WHERE NOT TO EAT...

Hi guys,
I'm back from my trip to Brunswick, GA. My apologies to Speechpeach in advance, but Archie's in Darien should be avoided by everyone! We stopped in on Saturday, and if there's a ruder bunch of waitresses, I have yet to meet them. The hostess cleaning the table couldn't be bothered to stop and let us know it was self-seating. She finally did when she noticed we hadn't moved. It took five minutes to get a menu (even though the guy who came in at the same time we did got a menu AND drink as soon as he sat down.) After having menus unceremoniously dumped on the table and drink order taken, the waitress went off to have a long conversation with some friends at another table. She eventually brought our drinks, after having wandered out in the parking lot to stare at cars, apparently. She came back, and as we hadn't decided, gave us ugly looks and went back to her conversation. Despite numerous attempts on both my husband and I's parts to get her attention, she very blatantly ignored us. I'll mention here that we had our 8-year-old daughter with us at the table. Our server (or non-server) was sporting one of those Christian t-shirts, but I found nothing in her behavior to suggest a Christian nature. Apparently, my husband's long hair or our happy family offended the good patrons of Archie's.
We left, and my husband was more than happy to tell the waitress why.

AVOID THIS PLACE - LEST YOU GET THE SAME TREATMENT.

quote:

Originally posted by alfredo

Hi guys,
I'm back from my trip to Brunswick, GA. My apologies to Speechpeach in advance, but Archie's in Darien should be avoided by everyone! We stopped in on Saturday, and if there's a ruder bunch of waitresses, I have yet to meet them. The hostess cleaning the table couldn't be bothered to stop and let us know it was self-seating. She finally did when she noticed we hadn't moved. It took five minutes to get a menu (even though the guy who came in at the same time we did got a menu AND drink as soon as he sat down.) After having menus unceremoniously dumped on the table and drink order taken, the waitress went off to have a long conversation with some friends at another table. She eventually brought our drinks, after having wandered out in the parking lot to stare at cars, apparently. She came back, and as we hadn't decided, gave us ugly looks and went back to her conversation. Despite numerous attempts on both my husband and I's parts to get her attention, she very blatantly ignored us. I'll mention here that we had our 8-year-old daughter with us at the table. Our server (or non-server) was sporting one of those Christian t-shirts, but I found nothing in her behavior to suggest a Christian nature. Apparently, my husband's long hair or our happy family offended the good patrons of Archie's.
We left, and my husband was more than happy to tell the waitress why.

AVOID THIS PLACE - LEST YOU GET THE SAME TREATMENT.

Alfredo,
I'm surprised they didn't call the sheriff. McIntosh County for years was noted for not liking outsiders, and even now the locals are very intolerant of people who are one whet different. Their infamous clip joints from the 1950's are a thing of the past, but they still write a lot of tickets in that part of the state - just look at the various speedtrap registries!
Archie's used to be a good place, but I've been told it's fallen on hard times foodwise, so you didn't miss much.
Next time, come through Athens. If they can put up with me, nothing you could be, do, or say would arouse the least bit of malicious interest or suspicion.
Sympathetically, Ort. Carlton in Athens, Clear Across The State.

Thanks Ort!

Next time we're off to Birmingham, maybe we'll swing through Athens. From your comments, dare I deduce you're of the liberal persuasion or a long-haired type?

quote:

Originally posted by Ort. Carlton.
Alfredo,
I'm surprised they didn't call the sheriff. McIntosh County for years was noted for not liking outsiders, and even now the locals are very intolerant of people who are one whet different. Their infamous clip joints from the 1950's are a thing of the past, but they still write a lot of tickets in that part of the state - just look at the various speedtrap registries!

Aw now you've reminded me of my college days when, one spring break, we got in a friend's nearly new 1966 Le Mans convertible (with Illinois plates) and cruised on down to Florida. We stopped in Waycross, GA for lunch and the entire time we were in the restaurant, local law enforcement circled the block, then followed us out of town.

Of course, we had another close call when, on the return trip, we pulled into a gas station somewhere on route 301 and I just happened to be whistling "Marching Through Georgia" which I still find a catchy tune. Took me much longer than it should have to figure out why the gas station attendant (they pumped gas for you back then) was staring at me.

The summer before I got married, a guy friend and I went on a Roadfood BBQ/Soul Food/Seafood trip from DC to Charleston.

Well, I guess a North Carolina Policeman would find two Italian-American white guys in their early 30's travelling down I-95 with PA plates "suspicious". So, he pulled over my friend who was driving my car for the first time (not perfectly, admittedly) and gave him a warning for "weaving". More importantly, he wanted to get in my trunk. Because, we were either...
---gay males (not that there's anything wrong with that)
---drug dealers
---weapons dealers.

