planet raw is backwards = planet war

[Guest guest]

Hi folks

 

 

 

 

Does a business deserve to be held to a lesser standard of customer service simply because they are all veg?

 

 

 

We had a disappointing experience at Planet Raw in Pleasant Hill recently. After 90 minutes of driving, we arrive to find Planet Raw tucked away in the corner of this shopping center in the suburbs . Chris goes inside while I'm outside taking a photograph of the exterior to help promote them in the Ultimate Guide.

 

 

 

Chris returns before I've even finished taking my pictures, as I had to wait while this woman exited, as we prefer pics without people for UG.

 

 

 

And he says they're closed, I ask why, he says the chef has left. And then, the woman who was leaving, interrupts our conversation to identify herself as the chef and just erupts with this litany of reasons why she is leaving, in a very angry fashion, ending with "next time call before you want to eat here". Not one word of apology or even acknowledgment that now her restaurant is unable to fulfill its function of serving food to customers, because she is walking out mid-day.

 

 

 

I was totally shocked by her rudeness, and the very anti-customer tirade. (It almost felt like I was in the wrong for wanting to spend money at her restaurant.) Anyways, after she stormed off, our curiousity did get the better of us so we went back inside together to ask the staff who that was. They said it was Valerie, co-owner and chef. They were very friendly and apologetic, and did offer to try to make us something, but it wasn't enough to overcome the very un-welcome greeting we just had. Interestingly enough, Valerie contacted me through yelp (where I also posted a review) and said it was Carol, the other co-owner, who was rude, not her.

 

 

 

Anyways, for anyone else who might be driving a distance to visit them, I just wanted to share our experience that they close unexpectedly, and can be rude. (I really felt treated more like an enemy, than a customer, hence the subject line.)

 

 

 

Personally, while I do want veg businesses to succeed, I don't think it does them any favors to hold them to a lesser standard. For any veg business to succeed, it must have the support of both veg and non-veg customers.

 

 

 

Side note: This was most definitely our first and last visit to Planet Raw. I might just give up on raw restaurants all together after this. The last time that I dined at one, Cafe Gratitude in SF, the waiter (who knew I was vegan) felt compelled to tell me that he prefers to dine on animals because he feels closer to them.

 

 

 

Tammy

Join us at an upcoming Bay Area Vegetarians event!

02/28 Vegan Food Party plus Secrets of Vegan Baking Presentation - Pacifica 03/13 Food for Thought Book Club: Slaughterhouse by Gail Eisnitz - Berkeley 03/27 Secrets of Vegan Baking: The Chocolate Trio - San Mateo 04/24 Secrets of Vegan Baking: Berry Sweets - San Mateo

Say it your way .. with an Ultimate Guide Review

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

a friend showed up on a weekday afternoon awhile ago and found it closed. he

called the next day, and was told they sometimes use the slack midday period to

prep to enable faster dinner service. they expected to hire an extra person

soon, so they didn't want to publicize shorter hours. regardless, it seems best

to call.

 

 

also, that friend said Planet Raw's ravioli was spectacular!

 

==

The SF Living Foods will have 20 people pay $30 to eat a preset menu. That will

go faster since everything will 100% ready by the time we arrive.

 

 

 

==

changing the subject

 

SUNNY VIBRATIONS

 

The Vegan Truck on 20th and Dolores in SF. I would suggest to call ahead of

time to make sure it is there. He is trying to have a set time, but it's been

tough having to shop for more groceries almost every other day.

 

He will change his hours to open only 5 days a week. (I don't know the exact

days.)

 

He's definately open on Weekends from 1 to 3pm if you're in area, swing by.

You can even use his free wifi.

 

 

winnie, (I am not affiliate with this business)

 

, " Tammy " <tammy wrote:

>

> Hi folks

>

>

>

> Does a business deserve to be held to a lesser standard of customer service

> simply because they are all veg?

>

>

[Guest guest]

I think a better way to handle the situation would be to say ... " Wow! Contra

Costa really needs a good veg restaurant like this. But if the owner is

verbally abusive, they are going to lose customers FAST! Obviously the owner

has personal problems, but we want this business to thrive. What can we do to

help them? "

 

Also ... Tammy and Chris, I think it totally rocks that you traveled so far to

visit this business and promote them in the Ultimate Guide. (And you rock even

more for being the master minds behind the Guide itself as well as the awesome

online community of events and programs powered by bayareaveg.org; that's a lot

of work!) And, I want to make clear: I personally am not defending the

owner/chef or the way she treated you! I hope that the angry chef lady will

apologize. But I also think it's fantastic that the owners or whomever were

spunky and progressive enough to start a raw veg restaurant in Contra Costa

County. I hope the bad treatment you guys received can be forgiven (in time;

hopefully after an apology!). As one person remarked, the owner picked the

absolute worst time to have a melt-down, since she ended up verbally abusing and

offending the very people who otherwise could have been the strongest advocates

anyone could ask for! Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face.

 

Reading this story, I feel bad for Tammy and Chris making such a long trip and

then receiving shabby treatment from the owner of the business they were trying

to help, but I also feel bad for the owner/chef lady. Her behavior is

inexcusable, but it's also a cry for help, I think.

 

Now ... I have no idea HOW TO help, but maybe someone out there does!!! I hope

it all works out in the end!

 

Take care,

Rachel D.

San Francisco, CA