Lobster Pound Disaster

[jmen24]

Originally Posted by Winnipesaukee

Edit: OP, let me see if I can say this in a non-ad hominum manner: "your posts" are absolutely neurotic.

People are far too liberal with their public rants on restaurants. I've been to hundreds in my short life, and have had plenty of bad experiences, with only one worth mentioning: Carbo's in Mashpee. Even that wasn't a huge deal; it fell all on the waitress we had. The food was good...

Try working in a restaurant, folks, and see how you like it. You're not buying a bespoke suit, you're being served dinner. Accept that people make honest, harmless mistakes. Something wrong? Speak up. Go to the hostess, tell someone, or just walk out.

I usually don't eat out too much in NH (grilling is more the norm up there), but after seeing you go through this crap, I'd love to stop by and chow down some wicked pissah lobsta. I'm sure the service will be just fine. You've been there what, 30 years? I'll be the one ordering that inedible shrimp for an app, followed by that yellowfin. See ya soon.

The name The Lobster Pound has been there for like 30 years (the current owners about 3), but you can bet your bottom dollar that the Loster Pound that Lou and Harvey ran is a far cry from the current owners.

There are some folks on this forum that will understand where my comments are coming from, but having a personal relationship with quite a few resturants in the Lakes Region for the last 29 years, is where my following feelings come from. Many really good people have walked away from the industry in this area for one reason or another and they will never return. That to me is a shame, the likes of Crabby Dave, Pepper and Lou and Harvey are only the tip of the ice berg with a few more on the step of that door now.

My post is to only illistrate that the owners of these newer resturants have some extremely big shoes to fill and most of what has been said in this thread by Mike Ray is appaulling and is proof that while one can have a very successful business, it is the small things that count and how this customer was treated (wrong or not) in a public forum was a very eye opening experience. The names listed above held themselves in a much higher manner and the following that they enjoyed was the reward for caring about your customer beyond what their credit card number was.

[VtSteve]

Originally Posted by jmen24

The name The Lobster Pound has been there for like 30 years (the current owners about 3), but you can bet your bottom dollar that the Loster Pound that Lou and Harvey ran is a far cry from the current owners.

Beyond personalities, long term history, and things just being Like they Used to Be. There were some horrible reviews of the LP before the new owners took over. So Jmen, perhaps not everybody shares the positive views of the past. Heck, you can usually get ten different reviews of a restaurant from five different people

I had some friends meet me one night at Harts TF. To this day they can't fathom why I almost always go there when in the area. (hint, traditions, history, etc.) I try to judge any business for what it is, not what I perceived it was.

MR's time is much better spent 7 days a week at the LP IMO. Forums like this are not good for business unless you've known everyone for decades, or have the silk tongue of an natural salesman. Mike's obviously a hard worker, and has a passion for his business. If he continues to make the LP better and better, I'll forgive his lack of BS when addressing bad reviews. I never BS when giving a review, good or bad, so perhaps I can relate to MR better than many.

[jmen24]

Originally Posted by VtSteve

Beyond personalities, long term history, and things just being Like they Used to Be. There were some horrible reviews of the LP before the new owners took over. So Jmen, perhaps not everybody shares the positive views of the past. Heck, you can usually get ten different reviews of a restaurant from five different people

I had some friends meet me one night at Harts TF. To this day they can't fathom why I almost always go there when in the area. (hint, traditions, history, etc.) I try to judge any business for what it is, not what I perceived it was.

MR's time is much better spent 7 days a week at the LP IMO. Forums like this are not good for business unless you've known everyone for decades, or have the silk tongue of an natural salesman. Mike's obviously a hard worker, and has a passion for his business. If he continues to make the LP better and better, I'll forgive his lack of BS when addressing bad reviews. I never BS when giving a review, good or bad, so perhaps I can relate to MR better than many.

My post had nothing to do with food reviews. It was to point out the lack of character in how the current owner handles such reviews. Plain and simple. If customer service is not his strong point, perhaps he needs to hire a PR person for that.

Personally I have not eaten at the new lobster pound, so I would not and have not, had anything to say regarding the food.

