Bogie's in Defuniak Springs appalling (merged owner's reply)

[Lollerwaffle]

I have eaten at Bogey's on a few occasions. I used to frequent The Busy Bee Cafe quite often when they owned that as well.

Here is my personal opinion on the whole ordeal. I always enjoyed the Busy Bee for lunch. The people were friendly and chatty, the prices were low, and the food was good.

Since the change to 'fine dining' over at Bogey's, the service just doesn't seem to be on par with a fine dining experience. It seems to me as though the people that run the place are sort of...laid back, quaint, small town folks. They just seem to operate BETTER with that casual lunch cafe atmosphere of Busy Bee. I don't think they're cut out for fine dining. The waiters and waitresses seem very young. The typical sort of people that work quite well with the casual food setting, but aren't refined enough for fine dining.

I'm not going to sit here and bash the hell out of Bogey's, because in general, they are nice people. But I will say that I think trying to do the fine dining thing was a mistake on their part. They don't have the right attitude to really make it work, I think. People expect a whole different experience between normal, casual dinner places and fine dining restaurants. The owner's response was a poor one. It's not something you'd expect to get back from a "high class" sort of business.

[cp]

...and the beat goes on........however,beachhouse25 must have thankfully found the red bar tonight !!

[Lollerwaffle]

I wonder if she says "puh-leeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!111one" at the end of all of her statements when she speaks in person too?

[SWGB]

I disagree. Everyone has made their point. Give the man a chance to respond. If this witch hunt continues you're not only hurting his business, but the jobs of everyone that works there. Let him respond to the complaints and try to make changes in his workplace to promote better customer service.

Mark

He hasn't and based on his response he doesn't seem to mind that his employees and himself may be unemployed based on a very poor choice of response.

Where is Redbar?

Follow the sounds of hooting, hollering, and the smell of Patchoulli thru Grayton.

Wow!

I think they have certainly gotten their share of criticism and then some!

Yes, that was not the most diplomatic reply, as it just sounded like a harried person's quick attempt at damage control before they headed back to the kitchen, not a prepared response for public consumption. IMO it was not handled well on either end. I know I couldn't work in food service as my response would probably be the too truthful "nothing I do will make you happy as you're pissed off" as well.

Has anyone besides the original poster actually eaten there and had a similar or dissimilar dining experience?

Apparently GraytonKid didn't enjoy there experience either.

I wonder if she says "puh-leeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!111one" at the end of all of her statements when she speaks in person too?

Where does he ever refer to himself as a woman?

[Beach House 25]

I wonder if she says "puh-leeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!111one" at the end of all of her statements when she speaks in person too?

Come and meet me... I will be at Fire in the morning... Oh PaaaaaLizzzzz come meet me LOL...

[Beach House 25]

...and the beat goes on........however,beachhouse25 must have thankfully found the red bar tonight !!

Yuppers went there and WoW it was packed! Grabbed a quick drink and the wife and I went to Bud & Allies and the Tarpon Bar had another drink..wait maybe 2...naw3 anyhow, It was a great Night out. Sowall has so much to offer and some wonderful folks. I even saw a few Sowallers there laughing and talking.. Life is fun.. Thanks for the directions... Looking forward to Fire in the morning.... See ya there!

[Lollerwaffle]

Haha, it's a dude? I guess that female avatar earlier caused me to assume otherwise. My apologies.

[SWGB]

Haha, it's a dude? I guess that female avatar earlier caused me to assume otherwise. My apologies.

Insert definition of assume here.

[Lollerwaffle]

Yeah, I know. I ought not to assume. I'm new to this forum, however, so I consider it a reasonable mistake.

[Diane4145]

1. No excuse! 2. Still, no excuse! 3. OK, so how long does he need to offer a sincere apology and personally email or pm, Cork? 4. "#3 on a google search is probably heartbreaking to a local business owner". Well it should be, but, I doubt it!

Wow, you all are tough. I've been lurking here for quite some time. We just got back from a trip to SoWal yesterday, as a matter of fact.

