TASTE ON MELROSE

Rude valet

I can’t begin to describe how incredible our experience was at Craig’s. We were visiting from out of town and expected the typical experience that comes from “of the moment” spots - mediocre food, overpriced and service that reflects that they don’t need our patronage. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

We went on a Friday night with our two children - ages 10 & 13 - and expected that we would be met annoyance - it was anything but! The hostess was so sweet, kind and personable, and then we had a visit from Emma (who I presume was the manager) and she engaged us in real, meaningful conversation, not just the requisite check-in. Following her visit, Craig, the owner, came by to see how our experience was.

But the true stand-out of the evening was our waiter, Carson. I simply can’t find the words to compliment him to the level he deserves. He was so engaging, kind and funny that we forgot we had only just met him that night! He took the time to talk to us about where we were from, he engaged my boys into a deep sports discussion and made them feel important while keeping them laughing. When we all left that night we couldn’t stop talking about how incredible our entire experience was! So much so, that we canceled our reservation at a very highly sought after restaurant on Monday night so we could go back there.

We had another great experience on Monday. Our waitress, Kristi, was so sweet and kind! On the way out we ran into Carson and he treated us like old friends. My boys were so excited that we got to see him again (as were we) and, despite us not being his customers that night, he spent time chatting with us and never once made us feel like we were taking too much of his time. This man is truly amazing and if you ever have the chance to have him as your server, consider yourself lucky!

Thank you so much, Carson, for making our entire trip! We will be back to Craig’s every time we visit LA!

Great place. Staff is very attentive but gives you your space at the same time. I asked for suggestions, and all suggestions hit THE SPOT. I just wish the fishes came with some sort of sides. I got the bone in ribeye (medium rare, chard) it was PERFECT, but it needed a side of mash or veggies, and it didn't have that. But over all me and my fiance had a memorable time.

As a tourist, my partner and I were excited to celebrate our anniversary at Craig’s, having heard great things about it. However, our visit turned out to be incredibly disappointing, leaving a sour taste in our mouths, not from the food but from the abysmal service we received.

From the moment we walked in, we couldn't help but feel that we were being treated poorly, possibly due to discrimination. We were seated in a corner that felt isolated and out of the way, almost as if we were placed there to be constantly observed by the staff. This seating arrangement immediately created an unwelcome atmosphere.

The uncomfortable experience only escalated as we noticed the stares and glances from both the employees and other guests. This constant scrutiny made us feel incredibly uneasy and unwelcome. It became so distressing that we couldn't even bring ourselves to finish our meal before deciding to leave.

The overall feeling of being unwelcomed and the blatant stares from the employees and other guests made this a truly unpleasant experience. It is disheartening to encounter such discriminatory treatment in a supposedly reputable establishment. We left Craig’s with a profound sense of disappointment and frustration, tarnishing what was meant to be a special occasion for us.

In light of our experience, we cannot recommend Craig’s to people of color who are seeking an enjoyable dining experience. Discrimination has no place in any establishment, and it is essential for restaurants to ensure that all their guests are treated with respect and dignity. We hope that you all take this feedback seriously and works towards creating a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all patrons.

Overall, our visit was a regrettable experience marred by poor service and possible discrimination. We sincerely hope that the management takes appropriate measures to address these issues, ensuring that no future guests have to endure the same disappointment and discomfort that we did.

Too packed no sitting had to stand by and the food was allright will not be returning thanks