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35 replies

The Rocking Chair...

dogsoldier0513dogsoldier0513Old Faithful
...restaurant on HWY72W has GOOD food, BUT:

The service STINKS! My wife and I have eaten there TWICE and there probably WON'T be a 3rd.

On our first visit a couple of months ago, the 'complimentary' garlic/butter biscuits (they ARE good...BETTER than similar offerings at a famous seafood restaurant, BTW) NEVER materialized, even though our waitress kept promising 'they're on their way!' Several couples this past Friday night were experiencing identical problems.

Also, this past Friday evening when we sat down, several booths/tables needed bused. Several waitresses and 2 busboys REPEATEDLY IGNORED this fact. The booth nearest us was NEVER bused during the entire time we were there. ONE couple cleaned their own table!

And then there are the drink refills: How hard is it to refill a tea glass...at least ONCE during a meal? Believe it or not, refills come BEFORE a 'smoke break' (Yep...that is what she was doing. Residual smoke came out of her mouth upon returning to our table to 'inquire' about 'how we were doing').

FINALLY...a couple in front of us waited...and waited...and waited...at the register to pay for their meal, only to finally give up and leave...after placing their ticket and $$$ on the counter by the register.

C'mon folks at The Rocking Chair. Get your act together!

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PicklerPicklerPost Master
same here. I like their food a lot and living on that side of the river its closer to go there for "country food" then to cross the river to Cracker Barrell. But, at least at CB I do get served in a timely manner (most of the time). I completely understand when the place is full or even moderately full that service may not be quite so fast, but come on, when there are only 3 or 4 other patrons and you still set there for 30 minutes just to get you drink order taken. If the place is short handed then they need to put up a courtesy sign that says so, to give people a heads up when they come in.
S SHELDIVR (Guest)
I have been to the Rocking Chair more times than I can recall and they have always given me great service. Now, I must tell you that I go into their business with a big smile on my face, knowing I am going to enjoy some good food and I find them smiling back, willing and eager to serve.
We have even had some private parties there and they add extra help to make sure nobody's tea glass or coffee cup is ignored.
Try them again, and be as nice to the help as you would want someone to nice to you.
I do leave a pretty generous tip because servers (waiter/waitress) are legally paid well below minumum wage...something like $2.23 per hour. Servers live off the tips. TIPS (to insure prompt service).
dogsoldier0513dogsoldier0513Old Faithful
In the 2 times my wife and I have eaten at The Rocking Chair, we have NEVER been less than courteous to the 'help'. Having worked in a restaurant, I know what can happen to discourteous patron's orders. There will be no 3rd time.

BTW, tips are given at the END of a meal IF the service has been adequate. In both cases, tips WERE left, even though the service was FAR from adequate.
S SHELDIVR (Guest)
True, tips are left at the end of the meal and generally reflect what your opinion was of the service, which you have already proclaimed was lousy. My experience has been that good tippers are recognized, remembered from one visit to the next, but then you said there would be no next. I hate to disappoint you but their business hasn't suffered since you wrote them off forever.
S SHELDIVR (Guest)
Actually, there are at least four eating establishments along a four mile strip of highway 72 west, beginning with J. Fiddler's.

I don't think the nice folks at the Rocking Chair are going to miss your business all that much and it will likely be a more pleasant place without you.

I think I will go there for lunch today and have some catfish.
CC07CC07Hall of Famer
I agree, they work hard..for very little money.
I know things get slow from time to time, could you do their job and keep everything going just perfect? I know I couldnt, I have too worked in a restaurant and it is hard work at times.

I know several of the workers at RC and know for a fact that they are very good at what they do. I am sorry you had a bad experience.. if you go to any restaurant very long, there will be times that the service is not the best. I say , give them another try and SMILE. *it might help*
dogsoldier0513dogsoldier0513Old Faithful
[QUOTE]Originally posted by SHELDIVR:
Actually, there are at least four eating establishments along a four mile strip of highway 72 west, beginning with J. Fiddler's.

I don't think the nice folks at the Rocking Chair are going to miss your business all that much and it will likely be a more pleasant place without you.
[/QUOTE

Instead of trading barbs with me, why not do something BENEFICIAL and tell them of the SEVERAL DISsatified customers that have commented here. Have them READ the postings. I am NOT the only DISsatisfied customer The Rocking Chair has....and unless something changes, I won't be the last.
S SHELDIVR (Guest)
Funny you should mention telling them.. we had catfish there today, and I had that discussion with the owners. They were unaware that all of this "Forum dialogue" was going on, regarding their place of business.

FYI the catfish are domestic, NOT imported as someone indicated on this post, and they were delicous today...as I have become accustomed. The service was excellent, even attentive and they did not lack for business.

I suspect Jonathan (manager) and the rest of the staff will be scrambling to do a better job than ever as they endevour to please every one. The current owners have had the Rocking Chair Restaurant for approximately five years...under the old ownership, I also had extremely poor service experiences, but there is no similarity between the old and the new.
IC Ickabod CraneSmall Talker
Hopefully now they use domestic catfish. The cook that I know would have no reason to lie to me about the catfish being imported.

I think it's like all the rest of the places here in the Shoals. They have great service and food and then slack off for a bit and things go down hill. And then they can't figure out why people don't come to eat there anymore. The place changes hands then the new owners are left with trying to recover.