I work somewhere up the food services distribution chain and I've known my share of restaurant folks and owners. You guys are slamming this guy way too hard. I have never heard of his restaurant; nor have I eaten there. And I'm not saying the original poster is wrong. For all I know this guy is a tool.

But 1. it isn't easy to run a restaurant these days. Obviously this guy is working hard, he's short-handed, its the slower season, and trust me when I say much of his food costs are going up while competition is forcing him to keep his prices lower. For all we know it 2.may be a struggle some weeks to make payroll.

Again, I'm making a lot of assumptions, but it is obviously that he takes his work very personally and that probably came out as very defensive -- as he himself admitted at the start of his post. 3.Give him another chance to reply without flaming him. Maybe he'll do a little more 'groveling' which is what most of you seem to want anyway. And frankly, pointing out that this thread is 4.#3 on a google search is probably heartbreaking to a local business owner.

Most of you are usually so uber-supportive of local businesses that I was surprised to see this thread take such an ugly turn.

Enough of my blabbering.

Mark

[Jdarg]

Dead horse. Really dead. Pretty much glue and gelatin products by now, with the good parts hitting the dinner table in France.

[JoshMclean]

1. No excuse! 2. Still, no excuse! 3. OK, so how long does he need to offer a sincere apology and personally email or pm, Cork? 4. "#3 on a google search is probably heartbreaking to a local business owner". Well it should be, but, I doubt it!

Who cares? Get over it already. It has nothing to do with anyone, but Cork and the owner. It's not our job to police how the guy handles the situation. No need to take it on yourself to continually beat the guy into the ground over it. This may be the dumbest thread I've seen on Sowal yet.

Yeah, the guy obviously has mishandled the situation. I wouldn't say that Cork handled the manner in the best possible way either by blasting it to every media publication possible. Yet, that's how the two chose to handle it so good enough.

Mr. Bogey, I'm begging you to please get on here and grovel to the Sowallers so they will quit posting in this thread!

[JoshMclean]

Dead horse. Really dead. Pretty much glue and gelatin products by now, with the good parts hitting the dinner table in France.

Ha, my thoughts exactly

Hopefully they're not serving that horse at Bogeys!

[Jdarg]

Ha, my thoughts exactly

Hopefully they're not serving that horse at Bogeys!

I do think that this thread originally had well-earned criticism and sound advice for the owner, but quickly deteriorated into entertainment and ranting by a few that dragged the whole thread down the tubes. These types of threads can be productive- if you look at some of the other restaurant threads, there has been constructive back-and-forth with the owners and management. But the majority of the posts here have been childish and irrelevant.

[Johnrudy]

Dead horse. Really dead. Pretty much glue and gelatin products by now, with the good parts hitting the dinner table in France.

Ha, my thoughts exactly

Ugh, this thread has just gotten so putrid. The remaining third of these posts are as hurtful and as damaging as they can possibly be. Good grief. There seems to be no self-discipline here.

[Diane4145]

Just might be, the best thing that you've offered in this thread, Josh!

Mr. Bogey, I'm begging you to please get on here and grovel to the Sowallers so they will quit posting in this thread!

[JoshMclean]

Just might be, the best thing that you've offered in this thread, Josh!

Why do you feel entitled to an apology of any sort?

[Arkiehawg]

The funny thing is that those moaning about the thread still having life, continue to post on it.

If you want to have it die, DON"T POST! duh....

[Bogeys]

After some consideration about my original posting, and some advice from my better half, I have decided to retract my original post.

I was responding as anyone would have done who is being talked about negatively in a public forum, I was defending myself and my restaurant and explaining our side of the story. Perhaps a public forum such as this isn’t the best place for that. As some of you have said, a simple “we’re sorry” would have sufficed instead of a two-page version with more info than needed.

After reading some of your reply posts (I only got through the first page, I will try and read more once the holidays are over) and re-reading mine I do agree that it did come off as somewhat harsh, I didn’t intend to “Corky bash” if that’s the way it was perceived I do apologize for that, I was simply defending us from what seemed like a verbal attack, and wanted to try and set the record straight.

