A member of the MOMS club sent the following message out earlier today. It is extremely disturbing and very important that we all take a moment to read it and choose carefully the next time we give our money to local restaurant owners. Below this post is yet another disturbing story regarding Balthazars restaurant which is located at 1456 SW Knoll Ave., 541-382-6622. Please feel free to offer any further input on this establishment.
Story #1
Hello fellow friends and parents,
I am writing to tell you about something that recently happened to me which was very disturbing and unpleasant. I recently dined out at Baltazar's Restaurant with my friends the Liebmans and the Lindekoffs. We had a sitter for Sachi and Jade, and brought Kobe because he was only a few months old and slept most of the time. Three different staff people there were very unpleasant to us because we brought the baby and treated us very rudely despite the fact that he slep the entire time and never made a peep. Baltazar himself made it a point to come over to our table to tell Tom and I (and I quote-) that "they do not specialize in children" so we had to put him on the floor since there was no highchair to set his car seat into.
A few weeks ago, I was encouraged to write the restaurant a letter because of how rude they had been to us so I finally got around to it this week. After asking for approval from the MOMS Club of Bend board members to use letterhead, I wrote to Baltazar describing our experience and asked him to consider purchasing one highchair to accommodate parents with a small child who may dine at the restaurant.
Baltazar called me today and made it very clear that he does not want any children in his restaurant. In fact, his exact words were, "We are not going to buy even one highchair because we don't want them (kids) here." When I suggested to him that Bend was a family friendly community and that by treating patrons disrespectfully for accidentally bringing a child into the restaurant is actually not good for his business and he was shutting out a corner of the market, he asked me if I was threatening him, told me he would sue me and then concluded the conversation with a "GO TO H*LL YOU F*!KING B**CH."
I was completely stunned and shocked by having been treated this way- but after being harassed in the restaurant for having a sleeping 8 week old with us, I guess I should not be surprised.
There are many other establishments in this community that would never treat their patrons in this manner- and I hope you will consider joining me in finding alternative dining options where people are treated with dignity and respect, whether or not their children are with them.
As I told Baltazar, I completely support restaurants approaching customers who have unruly children, or whose children are disrupting the dining experiences of the other patrons and politely asking them to get the situation under control or leave- but blatant rudeness such as his demonstrates poor business etiquette. If Baltazar's policy is anti-children in their restaurant, they should post a sign at the door stating, "No infants or children allowed." It would save an unknowing parent such as me the harassment of being indirectly told multiple times while dining there that my child was unwelcome. Please share this message with others you know.
As for Tom and I, we will never again dine there again and hope you'll join us in demonstrating that behavior such as that will not be rewarded with our continued patronage.
Thanks,
Yvette and Tom
Story #2
I have to tell my story - January 4th was our 3rd anniversary and a week day. We wanted to go to La Rosa because it is right across the street from our neighborhood, but they were slammed, so we thought we'd go to Baltazar's. We took Stella. We were all three dressed up (my husband wearing a suit because he'd been at work) and we were treated like we had the PLAGUE when we walked in. Ol' Balty flung his arm out as he exclaimed his query "does it look like we serve children here?" in response to our request for a high chair. I thought he was a gigantic ASS, especially since his taco stand is little more than a block building in a strip mall in BEND OREGON for heaven's sake! We've eaten in a lot of four star restaurants while traveling with Stella and never been so rudely treated. I've told a LOT of people about that story and I don't care how good his food might be, he doesn't have a right to treat people that way. If he doesn't want kids - he should PUT A SIGN ON THE DOOR. As for me, I'll NEVER spend a dime in his place.
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48 comments:
I know of two other "Baltazar" stories and in both he was EXTREMELY rude. And although it does not pertain to MOMS club, I just thought I'd post it. In one instance, he call a females friend of mine the C word. Nice guy.
Sorry to hear of your awful experience. It is always amazing to me to find people in the service business that don't understand that the customer is always right. Most businesses like this end up failing because they piss more people off than they please.
