Cassandra's on the River — Restaurant in Shreveport

**Review: Cassandra's on the River

First of all, to our City of Shreveport Government, and Booker T. Washington HS - Shreveport , thank you for welcoming the BTW Class of 1984 back home for our 40th Reunion. Many of our classmates returned from as far away as Europe, including professionals such as lawyers, doctors, nurses, business owners, managers, and more. So, it is heartbreaking to have to post this review instead of a recommendation.

To ensure we're on the same factual page, on April 28th, we met with Cassandra's Events Coordinator, Ms. MeToya Scott. We conveyed our desire to have brunch with our class during our reunion weekend. She stated your establishment could only hold reservations for a max of 30 people with dedicated servers. However, other classmates could still come as regular patrons but with no guarantee, they would be seated in the same area. [I felt this was important to state as your response inaccurately claimed we doubled our reservation count, which is not true. Our paid count of 30 was accounted for.] We prepaid $150 on May 7, 2024, at 7:26 pm to secure our tables for an 11:30 am brunch for Sunday June 23, 2024.

Fast forward to June 23, 2024:

Our conversation commenced with you, the owner, trying to explain what occurred during our visit. Those included in the reservation of 30 arrived early, between 11 am and 11:15 am. During our visit to your restaurant:

We only had two servers dedicated to 30 people. One was clearly overwhelmed, as some of our orders were lost or not entered.

Despite being seated first, we received our food last.

Some of our food took two hours to arrive, and others waited even longer. Sporadically, food was brought to our table, most of it incorrect.

An oxtail order was cold, including the meat and rice. This was taken back, microwaved, and returned to my classmate.

A whole fish order was fried on the outside but uncooked and raw inside.

We were eventually told a printer was not functioning, and our server wasn't aware but was doing his best. I gave Jatarri a $25 tip, I pray he received

I sought the manager, who was kind and had the kitchen manager convey the issue and apologize. He stated he would take care of the raw fish and come to the table.

Our server returned to the table, and when I asked where my food was, he seemed bewildered. I asked to see the manager, and he suggested I speak with the owner instead.

You approached our table defensively, not introducing yourself properly. Instead, you said, "I was told somebody needs to see me!" Without going into proper business etiquette, on this one, we simply conveyed our concerns and experiences, including the extended wait and issues with our food. Your response lacked an apology, offering excuses instead.

You then ask, what would we have you to do, I simply said, "You need to "make this right," you immediately got defensive and stated you couldn't comp the whole table, which I had not requested. I simply asked you to address the situation, especially since many of us were still waiting for food after two hours. Your resolution was to offer a 15% discount, equating to $3 off my bill.

I say this with all sincerity: "Shame on you." A light should have gone off that these people came to experience your restaurant, and other classmates came too. You profited well from our 60+ total attendance. However, given how you responded and treated your customers as the owner, I will never return.

You see, Ms. Cassandra, our ReviewS has nothing to do with you being an African American, black or white, red or blue: If service is under par, it must be addressed. If service is awful, it must be addressed. If the food is cold or undercooked IT MUST BE ADDRESSED.

Shreveport-Bossier African American Chamber of Commerce recently shared a quote that resonates with this experience: "Run Your Business With Integrity."

We pray that our conveyed experience will help you see and address areas of process improvements needed.

GOD Bless You sincerely, Marvy...

