I awoke early this morning (around 6am). I texted two friends who are chronic early risers (or at least capable of not being awakened by a text if they are still sleeping). One responded, and we were headed up there by just after 7am. There were maybe three or four groups of two people there when we arrived. I ordered the Happy Fat Boy Breakfast (which is HUGE) so I could try lots of different stuff. It was very tasty, but way more than I could ever eat. We sat and relaxed, and around maybe 8:30 people started rolling in hardcore. I mean it looked like it was about to get packed. Good job with the diner Matt and Patrick! It looks like you stumbled on a real demand.
46 comments:
While I hold out hope that they are still just finding there feet, we had a less than pleasant experience this morning. We went at about 9:30 am. All the seats were taken but we didn't mind waiting... until we noticed a few things. First, the entire counter was seated but not one person had food or coffee. The booths were full but some had food. Second, we watched as some poor kids pancakes got cold while the chef waited for clean plates to come through so he could try to move out on some of the orders. I felt for him but the omlet and pancakes had to be cold when they got to that person's table, we'd watched them sit there for at least 5-10 minutes.
After about 10 minutes of standing at the door, not one staff person even acknowledged us to say "thanks for waiting," letting us know it could be some understandably rough estimate of time or even a hello. I also heard a staff member suggest that they were out of biscuits... at 9:30 am on a Sunday. Mmmm, I wanted a biscuit! We waited a few more minutes without even a nod and gave up.
I'm rooting for them and I'm certainly going to give it another shot. I just might wait another few weeks until the timing/service kinks get worked out.
We were there too at the same time. We did wait a bit for our food, but the place was packed and one of the staff (the owner?) did thank us for our patience and mentioned that one of the waitstaff was out with a sprained ankle. The food was good, the coffe was good, and the prices were reasonable. We'll go again!
I made it in around 12:30, and the place was full. After about five minutes or so, we were able to snag a booth. I was a little disappointed to learn that they weren't serving lunch yet (not sure if "yet" meant "until later today" or "later next week"). That being said, my wife and I both got the supper happy fat boy and really enjoyed it. The food came pretty quickly, considering how full the place was. We both left happy and positive we'll be back for more.
we went at about 8:30 Sunday morning with our 2 yo. Place was a circus. took 90 minutes.
They definitely have some kinks to work out--it took a while for my under-cooked omelet to make it out, and the order for the two of us came out in bits and spurts (first my wife's pancakes, then my omelet, then her hash browns), but I think that when you experience such high demand right after you open, things like this will happen at first. I expect that they'll correct the initial woes pretty quickly.
I went with my wife for the second time (we made it out on "opening" day too). We walked in around 12:30 not sure if there would be a post-church crowd. It was definitely packed but only one couple was waiting in front of us. We still got seated in only a few minutes. It's definitely a unique & intimate dining experience--one that i really enjoy. There's nothing quite like practically sitting in the kitchen and watching the interactions between staff. Very amusing and fun. Everyone was a bit frazzled, but all & all I think they really had it together considering this place practically just opened. They'll work out the kinks, I'm sure.
I'm not sure what the owners have planned, but it would be great if they could build a patio in front of the diner, or even just some benches, so people can order milkshakes and sit outside. That would probably take a little pressure off the inside during the summer months. Of course, I'm sure they'd have even more permits to wrangle.
I want to echo a previous commenter, the owners have a real hit on their hands!
Give them a break! I went to the Argonaut Saturday night before going to see a performance at The Atlas and honestly the service and the food was bad. We waited about 5-10 minutes for our table but we waited 35 minutes for wings and fish tacos. My point is, The Argonaut has been up and running for a few years now and even they have bad nights.
Anonymous, the Argonaut seems intent on always having bad service, no matter how long they've been open, at least for brunch. I think most of the folks here relating their suboptimal experiences at Cap City recognize that there are growing pains with any new restaurant and will most likely be giving them additional chances to get it right. I know I certainly will. I constantly put up with the absurdly slow service at Sticky Rice because I like having a sushi restaurant within walking distance. Similarly, I love the idea of a diner in our neighborhood, so I'll keep going back, while still noting when they fail to live up to reasonable expectations. If it was my establishment, I'd want to know what customers are thinking and how we can improve.