My two kids are now 6 and 7 but a few years ago I was hassled by a patron at Red Robin. I thought that if there were any restaurant in town I could take the kids to it would be a place with a guy walking around in a big Robin costume and cartoons on every television. But these people felt it was there duty to tell me that children should not be taken out to eat at all. Period. So I sympathize with your ordeal.
Don't let one a**hole like this discourage you from enjoying a nice night out with your family. We all know you deserve it!
Will. NOT. Eat. There. If Baltazar thinks it won't catch up with him, he's wrong. Everyone I've talked to who have eaten there, say it's very expensive. And then to hear this on top of that, it's just one more reason for me to not go there. And I don't even have young children! I will be happy to spread the word about his treatment of people who go there to SPEND MONEY and SUPPORT HIS BUSINESS. Just like a little kindness goes a long way, rudeness goes even farther.
My husband used to work for Mr. Chavez and can relate to these experiences. After I read to him these stories, he shared quite a few of his own, and all were horrendous! His experiences as an employee were awful, and his recollection of commentary by Mr. Chavez was full of profanity driven by a hot temper.
My family will never eat at his establishments. Nor will my extended family. Nor will anyone that I have conversations with in regards to dining in Central Oregon, if I have my way.
Simply inexcusable.
We just moved to bend about two weeks ago. When we were house hunting about four months ago, the three of us (my wife, my then-twenty-month-old daughter, and me) tried to walk in to balthazar's on a friday night. They were full, but we made a reservation for three on the following evening.
I emphasize: I was standing there holding a baby and made a reservation for the next night, and they never gave me the slightest indication that children weren't welcome.
The next night we came back for our reservation and discovered that they have no high chairs, no boosters, and a disdainful attitude toward children (although our waiter was silently apologetic about it.) Ivy eats out quite a lot and she was a perfect guest, as she usually is. At the end of the meal the owner actually came out and commented in a very surprised way that she hadn't been any trouble.
We left a big tip on the hopes of driving some change through guilt, but we'll never go back.
There may be legal issues with explicitly saying children aren't welcome. I don't begrudge a business owner from keeping kids out if that's his thing, but it's unforgivable to let us make the reservation when it would have been so easy to tip us off to eat somewhere else. So the stories here are in line with what I'd expect.
People who don't think that kids belong in restaurants...
Are the same people who never went to restaurants as kids...
And that's why they never learned proper restaurant behavior!
(Too bad some of those people are restaurant owners!)
:)
This makes me so angry! I will NEVER eat at that restaurant and am forwarding the original letter to everyone I know...with or without kids. There is power in numbers, let's drive this jerk out of business!
wanna see something funny?
check out Balthazar's review at "Roundaboutbend.com"
http://www.hoteltravelcheck.com/bend/baltazar-restaurant-bend.html
picture of a kid in the restaurant review
hilarious
i hope he goes out of business, and quickly. our town does not need that type of person.
I think Yvonne and Tom need to get over it. I have 2 kids and I enjoy a kid free night out once in a while. Please hire a babysitter or go to Red Robbin but I for one would like to enjoy my $100 meal without a crying kid at the next table. Being upset and posting blogs all over the place isn't going to make a difference. People have the right to a nice dinner without kids yelling or sobbing or crying or making happy noises. You don't expect to take your kid into a bar do you? There is a place for kids and maybe Baltazar'z isn't the place for it. I for one will continue to go there while leaving the kids with a BABYSITTER.
Hi Annette and fellow commentors,
The comments that have been added to your post as well as to mine have been interesting to read over the past couple days. It's amazing how emotional people appear to get over something negative like this yet there is not one comment on your post about Bellatazza supporting the PTA by donating $3 a lb every quarter.
I also find it amusing how many anonymous and very opinionated comments there are...and yes, technically I'm still anonymous until someone calls me out.
