Where the food is delicious, but the contempt for the customer is unpalatable...

V and I went to The Golden West Cafe for breakfast this morning. This place is a consistent favourite in Hampden and is famous for, along with its good food, its "absolutely no substitutions" policy. Fine. You are also forbidden to talk on your cell, for even a second, in the dining room. If you get a call you are expected to take it outside or into the restroom (per their Web site). Okay... a bold move in this day and age; I can respect it.

But I cannot respect what happened to V this morning when she asked about the pumpkin pancakes she saw advertised on their Web site. She was told that they were "part of a fall menu we haven't rolled out yet." So V jokingly replied "but it's almost November." At which point our server informed her that they start making items available when they "are ready and not before" and that it was "____'s restaurant, not mine, m'am."

Uncalled for. Absolutely rude, esp. since V was a) joking, and b) made an entirely credible point. It is almost November. By my likes (and most other people's) you start rolling out your fall wares in late september when fall begins, so that you can maximize the potential in October, which is decidely fall. November is a no man's land, practically winter, for goodness' sake.

And c) it was on their Web site.

This place is the kind where you don't even have the recourse of complaining to the management because it is clear that the management supports this attitude. It practically requires it of its staff. The message is this: If you're eating at the Golden West Cafe, you are lucky to be there.

No thanks.