DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Monday, December 12, 2011
A Letter To The Editor 12-12-11
JOE- I heard something yesterday that I wondered if your other bloggers have noticed recently. I along with a lot of other friends and groups I attend frequent Dayton's Restaurant alot due to good food and fair prices. But recently when they go there on Sundays after church and it has happened more than one time. The immediate area of the booths are all "reserved" and so is the back room. Now my question is this is a new practice they are doing, it used to be first come first served. And we all realize that it is fine to reserve maybe a table or two, but also other patrons should not be told they can't serve them because they may need to reserve more tables they may not have enough. These people don't mind waiting for a table to open up and on both occasions have tried to do so. When they went to the back dining room only one end of it was reserved for the group attending, so they proceeded to sit down to the other end which had no restriction on it and the fellow cleaning the table told them ''it is reserved back here, to which the customers responded are there more of the group coming? not necessarily they were told, well why can't we sit here, I don't think you can we may need these tables also". The question is this is this restaurant trying to make all their service now "reserved"? and what about regular customers who have frequently walked in to eat. I believe that the answer probably lies in the fact it is the holiday season, and like a lot of establishments they are trying to guarantee them the most money they can make, at the expense of regulars. The only thing this will do is the regulars might then turn around and decide to make somewhere else "their regular spot" and then Dayton's could loose business. I hope the owner sees this and realizes maybe they need to be more fair, and make everyone happy with their service, and not feel like they are no longer wanted. I wonder how others feel about this, or have they too seen this happening?
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16 comments:
that is just ridiculous why would you need reservations to eat in a greasy Diner
Why eat there at all? The last time i went there it was for a group function. A roach ran across the table and i wasnt surprised based upon how dirty the place was!
I eat there once or twice a month and noticed that a few of the booths to the right as you walk in are always reserved so I asked and the lady cashier stated that those are for the regular daily customers that come there every day and eat. I like there food but not every day. I guess some older folks eat one or two meals a day there and for that they get the benefit of having there same table available. I see no problem with it.
The last time I was there which was about a month ago (dinner time) the second dining area was totally dark and closed! This was at 6PM in the evening...looks to me their business is either way down that they have to close one room or they don't have enough help. We waited about 20 minutes before anyone even acknowledged us at our table! I will not be going back.
To the writer: Did you think to call the owners to talk to them before posting this information on the internet? MAYBE they don't know or realize what is going on.
Inform them and then see if anything changes or they tell you what is going on
@8:21, although I agree I find it hard that the "owner" wouldn't know this is going on! If they don't, that place should close now because it has no "leadership"/ownership!
how is one person satisfaction or not satisfaction with a old hole in the wall restaurant NEWS? This restaurant is where all the retired folk go. Don't even try to get good service if your under 30 years of age.
If you got a question go to the owner. No need to put this on the internet for the world to speculate. Drive over in person or call on the phone. I like Dayton's. I think the food and prices excellent. If I have a question, surely I would ask the one in charge, not a blog.
It's a shame that a once Great restaurant has gone down the tubes! Dayton's was a great eatery but has gone to the roaches in the last few years.
The real shame of the whole thing is that the current owner was in a family business in Ocean City that was always spotless and also a great place to eat. The whole place is filthy from the restrooms and kitchen all the way to the dining rooms. If you think this is an untruth then go for a dinner and look close when you go. What really surprises me is that our local health department lets them slide on inspections. We used to eat there 2 to 3 times a week but stopped because it got so FILTHY!
Another poster mentioned calling the owner which in some cases it may help but he should know what is going on already. After all one of his family is usually there or he himself is there. As far as the reserved tables they have been doing that for years and the waitstaff is most of the problem with that. A good waiter/waitress would move a table in order to make more tips but these people can't or won't do that.
There is an excellent chance for the old Waterman's Restaurant to take quite a bit of Daytons Business because the selection on this side of town is not too great for a family eatery.
8:42, good response. This would go for just about any problem. Go directly to the source (in this case, the management of Dayton's) before posting something on the blog. And the original letter is so poorly written that it is a chore just to read it. He could have stated the problem in one-fourth the number of words.
it a recession
try practicing what you preach and stay the hell home and cook
now that would truly be conservative
It only goes to show ya how down home shore life has changed
It really has become a retirement colony with people that's only sad joy in life is eating out. True Eastern Shore folk don't go about shopping and eating out three nights a week or month for that matter staying home and saving money use to be a true conservatives value. Bitch and moan about the national dept but what have you saved and is your house car and credit cards payed off.....................otherwise shut up and stay the hell home shut off the cable and take a good look at yourself you maybe a closet Democrat albeit your like of country music and Nascar both of which are very brief new conservative values that got Obama elected. Conservatives need to cut loose the loosers the christian right and the new generation of working class Nascar conservatives that only are in name because they don't wanna be black or mexican and same leaches on Disability. That is whats is wrong with the party these days.............desperate for votes we co-opted and enfranchised the lowest of the common not for their true conservative values but in proffering them that they were better than the real loosers and they really were not and now we are stuck with them and the idiots they may vote for in their fantasy of what is truely the american way
when in fact with no property or savings they have little more say than illegals
They nation was on endenturetude and some need to remember their place
It will always be a nation of land and note holders and unless your holding you should really consider your vote appropiately your beliefs are really stupid commerce
I never could see why anyone thought this place was so great. Bland food,
unclean, slow service, etc.
cheap
In answer to questions of my post yes I have spoken to the management and got no real answer. Also I questioned once about the dirty coffee pots, they look like they haven't been scrubbed in years was told you really can't clean plastic! There is bleach and water. And the current owner works up front pouring drinks he certainly knows how many reserved tables are set out!
About the tables being reserved u do know that u can also call and reserve a table urself? And right now it's the holidays which means the back room for the most part will be closed for them cause most groups ask for it to be private. The only time it is opened at night for open dining is Friday nights. As for the not enough help, they've tried having it open throughout the week and bringing people in, but they usually are not needed. Also most of the customers have their regular servers that they like and even if the back were open they'd wait for a table out front with that particular server. As for the roaches, they are at EVERY restaurant. Trust me. They come in with the stock from the warehouses. Even if u open stock outside they will still find a way in. Thats just how it is. Trust me it's being dealt with. Also as for the "dont plan on getting good service if ur under thirty" really?? It doesn't matter what age you are you will be treated equally. And for the ones talking about it being "filthy" are you coming in first thing in the morning? If so then u have a logical complaint. If it's in the middle of breakfast, lunch or dinner when it's busy u can't expect it to be spotless cause everyones busy trying to get everybody fed to clean. And they try to use bissels to clean the floor during the day but have had complaints that you shouldn't do that while people are sitting there eating. So really it's hard to please everyone. And for those saying the foods bland, there are alot of customers that can't do too much salt or spices, thats why there is salt and pepper on the tables. You can't please everyones taste buds no matter how hard you try. And to the one who said you should talk to the owner before posting, thank you. Talk to HIM about any problems, not on a blog. Hes a very understanding person who loves his customers and wants nothing more than to make them happy. Just try it, you might get some results.
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