Blogging is fun.
I just have to make one comment and not on this debate that has exploded.
You, as a mother, should be ashamed of yourself for posting someone else's full names and children's names on this blog without editing out at least the kids' names is, in my opinion deplorable and absolutely without netiquette.
I think this needs to be written up in the Bend Bulletin and all the other Central Oregon newspapers...this will go farther if people other than those on this site are able to read it. I think it is HIGHLY important for people such as this business owner, to know what is acceptable and what is not. It is for silence that our rights are being taken away before our very eyes.
In case anyone is interested....
FYI... If you've had a bad experience at Baltazar's, please contact the Bulletin
reporter below. There is a story developing...
Anna Sowa
Business Reporter
The Bulletin
(541) 383-0304
to the genius who suggested a babysitter and "getting over it"....
this has NOTHING to do with whether a parent should or should not get a babysitter. It has nothing to do with whether YOU deserve to have a nice meal away from children.
It has everything to do with the way this person and others were TREATED at the restaurant and afterwards.
Without a sign indicating that children are unwelcome, Balthazar's is fair game and seems like a viable option for a family dinner. There is nothing about the restaurant that would make you think that children are unwelcome, especially after that stupid web review mentioned above. While you don't see kids at Cork or Blacksmith, I have no doubt that those restauranteurs would have enough tact and kindness to address the situation in a mature way, not as some a**hole.
Balthazar's conduct is the issue here. It was inexcusable and unnecessary.
You seem to think his behavior and treatment of your fellow Bend citizen was justifiable. And that's shameful.
Dear readers / posters,
I welcome all comments however; I would really like to move this discussion in a positive direction. I plan on writing a post, in the near future that reviews some of the GREAT restaurants here in town that cater to families. This post will be based on personal experience as well input that I receive from readers. I think you will all be surprised at how well some of the “higher end” restaurants have accommodated families.
A big part of Mom2Mom’s mission is sharing information so that we can come together as a community and funnel our resources into the businesses that offer great services for families and treat us with dignity and respect whether our children are with us or not.
It is true that there are many businesses here in town that are not child oriented, however, when I have, for one reason or another, had to bring my children into their establishments with me, I have by in large been treated well. We should also applause those establishments.
Finally, I just want to point out that I will not post comments that I KNOW to be untrue (yes I am doing my research). I still welcome input. Let’s just try to keep it constructive and filled with the same compassion that we expect our children to be treated with.
I would love to see this much interest focused on both my earlier and more recent posts regarding all of the positive things going on in our community. If you have any questions as to why I have not posted your comment. Please feel free to drop me a line.
Well, Bend may be a Family Town but I still believe that there is a time and a place for adults to go out and play without the hassle of high chairs, strollers, screaming children and parents 'shushing.' There are plenty of places one can take their children, teach them what it means to have good table manners and how to behave in public. However, it is perfectly fine for one or two establishments to offer an Adult Atmosphere for those of us who want to dress up and dine like Adults. I would even welcome more establishments that offered a dress code, but that is my East Coast persona talking. Perhaps the fellow at Balthazar was out of line, perhaps the woman with the child was - I do not presume to know. What is probably for certain is that she has exaggerated her story. In my experience, when wronged we tend to stretch the truth to hit our point home more effectively. Too bad that one woman is so hell-bent to destroy a man's business because she made the assumption that all diners want to be subjected to the scent of Pampers and pureed peas while munching on empanadas.
To those who are annoyed by kids at restaurants, yes, unruly children do need to be dealt with at the time they are acting out; but not every kid should suffer as a result. While I don't take my toddler to high-end restaurants, the behavior that parents and kids have been met with at Baltazar's in inexcusable. If it was another group of people - insert retirees or handicapped people or vegetarians or folks of a certain race or religion, what have you - and it would be a very different, very unacceptable story. And what of those people who, heaven forbid, don't know about the unsaid ban on kids at Baltazar's and then are submitted to such harassment? It just is not a respectable way of doing business, especially in this small of a town.
