The below Comment was added to an older posting of mine yesterday. It's becoming a familiar theme....so my question for the owners of Lotus Eaters is - what's going on down there, people?
I only went there once. Loved the food. It's always been full any time I returned, so that was that. But quite a few people now have raised the rudeness and poor service issue.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "I hate to be boring, but.....Divinge again": "rudenessdoesntwincustomers"....too true, with regard to 'Lotus Eaters' I'm afraid!Great reviews are all very well - that's why we made the trip there after all - but, MY GOD!, serious attitude, you could've cut the atmosphere with a knife the day we visited, and EVERYBODY in the caf could feel it. Maybe because it's about as big as a phone box.A shame, but I can't enjoy, let alone digest, the best food in the world properly when such a frosty vibe permeates. I can barely remember the meal to be honest, I just wanted out of there!The woman who 'served' us nearly bit my Aunt's head off when she politely mentioned she ordered a latte NOT a cappuccino. I've honestly never seen such a performance. NEVER AGAIN!!!I'll be trying Divinge next time - hopefully soon, sounds lovely... Posted by Anonymous to Hobart Food for thought at November 30, 2007 10:46 PM
Anyone want to comment?
Saturday 1 December 2007
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27 comments:
Rita, I'm confused.
You said (in relation to Lotus Eaters cafe):
"I only went there once. Loved the food. It's always been full any time I returned, so that was that."
Erm.... you say you only went there ONCE.
You then say it's always been full ANY TIME you've returned?
If you returned then you must have been there MORE than once..... Yes?
Welcome showmethedessertmenu. Don't be confused - it's simple, and I'm sorry if I didn't explain myself better.
I've only been in the door and eaten there once. I've been in Cygnet, gone to the door of Lotus Eaters, looked in there and seen no space so gone elsewhere other times ( at least 3 other times).
I can only comment on the food and service and attitude of staff from my one visit there. The rest is what people have said to me - and in the interests of honesty, I feel I must point out such small issues as this!
Methinks someone in the same town is jealous of the success of the girls at the Lotus Eaters so they continue to snipe about them.
The girls there have the best cafe food in the state according to Graham Phillips.
To be fair, anonymous - the original comment didn't sound at all like someone in the town being jealous. It read to me like a person with no hidden agenda voicing a genuine gripe about Lotus Eaters, which just happened to resonate (for me) with a few other comments I'd heard lately about the same place.
Also - as with all reviews of anywhere, it is only as good as your last experience there.
Graeme's meal was one meal on one day. Who can speak for the rest of the time?
I'm not condemning them by any means - but trying to provide a sense of perspective.
In my visits to the Lotus Eaters Rita, the service has been very friendly from Olivia, Giselle, Alex or Allison.
Everyone can have an off day so maybe its just that.
I only ever hear that people love the place & the criticisms are usually about its small size & that they dont have it as their local.
When we were there it was bedlam. Friendly, but chaotic.
The server even got a physio treatment from a customer while we waited to be fed.
All very new age but while we sympathised with the back sufferer, surely somebody extra could have been found to serve.
We left without managing a cup of tea or soft drink to wash down our meal and consigned it to good food (not great) but too small and seemingly run only for the staff.
Like some sort of hippie commune. How are you man? I nearly started singing ``Are you going to San Francisco, be sure to wear a flower in your hair.''
Anon 3.48 - that sounds like Sir Grumpys (I think it was his) and a few others comments on Lotus Eaters. I personally wouldn't be too fazed about the "friendly but chaotic" atmosphere but others, I know, are.
I suppose it comes down to what each of us likes or prefers in our dining styles.
However, the bad atmosphere as described in the post by my Anon, is different to "friendly but chaotic".
I'm sorry to say Gobbler, but it looks like they probably ARE friendly to you when you go in - and why not? I'd be friendly to you too! But for your average punter, maybe it's 'take us as you find us today'?
Once again - I repeat, this is NOT my experience at LE's.I'm happy with the role of devils advocate.
Yes, that was me, Rita...the computer thingy has changed and didn't take me name.
Gobbler's seemed changed too, but i bunged my name on the end after the first experience on yours.
I'm computer-stupid.
I'm off to put a flower in my hair, listen to The Byrds and drink a tequila slammer.
(NOT).
Sir Grumpy
Ever been to a friends house when its clear that the couple in question are at war? Its an uncomfortable atmosphere, even though they are both doing their best to cover it up and act as though all is well.
Hospitality can be much the same. I know we are all professionals, and so the show must go on, but we like the dining public are human too and stress happens.
