them. Unfortunately it's the servers and staff that suffer the consequences of the failings, sure the owners , managers suffer, but it's their fault, that's why I reviewed this place without ever eating here, I did not have any desire to give my money to establishment that is poorly run. Worst is as a person with 20+ years in hospitality, food and beverage I would of been happy to help clear tables etc, at least guests would of seen a partially functioning location. The location also is not well designed but now with the road construction you have to double your effort to let customers know where the restaurant is and how to get in. I also talked to a few guests on the way out some friends that were coming by that I know from the neighborhood after a long ways to live in here and They did explain to me that that's a common issue is staffing and possibly some legal concerns with some underage drinkers maybe recently. You can probably look that up on that liquor control board if you have any interest in that. I have not. But I do wish local businesses well and give them a second chance. So hopefully this isn't the norm for...

This is the absolute worst of Seattle dining. Not only do they want $21+ for a sandwich and fries, but they charge $5.50 for a fountain Coke and then $5.50 for a refill. Adding insult to injury, is that they don't tell you before hand and when asked they will not reverse the charge even after apologizing. So a burger, tater tots, and coke costs $32 before tip ($11.00 just for soda that literally costs pennies). I know prices are increasing in Seattl but the Mexican place across the street, the two Thai places down the street, and the other diner all have 20% lower prices and do not play games like this. Needless to say, I will not return and will encourage anyone who lives in Eastlake to simply ignore them. Very bad business practices and price gouging.

Update: Server confirmed direct to my face that the cokes were 5.50 per as my bill was $21 for the sandwich and $11 for cokes = $32. Even considering tax this is just crazy. The server admitted he should have told me and did nothing to reverse it. Owner doesn’t even acknowledge that the team has the responsibility to inform patrons of these charges when most in the city do not charge for refills or inform their customers when they do. This is not even on the menu, go look for yourself. Sirloin is hardly worth $21 and its not like I choose the meat; its the standard on the menu. Not an upgrade like the owner implies. Look at the other prices, just as bad as the steak dip. Hamburgers and sandwiches are $19 - $21. A chicken wrap is $19. Is that organic grass fed chicken? Maybe a from scratch tortilla? I gave an honest review based on what I was told, paid for, and the gaps in their server. I was OK with 21 for a sandwich. I was not OK not being informed on additional charges. Even $6 for a coke is bad. Please name another restaurant in this area charging that price for soda that isnt a bottled mexican coke. Owner can complain as they want but my business will go elsewhere along with my...

This place has no sense of traffic. Instead, they apologize to customer after customer for the customers' confusion instead of leveraging feedback for improvement.

Once you enter, you are greeted with a sign reading 21+ at bar and counter, seat yourself. Once you find a kid-friendly table, somebody brings a kids menu and then disappears forever. 20 minutes later and now running late, you make a hungry dash for Kidd Valley.

I see others have experienced similar confusion over the way this place operates. Hmmmm... maybe consider putting up helpful signage instead of waiting on hungry customers to watch others walk in and order ahead of them at an unmarked counter. Perhaps a giant finger pointing towards the counter reading "Order Here".

But, but... why hand out kids menus to guests at their tables as though there is more table service to come? Why put menus on the tables in the first place when customers are expected to place their orders elsewhere? Bad traffic.

This is just how they do it. I get that now.

There are missed opportunities when expecting customers to figure it out for themselves (possibly feeling dumb in the process) is more important than growing your business by making improvements based on customer feedback. It's a burger joint, not an escape room. Put a sign up for the love of all things juicy and flame broiled.

Oh, wait. There is a sign! They installed one of those bars that kids play on in playgrounds in their restaurant. Next to it is a sign reading something along the lines of "This bar is not for playing on".

I haven't felt this unwelcome at a restaurant...