I think one reason that this story has such legs is that in every conversation where I have been and it has come up, there has been one or two other people with similar stories. This does not appear to be an isolated incident at Baltazar's, but I am sure each of us will have to judge for ourselves.
I don't doubt that the original poster had a bad experience at Balthazar's, but I must say that I had several very good ones there. The food was terrific (a rare thing in Bend), and on one visit Mr. Balthazar took time to talk to my friend and me, about his fishing trips to Mexico, what we've enjoyed on his menu, our experiences at other Bend restaurants. He couldn't have been more engaging.
Additionally, I can imagine the nightly conflicts he must face trying to run an adult establishment in Bend. I've known far too many parents who consider themselves and their children the center of the universe, and while this family might well have been polite, I'd wouldn't be surprising if many other parents threw tantrums. This doesn't excuse his behavior but perhaps explains why his skin is a little thin.
On a larger issue, it troubles me that Bend parents have so much time to spend on matters like this. I'm glad that parents are protective of their children, but having known two teachers in the public schools here, there seems to be a trend of over-protection, over-zealous parents who will throw tantrums with every bad word printed in a book, every ideology that doesn't coincide with their own. They complain and they complain some more. So much so that teachers have less time to teach because they're having to contend with parents.
This might seem off-topic, but instead of always complaining, always trying run people out of town who aren't your mirror image, who don't agree with you or have somehow offended you, why not turn your energies to something more productive and positive for your children's future?
Mr. Balthazar might be terribly rude. Or he might have just had a bad night. But either way, how is shutting down his business going to enrich your life or that of your children's?
Sometimes people are just rude. In itself, that's not a bad lesson for your kids to learn. But send around your blogs to everyone you know, encourage all of your friends to do just like you do, to NEVER EVER EAT THERE AGAIN, and suddenly the lesson is more complicated and includes things like vindictiveness and petty revenge. And then maybe it speaks more poorly of you than it ever did of a testy restaurant owner.
I think that a lot of folks, and forgive me if I wrongly assume many of you are newcomers, need to learn the etiquette of living in a smaller community in an isolated area. And that includes the members of the Moms' Club right along with Baltazar Chavez.
See, in a smaller area sometimes we have to hold our tongues, we have to restrain our conduct, we have to spread information through the over-the-fence or kitchen-table method rather than through direct action because of the simple fact that these are people you'll see at the grocery store. Inevitably.
Being rude to people is a small-town sin. You can't call women the c-word or the b-word or any of those things. No one wants to be "that guy." The A-hole.
But being a busybody is also a small-town sin. If you want to spoil someone's reputation in a small town do it the old-fashioned way: gossip. But forming lobbying groups and organizing letter-writing campaigns and multimedia blitzes, I mean, come on. Now you're "that gal." The Busybody.
I guarantee that those of you involved in this campaign are going to find yourself in the supermarket checkout line, or find yourself sitting in a coffeeshop, right next to the guy who you ran out of business, and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. He'll recognize you, and you'll recognize him, and in that excruciatingly uncomfortable moment you'll realize there's a reason why we do things the way we do in a small town.
I was very interested to see this article in the Bend Bulletin. We celebrated my brother's birthday at Baltazar's in December. There were 5 adults and 3 kids, ages 6, 6 and 8. There were no items for kids on the menu, the server said there was not a kid's menu.
Our kids are very well behaved but I felt like a fish out of water as soon as I set foot in the door.
The whole experience was surreal...I was glad when the check arrived and couldn't wait to get out of there.
The food was not that good, the service was awful and the attitude of the place was pretentious.
I've never been back and even if I do get the chance to go out without my daughter, his restaurant would be the LAST place I'd go.
I thought, "What happened to Bend? What happened to that laid back attitude that used to permeate this great little town? Do you have to be a rich, white yuppy with a nanny to live here?"
