Walter's Basin So Disappointed
 

Felt it necessary to post our disappointed experience at Walter"s Basin today September 1st. We have been frequent visitors at the Basin for a number of years. My wife and I sat at the bar as we usually do and it must of been change of shift time, service was poor (food was great) and even when I mentioned it to the bar manager, she didn't care either. # bartenders behind bar, one was busy counting receipts to cash out, 2nd one gave us menus and left the room for like 15 minutes, 3rd just didn't even bother to come over to ask us if we would like to order food since we put the menus down a few times to try to get his attention. I remember in my past dinning experience's there talking to him about his vacation and travel experience to South America. I was so disappointed, that I have a $15 dollar gift card left over today that I plan on mailing it to the Owner/ Manager of Walters with a note stating I plan not to return, reasons why and to keep the left over gift card. FYI another couple left before our food came cause no one gave them glasses with their bottle beer and he asked twice I heard...I honestly think between the bar manager not really caring, the 3 bartenders, I won"t be back........

I can never understand why someone would have numerous good experiences at a place then after one bad one feel the need to go online and trash the place.

The internet makes it far too easy to hide I guess. Would it not have been better to get this resolved on the spot? Or call the manager the next day?

I agree; it should have been handled so much better.

By the way, I guess the original poster said the food was very good, but have never heard of the place. What town is it in?

Holderness. It's a little far from us, but we've had good experiences when we've gone.

I also agree that it's weird having had frequented a place with positive results multiple times but slamming them for one unexceptional one.

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Unfortunately it's just the way most people are (not picking on the original poster) Most will not post about a good experience but will post on the first bad one.


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Unreal! [emoji849][emoji849] God forbid a place of business has a bad day..


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Sounds more serious than just a bad day.

Unreal. God forbid someone has an opinion.

Seriously people, lighten up. I've given up on most reviews here because it turns into a soapbox. Like clockwork the OP gets bashed for posting their experience.


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How useful is a review of one bad experience out of many (and, let's not forget that the OP said--quickly--that the food was good!)? The best restaurants are gonna have bad days.

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So therefore ALL reviews must be positive. Brilliant. How about the readers take it with a grain of salt and make their own determination. One review is just that. ONE. Why are you all criticizing the critic?

Whoever called this forum a soapbox was right on.

Just my 2 cents but I don't think people are responding to a bad review. They are responding to the notion that after numerous good experiences a single night of slow service justifies never patronizing the restaurant again (even if the food continued to be good).

This time of year is tough for local businesses because a large percentage of the workforce just left for school. My favorite eatery just went from 12 people staffed at lunch to 2. Thats the nature of this area.

Bad reviews are wanted but I guess it would have been nice to see a review that said "Service was terrible, horrible, no good and very bad last night. But since I've had so many good experiences previously I'm going to cut them some slack and see what its like the next time..."

We love Walter's Basin. We've always found the service at the bar to be exceptional. As was said, this is a tough time of year for restaurants. They've lost most of their help for the season. I say, give them another chance!

It must be a terrible burden to be perfect.....

OP- If you have enjoyed the place for so many other visits, have a one-on-one with the manager. Give them the chance to hear you.

Please forward the gift certificate to PO Box 49
 

I will gratefully take the Card.

If this is acceptable I will PM you my mailing address.


WINNOCTURN

Great Fried Scollops and Salmon!!!!!!!

Ive been there a half dozen times. The food has been hit or miss. I never had bad service there but I did have a few bad meals.

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My thoughts exactly, very well said. I will throw in another 2 cents to make it worth 4 cents.

Give a little slack on service
 

As others have said. Many servers have left for the season and there is now a severe shortage. NH tourism is expected a record number of visitors this weekend, over 640k to the state. TBones was packed last night and obviously service was a little slow and today, Canoe has closed the downstairs table area because of lack of servers. Be patient this time of year.

It is, but in all fairness, I made a mistake once, I thought I had made a mistake but I was wrong. ;)

Funny!
 

That is a funny joke right there!

I laughed so hard I kicked the side railings right off of my cradle the first time I heard that!

Lol, and you've dated yourself in the process!

Egad, you butchered it.

It goes: "I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken."

I'm with you on this one. I also don't understand how one can harbor a disappointment long enough to get home to the computer to write about it. If I were in the shoes I would've just left a very poor tip and scratched a little note on a piece of paper explaining why the tip was poor. My hope would be to provide a solution to the problem so the next time I came in to enjoy the food, the service would catch up.

Of course there is a chicken or the egg to this approach. In some cases the poor service maybe consequence of previous visits when the tip was very low.

It's not just a problem in the summer places. I was at a restaurant in Lexington Ma. last night and there were a lot of empty tables but there was over an hour wait because there wasn't enough help.

silver lining
 

Is that since restaurants and other low paying jobs aren't being filled the workers are getting better higher paying jobs elsewhere. This is almost certainly the case and that is not a bad thing. Of course, if it continues restaurants will have to pay more to attract help which means we'll be paying more for a meal. Econ 101...

Gov. Sununu wants to introduce a law that schools can't start until after Labor Day. He says that would enable people to have vacations later in August and would be good for the economy. Also kids could continue to work in the service industry. I think it's a good idea because the shortage always seems to be a problem when kids go back to school.

Yes, I read this yesterday. It is an excellent idea and works very well for the resort towns on the east end of Long Island, NY. In NY the schools almost NEVER open until the Tuesday or Wednesday after Labor Day

I agree. I guess the issue is that towns want to have local control of their schools and not the state. Right, like they do now, huh? Between state and federal rules and regs, I don't think the towns control matters much any more.

In NY the towns set their school calendar but it is universal not to start before Labor Day

In my MA district, teachers report W/R for orientation/meetings and then have the long weekend before students return on the Tuesday after Labor Day.

This works great--because it's in the union document, teachers and parents can plan accordingly well ahead of time. It also gives students a sense of summer closure.

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I remember seeing the restaurant, Walters Basin, for sale last year. Does anyone know if it changed hands?

What is W/R ?

Wednesday/Thursday

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It was very good
 

We just enjoyed apps and drinks at the bar. The place was busy enough for an off season Monday. The service was attentive and the food was very good. The ahi tuna ragunes were so good we had to get a second order.

If you combine Yelp, tripadvisor, Facebook, and Google you'll find Walter's rated very high in comparison to most other LR restaurants. They lived up to and perhaps exceeded the expectation.

Walter's Basin
 

Stopped by last Thursday after visiting the Squam Lake Science Center. Found the drinks, appetizer, and service very good. Location is Great !

Thanks,
Bill

Haven’t been there lately, but...
 

We have driven by WB quite a few times lately, and they seem to be very busy, which says that they must be doing something right. Have no idea where they seat everyone...go ahead, give it a whirl.

Website
 

It used to be the bowling alley so it is very deep!

Went there twice last year. Food very average. Not good and not bad.


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I went twice last year and had a great table with a great view and thought both my meals were very good... and I'll return. I like their bar also.

I eat at Walters regularly and it is a solid option. If you are looking for a to go lunch while fishing on the lake try the sandwiches at the Squam Marketplace. They have a dock you can pull up to out back. Really, really great sandwiches. Especially the turkey club and the italian.

Walters
 

Used to be my favorite, especially Sunday brunch.

Not so good nowadays, imho.

I haven't been in a couple years because my at last visit my meal was terrible. I will try it again as I heard it has new ownership but if I don't have a good experience it will be my last.

Had good experiences there. Went because we heard that Squam Brewing was served there. Had a solid Squam IPA at a window seat.