A few days ago the Mr. and I went out to an adult lunch together. I picked the place, he went along with it. We got to Farren’s about 12:30ish, and it was packed. Evidently, not everyone is out of town for spring break. Either that or they were all at Farren’s. Still, we were on the tail end of the lunch crowd. We ordered our food quickly — they practically know Mr. lbotp’s order there — and waited. And waited, and waited, and waited. We waited so long that a table of eight got their food, ate, talked, and left before we even got the waiter’s attention to ask what was up.
I tell this story not to indict Farren’s. In fact, it’s just the opposite. I was duly impressed with how they handled the problem. We alerted them to the long wait, and they responded swiftly. We got our food, but more than that, we got a dose of old-fashioned customer service. “I’m sorry for your wait, I’ll get your lunch,” said the tall dark-haired man, who is always there and who we presumed to be the manager.
We weren’t sure if we heard him correctly. A lot of times when I’ve been in a situation like this they’ll offer you a dessert or something as some sort of peace offering. But this was different. We had barely complained. They recognized the mistake and rectified it.
And you bet we’ll be back someday.
17 responses so far ↓
gamera // March 19, 2008 at 9:12 am
I love that guy—he always waits on us and he’s so nice…but not smothering.
I need to get a Farren burger….
kfan // March 19, 2008 at 9:15 am
I think that’s Todd. I love that place, it’s packed at lunch, but you’re always dealing with humans there.
his4ever // March 19, 2008 at 9:29 am
OHHH as soon as I have this baby I will have to go! Those hamburgers sound good.
Rayne of Terror // March 19, 2008 at 12:16 pm
I love Farren’s.
Mrs. Chicken // March 19, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Love that place. Love love love. And thanks to lbotp for introducing me! I think a lunch might be in order next week, yes?
M_Six // March 19, 2008 at 8:41 pm
We’ll have to try that place again. Last time we went was ages ago when it was too smoky to enjoy it.
You and the Mr. have great patience. I’d have been making a stink about the time the table of 8 got their food.
MissNadine // March 19, 2008 at 8:52 pm
I was recently surprised by a similar experience at Jim Gould’s breakfast (let’s leave aside the question of why I was eating at Jim Gould’s to begin with). When the meals got screwed up (wrong eggs, taking forever, etc) not only did the manager comp our meal, but he also gave us each bogo coupons for another breakfast!
Rachael // March 20, 2008 at 11:39 am
I love Farren’s…doesn’t surprise me at all that they would do that! We went after the birth of our DD (May ‘06; grandparents were in town to babysit) and they commented they hadn’t seen us in a while- we told them about the baby (showed pics of course) and they gave us our glasses of wine free!
Lisa // March 20, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Farren’s is great. I can’t believe I haven’t done a report on them yet on the blog. Not only do they have fabulous food, they are pros and they have class.
In the not-so-distant past we had a bad experience at a restaurant, and the server/mgmt did absolutely nothing about it other than offer a lame “I’m sorry” — with a smile, no less! Yeah — not going back there.
Mate'man // March 20, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Will have to try Farren’s soon. Is it comparable to Silver Creek?
Rayne of Terror // March 20, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Farren’s has very nice bar food.
MissNadine // March 20, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Hmm (contrary opinion alert)–maybe the Farren’s lovers can give me some advice on what to order there. I’ve been an number of times and haven’t ever been ecstatic. The burgers in particular have been very disappointing after hearing everyone rave about them–no seasoning and consistently very, very overcooked (I even tried the more expensive Kobe version and it was a hockey puck). … I don’t get it? Which are the great dishes there, given the limited options I’m game to try it again.
Todd at Farren's // March 20, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Thanks for all the kind comments, especially lbotp.
We’d like to think we always bat 1000, but occasionally things go haywire. We try to correct what we can and do strive to make people happy.
Miss. Nadine: please contact me, I’d like to talk about your bad experience (overdone burger).
My wife reads this blog…she refuses to come out of “lurker” (a web term I just learned) status, she prefers to remain incognito.
Thanks, all. We do appreciate your support.
Amy // March 20, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Ah Farren’s. My favorite haunt where they always know your name and often what you tend to order.
Todd and John serve us our “old lady water” and let us sit and solve all world problems prior to picking up our school age hoodlums.
Steak salad….fries well done and some hot water with lemon and diet pepsi chaser. Life couldn’t be better.
That and they kiss your baby too!
Leeanthro // March 21, 2008 at 7:49 am
Gamera and I have been known to go to Farren’s for a burger. I like the black bean burger with mushrooms and swiss and A1 sauce.
And I LOVE the handcut fries. Ooh, I was going to eat frozen meals for lunch this week, but now I’m thinking I need to grab Gamera and go for a burger.
It was funny because once Gamera ordered two salads to go and when she went to pick them up, they joked that the order wasn’t for her. (Guess I should have let her tell the story.)
lbotp // March 21, 2008 at 7:54 am
Todd — thanks for coming to lbotp. We love it when “real” people chime in. And tell your wife we won’t bite.
mateman — are you for real? We haven’t been to Silver Creek in ages.
Miss Nadine — I like their sandwiches and even the tacos. I don’t eat beef so hence no knowledge of the burgers!
MissNadine // March 21, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Well, I have only had salads or burgers at Farren’s. Like the atmosphere.
The salads are undoubtedly grand, but I only order salads at restaurants when I can’t zip my foxy jeans, so it’s usually with a bad attitude on my part!
I love, love, LOVE a good burger, and I like the options at Farren’s, I just want the thing cooked medium. It was suggested to me that perhaps there is some kind of health code that prevents my burgers from arriving blood-drippy… what kind of madness prevents a pink interior!? If that is the case, I might retract the overcooked accusation, but I’ve had nothing less than very well done. Tip of nose! (and a few more shakes of the old S&P)
Silvercreek: I was taken there at my job interview, immediately dubbed it Silver Hair and never went back once we moved here. Am I missing anything good? I ask particularly b/c I only just went to Timpone’s for the first time about a month ago, and I was kind of annoyed with myself for having mentally written it off as another Maison De La Casa House job candidate impressing joint.
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