It wouldn't sadden me a bit to see his restaurant go out of business.
Maybe we'd get a decent restaurant in there with good food at good prices.
Everyone on a scheduled Friday and Saturday night, should pack up the kids and go out to dinner at Balthazar's. It would be a great lesson to everyone including the kids on learning to live together as humans. This would be for the Bend and Sunriver locations.
For desert we could all sign up for kid caffe over at Bellatazza for a positive impact.
why is everyone so vindictive?
I think the way you were treated was extremely rude and inappropriate. I would definitely boycott the restaurant on those grounds.
That said, I do believe there is a time and place for children. I'm not familiar with the restaurant in question (not from your part of the world), but I personally do not really welcome the presence of small children in fine dining establishments (again, I have *no* idea where this particular restaurant falls). My thinking is that if I'm saving up money to go out for a nice dinner with my husband, a romantic evening for the two of us, I'd really prefer to do it away from cries, screams, whining, running or other behaviour that children are apt to do. I realize your child was too young to perform most of these behaviours, but it's also important to remember that parents have an extremely different tolerance to "kid noises" than non-parents. :) Anyway, I still can't believe what a jerk that guy was. Brutal!
It seems to me that Baltazar Chavez has a passive-aggressive personality and is not a very savvy businessman.
That being said...
I am a mom, and I am really annoyed by ill-behaved children. Not just at dinner, but just about everywhere I go. I have left many a restaurant with my daughter in tow, because I am not willing to annoy other people, and because I wanted my daughter to learn the consequences of bad behavior at a young age.
So, let's put that argument aside for now.
Baltazar could have carved out a niche for himself in Bend. He could have branded his restaurant as a an adult-dining experience. As many parents have stated (obviously along with many non-parents) it is nice to have an upscale restaurant in Bend, a place adults can go to without the presence of children. The reality is many children are allowed to run wild without consequence in this nation and one place where it is really apparent and most distracting is in the restaurant setting.
Who wants it? I don't. My daughter, who is 6, doesn't like it either. She often wonders why kids are so rude and why they don't have good "restaurant manners" and why the parents don't do anything.
Back to the issue at hand. Blatazar has created a HUGE problem for himself because he hasn't clarified his business objectives. He is all over the board.
According to the Bulletin:
"Chavez said he is not anti-children, but he doesn't necessarily want them at his restaurant. He wants to make his restaurant different from other Mexican eateries by creating an intimate and high-end setting."
It is this kind of unclear thinking that leads many businesses to ruin, only this case is more pronounced because it is so heated and so dramatic and because his social and business skills are so poor.
Unless you read the Bend Bulletin article, received an email from the Mom's Club or a friend, or experienced this bizarre restaurant for yourself, you would have had no idea that the place is not kid friendly. How is the public supposed to know?
If you had gone there with children unknowingly (as I did on my one and only occasion) you might have found that you were seated and THEN treated like you-know-what. What on earth is that all about?
Baltazar has treated people rudely for a very long time, not just families, but groups of adults and couples. You name it, there is a story out there of his rude behavior and despicable and vulgar language, not to mention extremely poor service at the restaurant.
He's got a problem, whether he is just rude or has a substance abuse problem is unclear, but for whatever reason, if you don't dine his way then it is the highway and he is happy to send you packing with some very choice words.
Again, imagine what kind of restaurant he could have had with the proper marketing and branding. The issue is not about children, it is about his bad business practices and his unforgivable behavior towards his customers.
If he had done a little upfront marketing then families would have known NOT to go there with their children and much of this mess might have been avoided. Again, I invite you to look at the countless other stories that involve patrons who were not there with children and see if the main problem is strictly child-related.
He is not only rude to families with children, but to almost anyone who doesn't follow his "rules."
This is no way to run a business and while initially this negative PR might boost the non-family numbers at his restaurant, I believe it is only a matter of time before most people figure out that they don't want to support a business that is so antagonistic towards its clientele.