Hey guys,
Thanks for the honest feedback.
We're certainly experience growing pains as we try to meet the overwhelming demand during our first week (and most likely the next couple weeks).
As we serve our customers, we're nailing down our processes, adjusting/increasing staff levels, adjusting menu items based on customer feedback, etc. If you have any other suggestions, we welcome them. My e-mail is matt@capitalcitydiner.com
Again, thanks for the feedback and most of all your support and understanding as we work to improve get the inevitable opening kinks worked out.
Thanks,
Matt
Capital City Diner
Joe Englert said:
Matt, Patrick, keep on trucking.
You have done a great job. Your staff has been courteous and hustles each time I have been there. You have gotten better each time I went and I am sure things will settle down soon.
Would love to go to the anonymous posters' work and critique their performances on line. It is great to live in a perfect world where every transcation, every interaction goes smoothly and perfectly, just like all those times I go to CVS, Popeyes, DMV, DC Government, 7-11, my lawyer, my accountant, etc. etc. etc. Can someone give me the secret to find where all these secret Edens you frequent are?
Matt, I was pretty encouraged when our server comped part of the order without our asking, recognizing that things didn't go as well as we planned. I also liked how we were forewarned that we'd be looking at a fifteen minute wait after our orders were placed--knowing in advance that the kitchen is backed up makes things a little better. Also, the pancakes are enormous and delicious. I'm looking forward to trying your non-breakfast menu as well.
Joe: if I provide substandard service to my customers/clients, I would expect them to make it known, and would really hope they would tell me as such. I'm a big fan of most of the establishments you've been a part of. At the same time, if I'm going to patronize an establishment, I don't think I should have to suffer poor service in silence. There's a very large difference between expecting each transaction to go perfectly in some Eden-like atmosphere and not expecting to spend 30-60 minutes waiting for a pedestrian food order at a place like the Argo or Sticky Rice.
Agreed on the argonaut, that place has chronically bad service. I should slap myself every time I go expecting it be better than the last. Why is the service here so bad?
Here Is what I'm not understanding.....
How come everyone will come on a blog and say how bad the food or service is after the fact. Why not try and talk to someone while you are there? The Argonaut was packed this weekend, I was around, we had a 45 plus minute wait for tables. If you felt the service or food wasn't great or somthing was wrong why not come tell me about it.
I stand behind my staff, we have had are fair share of issues, but we are not trying to be a restaurant, we are a neighborhood tavern. I am sorry if our laid back approach is not to your liking.
I will be the first to admit that brunch has allways been a problem for me, but have you been lately?
I will allways take note to people who have had a issue reciently, I would perfer to hear about it in person at the time it happened. What really gets me is the same people who havent been to The Argonaut in a long time, still talking about experiences from previous months and years on current posts! For some of you, don't you think it might be a problem if every place you go you have bad service or a problem? everyone is human including your server or bartender If you are rude and put them down 9 out of 10 times they are going to give you poor service because they don't even want to look at you let alone want to talk to you. We are not trying to be anything we are not, and I personally think I have a great staff at the Argonaut! I feel that my current staff is the best staff I have ever had and stand behind them 100%.
If you have a problem and I'm not around, feel free to contact me directly and tell me about it.
scott@argonautdc.com,
or if you had a great time and the service was great tell me that as well. saying somthing nice about your experience can make a servers night!
Thanks and we love beening Hst's Neighborhood Hang out!
Is the Cap City Diner planning on serving whole wheat pancakes with real maple syrup or are they going to institute BYOMS (Maple syrup) policy?
@milind - After the hockey game last night, they had better make sure it is American maple syrup and not Canadian!
