Lunchtime Hostess Not Dog Friendly

I am a little bitter about an incident that happened at lunch on Friday. I had gone with my Shih-tzu to Ragtime to sit on the Patio. Usually all the staff there love him. Bentley may have been a bit more animated than usual in barking for treats. When he is, I can easily quiet him by putting him in my lap. As the hostess walked by to seat another table, she snapped at me that “people are complaining about him.” She then saw Bentley had a small accident that I had not noticed and growled “and you’re just letting him ____ all over our patio.” I then noticed two small pieces of scattered poop about the size of a Hershey’s kiss a couple of feet apart, apologized, and immediately picked them up. Usually I can see or smell when something happens, but this was so small it could have easily been missed. Bentley is prone to accidents like any other dog and I always clean up after him. As I was leaving, she chased me out to my car to tell me there was another small piece of poop under my chair that I had missed.

Yes, I was a bit embarrassed and always apologize when Bentley has an accident in public. But he is a dog and things like this will happen. Usually people are understanding and friendly when it happens. And I usually leave a more than generous tip if it happens at a restaurant. But this woman was very rude and could have handled it better. I heard her make a snarky comment to another customer prior to this poop incident. She has also snapped at us before when I was standing at the door trying to get her attention for a table without bringing Bentley in.

What irritates me is that I have been going to Ragtime for 20+ years usually once or twice a week and Bentley has been going with me for most of the last 10. Most of the staff there knows both of us and asks me about him when I come without him. I have posted pics of Bentley there many times, and I know it has brought them business because people dining there as well as a former manager have come up and told me that. During the worst of COVId, I frequently got take out from there to support them. And I’ve put up with screaming babies/children, drunks, and even dogfights there and never said anything.

As a result of this experience, I will no longer post of Ragtime being dog friendly and I will no longer patronize them at lunch (that’s the only time I’ve ever seen this hostess work). If you are going to allow a restaurant to be dog friendly, unfortunately you have to put up with the occasional barking and accidents. They can both be handled easily and politely. Ragtime makes a lot of money from customers on their patio with dogs. However, I will not put up with treatment like I got today from this woman though when I’m spending my hard earned dollar there!

Otherwise, the good there is good and other personnel are very friendly. Go at night or on Saturday though!

May. 21, 2022