You decide.
Better reaction? Tips for Baltazar.
1. Find them a quiet corner where they wouldn't disturb other customers if there was a problem with the 5 month old sleeping baby, perhaps very near the door.
2. Say, "I'm sorry you feel that way." Hang up the phone if she responds in a way that isn't respectful to you.
3. Stop controversy before it starts by doing these things. If possible, post a sign on the door. (If that's legal.)
4. Offer her a gift card to come back with only her husband as a way to make her feel welcome. Tell her, "I hope you understand our policy. It is for the comfort of the other diners."
At this point, with all the buzz, my guess is he's going to have a very hard time digging himself out of this one. Whether you agree with him or not, his behavior toward her was deplorable. I wouldn't go to his restaurant (if I lived there), just due to the lack of respect he shows for others. Unfortunately, this likely is a reflection of the lack of respect he has for himself.
What a sad man. I'm sorry for anyone who has had to deal with this kind of treatment.
More oddities:
http://www.hoteltravelcheck.com/bend/baltazar-restaurant-bend.html
Not only do I find the picture for Baltazar's somewhat strange, but look at the commentary!
The absolute BEST "South of the border style" food you can get in Bend -- you almost feel like you are in SOCAL. (Think this might have something to do with the problem?) The bar is also rockstar for an intimate setting -- great atmosphere for a date -- or even bring your 8 year old like I did (hello???)
Gordon Vasquez - Owner RoundAboutBend.com
You stay at home moms have way too much time on your hands. Do something productive rather than try to ruin someone's business because you feel like you were wronged.
Seriously... you're not going to put him out of business or even come close. People will still go there and he will continue to do well. The restaurant speaks for itself.
Maybe you should get a job or find a hobby.
Baltazar kind of remind's me of the "Soup Nazi" character on the Jerry Seinfeld episode.
But, coming from someone who has worked in the customer service industry for almost 20 years, you never treat a customer/client with disrespect or in anger. Statistics show that a customer will relate a bad experience 12 times more then a good experience. Never lose your cool. If he does not want kids in his resturant then it's very easy to have the host/hostess kindly express that prior to seating customers. Explain that they do not have highchairs or kids menus and their dining establishment is oriented towards adult cliental. Offer them a 10% gift card for the inconvience for their next visit. Explain the policy and treat them with respect.
I am the "gal" this happened to and was directed to your site by a friend who told me there were many blogs about what happened to me.
There is nothing more to add to the story- I was not disrespectful at any time to B. As a matter of fact, our 2 minute conversation consisted of me suggesting to B. on the telephone that he purchase ONE highchair to accommodate parents who come in not knowing his UNPOSTED policy. His response, "We don't want them here and I will not do anything to accommodate the parents who bring them here." When I asked him if I could quote him on that, he responded with a "Go to H**, you F___ING B_tch." Period. End of story. Now you've got it right out of the horse's mouth. By the way, did I mention that when I dined there, my NEWBORN baby was about a month old and SLEPT THE ENTIRE TIME!! No one likes to dine next to loud, poorly behaved children. I don't like to be around them ANYWHERE for that matter. But seating patrons WITH THEIR CHILD, taking their order, and THEN TREATING THEM LIKE DIRT for having a child is ridiculous- we are not mind readers. I have no problem with an adult only restaurant. I have a problem with a DISRESPECTFUL and RUDE owner who has a TEMPER issue. If you have the audacity to call your establishment "fine dining", you better make sure your demenaor is "fine" as well!
This is not a child or parenting issue.
The man is arrogant and has some major problems.
Bend may be getting bigger but it is still a community and the community will decide.
The non-parents will initially go check out the place because there will be no kids, but they'll get tired of of the poor service and high prices, or they'll experience his rude behavior themselves.
Hopefully people will just stop going.
Is the place really worth supporting?
