Wallaby's: Concern or norm?

[Frak]

Classic.

[Zastr6]

I like to get the blooming onion.

[BKLYNCyclone]

I had the absolute worst restaurant experience I've ever had at Wallaby's 8 or so years ago, though I blame the waitress, not the establishment. Took 30 minutes for waitress to acknowledge us (the place was empty and we were a party of 2), waited 60 minutes for the food after that, and then got a bill that was completely incorrect. I penny-tipped and never went back as I never had a problem anywhere else.

[benjay]

nascar.. lol

I think I'd get up and leave if somebody changed the channel to nascar while I was watching a basketball game. It's unheard of.

[J-Diggy]

I have very fond memories of Wallaby's from my time at Iowa State BUT.....went there 3-4 weeks ago before a game and it was very disappointing. Took forever to get our food, my wife's meal was luke warm at best, etc.

Not saying I won't go back but sometimes the fact that the owners are good Cyclones and it is an Ames institution makes it difficult for people to be objective. My last experience was poor. Bad day? Hopefully. But before we were seated someone else said, "We'll never make it to the game if we don't get seated by X, their kitchen is always really slow" so maybe its a trend.

And to save you all the trouble, I'm clearly an idiot who brought it all on myself. Flame away!

[247cy]

Thats it...I'm coming out of the booth!

Does the state still charge $1.25?

[CycloneChris]

I spent some years working in the kitchen at Wallaby's while in school.

We called one of the owners D-O-B, but never a DB. Suave was far from a DB.

Great place to work and great owners.

And for those commenting that it may take a bit longer to get your food, remember everything is made from scratch. Your appetizers are not pre-frozen breaded food out of a box. Your chicken and burgers are cooked to order (some places stockpile rare burgers and pre-cooked chicken breasts in vats of broth). Fried items like tenderloins and shrimp are hand breaded.

[4Cyclones]

Sorry to create such a firestorm, I am the alleged d-bag. My priorities as a restaurant owner are to provide the best service, beverage and food as possible. Sports programing and arrangement of those programs is key to all of our customers, Basketball and nascar were surounding this table, A simple fix to a poor viewing angle would have been to move the one affected guest to a different seat.
The 100 or so guests that arrived before you had priority and were affected by the channel change, to them I apogilize. To the offended party, raising your voice and copping an attitude will usually result in being treated in the same way.

There are much more important issues in the world than this, Like going to get some Rogaine, Thanks Middle age balding D-Bag Im out

LOL. This is how you remember it? Hardly the case. I apologize for altering my original post, as I really didn't mean to start such a thread, but rather just get a back up to the previous reccomendations to attend the establishment. I was thinking that maybe the place was sold recenetly, as I had heard good things.

After my post, and reading responses, I had decided to just put it to rest. However, your debate has raised some questions, and I think I had better defend myself, probably to my demise.

100 guests? Hardly. That side of the bar was nearly empty, with 2 patrons at the bar (nice guys, they also were glad that I had asked to change channels), and 1 or 2 tables of 4 or 5 guests (pleasant Cyclones fans too).

We asked for 1 (ONE) tv to be changed. Nascar was on the one at the end, and a couple tv's were on the same channel. Keep in mind there was no one on the end of the bar, so our party was the only ones even able of veiwing, so we weren't affecting any other guests. We did wish to watch more than just Nascar too. 3 tv's tuned to Purdue vs ??? was a bit much. Please note, CW is also a BIG nascar enthusiast too, so its not that far fetched to want to watch more than just basketball or golf.

And finally, raising my voice? Seriously? I never spoke at any more than a normal conversation level. Who exactly came over to the table first and got into the face of who? VERY unprofessional, and TOTALLY uncalled for. We were a group of Mid 40-50 yo professional, educated parents, with very well mannered basketball players (12 yo), that were only looking for a sports bar to catch a bite to eat, and be on our way. Much like your patrons have decscribed, the facilty was nice, but smaller, and did a great job of serving, and the cooks should be congratulated.

We sir, after your beratement, ate a very satisfying meal, and tipped the staffed very respectfully, and went on our way. Perhaps, it would have been more appropraite for us to go to West Towne, but I would hope not.

Sorry Cyclone Fanatics for putting you through this!

[usedcarguy]

I too have been wondering what's going on out there. Last two visits have been less than what I've become accustomed to over the years.. The first visit was a late lunch in a nearly empty place with a slow kitchen exacerbated by a new waitress who didn't find it important to monitor our drink levels or check on us after we got our food. Took 80 minutes to get in and out and we ordered sandwiches...and four of us ordered the EXACT same thing. Second time was just a slow kitchen, which wasn't such a big deal because the service was better and we were drinking enjoying ourselves. I'm not giving up on the place but am concerned...

[CycloneChris]

LOL. This is how you remember it? Hardly the case. I apologize for altering my original post, as I really didn't mean to start such a thread, but rather just get a back up to the previous reccomendations to attend the establishment. I was thinking that maybe the place was sold recenetly, as I had heard good things.

