10/19/09

Neat place, not much on the menu

by AnonymousAndHappy

i really liked the place. i went for breakfast and had the french toast. it was great. great for window watching, too.

• Pros: bright, sunny, friendly staff
• Cons: not alot to choose from on the menu

06/01/09

I HAVE NEVER FELT SO UNWELCOME IN A RESTAURANT

by lululuttmer

I went to the Bijou recently, unfortunately at my own suggestion, with family who were visiting from out of town. I hadn't been there for many years.

I have never felt so instanly unwelcome in a restaurant in my experience, which has been extensive. I am in sales and my territory is quite large so I've entertained clients in many restaurants.

I glanced at the sign which I thought read, "Please be seated." It actually read, "Please wait to be seated." It was an honest mistake, I believe. There were several empty tables so I was making my way to one when I was stopped quite abruptly by the maitre d', a quite tall, slim, gray haired, middle aged man, with upheld hand, as if to say "stop where you are." He addressed me very curtly with, " The sign says wait to be seated". He was obviously displeasedand gave me a stern, and unwelcome look. I apologized and told him I misread the sign. I believe it would have been much more honest of him to just say, "Can't you read?" He then asked how many were in our party and I replied, "There will be seven", and the rest of our party would be arriving shortly. He then ushered the two of us back to the front door and said to sign in on the list even though there was no one else waiting.

If I hadn't needed to wait for the rest of our party to arrive I would have simply left at that point. It took longer than expected for the rest of our party to arrive. It was during Rose Festival and parking was difficult to find. After we were seated the two of us went ahead and ordered. Our waitress asked if the maitre d' told us if the rest of our party didn't arrive before two o'clock that they wouldn't be able to order at all. I called them on their cell phone to let them know. I ended up reading the menu to them and ordering their choices for them. Two of them arrived with plenty of time to have ordered without the phone call. I have to admit that the rest of our party didn't make it in time so we asked to have their orders boxed, which our waitress gladly did, and took them with us. The Bijou still received payment for seven orders. I felt more stressed having patronized the Bijou than I have been at my work for a very long time.

Upon arriving home, I got online to register my opinion and found four of the first five reviews on City Search for the Bijou were negative. I will definitely make it a habit in the future to read the reviews on the City Search website before I go out to eat. I certainly wish I had before our meal at the Bijou.

Even though a restaurant has been in business for as long as the Bijou has doesn't neccessarily mean it will continue to be. in this economic climate it's still very possible that the number of negative reviews that the Bijou has received on City Search could adversely affect their bottom line. There are many restaurants that have gone out of business recently and I don't believe the Bijou is immune.

i have been in sales management for many years and I can honestly say that if the Bijou's maitre d' had been in my employ and I witnessed the way he treated me, he would no longer be working.

Who wants to go to a restaurant expecting to have a relaxing meal only to be made to feel unwelcome and uncomfortable when there are 100's of others that are welcoming and have just as good if not better food?

I will never patronize or recommend the Bijou to anyone in the future.

• Cons: Unfriendly maitre d' to say the least.

05/10/09

Delicious Fresh & Healthy Food

by pdxrick

Really pleasant resataurna t for fresh food, friendly people, and first rate french omelets, they're Always perfect - Well Done. Love the Baguettes and the Home Fries are always both soft & crispy.

Keep keepin' it simple!

• Pros: Great Atmosphere Comfortable & Relaxed
• Cons: Simple Healthy High Quality Food!