My husband and I usually enjoy our local Smokey Bones in Springfield, IL. However, this last trip we sat at the bar instead of a table and didn't really appreciate the attitude we caught from some of the bartenders. It was a kind of overly familiar attitude where instead of being treated like the paying customers we are, we were greeted with, "Yeah, Guys...whaddaya want?" When I asked if I could please have a plate so we could split the meal we ordered, another person at the bar told us, "No." And then, "Ha ha. I'm just kidding." When we asked for a take home box, instead of just handing me the box, it was shoved sideways in between my drink and my plate of food. Nobody bothered to check in on us and we had to flag someone down to take our money at the end of the meal even after they had gotten us a to go box and we'd been sitting there for at least another 10 minutes. It'd been one thing if the bar area was busy but when our bartender is talking with two other employees, all with their backs conveniently turned away from the customers at the bar, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that we could have been rung up sooner. I really resented the flip
attitudes--you would have thought we were putting your employees out instead of helping to pay their salary.

Talk to your employees. Let them know they are serving paying CUSTOMERS--not "buds" and not pals. We are customers--not an inconvience to be taken care of so they can get back to socializing.