I have never made a comment on a blog before but feel like the time is right...My first experience eating at Baltazar's was unpleasant to say the least, the service started out well, the drinks and food were prepared well and then it all went south(pardon the pun). I was dining with a group of 4, all professional women. We had a fifth that called during the beginning of our meal and asked to join us, we asked the waiter to accomodate us with another place setting at the end of our table of 4, which was located in a corner out of the traffic pattern, he said he would ask the owner. The owner refused to allow the 5th person to be served any food or drink at that seat, not even wanting to provide a chair, and this woman knew Baltazar personally and had dined there numerous times. She waited until one of the 4 had finished and then moved to that seat and was grudgingly allowed to order food and drink. This is just plain rudeness and bad customer service, I worked in the food service industry for years and you don't treat customers like this and expect them to return...none of us ever will...there are far too many great restaurants in Central Oregon that deserve our time and money.
Ha....You should do what I did!!! I had the same thing happen to me at a resturaunt here in CA...I got them back though. My girlfriends and I decided that all of our families were going to have a family night out...on the same night. We picked a night about 2 weeks out, We all called the resturaunt in question and made reservations for the same night and time.
I have to say it was very sweet to see the owners face when he saw 8 families with children ranging in ages from infants to 8 years old come into his small resturaunt...
I know it is vindictive but it was sooooooo Classic
I am a 24 year old business professional and while my fiance and I don't have any children now, we will someday and cannot imagine being treated in such a fashion, but it seems from other posts, that the rudeness does not only happen to people with children. Baltazar has obviously never taken a business class, and doesn't know that for every good thing that happens to someone, they tell one other person, but for every bad thing that happens they tell 10 other people! For the record, my fiance and I will not be dining at Baltazar ever. Hopefully, he will get a clue and clean up his act before he gets put out of business.
It's good to know that all of you people will NOT be dinning at Baltizars so I can full enjoy my experience there...Get over it people! This is a place for everyone. Cheap or expensive. You go with your taste and what you can afford.
I have been there... and the food was fabulous, the service is awesome.
This is ALL HEARSAY! There is NO proof that this actually ever occured, or occured in the full way as described! That's why we have courts in America, so that things are proven until found guilty! This is slander.
Apparently you just can't please everyone.
I doubt this will be approved since it's not in favor of all the parents. But, here goes:
1. If you had a sitter, why not leave ALL the kids at home? If one was too young to have a sitter, suck it up and stay home. After all, you did choose to have a child. Very easy solution.
2. Why do all parents think their children should be allowed everywhere? I've even seen them in bars in the evening. Use some common sense, please.
3. Every mother says "My child behaves great in public." Wow. A lot of you must be in denial.
4. I wish there were more businesses like this. I would be sure to give them my business first. I think he'll do great with all the publicity. I wish him well.
5. If the service was so atrocious, why did you stay?
6. And I'm sure you said nothing and were completely angelic the whole time. I've seen entitlement minded moms angry and it's not a pretty sight.
And lastly, thanks for recommending a great place to go eat!
Well the way I see it if "Mr. Baltazar" doesn't want kids he simply needs to adjust his name to Baltazar's Bar or Baltazar's Tavern or some such name that would require the posting of an OLCC sign stating that Minors are not allowed in the establishment. That would clearly convey the message that "Mr. Baltazar" seems to want for his establishment.
But that would be far to simple ;)
Oh My Goodness, You women are acting ridiculous. You are trying to ruin a man's business, just because one lady wants a stupid high chair. You say you did'nt know kids were not welcome at Balthazar's Well "FINE DINING" should be your hint! He has every right to run his business the way he wants. And so much for this so called petition to run him out of business good luck with that, it's NOT going to work. Many people in this town don't want to spend 300 bucks on a dinner and have kids there that defeats the whole purpose of going to a fine dinig establishment. You all have also only heard one side of this. She left out the racist comments she made to Balthazar.
