Top O’ the Lunch Hour to Ya
Stopped in to the new Molly Brannigan’s, for lunch today. 20 minute wait. Left. Came back. Sat at the bar (which, though a daylight activity, probably qualifies the meal for an Out with Sara write-up) and ordered, specifically, two waters with lemon. These came to us as waters with lime.
I guess that’s how they do it in Ireland.
The bartender hurried around behind the bar and finally made eye contact with me with a look that may have implored, “What do you want?”
“Can we order?” I hadn’t meant to snap, but it happened.
He took our orders immediately, and I tried to smooth it over with a smile.
While we waited, we stared at the liquor and beer lining the shelves. Some people still lingered at the door awaitng their tables. I have to criticize the pub for this. In order to be successul at lunch, people can’t be forced to wait at the door more than five minutes. Downtown employees have a half hour or hour for lunch, and the dining process must be expedited. I believe the problem lies in that there is so much wasted space in that building, like the large area beyond the bar. Put in some tables! Feed people!
The man seated next to me received his chicken sandwich, and maybe five minutes later, our food arrived. My neighbor was irritated. He had waited 35 minutes for his food, and ours came in an heartbeat. In the restaurant’s defense, he likely ordered at a busier time, and we probably just got lucky. But I can relate.
I ordered the Rachel, but on sourdough. It was decidedly average. The Brick Haus‘s Rachel kicks its ass.
Joe didn’t complain about his burger, though he did mention, between bites, that “it’s no Kirby’s burger.”
The man to our left said the food is good, but the service isn’t.
My man with the chicken sandwich disagreed. “It was average at best. The Mountain Dew was the best part of the meal,” he said.
To top all of this, the prices were rather high for lunch.
Not the worst, but not the best lunch experience.
CATEGORIES: Food/Drink, Harrisburg
I hear that they make you wait 20 minutes for your table and are really rude to you in Ireland, too. They’re just keeping with the Irish theme by treating you that way.
Perhaps that’s what it is. They are certainly interested in keeping things traditional.
No one was rude, though, so perhaps it was slightly American-influenced.
Here’s an idea…go to these places “undercover” (sweatpants, no makeup and an afro wig) and see how different they treat you (I’m sure a possibe bad mark in your column sways them to treat you better than they treat the average person). Then you compare the Out with Sara service to the regular person service. I’m sure you got your order before that poor schmo because they didn’t want you to write about how you had to wait an hour for your Rachel.
I’m sure that the bartender had no idea that I write a nightlife column.
But I agree it would be more interesting, and often, more accurate, to see how I’m treated when the staff or management doesn’t recognize me from the newspaper.
Then again, some don’t care anyway.
I think you’re shortchanging yourself…everyone in Harrisburg knows SARA! It’s probably the most read article in Patriot (in the Friday edition at least)