@Scott - I have been to the Argo quite a few times and have always had solid service. Not amazing, but by no means bad.
i went to Argonaut AND the diner this weekend which means my comments are probably pretty important! first, the argonaut. on saturday morning, our server (tall woman who smiles A LOT!) was so nice and fun, as she always is. and the food was pretty good too. now, the diner. the food was great and it was interesting to watch them figure out how things are going to run. the tables were full so we sat down at the bar and were greeted by the cook (who was friendly and endearing) but no one else spoke to us for close to 15 minutes. once Dee got to us, our food didnt take very long. but that time period of waiting to be acknowledged can be a little uncomfortable. so my only suggestion would be to greet people once they appear. that goes such a long way in extending a customer's patience and making them feel welcome. but we have great faith in the diner and are always happy to have a cool place like the Argonaut close by.
Let's face it.
DC is not a service town.
There are very few career waiters / bar staff / etc. here.
Unlike towns like NY and Philly, where these careers are considered honorable and people do it as a lifelong profession.
That's often not the case in DC.
So the worker pool that bar owners and managers have to draw on in DC is usually pretty dismal.
I think sometimes they just have to be satisfied if their employee shows up roughly on time, not high, and doesn't actually punch a customer.
True, not the highest standard to meet.
But sadly that's our history.
Why don't patrons note problems more in person?
Could be because we are a passive-aggressive town.
But the few times I've ever politely brought something to the attention of the wait staff or manager, more than once I've regretted it.
Often the response I get back is indignation and a very defensive posture.
It pretty much ruins the dining experience.
Wait staff and managers in DC sometimes don't seem to do a very good job of dealing with a problem discretely, so if you do note a problem, by discretely taking your waiter aside or finding a manager, chances are pretty good it'll be followed up with a very public scene back at your table.
I can honestly say I've only complained once about service at any place on H. It was at Argo over a year ago, and the issue was handled pretty great.
I've always been surprised at the criticism of the Argonaut. I've eaten there dozens of times and never had an experience worth bad-mouthing.
As far Capital City Diner, they've got a lot of issues to work through. Went there on Saturday and on Sunday and was disappointed at the slow service and miscommunication. The food was good and I'll definitely be back, but they certainly need a few weeks to find a rhythm to the ordering and cooking process. Still I'm glad to have them in the neighborhood. If this weekend was any indication, I think the owners have a hit on their hands.
I'll follow up by saying part of the reason DC has bad service so much is because DC patrons either are too passive-aggressive to complain in person, or when they do complain they don't know how to do it constructively.
Rather than being polite and pointing out a specific problem, more often when I see patrons in DC restaurants complaining it's a long litany of complaints that seem either designed to get them free food or some sort of weird power trip over the waiter.
I've actually heard diners say that they are going to 'get their monies worth' out of the waiter because of the high prices for the food.
Having waited tables for years in my youth I can say you figure those folks out pretty quickly, and you learn that no matter how hard you try they will always want something more, and chances are very good they won't be tipping anyway.
I see service and food issues here in DC that would NEVER fly in other cities.
And I also see chronic bitchy complainer patrons in DC that, again, would never fly in DC.
So what's the solution?
Everybody gets a free course in basic service and customer etiquette?
My biggest complaint? The temperature of food. So often in DC I get food that is all room temperature. The stuff that's supposed to be hot is room temperature. The stuff that's supposed to be cold is room temperature.
Serving a burger where the meat is hot and the lettuce and tomato is cold is not rocket science.
But it does seem to be a rarity in DC.
Joe Englert said:
Hillman and others, of course, you should expect a high degree of service at DC restaurants.
However, how crazyis it to expect the Capitol City Diner to be perfect within a week of opening?
These guys are truly providing a public service to our neighborhood. It is one of the only places where all demographics can really come together to talk and eat and share commonalities.
They have done a really terrific job. And trust me, with a few more weeks they will be stroking it out of the park.
Hey, this is truly a period where we should support them 100%. Bring a friend to talk to or a crossword puzzle on a busy Saturday or Sunday if you think you might have to wait a while.
I for one, want to again thank them for believing in us as a community. Thanks guys for spending over $100,000 of your own money to give us such a cool place. Thank you for working day and night to make me milkshakes and fries and waffles.
Thank you for the long hours and the vision. And I hope you kick ass! Keep up the good work.
