My good pal Drew finished his final class this past week and he’s now a marketing man. So we went out for a mini-celebration. We hadn’t been to the Wine Gallery for a while so we figured it was time. I’ve been a huge fan and promoter of the place since the first time I stepped foot in the place but things have slowly been starting to annoy me. When a place is new the service is normally a little off. But the place isn’t quite so new these days. When I ask what beers you have don’t ask me to get up, go to the bar and look for myself. Shouldn’t you have that memorized, honey? Also, when someone asks for a recommendation on a wine please be able to give some info that isn’t on the wine list already. It’s a wine bar. That’s your thing. I’m not demanding sommelier knowledge here, just a touch more than the average person. In general, the interaction the with customer needs to be a little smoother.
The original concept was focused on wine with food as a compliment. It seems a shift has happened. We actually have entrées now—a good thing. But prices have gone up and sizes have gone down in some cases. In all honesty the pricing is still fair. In the past the pricing was just exceptionally low so I can’t fault them for what they’ve done.
I still had a good time. I still like the place. I’ll still go back. My only real complaint is below mediocre service that doesn’t seem to be improving with time. All it would take is a few changes to get things on track. Inform the wait staff a bit more and give them a crash course in the hospitality industry. You know I love local places and normally find little to complain about—I’m not trying to be persnickety here, but I think my suggestions are valid and reasonable. Wine Gallery, let’s still be friends.
6 Comments
November 20, 2007 at 2:49 pm
…hilarious. crack me up.
for some some reason the title of this entry only makes me think of will ferrell. phillip get in there and bust some heads…
November 20, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Phil, you make a valid point. If you get the chance to talk with the owner, Brian Leen, I’m sure he’d appreciate your feedback. He’s very approachable. On another note, Brian says his customer base is going gangbusters. He’s very pleased so far on how the business has fared.
November 20, 2007 at 3:46 pm
You’re my boy, Blue!
Mark, I’m happy the Gallery is doing well. I really hope they hang around for a long time. These are just minor critiques of a place I otherwise love.
November 21, 2007 at 4:16 pm
thank you phillip!
November 27, 2007 at 12:26 pm
Phil,
Thank you for the feedback, I truly appreciate it. Stop in and say hello. We are continually making changes to help us improve through customer feedback. Thank you for you support and I hope to see you soon.
Cheers!
November 29, 2007 at 11:02 am
Brian, thanks for being such a champ about the constructive criticism. The Wine Gallery really is one of the best places in Dayton and has a special vibe about it. I look forward to seeing your business and Webster Station continue to grow. Thanks for taking a stake in downtown.