Altea's Eatery — Restaurant in Worcester

I’ve been here probably between six and eight times. The experience is variable. Generally eating here during the week is pretty easy to manage with no wait, and easy access to tables that are not occupied. Eating here on the weekend is almost always extremely chaotic. The climate control here is not great; it doesn’t seem that there is air conditioning as it feels like 80 degrees with 90% humidity as I’m writing this. The queuing system on the weekend is very poorly managed; people will be standing in the hallway waiting to check in for a callback. While this is happening often other parties will cut in front of the others and create an uncomfortable situation. This most recent visit, I put my name in and watched the hostess write my number down correctly. We were told 15-20 minutes. I was told we never answered the phone; the hostess fully did not call me. Anyway, a full hour later, we’re now seated and waiting on food. It’s been an hour and a half at this point. I’d heavily recommend this place invest in an electronic check-in system that will help them manage long wait times. Other diners with better food and longer waits allow you to manage it more effectively. For example, at J&M in Framingham, which regularly has wait times approaching an hour and a half, you can check in in advance online. By the time you get there, you only have to wait ten minutes to be seated. And they will call and text you if necessary.

The food options are accommodating enough for me as a vegetarian. In the past the the preparation of it has been fine. Sometimes my omelette has come to me burnt. The mocha that they create here tastes like it’s made with Hershey’s syrup; pretty disgusting for the price. There is a running theme of the food being made with cheap ingredients that is noticeable. I did not like their hot sauce options. Home fries are kind of doughy, but mostly pretty good. They’re more like cooked potatoes than home fries. The vegetable harvest omelette is great - they do not spare on the goat cheese, the vegetables are good, and 90% of the time it’s cooked just right. The slice of baguette I was given with my omelette was 80% air. The bucket of bubbles is excellent to entertain groups with tons of mimosa options. Unfortunately, by the time that I have been seated on Sunday, it has now been almost two hours and I am distinctly hot and bothered with sweat accumulating on my brow. I am too annoyed to be drinking with friends so I am sitting here writing a review outside because I am sweating through my shirt.

The aesthetics of the place are typical Parisian diner type, and the wait staff are all actually great. I’ve never really had to wait too long for the servers to bring me food. All of the internal operations in terms of the staff seem pretty fine outside of whatever was going on with the hostess this time.

Anyway, would I recommend this place? It depends. I would probably not come here on a weekend again. If you live nearby you might think that it would be worth it, but by the time you get seated, you could have gone somewhere with better food and a lower wait. I’d recommend C’est La Vie in Northborough if you are dying to do a French breakfast spot. It’s less crowded, nicer on the inside, the food is better and more consistent, and the atmosphere around the place is a little...

TLDR: Do not come here if you are fat and visibly queer. The owner will single you out and blame you for existing. The space is not designed for you and then you will be blamed for not allowing others to "coexist" in the restaurant. You will be the problem.

Myself and my partner were taking my sibling out to brunch to celebrate her graduation from college later that day. My partner and I are fat, queer, and were fancy dressed and did not look like anyone else in the restaurant as evidenced by many other patrons leering in our direction when we arrived. We were seated within five minutes of being there. No more than three minutes later, the owner came over and told me that the chair I elected to sit was in the way and people needed to get through. She demanded I move to the open chair at my table, the one that was the hardest for me, a larger person, to sit in which was shoved into a corner against the wall. I declined as that would not be comfortable for me and there was enough space between the back of me and the back of the human behind me to get by. Servers were already doing it and all walkways are cramped because Altea's is a cramped place. The owner huffed and grabbed our table to move it which was a surprise and left. We continued to look at the menu and 30 seconds later, the owner came back over to seemingly prove her point that I was in the way. She snatched the chair I declined from our table with no explanation and stood behind me and stomped her foot and scoffed as she could not get the chair through on the ground and said something along the lines of "there's not enough room". At this point I'm obviously annoyed and tired of being targeted and say "I don't know what you want me to do" and push my table out of the way. I told her I didn't want to be bothered about this the rest of the time I was here. She walked away briefly and then turned around and came back with "everyone here needs to coexist", (paraphrasing the rest) we change the restaurant all the time, and you need to check your attitude if you're going to stay here. My table collectively decided to leave.

The owner did not request other patrons to move, not even the one behind me who was almost equally responsible for blocking the way. She also did not apologize for the poor set up and instead targeted me as being the problem in her tight, loud establishment.

Edited because I accidentally hit post and wasn't...

Long review here to explain the situation:

My family and I have been coming to Altea's, and the food is great. One thing that we experienced consistently is the rudeness of the staff. Granted, we come after church and arrive 10-15 minutes before their closing. They have been gracious to serve us, but recently, they have been giving off very judgmental undertones for being an inconvenience to their cooks and staff for coming close to closing. Clearly, they have been fed up and their covert behaviors became overt.

On this one Sunday, Altea's close at 3, and we arrived at 2:43. At that time, they told us the kitchen closes in 9 minutes, which will be at 2:52. (that is not 3). Then at 2:45, they change their time and said the kitchen closes in 4 minutes, now 2:49. 30 seconds later, the waitress changes her time again and says that the restaurant is now closed. The tone of her voice was not pleasant. So, we left the restaurant.

This management should consider how they should treat others. Since some lack empathy and care, let me provide some recommendations:

Time - you need to be specific of what "closed at 3" means. Usually, closing at that time means that is when they close the doors. That does not mean the kitchen is closed. If the kitchen closes at 3, then you need to close your doors at 2:30.

Alternative Options - if you have customers coming close to 3, then provide another option, like takeout. Better to be more accommodating than rigid-minded.

Communication - if you do not like customers coming close to the time, you need to use your words and tell the customer that you are not accepting anyone. Why say "come in" when you are shutting the kitchen within a 5-10 minute time period. Therefore, say "we are not accepting any customers." When you admit customers, you are saying "we are here to serve you," no matter the situation.

Rudeness - covert rudeness is one of the worst things that a restaurant can exude. You need to train your employees to be more receptive to customer needs. Moral training requires moral awareness. 93% of communication is nonverbal, and trust me, your actions, behaviors, and expressions speak louder than your words.

For those reading this review: do not go there if you could be an inconvenience to them. Selfish establishments do not know anything about customer service. Yes, your product is good, but your character...