Incredible new addition to the Red River District! A true jewel! During my recent layover w/ my first week of Aug.'24 crew our hotel shuttle driver mentioned this new restaurant that he had the pleasure to dine in and had nothing but great things to say. With this layover being a regular w/ in the last 2 mthz, I have always found myself going to the same restaurant every overnight. Well, this time, I was ready to try something new. After speaking w/ the driver and getting a few other restraunt recommendations, I decided to look up this new restaurant on Google. I was surprised that only desserts and the dessert menu were the only things displayed on the Google review page. So here is my review w/ the current menu Aug. 2024, as well as the food items I had to try on my first but definitely not last visit. With that said, the restraunt was large, open, clean, and inviting. The service was friendly, welcoming, accommodating, and informative, and my waitress provided excellent service from the moment I walked in till the very moment I walked out. The food here is amazing! Delicious full of great southern homestyle cooking but presented in a more upscale sophisticated way of refined restaurant plating, taste profile, and flavors. Looking over the menu, the food choices here range from smothered porkchops, seafood platters, and even ox tail. The choices for me all sounded so good. I first ordered a cup of the house seafood gumbeaux, then paired it w/ the stuffed mushrooms appetizer (stuffed w/ spinach and cheese). Another appetizer that caught my eye was the crab cake served w/ a romalade sauce. The crab cake appetizer was all real crab meat (rather than breaded filling/ stuffing). Which made it worth the price point. For my entrée again, it was a difficult decision, but I wanted to continue the seafood theme, so I ordered the seafood platter. With the platter, you have a choice of having your fish fried, blackened, or even smothered in fresh made gravy. I chose blackened. The platter comes w/ a side of coleslaw, fresh cut seasoned fries, or even rice and gravy. Definitely recommend stopping by here if you're looking for some delicious food, great friendly service, and nice 90's ol' skool r&b slow jamz n ol' skool soul. They had a lot of my favorite songs n artist playing. A lil' bit of Al Green, some Tyrese, I was jus jamming to the music, eating my food, and getting lost in the moment. Note I splurged a lil' it was pay day and I had to try as many menu items I could during this first visit. I definitely want to try all the menu items and additional sides they have to offer, especially the smothered porkchops, fried chicken, ribeye steak, lamb chops, red beans w/ sausage, chicken or shrimp pasta alfredo, ox tail, shrimp & gritz etc. Yumm... Thank you to the restraunt's working staff, cooks, management, and owners. See you all again soon! Next time, I might have to try that bread pudding my neighbor across from me was...

The food was ok, but the overall experience was far less than favorable and we will not be going back and I do not recommend.

The food wasn't terrible but we've definitely have had better. Most everything came out at room temp. I wavered on my decision and told the waiter to give me some time to look at the menu. He said ok yet showed up with a dish that I only questioned from the menu but didn't order. I didn't trip. I just accepted it although it wasn't what I actually ordered. I sent back the sides that he chose for me and ordered what I wanted and eventually the small pitiful portions came out in 10 minute intervals so I plated them on my own as if I were at a buffet. But I thought they said this was fine dining??? My husband did not receive his order until after myself and guests were done eating and our food was packed to go. Then finally out comes his salad. Then finally his entree. His food looked great, but looks can be very deceiving. He cut up the three shrimp and catfish in his dish to combine with his rice. Bit in and crunched on the uncooked rice. He took a few more bites since we all know that sometimes that can happen with rice, but nope--it was undercooked. No biggie. We send it back, right. No problem. However, at this point he has waited almost an hour to get that so of course we're not waiting there for a replacement dish. He had already ordered a plate to go for the next day (which was brought out way before the meal he intended to eat there) so he'd just eat that later. Well I guess sending it back really pissed the unprofessional owner off because she wagged her tail over to our table, propped her hand on my husbands chair, looked him in his face and accused him of eating all of the meat out of his undercooked entree and sending it back! I could not believe it! Never in our experience of eating out had we encountered such a thing! So you mean to tell me that we have paid a costly deposit for a large group with no complaint. Each of our guests spent, on average, about $40 for their food. And my husband sat there for 45 mins while everyone else was eating only to be served undercooked food and then basically accused of trying to manipulate the situation and ridiculed by you in front of his guests. Seriously Cassandra! We are NEVER coming back! And will not recommend you to anyone that we know. You need to do better as a business owner. I would have never written this review had it not been for YOUR actions. Everything else was subpar but I wouldn't have commented either way but just not returned. But your behavior deserves to be shared and you should be ashamed.

When I reached out to make the owner aware of my review, she responded that I was entitled to write whatever I wanted and all she had to do is say is that it was untrue. She blatantly told me that she would lie! Is this someone that you trust preparing your food and handling your credit card transactions??? Absolutely...