this has been a while

i think i've done this from time to time, but i know i haven't done it recently. prolly since the great cheesecake fiasco (nearly 2 years ago, how i've not missed that dump).

anyways, yesterday M&i decided that we wanted to have lunch at Finz in Salem. to our surprise, there wasn't much of a wait (none) as the last time we tried, it was pretty busy. so i'll list the good things (you may see a pattern developing)

the good:

• there was no wait to be seated
  
• they moved a table out of the sun under the awning so we could sit in the shade
  
• lunch was free

we arrived around 1pm, and were promptly seated (outside on the deck, see above, they moved a table for us). so far so good. we are given water with lemon, ordered ice tea (after considering the peach mojito). that was promptly delivered.

without a way to sweeten it.

110pm
our waitress (i believe her name was Michelle, but she never tells us her name, we find this out later on) takes our order. nothing fancy, fairly simple, all appetizers.

• Watermelon Salad (entree size)
  
• Scallop Ceviche Mini Tacos
  
• Guacamole Topped with Crabmeat (added at the last moment)
  

after taking our order, our waitress gives us the sugar packet thing so we can finally sweeten our ice tea. at this time, 3 women arrive and are seated, and another couple arrive and are seated (they opt for a sunny seat). a few minutes later, a party of 6 (and infant) arrive.

M&i chat about this and that, the usual lunchtime conversation. M wonders if we are getting rolls (as she arrived pretty hungry). our waitress is nowhere to be found.

during this time, all 3 of the afore mentioned tables have placed their orders and had drinks served.

120pm
ditz of a greeter shows up, sucking down her dunkin' iced coffee. my water glass facing traffic with passing waitresses, a ditzy greeter and sluggish bus boy, is empty.

125pm
M wonders aloud how long it takes to put together 3 cold appetizers. we managed to flag ditzy greeter over (after she blatently avoids eye contact with us for several minutes) to ask about our waitress. my water glass is still empty.

130pm
the party of 3 women now have a hot appetizer. we finally manage to flag down our waitress (thanks to sluggish bus boy) and ask if we are getting rolls. she informs us that they don't serve rolls at lunch, but she can have some put in to warm for us. the only thing is our meal would be out before we received the rolls. we pass on the rolls. we ask what the problem with our order is and she informs us that everything but the tacos are ready. we send her off to the kitchen to bring out the salad and guacamole. running theory is that she never placed our order. my water glass continues to be empty.

135pm
the couple sitting in the sun receive their lunch. (not appetizer, LUNCH) M is boiling. we receive a basket of rolls. just like several OTHER tables. after a 2nd trip, all of the seated tables around us have baskets of rolls. we flag ditzy greeter over and ask her why it is taking so long to assemble 3 appetizers. she stumbles over her words and heads off to talk with someone. hot appetizers are delivered to party of 6 (and infant). and like my water glass, my ice tea is now empty (i could only nurse it for so long).

140pm
one of the several managers comes out to speak with us. she apologizes for the delay, that things will be taken are of. couple sitting in the sun receive their bill. my water and ice tea glasses are empty.

145pm
couple sitting in sun depart after paying their bill. M tries a roll. water glass: empty. ice tea glass: empty.

149pm
lunch is served.

150pm
M&i receive ice tea refills. ditzy greeter neglects to remove empty glasses from now overcrowded table. oh yeah, water glass is still empty.

at this point, M&i finally have an opportunity to eat. it was hard to really enjoy lunch, and we can't say we were really wowed by the food (most reviews we have read imply that the food & service is pretty good). as we sat there, we looked at what we had ordered and wondered how it could take so long to make what we had ordered.

the watermelon salad was nothing fancy, it isn't hard to place guacamole in a large bowl, add some crab meat, surround with chips. and the tacos aren't that complicated either - as an appetizer, they are pretty small, so while we were eating, we were boggled at how it could take so long (unless the order hadn't been placed until we complained).

206pm
we finish eating. waitress comes over to clear the table and ask if we want anything else. M orders another ice tea which is prompty delivered.

215pm
we couldn't leave the place fast enough.

never once did our waitress apologize to us. the manager did, but by the time she did, we were both boiling. we never received an explanation as to what the delay was, or why there was such a delay.

so, M&i will say this: don't eat at Finz in salem.

i realize that there have been plenty of people who have had really good meals there, but based on our experience, i cannot, nor will i suggest anyone go there to eat.

so, like the burlington cheesecake factory location, finz in salem is now blacklisted. i will not eat there again.