I met a friend for breakfast at the diner on Friday morning around 7 am before work. It was pretty much empty and our food, which was awesome, came out fast. I know weekdays aren't really an option for a lot of people, but if you want to try the diner without the huge crowds and waits, that is a good time to go. Actually, most of the places in the area are better if you go during the week.
Joe:
I know not to expect perfection, particularly at first.
I haven't been to the diner yet. I usually wait a couple weeks before going to a new place.
And I'm old and bitter and usually just snack on freezer-burnt Lean Cuisine meals in the dark in my living, rather than go out to new places.
And I most certainly applaud anyone who opens a restaurant in DC if they treat their customers with even basic respect and courtesy.
Doing business in DC is a giant pain in the butt, particularly in the restaurant / bar business, and I respect anyone that gives it a try.
Every time I've had a bad experience at the argo, the wait staff acknowledged it, but didn't care about remedying the problem. Seriously, how many times can you note the terrible service for the wait staff to basically act like its my problem and I should get over it. For me, its been a 50/50 experience, half great, half terrible.
Scott,
Your wait staff seems like they're good folks--the issue has never been rudeness on either end, so I don't know where you're getting that. The issue has been the fact that a customer is looking at a significant time investment when they come for a meal, especially if it is brunch. The first time we wound up waiting a while for dinner, we figured it was just a bad day. The second time, where we waited over an hour for brunch, you weren't there. The third time, where we also waited over an hour (as did the table next to us who informed their apologetic waiter that it was the worst brunch experience they ever had), you showed up after our orders finally came out, and after having sat around for 75 minutes for burnt toast and incomplete orders and having to go fetch our own silverware and soda refills from the bartender, I really didn't feel like waiting around to tell you what you had probably already figured out: brunch that morning was turning out to be a massive failure. The waiter was a nice guy (dark hair, beard--I think he has since moved to H Street CC) who explained to us that the cook was new.
Would my having pulled you away from the tables you had started waiting on really have changed anything from my perspective? I didn't want you to comp anything, and I was pretty confident you were well aware that your kitchen was a mess, so what was the point?
I want you to do well, and I'm pretty sure I'll be back, since your menu is very good, I like the neighborhood pub atmosphere, and your beer/booze selections are top notch. I just hope the experience is a little better next time, and I find that far from unreasonable.
The gf and I have been to The Argonaut at least 10 times in the past year and probably >25 times total since moving here 3 years ago.
I've NEVER had poor service. Once, during a busy weeknight during the snowstorm, they were out of barbecue sauce. That's it.
It's one of the best neighborhood pubs on the east coast. Period.
Thanks for your hard work and service.
-Kramer St.
I'm old and bitter and usually just snack on freezer-burnt Lean Cuisine meals in the dark in my living, rather than go out to new places.
I just want to say, it's great that you don't let the fact that you never go out anymore stop you from critiquing the table service of the entire DC restaurant scene. heh.
Having said that, my pet peeve--which I see in DC more than any other city I've ever lived--is when you get stellar service for the entirety of the meal, and finally, when all is done, and you're sipping coffee....the server vanishes without a trace, as though they'd been Raptured.
Anyone know what's up with that?
Thank goodness for people like Big Joe, Scott and Matt who have the audacity to open and run great places in a pretty sketchy part of town. My wife and I have been to the ARGH at least 50 times since it opened. We love the place. Same is true for Taylor, Souk, Sticky Rice, the Pug and Granville's. And if you have a problem, which can happen at the Capitol Grille just as easily as at the Argonaut, then raise your hand and get it fixed. Or go to the next place down the block. What a bunch of Debbie Downers. No wonder our neighborhood faces so many challenges.
Paul,
Don't mistake critiques for a lack of appreciation for these spots. We're all excited to have all these options that we didn't have until recently. When we moved to H Street, there was no Granville's, no Sticky Rice, no Souk, etc., and now we have a ton of options in our neighborhood, all of which I patronize regularly. But I've never understood the sentiment of some here that we shouldn't voice our dissatisfaction when one of these establishments fails to live up to reasonable expectations.