After my post, and reading responses, I had decided to just put it to rest. However, your debate has raised some questions, and I think I had better defend myself, probably to my demise.

100 guests? Hardly. That side of the bar was nearly empty, with 2 patrons at the bar (nice guys, they also were glad that I had asked to change channels), and 1 or 2 tables of 4 or 5 guests (pleasant Cyclones fans too).

We asked for 1 (ONE) tv to be changed. Nascar was on the one at the end, and a couple tv's were on the same channel. Keep in mind there was no one on the end of the bar, so our party was the only ones even able of veiwing, so we weren't affecting any other guests. We did wish to watch more than just Nascar too. 3 tv's tuned to Purdue vs ??? was a bit much. Please note, CW is also a BIG nascar enthusiast too, so its not that far fetched to want to watch more than just basketball or golf.

And finally, raising my voice? Seriously? I never spoke at any more than a normal conversation level. Who exactly came over to the table first and got into the face of who? VERY unprofessional, and TOTALLY uncalled for. We were a group of Mid 40-50 yo professional, educated parents, with very well mannered basketball players (12 yo), that were only looking for a sports bar to catch a bite to eat, and be on our way. Much like your patrons have decscribed, the facilty was nice, but smaller, and did a great job of serving, and the cooks should be congratulated.

We sir, after your beratement, ate a very satisfying meal, and tipped the staffed very respectfully, and went on our way. Perhaps, it would have been more appropraite for us to go to West Towne, but I would hope not.

Sorry Cyclone Fanatics for putting you through this!

So it goes from you heard a story, to you witnessed the story, to you were the story.

Interesting.

[wxman1]

So basically what I get from this is numerous people have been having service worse than what it used to be. Oh and bunch of people defending it. Sounds like a new hickory park debate.

[CycloneErik]

If your customers find sports to be so important, why watch NASCAR?

[Ames]

And finally, raising my voice? Seriously? I never spoke at any more than a normal conversation level. Who exactly came over to the table first and got into the face of who? VERY unprofessional, and TOTALLY uncalled for. We were a group of Mid 40-50 yo professional, educated parents, with very well mannered basketball players (12 yo), that were only looking for a sports bar to catch a bite to eat, and be on our way. Much like your patrons have decscribed, the facilty was nice, but smaller, and did a great job of serving, and the cooks should be congratulated.

Wow so you are basically a liar. Your first post had this all happening to a third party, then to your group, and now it was YOU. You are the guy... wow. Just wow.

Count me in the group that's 100% on Wallabys side.

[LonoClone]

I think I can put an end to this squabbling. You see, I was there. I'd just finished work, a double shift at the solid waste reclamation center. Barilla makes their weekly delivery on Saturday nights and Pauly had called in sick, as usual. So that meant 12 hours of wading through piles of penne that failed to pass inspection. Needless to say, I was in the mood for a drink by the time I finished.

No time to change clothes, I made my way over to the west side of Ames. I live in Roland, but there are no good bars in Roland, none that will serve me anyway. No, I had my sights set on Wallaby's. They know me there and don't mind my ways. Plus, they'll fix em stiff if you slip the bartender a ten spot.

I was into my fifth sloe gin fizz, when I saw this big group getting out of cars in the parking lot. I could tell from the start, they were going to be trouble. Lots of bumper stickers reading "My son is an honor student at..." and such. You know the type. And sweet Jesus, there were a hell of a lot of them for 4:30 on a Sunday.

So they walked in like they owned the place, and demanded that the staff push together some tables, so they could all eat together. The staff obliged and soon enough, the gaggle was seated, not that it decreased the din. I ordered another sloe gin fizz, and rolled my eyes at the bartender. He returned the gesture.

For the next hour and a half it was nothing but barked orders, complaints, and rude gestures. I felt bad for their waitress, Towilda. She was doing her best, but was completely overwhelmed. And I doubt she was able to sit down that night, judging by the number of times her fanny got pinched. One guy in particular, the feller that had the run in with the owner, I think. He was especially handsy. Did it in plain view of his wife, too. She never batted an eye.

And as far as that "run in" is concerned, sure the owner raised his voice. I'd have raised mine too, if I owned the place. The group wanted every TV in the place tuned to NASCAR. The owner switched a couple of em, tryin to make peace, but it wasn't good enough. Handsy got upset and started railin on about how professional and educated he was, and "didn't that count for nothin anymore?" The owner said he didn't appreciate being told what to do in his own establishment, and felt that he'd been more than fair in switching a couple of sets over to that "hillbilly crap."

Things were coming to a head. I can't get involved with stuff like that on account of my probation, so I settled up my tab and headed out. I could've sworn it was gonna come to blows. Sounds like it didn't. That's probably a good thing.

I was gonna tell Pauly all about it, but that a-hole called in sick again Monday night. That's okay, though. Monday night is when Pleasure Palace makes their delivery. Better not to have Pauly around, anyway.

[CycloneErik]

None of you realized this, even though I should have stood out due to my aura of excellence, my Old Spice cologne, and my winning dog Cael, but I saw this whole thing......