I work for a company that orders meals from there for people on overtime. We are allowed a certain amount for a dinner. They always go up on the food to match what money we are allowed. But if you walk in there and place a cash order, you get it cheaper. And they have done this for the last 5 years I know of.
S SHELDIVR (Guest)
I fully realize that the comments made on this forum are purely subjective and subject to considerable bias. I do not believe for one moment that any information offered herein will change anyone's mind that has already been made up. I do believe that the Rocking Chair Restaurant is doing, and will continue to do an excellent job. I suspect that some of the negative information that has been posted is based on experience that is now old and outdated. I know from my first hand knowledge that we will continue to eat at the Rocking Chair, even though it is a considerable drive to get there and we pass several good restaurants along the way.

I think it is better for the restaurant and regular patrons of the Rocking Chair restaurant that they do not have to serve people who already have a preconcieved negative image of what to expect before they ever walk in the door; therefore, choose another place to eat and stop trying to tear down or otherwise do injury to a very reputable place.
T Taciturn (Guest)
quote:
Originally posted by SHELDIVR:
the addition of alcohol has changed the crowd make up and atmosphere of the place


We went to J Fiddler's a couple of months ago & will not go back. The music was too loud & the singer used a few cuss (4 Letter) words as he was talking to the crowd. Roll Eyes
Didn't like the feel of the atmosphere at all!!
IC Ickabod CraneSmall Talker
I believe that this forum is a place for your personal experiences at a restaurant. And it is not to give people a "preconcieved negative image of what to expect before they walk in the door" outlook. This goes for any place of business, person or thing. It's just an opinion and personal experience. And because you have had a great experience there doesn't mean that you should bash me because I have had several bad ones and choose not to go there any more. Reading this forum, you can see others have done the same but you choose not to direct your posts towards them. I do realize that you are not listing me by name but I can tell who you are talking about.

I appreciate your opinion but I choose not to bash or discredit your experiences with this place of business. Even though I ordered food from there yesterday because employees I work with wanted to, it didn't mean that I had to choose to eat from there.
CC07CC07Hall of Famer
The Rocking Chair is far more of a family atmosphere rest. than J Fiddlers.. the last time I went to Fiddlers, there were mice running around the dining room and the owner & waitress were back there trying to corner them ! ewww I have not been back. BUT that was my own personal experience, they have a good crowd when you pass there..and alot of people love their food.

but I prefer RC best!
S SHELDIVR (Guest)
I. C., I was not bashing you on here, simply stating what I know to be facts. You were being a little less than complimentary yourself...not a good activity if you are going to be thin skinned. My comments were about the Rocking Chair Restaurant, the people I know who are running it, and the experiences I have had there. NOW, during my most recent visit, the young lady serving our table forgot to bring me the hot sauce and I had to remind her...guess I should be on here ranting about that egregious transgression...
Your ego is overly active if you think I was "bashing" you...if and when that time comes, you will know the difference.
gypsycgypsycHall of Famer
I went there, with my family, on a regular basis before they changed hands this last time.
The food was good, reasonably priced, and the service was good.

The last several times we have been, we have not been pleased. The food is average at best. The quantity has gone down, and the prices have gone up. I can understand raising prices, but when they raised the prices, they also cut down on the amount of food. So, it was getting less for more.

The atmosphere is not nearly as pleasent as in the past. The staff seems to be stressed and not happy at all. The one lady that I figure is floor manager/hostess is one of the most unfriendly people that I have encountered, in her position. I didn't go there to make friends. Still, I feel if I am going to give them my business, and my hard earned money...they can at least be civil. The woman takes your money and acts as if her face will break if she has to smile.

If she is in charge, I can understand the atmosphere there. No, I will spend my money somewhere else. I do miss the old RC, but there are too many other places to eat.
gypsycgypsycHall of Famer
quote:
Originally posted by SHELDIVR:
I don't blame you one bit gypsyc, sounds like you were really mistreated. They probably should have given you your meal free.


No, I did not want or expect my meal to be free. All I wanted and expected was to have a good meal, at a good price, and have the staff pretend that they cared if I were there or, if I ever came back.

Maybe the owners are not aware of the problems there, or maybe they don't care. I know for a fact, that is not just my experiences. I have heard from more than a few, that they are unhappy with the direction that the RC has gone, and they no longer go there.

It matters little to me, if they care if I am there or not. It is sad that a business that once enjoyed such popularity, does not seem to care if anyone is there or not.

If something doesn't change, and soon, they may fine themselves there, by themselves.
T traderPost Master
My siginificant other and I use to go to the RC on a regular bases...but when it changed hands..the quality and service went South.

One thing that we noticed immediately was the older waitresses who had been there for years left...and were replaced by more inexperience wait staff..
But in fairness to them, we have not been back in quite sometime...as there are other places that put out decent meals, without taking the chance of wasting your weekend funds.
From the post I have been reading, it appears its still a hit or miss situation there..

It appears Sheldiver knows the owners, and has advised them of the various post here...
Sheldiver has done his part as a loyal customer and friend to them. It takes a real friend to tell you when you are not meeting the standards they know you are capable of...he seems to fit that mold..
The rest is up to the owners..we will be able to tell how they have reacted to that advise with future post of the ones brave enough give it another try...
S SHELDIVR (Guest)
Here is a verbatim quote of a post I made on the "Stephanos Sheffield" topic.

"If you are serving the public and wish to stay in business, you'd better learn to put on a million dollar smile and be nice to everyone, even if your dog just died and your feet are killing you. The customer you just offended is your bread and butter, your life line. Bad news travels like wildfire, good news travels slow (thanks Johnny Cash)."
I re-posted this here for two reasons, first because Dogsoldier, on the Stephanos post asked rhetorically, "Does this apply to the Rocking Chair?" I answered, "Of course it does..."
Not because I said it but because common sense dictates it. If I was trying to run a restaurant, or virtually any other service business dealing with the public, I would make sure every employee who had contact with my customers was made aware of this fact daily.

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