He separated the two of us and asked us detailed questions, to make sure our alibis were straight. Then, went into the trunk. Nothing but luggage (and my piggy bank from Wilbur's Barbecue where we had a great lunch). Sorry officer. We were told that there is a lot of "illegal weapons goin' down I-95". He let my friend go with just a warning.

We found the whole experience pretty creepy, even in the middle of a Sunday afternoon. Three miles later we went to South of the Border and had some of the strongest ale (ginger) we could get our hands on.

quote:

Originally posted by stanpnepa

The summer before I got married, a guy friend and I went on a Roadfood BBQ/Soul Food/Seafood trip from DC to Charleston.

we were either...
---gay males (not that there's anything wrong with that)
---drug dealers
---weapons dealers.

Fourth possibility: cigarette smugglers.

I just love all the cop stories! I was a police reporter for a long time. When my husband and I were newlyweds, we lived in Selma, AL., not a place known for tolerance. We were unloading groceries outside our apartment, when a carload of little old ladies came to a screeching halt in the road. The problem? My husband's long hair. The women just couldn't believe it. The Selma police used to follow him through town, waiting for him to do something illegal. Maybe it was the '69 Ford Falcon he was driving?

In the 60s and 70s driving a Volkswagen Van with out of state plates, and wearing long hair whould assure you a stop and search and long delay on our Main Street as our cops DID THEIR DUTY! And New Paltz is world-renowned as a very tolerant community now-a-days....

Cheers, John

quote:

Originally posted by stanpnepa

The summer before I got married, a guy friend and I went on a Roadfood BBQ/Soul Food/Seafood trip from DC to Charleston.

Well, I guess a North Carolina Policeman would find two Italian-American white guys in their early 30's travelling down I-95 with PA plates "suspicious". So, he pulled over my friend who was driving my car for the first time (not perfectly, admittedly) and gave him a warning for "weaving". More importantly, he wanted to get in my trunk. Because, we were either...
---gay males (not that there's anything wrong with that)
---drug dealers
---weapons dealers.

He separated the two of us and asked us detailed questions, to make sure our alibis were straight. Then, went into the trunk. Nothing but luggage (and my piggy bank from Wilbur's Barbecue where we had a great lunch). Sorry officer. We were told that there is a lot of "illegal weapons goin' down I-95". He let my friend go with just a warning.

We found the whole experience pretty creepy, even in the middle of a Sunday afternoon. Three miles later we went to South of the Border and had some of the strongest ale (ginger) we could get our hands on.

The cops in NC AND SC are noted for stopping cars with Yankee plates! Yall wuz Yankees, lol

In a token response to the topic, never, never eat at Los Gallos in Many, LA. Nice people, possibly the worst Mexican food I've ever eaten.

Bet all those cops would have had strokes at the sweetest two-wod phrase to be heqrd in court: "Probable cause." (Another contender: "Due process.")

But such folk don't confine their activities to yankees: I had a few brief discussion when I drove a very fast car, no matter how sanely I drove it.

Rules on where NOT to eat!

If you walk in and there are 3 hostesses all lined up at hostess station

You have been seated 10 minutes and no one approaches your table

You order a glass of wine and the waitress asks "what flavor?"

You order a beer and the waitress asks "what flavor?'

The menu is huge and really glossy with pictures of all the food on it.

The waiter seems to think that he is much better than you

The wait people do not give the prices of the "specials"

Everyone in the restaurant stares at you because you are a stranger and you see the waitstaff flipping coins to see who which one is the unlucky one to wait on you

You are seated at a table that still has dirty dishes on it

You can see the busboy wiping off the booth chairs with same cloth he used on the tables

I could go on for another 10 minutes but do not want to bore you guys!

quote:

Originally posted by alfredo

Thanks Ort!

Next time we're off to Birmingham, maybe we'll swing through Athens. From your comments, dare I deduce you're of the liberal persuasion or a long-haired type?

alfredo,
Not particularly long-haired and more liberal than conservative usually, but often somewhere in the middle... depending on the circumstances, the issue, and my mood at the moment I do have a beard, though, and even with it neatly trimmed, I occasionally am the brunt of a rude remark... usually from a gung-ho wanna-pull-your-guts-out shaven-headed Ranger-type.
Athens doesn't have a problem with neo-Nazis: skinheads, yes - SKA skins and even a few Oi! skins, but thusfar we've been bereft (thankfully) of Nazi types. And religious bigots are in the vast minority here. Our mayor's Jewish, and it was never any sort of an issue during her campaign.
Reportingly, Ort. Carlton in Sunny Athens, Georgia.