$ .74 (yes 74 cents) tipper from Colts Neck Inn going viral....................New Jersey

Frankly I think the guy who injected himself into this lousy moment is an ass. If I was privy to a lousy customer story and knew the waitress I would have left her a bigger tip on my own meal and moved on. Encouraging his response is why people treat each other poorly behind a keyboard just cause they feel like it. The bad tipper didn’t learn to become a better customer, he called a lawyer.

Lack of class all the way around.

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This is the only thread on the Colts Neck Inn I could find so I’m posting this here. I use to like this place, they would have live music on the weekends, a decent steak and all around a decent local vibe. With an occasional “local” being obnoxious there wasn’t too much to worry about with this place and I have enjoyed it many times over the years. (it’s also quite local for me)

I had a “bad experience” during Covid here, but I will give them the benefit of the doubt for what was going on and not hold that against them by publicly discussing it.

My experience last night though…walked in at 7:30 pm bar was 3/4 full one table occupied in bar area, dining room completely empty. We asked for a table in the dining room and were brought to one of the few 2 tops they had. (sure call me a spoiled brat, but I find it rather poor taste to sit a 2 people at a 2 top when they are LITERALLY THE ONLY TABLE IN THE DINING ROOM.
I digress…

Service was the normal “fine” - slightly above a diner but not anywhere near fine dining service. I ordered an unsweetened ice tea and it had a strong chemical flavor to it, I took one sip and left the rest. I had a french onion soup that tasted as if it either burned while cooking or the toast points they used were burnt, but the soup had a distinct “burned” flavor.

My wife ordered a hot open faced turkey sandwich and I ordered the chicken Milanese. I don’t know if you can tell by the picture but my wife’s dish came out and honestly a Hungry Man Turkey Dinner would have looked more appetizing, even in a tin plate. The gravy looked like dried brown paint on the turkey and had the chocolate pudding skin on top of it when it was served. It was luke warm at best and had zero appeal. It was just a completely lousy dish. My chicken milanese was actually pretty good and the chicken seemed “fresh” which i was truly apprehensive of.

The bread that was served was literally cold as well. All and all a rather lackluster meal which just left me feeling like they just don’t give a sh*t. I’m sorry but that was the distinct impression I was left with a place that just gave up caring. Needless to say, I’m not going back for a while…a long while.

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Yeah, but how much did you tip? :grinning:

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That sheen on the gravy! Wow.

Here’s the real question - are there any actual good restaurants in Colts Neck? Not talking pizza or a deli.

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Does general store count?

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The French Market just opened a second location in Colts Neck. Decent breakfast/lunch menu. Limited seating. A grab and go on the way home from Freehold appts lately.

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Borderline :rofl:

Oh yes, I forgot about them. I was really thinking more traditional sit down restaurant situation but good nomination!

Colts Neck General Store is a huge +1 !!! Great breakfast/lunch place, I actually had a business lunch there a couple weeks ago! (We originally agreed on Huddy’s, which also sucks, but they aren’t open for lunch)

My wife and I were discussing the same last night which adds to the anticipated opening of Esposito’s from your area! They are opening up the road on 34 and with a liquor license I believe!!!)

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The brew house is the only sit down we bother with in Colts Neck.
Fox Hollow Winery (on the way in Holmdel) now serves homemade pizza. Indoor/outdoor seating. Few other munchie items.

Friends from CN, never eat in town…just shop at Delicious Orchards.

We had the WORST LUNCH at Huddy’s a few weeks ago. I’ll check out the general store!

We actually moved but will travel back to Aberdeen to try the new Esposito’s concept. (Holmdel now so not like crossing an ocean!)

@Rooster We went to the brewery once. I didn’t realize they even had food. We went to the winery once too when my kid was like a year ago? They have animals and a little farm so we assumed family friendly. Signs all over the place NO CHILDREN. NO MINORS. We left. Good to know on the pizza.

20% it takes exceptionally bad service, scratch that, bad attitude, for me to tip less. I’ll tip an idiot 20% if I believe they are working to the best of their ability. I’ve been a server and had bad nights, not feeling well or had a bad table that can rattle a cage. I’m very understanding but if the service is intentionally bad or your just don’t seem to care, then I might reduce your tip.

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Brewery is snacks only, a decent variety but not a meal.
Winery is not kid friendly during performances although they love dogs! But for pizza I see no reason children wouldn’t be welcome during the day.
CN is a resto desert thanks to Delicious Orchards.

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I also tip normally for crappy food. The server didn’t cook it!

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Thanks for all the tips! We didn’t inquire at the winery that day. It was mobbed (pre covid days) and the signs seemed like it didn’t seem worth bothering to ask.

I did see a sign for a new place going in where a Thai place was once. Across the street or so from Delicious Orchards. I think it’s Italian? Wood fire pizza? Something along those lines.

Can’t say I noticed it. But I’ll look for it next week!

Hello???

(Second paragraph)

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That turkey dinner looks disgusting. My husband was just asking about this place…

I’m late to the thread and don’t have much of an opinion on the tip or publicly shaming him.

I reward good service and won’t hesitate to call it out when it’s bad. And I am the sole arbiter of what those are. :blush:

Good service gets about 50%.
Extraordinary service yields 100% or more.

Poor and indifferent service gets 10 to 15%.

Bad service usually rears it’s head early so I’ll ask management to switch servers. Sometimes offering $20 to go to the original server to make it happen and depending on the circumstances at times I don’t.

At unfamiliar restaurants I’ll might start the tipping when the server first introduces themself.

Putting this here since it veered off into discussions about CN in general. Anyone of our matawan/OB crew know anything’ about this apt? Opening on both colts neck and red bank shortly. Never heard of it before

https://www.viasposito.com/home