Rusty Grape Vineyard

Reviews 3

BR

Brandi Call

My husband and I had been longtime members of the Rusty Grape, and have enjoyed many visits to the winery with family and friends. When we got engaged and were deciding on a summer reception location, our obvious choice was Rusty Grape. It should have been a red flag after several failed attempts to reach the owners by email, website, Facebook, and voicemail messages that we were making a poor decision, but the fact that the atmosphere really suited our vision and needs for our reception urged us to be persistent. When we finally did get the opportunity to approach the owners face to face and secure a meeting, our ideas and visions were discussed, and we were promised without a doubt that our very minimal needs could be met. We gave our initial deposit on the spot and were excited about getting to celebrate with our closest friends and family at our favorite local hangout. On the day of, we were allowed to arrive an hour earlier than originally planned to get set up…only to find the first of many problems that would occur that day. To name a few will only scratch the surface in describing that what was agreed upon and paid for, was NOT what was provided… 1. Table linens that were ordered off-white were BLACK. For a country style wedding reception. 2. Our music was hooked up and started over 2 hours into the event. Not to mention, the music was being run off of their speaker system and iPod connection and had a faulty wire connection, so you could hear the melody, but none of the lyrics. 3. We ordered, paid for, and confirmed (THAT DAY!) our order of a pony keg of Busch Light and a pony keg of a microbrew. The pony keg of Busch Light (groom’s choice) was NEVER ordered, and instead cans of beer were served to our guests, and the microbrew was NOT the kind we ordered. Not even half way through the event the beer was gone, and when we sought out the owner, we were told he had to run to the store to get more beer! At this point, our guests have no beer, no wine, and there is no ice (as promised) for the soda, water or lemonade and iced tea that WE provided on a 90+ degree day. 4. Adequate staff was not provided for our event as promised. Our bartender was rude to us and to our guests, and nobody cleared plates or maintained the food. No garbage receptacles were provided for cans or otherwise. Our guests had plastic cups, cans, and dishes piling up on their tables, ran out of clean forks and the bar ran out of wine glasses. Well in advance we notified the owners that we were providing food for 60, but would have approximately 75 people. They did not demand to charge us for the increased guests list, nor did they provide for additional supplies. Mentioning only a few of many mishaps that day gives you an idea of our unhappiness at the unsatisfactory outcome of our event. We and our family paid a very healthy amount for what was promised for our event, and the services definitely did not match the cost. Even after meeting with the Owners days later to express our unhappiness in hopes of reaching an equitable remedy, we have been continously put off and met with the same lies and feelings of unimportance, and that our loyalty to the Rusty Grape over the last several years is as insignificant to them as was our reception. I hope you will consider this honest review if/when deciding to plan any sizeable event at the Rusty Grape, because we are not the only patrons and members that have been screwed by the Rusty Grape’s unorganized attempt at claiming to be able to accommodate and provide for such a special event as ours was.

FO

Forrest Miller

Called ahead to see if there was space for our party of 4 + one 5 year old. We were told "its a little busy but plenty of seating." Drove straight there, only to find out there wasnt a single place to sit (we were later told it had been that way all day). This was our first time there, so we didnt know the layout-- but there wasnt a single sign or staff member to explain where to go or what to do. We spent thirty minutes wondering around trying to figure out where to sit and how to order food. When we finally got through a very long line of unhappy people, we were told that the kitchen was really backed up on food-- when we asked how long, first we got a snotty answer ("Two years" said one of the cooks). Then we were told, "MAYBE after an HOUR they might be able to START our order." We were just ordering a pizza, just like everyone else in the place. Wed already been there for over half an hour and had a 5 year old... Plus, wed driven up from Vancouver after being told there was space, so we were pretty pissed--- had to go somewhere else to eat after driving all the way up there. Ive worked in the restaurant industry for a long time so I know a bit about it-- and the impression that I got was that a family who happened to own a winery decided to open a restaurant to increase business-- but they had no idea how to run a restaurant.. There was ZERO staff on hand to do basic things like seat guests or explain that you had to order food at the bar, get it yourself, seat yourself, etc. They had understaffed the kitchen also and the small kitchen facilities couldnt handle the volume-- but for some reason, they were investing in expanding the seating.... They were running the restaurant like a fast-food joint-- offering no service and self-ordering at the counter-- but who wants to go to a fast-food facility when they are visiting a winery??!? I mean, I literally couldnt find a DRINK menu-- (in a winery!) The desperately needed a hostess (or at least a sign explaining their system). Id highly recommend paying a few servers minimum wage+tips to make the dining experience a luxurious one, rather than a confusing and infuriating experience. Instead, there were just a few of the familys kids running around trying to refill water pitchers. At the very least, I would have appreciated them just being honest with me and telling me they were busy. That would have saved me the trip and frustrating experience.

CH

Charles H

Reconsider having your event here. I am not typically one for writing reviews, but after a private party at this winery I really feel that our experience should be known. 1. Half an hour after the wine and appetizers were supposed to have started the guests decided that we would set up the tables and chairs and put table clothes over the tables etc. because there was no place to sit. 2. They had one person trying to bring out everything for most of the time before finally a second person pitched in. 3. No food was out for 1.5hrs after it was supposed to be served. Appetizers were brought out 30min after dinner was supposed to start. 4. One hour after some form of food was supposed to be served my pregnant wife went to find some provisions for which we were prepared to pay while I chased around our small children. Inside she found unhelpful waitstaff making critical statements towards the wedding party. (It was a rehearsal dinner). If an establishment is unable to provide a service to an adequate standard they should not provide that service. The food and wine were both good, but the substandard way they were delivered was wholly inadequate. Based on other reviews I can only speculate that they are good at their primary service. Based on my experience I feel it would be in everyones interest if they kept to that until such time as they are able to get their house in order.

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