McLean Family Restaurant — Restaurant in Virginia

(GOSSIPED ABOUT PATRONS) Literally just got in car after eating here for the first time. I encourage people to support local businesses and restaurants, which is why I came, being new to the area. The older lady who actually took my order and brought my food was not a part of what I describe below. She gave reasonable service. I had a tuna melt and fries. It was okay, and my food came relatively quickly, but I give only two stars, was tempted to give only one, because it was the first time in my life that I heard restaurant employees gossiping about customers. I imagine it happens sometimes at most places, but the lady (20s or 30s) who showed me to my seat gossiped about a patron to a co-worker as they stood right next to me! This same lady, who seated me, just stared at me when I first walked in, continuing to stare until I asked if it's possible to be seated. This, and especially the shameless gossiping about patrons, made me very uncomfortable and was very inconsiderate. After sitting at the booth for about 5 mins, the lady who seated me asked the older male coworker/manager(?) if a patron eating outside is "the lawyer who talks politics". Coworker/manager(?) went to window, looked, and said "yes". She responded "He's a dumbas". He responded "He's a dckhead". This occurred about 5 mins after I was seated. Maybe they are right, but don't talk like that in the presence of patrons in the middle of the dinning area!

...About 6 mins later the same lady then gossips with an older woman about some other patron, this time without vulgarity. Then a few minutes before I got up to leave, the previous mentioned older male coworker/manager(?) gossiped with some other man about someone else who frequents the restaurant or is possibly an employee there, discribing how he just ignores the guy. Perhaps it was a random fluke that I experienced so much gossip during my first time there, but I suspect it's more likely that this is a common occurrence, to the point that I won't be returning, ever. If you're gonna gossip, at least have the minimal decency to not do so out in the open in the presence of patrons. Very inconsiderate. Made me very uncomfortable. Why would I want to return to a place where if I become a frequent customer I run the risk of being talked bad about in the presence of other customers? What the heck.

I don't want to hurt their business. I want it to improve. They employ people. Perhaps just order delivery / takeout from them, but I wouldn't recommend dinning in or eating outside. Socially distance from them or run the risk of being gossiped about, and no one feels comfortable eating food prepared and served by people who gossip about you....

Food quality is good; nothing to complain about, especially given the very reasonable prices and how quickly it is served, however, all I can say is that on multiple occasions I’ve been made to feel that I’m not as welcome as some of the other patrons. Most recently, last Sunday, when my father and I were being seated, we were taken to a table across from which there was an empty booth. I asked if we could have the booth, and the manager said “no”, that another customer had been waiting for it. As far as I can tell, this was a bald-faced lie; the customers that received the booth were another two-top, who were directly behind us in line, and whom I saw arrive several minutes after us. They were on a first name basis with the manager, and I can only assume this is why they got preferential treatment. Another time when I came on a weekday morning when only a couple other diners where present, I was in sweats after a workout and was sat in a small table in the back of the restaurant, when the other solo diners were sat at large booths in the middle of the restaurant. There have been other subtle incidents, as well, that give me the feeling that their customer service is a tiered experience. I won’t be...

Great staff!!! Great food!!! They really get to know you and make an effort to remember what you like. It has gotten to the point that the staff knows I don't like ice in my drinks. The environment is on the cool side could be warmer. I feel welcome every time I come in. I don't feel like just a customer who's going to eat, pay and then leave. I feel like a welcomed guest. They are great with kids as well. Food is really good. Portions are generous and decently priced. Does not take long at all to cook food and serve it. Half way through your meal your check is given to you, so you don't have to wait on the wait staff to come by your table when you are ready to leave to pay for the meal. You just pay at the front which is the smarter alternative especially if you have kids who want to leave. The lighting is great. Even though it's a family diner it is also great for a date. I would highly recommend to any one. They are especially good at taking care of the elderly and helping them to the table. They treat the elderly as if they were...