We let the first bad Argo experience slide since we thought it might just be an off night, but during both of our poor brunch experiences, we asked the waiter what the deal was and both times they blamed the kitchen staff. Once it was because they had too few cooks, and the other time it was because one of the cooks was inexperienced. At that point, what can you really do to "fix" it? It is what it is by then. I really don't see why it's wrong to publicly discuss the experience.
I'd love for the Argonaut to be open on sat and sunday mornings early for breakfast.(Not "brunch")
The diner could ever refer some of their overflow crowd down to argonaut- making everyone happy!
I hope Sullivans is getting some spillover from the Diner too. I see they have a nice new sign.
"I just want to say, it's great that you don't let the fact that you never go out anymore stop you from critiquing the table service of the entire DC restaurant scene. heh."
Convenient how that works, aye?
On a brighter note, two restaurants in DC have the service thing down pat.
Matchbox and Old Ebbitt Grill.
Sure, Ebbitt isn't really trendy adventure dining, but they clearly train their staff and I've never had bad service there, even when they are swamped.
Matchbox has also has exemplary service, at least the dozen or so times I've been.
Why?
Both of these places clearly train their staff.
Hillman, I've lived in Philly & NYC, waited tables along the way. Your ignorance in thinking DC doesn't have career waiters is surprising for someone as old as you claim to be. Open up your wallet and visit nice places. Just went to Corduroy and Blue Duck Tavern, great service. H St. is great, but the spaces are tiny and not designed for efficient service, and none of them are 'nice places'; they're fun holes. DC restaurant seen in general is much better than Philly.
I agree with Hillman on Matchbox. Matchbox in SE has the best set of waitstaff. Friendly, prompt, courteous and all pretty.
No one wants this place to succeed more than me. However, I have to say I was seriously disappointed in the service at Cap City Diner when I stopped in today.
In fact, there was no service.
I walked in shortly before noon and found that the Diner was only about half full with only 2-4 people sitting at counter.
I sat at the counter and proceeded to wait 20 minutes for someone to come over and take my order.
No one came. No one even came over to say hello. It was absurd.
One of the owners was not 4 feet from where I sat and he did not come over to my side of the counter once. The waitress who was working at the time didn't take anyone's order the entire time I was there. In fact, all she did was apologize to two gentlemen sitting at the booth who were complaining about not getting what they ordered. The two men then left without paying (she comp'ed them).
The waitress then avoided everyone else who was waiting to order (including me) and tried to look busy in the back (but not really doing anything).
It was so bad I left without ordering.
I understand that the Diner guys have kinks to work out -- but this goes well beyond that. Whether you just opened or not, there is simply no excuse for having a customer sit for 20 minutes without so much as a "hell0" or a "Can I take your order?". Especially when things are not busy. Simply ridiculous.
I want the Diner guys to succeed which is why I'm writing this. I hope they will address these issues pronto otherwise they are not going to be in business very long....
JJ,
I had the exact same experience on Sunday, around 7am. Came in for breakfast, took the table at the western end of the diner. Waitress DID come over to say hello, took a drink order. Ten Minutes later, we received our drinks. Then we waited. And waited. And waited.
Despite making eye contact with the waitress and asking for her to come over and take our order, she didn't do so, for 30 minutes. We ended up getting up and leaving.
When I went to the counter to pay for our drinks, a man who I assume to be one of the owners rang me up. When I explained to him why I was paying, I just received an "sorry about that" in response. I don't think that I'm owed anything, btw, but a more interested response would have been appreciated.
I want the diner to succeed as well. Unfortunately this past sunday was a complete S-show.
I think in terms of the service industry in DC, we are still catching up to places like NYC, which experienced its renaissance before we did. Seems like DC is finally on the map after a long period of obscurity. And H street is one place you can see it happening. (And that is why we should embrace it.)
NYC, absolutely. On any list, NYC is top one or two of restaurant cities in America. But DC is top ten, and Philly is never even listed.