[momof3]

My husband and I love the LP.
We went there Saturday night and had dinner, very happy with our service and the food. A small problem arose that was neither the waitress or the owners fault but we addressed the issue with the waitress to make her aware of the issue.She had the owner (I beleive it was Mike, but have never met him ) come over and talk to us about our concern. He was very attentive and then took one meal off the bill and gave us a free dessert...to us this was above and beyond what he needed to do. We will continue to go there!

[Winnipesaukee]

Originally Posted by jmen24

My post had nothing to do with food reviews. It was to point out the lack of character in how the current owner handles such reviews. Plain and simple. If customer service is not his strong point, perhaps he needs to hire a PR person for that.

Personally I have not eaten at the new lobster pound, so I would not and have not, had anything to say regarding the food.

He directly addressed the unnecessarily crass public "review" in a way which explained the issue and then defended his restaurant from unfair criticism. I wouldn't have changed a word if I were in his position. The word "malice" is accurate, almost defamous.

Lt. Dunleavy of the NHMP saidto me in an email, to paraphrase: "The truth can be found somewhere in the middle." In which case, I still side with the LP on this.

You can't prep and cook a filet of tuna in less than 20 minutes, much less be served a complete meal on a Saturday night in time to make a concert. And surely the OP did not actually tell his waitress that they needed to make the concert, or none of this would have happened.

[sa meredith]

Christ...this just gets better and better.
Just came back from 10 days in Meredith. Made two trips to LP (drinks/ apps only)...both experiences were perfect. Good fun, live music, nice buzz.
Tonight, logged on to computer for first time since getting home, and had to laugh out loud when I saw this thread still going strong.
I believe the OP...and believe that Mike Ray's posts are sincere as well...
But mostly I believe...and no one can tell me differently...that LP loves all this publicity, and it is indeed good for business. How can it not be????

[Skip]

Originally Posted by sa meredith

Christ...this just gets better and better.
Just came back from 10 days in Meredith. Made two trips to LP (drinks/ apps only)...both experiences were perfect. Good fun, live music, nice buzz.
Tonight, logged on to computer for first time since getting home, and had to laugh out loud when I saw this thread still going strong.
I believe the OP...and believe that Mike Ray's posts are sincere as well...
But mostly I believe...and no one can tell me differently...that LP loves all this publicity, and it is indeed good for business. How can it not be????

You make an excellent point sa....

The buzz about this place is amazing. I have never been there, but my wife is doing some extensive travelling in the next month or two, and I'll have plenty of bachelor time on my hands. The LP is one place I definitely will now try to make a roadtrip too.

Of course I'll check in here after I do....

[VtSteve]

Originally Posted by Skip

You make an excellent point sa....

The buzz about this place is amazing. I have never been there, but my wife is doing some extensive travelling in the next month or two, and I'll have plenty of bachelor time on my hands. The LP is one place I definitely will now try to make a roadtrip too.

Of course I'll check in here after I do....

I personally liked the ribs the best, but I am a rib freak

It's a fun place Skip. Say hi to Mike.

[jmen24]

Originally Posted by Skip

You make an excellent point sa....

The buzz about this place is amazing. I have never been there, but my wife is doing some extensive travelling in the next month or two, and I'll have plenty of bachelor time on my hands. The LP is one place I definitely will now try to make a roadtrip too.

Of course I'll check in here after I do....

I agree, about stopping in. I have wanted to try the new LP since it opened. It will happen eventually. I will probably not add a review of my food as I do not believe my taste is refined enough. But, good food is good food.

I really hope that my prior post is not being taken out of context. Mike has every right to defend his blood, sweat and tears. I just do not believe that the open forum is the venue for that conversation. You just do not see very many restuarant owners barking up that tree when it lands in front of them.

Remember, it is very important not to take Professional criticism, Personally.

[RLW]

Originally Posted by Skip

You make an excellent point sa....

The buzz about this place is amazing. I have never been there, but my wife is doing some extensive travelling in the next month or two, and I'll have plenty of bachelor time on my hands. The LP is one place I definitely will now try to make a roadtrip too.
Of course I'll check in here after I do....

Oh, that is bad Skip if you have to wait for the bride to go away before you can have bachelor time and eat out.