I must say... It usually takes two to creat an argument. Hmmmm!
I would like to point out that I know Yvette personally, and that she never called B a racist name. Though she has addressed this issue in her comment above, I posted this comment because I felt the need to personally speak on this topic. Yvette’s history of working with and to empower people from diverse cultural backgrounds clearly indicates the type of person she is and her stance on this subject. I would like to further point out that I personally have viewed posts and comments where certain individuals have used anonymity as a way to make racist comments and insinuations in relation to Yvette’s last name and assumed nationality, without being recognized for who they are. I personally applaud Yvette for refusing to hide and being brave enough to put her name to her words. Once again folks, I like to allow posts from all sides of a topic but let’s play nice.
It is unfortunate that as a business owner, Mr. Chavez does not know how to relate to the public - I am absolutely appalled of his vulgar language to any patron, or person.
My husband and I dined there once, enjoyed the food and atmosphere; but this is no way to treat anyone - especially when there has been no indication made, that children are not welcomed.
I do not support this kind of behavior, nor this business.
Baltazar does not confine his bad behavior to just his "Baltazar's" restaurant.
My family and I went to his El Pescador Restaurant at Sunriver and got cussed out when we wanted to be re-seated inside as it was getting cold in the early evening. (We hadn't yet been served)
Baltazar not only refused to re-seat us but told me to "Get the F*ck out" of his restaurant -- and called my 12-year old Daughter a "B*tch" and my wife an "A*shole" for not getting out of his restaurant fast enough.
I'll be writing the editor of your local paper, calling the appropriate people at Sunriver and everyone else I can think of to ensure that this man doesn't treat other visitors to Bend as badly as we were treated.
There are other vacation spots in Oregon.
My wife and I have been to Baltazar twice and found the food to be interesting and liked the ambiance. So I had given the owner the benefit of the doubt on the previous posts. However, after the experience we had there tonight I can confirm that the owner has no concept of customer service, is an idiot and does not deserve to be in business. Here are the details:
We each requested a glass of dry chardonnay and were served a wine that was fairly sweet. So we asked for the wine list and looked at the description of the wine and it was obviously a sweeter chardonnay. So, we sent it back and were going to change to something drier such as a Merlot. The waiter person let us know that Bozozar would take the charge for the returned wine off the bill, as long as we did not order any other wine. ???? What?? This did not make any sense to us as we did not make the mistake -they did, and we were going o order something else which would have at least helped them to break even on the wine.
In any other good restaurant in town (Merida, Anthony's and many many others) the wine would have been taken back with no questions asked.
We tried to get Bozozar to come over to the table so that we could speak with him but he refused.
We were not able to cancel the order as it was being delivered already, so we paid our bill and left without eating.
I think that the menu there is interesting, but a restaurant experience includes the food, service and ambiance. Having an unstable owner who does not understand good customer service out weighs the food, and therefore we will not be going back there again.
I give Baltazar's a big thumbs down due to the owner, and hope that this post will help to keep a few people from ever trying it. The sooner we can get this Bozo(zar) out of business the better the Bend restaurant scene will be.
I agree with those of you who think it is okay for Balthazar to not allow kids. I just recently had my first child and she is a doll in restaurants...never makes a peep and crys very little. I believe, however, that a restaurant owner has his right to make his atmosphere his own. People can appreciate that when going there they will not have to think about the Wal-mart like atmosphere for a night and can enjoy their expensive meal in peace. He shouldn't be such a jerk about it...but not everyone is socially capable of getting there point across without offending people.
I have been to Balthazars many time. Great Shrimp.
I guess I'm a little late on the story..ohwell. I believe it takes a village to raise a child. These "loud", "annoying" children are your future caretakers, people. Show some respect, or better yet, help a parent out by showing them an understanding smile. In the end to all the people out there who can't show tolerance to children: May you be shown the same kindness and respect in your old age as you have shown children and the elderly in your "young years".
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