I know that places have some glitches in their service and food quality, it is not just the new businesses where this pops up. Just tonight I went to Granville Moores to get a buffalo burger (advertised to be cooked medium rare) and when they asked me how I wanted it cooked I again mentioned I wanted it medium rare. Those of you that know buffalo is very lean and can become dry when overcooked. When I go home (it was to go) I took a big bite to find it well done. The last time I ate there I stayed upstairs at the bar to have my dinner. When I got my burger that time it was also well done. The burgers are all the same size and it seems as though the person doing the cooking could have some sort of time to follow when cooking these burgers.
Yes,I will go back to GMs again, but not for a while as when I spend $14 for a burger it could be cooked the way I request or even the way it is advertised.
I think I will try to get to that new burger joint in Dupont to see about their burgers. I love buffalo as it is better (healthier) for us. But what the heck.
So, don't jump all over the diner as they are trying and can be no worse than the places that have been around for some years now.
Joe, when are you opening the steak house?
I've been to this diner several times already. I am from PA and travel by car quite a bit. This always includes a diner or two.
These guys got it right. I live in the Atlas District, but am moving to Trinidad and I'm glad to see a real Diner in my neighborhood. I'll be back, frequently.
"Open up your wallet and visit nice places. Just went to Corduroy and Blue Duck Tavern, great service."
Call me an optimist or maybe demanding, but I shouldn't have to go to a very expensive restaurant to get decent service.
I'm not talking about butt-smooching service.
I'm talking about the basics.
When you order a hamburger the meat and fries come out hot. And the lettuce and tomatoes come out cold.
And the bun isn't so stale you could use it for a hockey puck.
And the waiter doesn't disappear for half an hour at a time.
It's the mid-range and below joints (price-wise) that DC really lacks quality in.
That's why I listed Philly as a better eating town. You can go in any number of neighborhood joints there and get hot, good food, with good, competent service.
Chances are, I'd say, 80% that you'll get a good inexpensive meal in Philly.
In DC, I'd put the odds at about 40%.
Heck, even Baltimore does the non-expense-account neighborhood restaurant better than DC does.
And, sure, tiny kitchens make it harder to produce food. But it doesn't excuse crappy ingredients, food not being hot, surly or inattentive service, etc.
And those conditions have been the norm, generally speaking, in all categories but expense-account restaurants in DC for decades.
Of course there are exceptions.
And I'm not aiming this email at H Street or the diner in particular (especially since I have yet to be to the diner in question).
I'm just saying that's our history and our reality in DC, generally speaking.
Speaking of the neighborhood tavern, Argo does a pretty good job of being above-average on their food, despite them saying they are primarily a tavern.
They have an inventive menu, with some interesting choices that go well beyond 'pub food', and generally speaking the food comes out hot and pretty tasty.
I know others have said they've had service problems, particularly at brunch, but by and large I've been pretty happy there.
i went to the Diner on opening weekend, but the late night as in 3:AM when it was not very busy. Almost all their booths were filled, but their counter had 2 or 3 people. It took a little over 1/2 an hour to get a burger, and some cold fries. i could tell the cook was not that experienced.
service is what you get for a diner atmosphere. actually, i was expecting sultry, but I didn't get it. i'll go back, i am sure it will get better.
I have enten there twice this week the food was great the service was wonderful. The owner (Patrick)talked and was very friendly the cook even chatted some time and made sure our food was up to par. I am happy to have there business in the area.
There is no comparison he has a totally different venue. I love it. Keep doing what your doing Patrick.
The notary.
See ya real soon.
Went back last to Cap City Diner last night for dinner. Service was good, and the meatloaf with green beans and scalloped potatoes was delicious. Also, it turns out they have the best milkshake in DC. I realize that things are going to be less hectic on a Thursday night than a weekend morning, but the experience was still good. Plus, I got the meatloaf dinner and a milkshake, while my wife got the burger with fries and a milkshake. With tax, it still only came out to $22.
i havent been to the diner yet, but i've been going to the Argonaut since it opened and i've only once had bad service. every other time its been stellar.
and my food has always been very good.
I don't even know if anyone is reading the comments at this point... but...
My husband and I went to the diner today (Saturday) at 9 a.m. We didn't have to wait at all for a table. Our waitress (JoAnn?) was quite friendly and attentive. I had my coffee quickly and our food was yummy! We give the place four thumbs up! Great job.
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