Vinnie R's Italian Restaurant Italian Restaurant Navarre Florida bad service ripoff Navarre Florida

Vinnie R's has always been the place where my family and another family would meet up for dinner about once a month or so. Last weekend, we made plans and met there for dinner. We liked this place because there is a Chalkboard and a toy area for our kids.

We had a great time, like always. The service was ok. But One of the waiters went past our kids in the play area and said "GET OUT OF THE WAY!!!". I was thinking, did he just say that? Then the same waiter was standing around a hostess came up to him to tell him he had another table and they have been waiting....He yells "s**t!!"

I was still sitting there wondering, what the hell is going on? Then we get our checks. And to my suprise, we were charged an 18% Gratuity for having 8 or more people. I was pretty ticked off and this is why. There were 4 adults and 5 kids under the age of 5. We ordered Pizza. Now we had 2 of the 5 kids in high chairs, 2 kids are 3 and then a 5 year old.

We have been there countless times and this has never happened. They have never charged us gratuity. I asked the waiter why we were charged this? He said there were 9 people and that was their policy. So I said, There are 2 babies. And 3 small kids and he pretty much said so what. At this point I was pretty mad. We paid the check and asked if I could speak to the manager, how convienent, our waiter was the manager!! So I asked if there was someone there more important than him. He said the owner was there.

So I asked to speak with him. He came out and pretty much told us the same thing. So then I told him about the other waiter yelling at the kids and yelling out a four letter word because he was told to work. He said sorry, I don't know what you want me to do about it.
It's not like I wasn't going to leave a tip. The point is it was it was forced on us. We didn't order a meal for each and every kid. We got pizzas and served ourselves. They advertise they have a kid friendly atmosphere. That night was anything but kid friendly. Our kids got yelled at, heard a waiter swear, and then we were forced to pay an 18% gratuity.

I am usually a lurker on this page and I know I will be told if I am wrong, maybe I am. I just wanted people to know how "kid friendly" Vinnie R's really is.

Jenny
Gulf Breeze, Florida
U.S.A.