Again, I would like to apologize to Corky and her party that dined at my restaurant for the bad experience that they had. We did offer to pick up the tab for their dinners, which we did, and they were welcome to stay and eat, but they declined.

[Beach House 25]

After some consideration about my original posting, and some advice from my better half, I have decided to retract my original post.

I was responding as anyone would have done who is being talked about negatively in a public forum, I was defending myself and my restaurant and explaining our side of the story. Perhaps a public forum such as this isn’t the best place for that. As some of you have said, a simple “we’re sorry” would have sufficed instead of a two-page version with more info than needed.

After reading some of your reply posts (I only got through the first page, I will try and read more once the holidays are over) and re-reading mine I do agree that it did come off as somewhat harsh, I didn’t intend to “Corky bash” if that’s the way it was perceived I do apologize for that, I was simply defending us from what seemed like a verbal attack, and wanted to try and set the record straight.

Again, I would like to apologize to Corky and her party that dined at my restaurant for the bad experience that they had. We did offer to pick up the tab for their dinners, which we did, and they were welcome to stay and eat, but they declined.

Sir, Thank you on my behalf I will say that you have gained my interest again as a future customer! Thats acceptable to me. I hope that the rest of us that felt strong about your 1st response will open the door and say that yup we all make mistakes and lets lend a hand in helping one learn from them. Again, Mr.Harding I will be in your restaurant after the 1st and surely look forward to an excellent meal. Happy New Year!

[Beach House 25]

Why do you feel entitled to an apology of any sort?

Geez Josh. Put a Sock in it! PaaaaaLeeeeeez!

[Cork On the Ocean]

After some consideration about my original posting, and some advice from my better half, I have decided to retract my original post.

I was responding as anyone would have done who is being talked about negatively in a public forum, I was defending myself and my restaurant and explaining our side of the story. Perhaps a public forum such as this isn’t the best place for that. As some of you have said, a simple “we’re sorry” would have sufficed instead of a two-page version with more info than needed.

After reading some of your reply posts (I only got through the first page, I will try and read more once the holidays are over) and re-reading mine I do agree that it did come off as somewhat harsh, I didn’t intend to “Corky bash” if that’s the way it was perceived I do apologize for that, I was simply defending us from what seemed like a verbal attack, and wanted to try and set the record straight.

Again, I would like to apologize to Corky and her party that dined at my restaurant for the bad experience that they had. We did offer to pick up the tab for their dinners, which we did, and they were welcome to stay and eat, but they declined.

Of course I accept your apology and as I said that's all we ever wanted. I must tell you though that to say that you offered and did pick up our tab is a total mistatement. I would not have said one thing if you had compted the drinks . You have received misinformation. My brother-in-law has the 30 some dollar visa receipt for our drinks and my one caesar salad so I believe someone is giving you misinformation. If you are saying that you didn't charge us for the meals which we didn't eat, you are correct and we would have refused to pay for them since we didn't eat them and they were truly cold (except for my baked potato).

In any event, let's put it to bed and hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful and prosperous new year.

[Minnie]

I could be wrong and someone in the industry correct me if so, but not sure a restaurant for liability reasons can comp drinks.

[Teresa]

Dead horse. Really dead. Pretty much glue and gelatin products by now, with the good parts hitting the dinner table in France.

best post of entire thread!!!


this thread has been quite entertaining. Except for Corky's initial dining report, I do not understand why any other sowaller would publicly bash the chef or the restaurant no matter what. they do not know him and they have not personally experienced the restaurant.

I do not know why sowallers would bash each other for their opinions on this thread.

I do know that if someone does not like the thread, they should not say that it needs to be stopped or locked - people are really having a discussion here, even if some participants are rather rude and inappropriate. we do learn much about each other in this way, do we not?

mainly I do know that this board is never used to publicly hurt others or their businesses. I hope we can stay positive and try to be helpful.

[Diane4145]

Tisk, Tisk.... Josh, since you apparently didn't get the concerns of most of us, let me explain. It wasn't the members that necessarily needed an apology, it was what we felt Cork, deserved! And thankfully, it finally came! Thanks, Mr. Harding! You also have a really sharp, better half!

