04/11/09

Food was okay, but non English speaking busser with attitude

by ConsumerZealot

Okay yes convenient, I realize they have fairly good reviews on here, so I am just going to relate what happened to myself and a friend today and let people draw their own conclusions.

Waitress was "officially polite", if you know what I mean. Said all the right things, just conveyed somehow behind it she really didn't want to be there. Fair enough yes some customers aren't fun, and retail has long days.

The food tasted decent.

The objectionable part was the bus server. I generally have no problem with non-English speaking help as long as they are friendly, smile and are trying. This woman wasn't. Right as I leaned over my plate to deal with a rib half in my mouth, she barrelled her hand through and snatched away my spare rib plate on the far side of me without asking or letting me at least lean back first, or asking me if I needed it. Really kind of shocked me. And she was gone before I could say anything. This also really offended my friend, so she called a waitress to complain, we thought that would be the end of it.

Then beeyotch does the same thing to my friend after supposedly being asked not to.

This time we called over the manager with the really bad hair dye job (get the roots done again honey) and let her know about it. My friend was polite but firm, doing all the talking UNTIL manager-ette says "She doesn't speak english, and you don't need to go there".

Well, if she didn't want that to be an issue, she shouldn't have brought it up and then told us not to talk about it. I think it's wonderful people of all sizes, shapes, colors, languages and flavors are here, but there is one area where I'm sorry, you have to do and know a little more. When you handle other people's food, and you are in proximity with them, no you should not have that job if you can't speak their language. Period. And even if you do speak the same language, you should try at least to communicate when you are taking away plates. That is a basic of any waitstaff, period. A GOOD manager knows that.

For the manager, who to be fair, said she would address it (whatever that means) make a racial thing out of it where there was none just to try and make us feel bad for complaining is unbelievable.

So I asked her then and I"m asking her now in this review. What are you doing hiring people who are not qualified to work with customers and don't speak the customer's language and putting them in that position?

Just because she is a manager doesn't mean she should be.

Not everyone who doesn't speak English in a restaurant got here last week and just got a job. And gee, some people actually try to learn the language BEFORE they get here - that's a thought! I mean, I would certainly take a French course before trying to go to work in Paris, wouldn't you? And don't try to tell me there aren't people in Mexico or her neighborhood here in Denver that don't teach English.

Listen, when you hire employees interacting with customers, that is not like doing inventory, sweeping the floor or cooking in the back. They need to know, speak and understand English here. If you care about them and want them to do well, you don't put them in those situations if they don't.

The restaurant clearly has served some other good meals as per the reviews, but this is a basic. If this is the kind of management they have, they are slipping, don't waste your time. The best cooked meal in the world is worthless if you are just shoved around by waitstaff that can't or won't respond or listen to you.

• Pros: Okay food, convenient.
• Cons: Service sucketh, no respect for customers.

10/28/07

Food was fine, service was disappointing

by smiller560

Read about the diner on line. Thought it would be fun to go to. Food was fine. I ordered a chicken club, did not come with anything, my wife ordered the breakfast special. My portion was small, hers was fine. Staff was not friendly and service was a little slow. Probably would not go back.

• Cons: Service

08/29/07

Great Looks... average food

by fxoffroad

Don't go here for dinner... this place prays on tourist... because locals know better. The food is fair... the service was very bad. The only positive thing I can say is that it looks fun... a bit "old school" in downtown Denver. When I walked in... I was expecting at least "Ann Sather" (Chicago) quality... this place make just was not good. Saying the food was "fair" is being nice. Perhaps okay for lunch... but try something else for dinner.

• Pros: Cheap Food
• Cons: Bad Food

05/22/07

Pretty good place

by headcase

On my first and only visit, I got the Chile Rellenos ($8.50). It was a good plate--the chiles were stuffed with cheese and pork, battered and deep fried till crispy, then smothered with cheese. BUT I ordered an appetizer of the Venison Red Chili which was a terrible disappointment. It was ridiculous. When you think of chili, what do you think of? Hunks of meat, beans, tomatoes, right? Theirs was a bowl of spaghetti sauce. There was not one single piece of meat in the small cup of chili ($3.50). Not ONE. And there were only about five beans! It was like a bowl of really soupy refried beans. What a disappointment. The room is nice and clean, but be careful with the parking--it's all metered parking nearby which will cost you until 10pm. I enjoyed the dinner (except the chili) but I got a parking ticket ($20.00). That ruined the whole affair. If the city wants us to patronize businesses downtown, they should re-think this meter policy because it will be a long time before I go back downtown and risk another ticket just to get a meal I can get anywhere else. The city will end up ruining it for us, and eventually for themselves. More and more customers will opt to go to the suburbs where there's better parking. And better chili.

• Pros: clean, friendly service
• Cons: no parking, bad chili

05/22/07

Fast and Tastey

by n_wilker

Cute restaurant, booth and tables.

I got the Sheepherder salad and was very impressed. Almost on par with my fav - CPK bacon gorgonzola chop salad (which has since been discontinued). It has fried onions on top, bacon and cute little pieces of bread with goat cheese. Kinda fancy but still yummy as can be! The fellas has the special ? chicken potpie! These things were huge! Crust was a little underdone for me, but it looked to be full of veggies and chicken.

Indeed the service was incredibly fast and there was definitely a line when we left!

• Pros: Fast service, interesting options, good food
• Cons: Loud

08/29/06

delicious food

by pokerplayer1234

I eat here for lunch about once a month and always love my food. The BLT sandwich with avocado is delicious and the fries are great. I've also heard good things about their chicken fried chicken. The place is extremely crowded for a weekday lunch so come early or come late but don't come during the rush. It's not unusual to wait 15 minutes for a table if you come during the rush. However slow it might be to get a table, once seated, service is very speedy. Taking the food order and eating is always under 45 minutes, so still possible to eat lunch in under an hour. This place doesn't take reservations so can't come in a large group unless you get there really early.

• Pros: speedy service once seated, great food, even better prices
• Cons: slow wait to get a table since it's always crowded

07/19/06

Excellent Eats!

by gpfox

I work across the street from Rocky Mountain Diner at the Denver Place building. RMD is a favorite spot for many of us in our consulting practice. Always excellent food, always excellent service.

• Pros: Great Food, Great Service

07/07/06

bland food

by roastbeefalo

Been there 2 times - both times I was disappointed in the food. The cobb salad and chicken fried steak were my orders. The burgers looked good, but who can't make an ok burger? Crowded at lunch. A personal note - it weirds me out when a diner serves mexican food like this one. I'd say pick a food style/restaurant theme, and go with it.

• Pros: nice people
• Cons: food

05/17/06

Love it

by wendim

My girlfriend and I eat here regularly for lunch or when we need "comfort" food. The staff is very pleasant. You can also get pre-order your food by phone for pick-up or just go straight to the bar and order. That way if you do not have time to wait for a table you can still dine here.

• Pros: Great wait staff, Reasonable prices, Great comfort food
• Cons: Can be crowded, No reservations

This institution serves Western-style classics with a Rocky Mountain touch.

by Contributor

In Short
Housed in the historic Ghost Building, Rocky Mountain Diner features loads of cowboy touches and booths with plenty of elbow room. Federal workers and downtown day-shifters fill them by day, tourists and families come in at night. Old-style meat loaf, cooked-until-tender pot roast and pan-fried chicken are some of the better staples. Entrees come with skins-on mashers pooled with creamy brown gravy, served with basic veggies.