Why do you feel entitled to an apology of any sort?

[Johnrudy]

do I, or do I not?
Another thread, another day.

[SWGB]

I could be wrong and someone in the industry correct me if so, but not sure a restaurant for liability reasons can comp drinks.

Not in Florida. Although, I wouldn't do it in a true bar atmosphere as you are really setting yourself up at that point. It really just depends on the intoxication level of the customer.

[Minnie]

Not in Florida. Although, I wouldn't do it in a true bar atmosphere as you are really setting yourself up at that point. It really just depends on the intoxication level of the customer.

I wasn't sure I know we have been comped meals at Disney and they said they would not be able to comp any alcohol with the meal, if we wanted drinks we would have to pay for them.

[SWGB]

I wasn't sure I know we have been comped meals at Disney and they said they would not be able to comp any alcohol with the meal, if we wanted drinks we would have to pay for them.

That sounds more like a decision not to comp a high cost item. Generally restaraunts will happilly comp a dessert as those are low cost high profit items.

[Arkiehawg]

I've been comp'd at a few restaurants throughout Florida. My favorite was Season's 52 in Orlando.....what a great evening. BTW...that meal was on high cost items including several bottles of amazing wine...

[Smiling JOe]

Wow! What is that old customer service stat? Please a customer, and one in thirty will tell two people about their great experience. Upset a customer and they will tell seven people, each in turn, will tell another seven people and on and on. That old stat seems to be fairly accurate when reading through this thread and comparing it to great experiences of other restaurants.

I worked in the restaurant industry for many years, and was looking forward to the reply from Bogey's. As all mentioned, it was a I felt like I was watching an episode of Hell's Kitchen. I want local establishments to do well, but not at my own expense.
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Dear Miss Corky,
We at Bogey's want each of our customers to leave thinking of only the best, regarding our restaurant and your experiences. I am sorry to hear that we have recently failed for you. I can assure you that we are better than your last experience, and invite you back to Bogey's to enjoy a dinner of five on me. Please contact me personally to make the reservation. As I stated, we want raving fans, so we appreciate the chance to make it up to you.

Sincerely,

Bogey's
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It's easy, and while might cost a bit up front, but it will pay out exponential dividends. Buying a dinner for five at cost, is less expensive than any ad you will ever buy. Restaurants are only as good as their last and next meals served.

[Margarita]

Perhaps all of Bogie's employees and managment should read this great book

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Raving-Fans-Revolutionary-Approach-Customer/dp/0688123163"]Amazon.com: Raving Fans: A Revolutionary Approach To Customer Service: Ken Blanchard, Sheldon Bowles: Books[/ame]

[Smiling JOe]

Perhaps all of Bogie's employees and managment should read this great book

http://www.amazon.com/Raving-Fans-Re.../dp/0688123163

I see you got my reference. Glad to see that other people actually study customer service. There are plenty of books based on customer service.

[yippie]

I wasn't sure I know we have been comped meals at Disney and they said they would not be able to comp any alcohol with the meal, if we wanted drinks we would have to pay for them.

This doesn't sound like it was a comp for bad service or food. Maybe a gift certificate or an invitation? If that is the case, most times, you do have to pay for liquor.

However, if your meal is comped for a mistake, then your drinks should be comped as well. IMHO.

Restaurants in Florida that do not even have a liquor license can "give" away liquor. Funny law isn't it?

[tistheseason]

[QUOTE=Smiling JOe;336441]Dear Miss Corky,
We at Bogey's want each of our customers to leave thinking of only the best, regarding our restaurant and your experiences. I am sorry to hear that we have recently failed for you. I can assure you that we are better than your last experience, and invite you back to Bogey's to enjoy a dinner of five on me. Please contact me personally to make the reservation. As I stated, we want raving fans, so we appreciate the chance to make it up to you.

Sincerely,

Bogey's

[B]PS And we can assure you that the wait won't be nearly as long. . . .THAT problem has been solved!![/B]
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