Stress for me is defined as follows; when the mind over-rides the bodies basic desire to choke the living shit out of some asshole who richly deserves it whilst still maintaining a smile.
I hope Lotus Eaters have a group hug, and the public forgive them, "The first picture of you, the first picture of summer....." (opening line from a 1983 song by a band called the Lotus Eaters).
Just because they open their doors doesn't mean that they have to be judged by what every other cafe does.
I dont agree that it is a place that puts the staff first. I do understand the dissapointment if someone dosent get their cuppa but the place does not run to the same rythms of every other cafe. Thats its charm.
I also think that its such a cliche to paint it as a 'Hippy=place' just because they perhaps blur the line between the servers & the served.
Instead of moaning about the cafe when its obvious that its not your cup of tea, why not just not go there but be respectful of their point of difference?
Just because you may not like what they do doesn
't mean thay're doing anything wrong, or does it?
I concur with what you say Gobbler. This post has been very interesting to me personally, as I feel that when I ran my cafe, it was along those very lines as has been described by some of the commenters above.
I well remember giving a customer a thorough back and shoulders massage when he came in, complaining of being mega-stressed and tight across the shoulder area.
My rationale was that as I don't indulge in the usual "How are you today" query without actually possessing the desire to be given the answer, I was genuinely concerned that my customer (who I didn't know from Adam) be made as relaxed and comfortable as humanly possible in my cafe.
If that meant I stood and chatted with him while giving him a much-needed back massage, well, so be it. To me that's customer service. As long as the other customers were being looked after by other staff, I was fine with doing that.
I still do it today at my current workplace.
Also the perceived 'hippy' label, as well as 'gay' label were just that - labels given by people who came in at any point in time, and found fellow customers to be of that ilk.
As my staff comprised a wide variety of humans, so the clientele they attracted round their shift time was similar, presumably because those that identified with them felt comfortable in that environment and hence sought them out.
So if you came in any morning, or for lunch, you could be served by middle-aged me, with all my associated baggage; Friday nights/Sat mornings at 3.00 am was a different matter! Crazy music blaring, drunk/stoned hippies etc
But - all part of lifes rich tapestry!
the person who suggested that the criticism of this little cafe was in all likelihood just a bit of sabotage or sniping or whatever from a local who doesn't like competition is wrong. is it beyond all possibility that maybe their strong suit is NOT service? as "the gobbler" is on first-name terms with everyone @ LE I'd suggest that he/she may lack objectivity on this and seeks to make excuses for their shoddy treatment of customers (have seen it for myself - thank christ it wasn't directed at me that day). And if that's the case let us all strive for mediocrity!
Yes, Gobbler, Rita, we decided that point of difference wasn't our cup of tea (which we didn't get!).
So we won't be back. We rated it only average for food and it was just too small anyway. Service poor for us.
But its IS a ``new age-hippy'' feel to it and just cause we noticed it and think that doesn't work in a busy little box, that doesn't make the saying of it a cliche.
I found the people friendly but not quite ``with us''.
Look, by all means be laid back, I am often, but look after the customers.
In its previous incarnation RVL, the service was aften woeful.
There, I had a plate whisked from under my nose just as fork and knife hovered because it was for the next table and ``wrongly'' delivered to me.
This was after I accepted the waitresses apologies cause she said she ``got my order wrong and would I like to take it anyway?''....phew.
I said okay and, as I said, was about to bog in when she pounced and whisked it away.
We go to places to get a feed and hope all else is pleasant, service, ambience, etc.
Lotus has got the mix skewed for me but for all those who dig it brother, sister....hey kick back and go.
Sorry, Gobbler but it will be judged like all other places...we all have a sense of what's good or not and it averages out. That's life and if it works for the Lotus people, good. I don't know how they can make a living in that shoebox but.
Sir Grumpy
PS I always thought a Lotus was a fast car...maybe they should call it the Datsun 120Y Eaters.
PPS We can't always agree.
don't get me started on the old RVL....sheesh!!!!
I've also had some bad experiences at Lotus Eaters. Everything I've just read here about the attitude rings so true. It sounds like a situation where if you're lucky and the staff know and like you already then they're really friendly but if not, good luck.
As far as the-gobbler objecting to people expressing different opinions & describing different experiences to his/hers:
gobbler, dear, it's just an unavoidable fact of life in a free society that other people besides you are also allowed to openly & honestly discuss their experiences.
And in this case it's an experience for which they're paying good money.
More Lotus bashing and this time four years after the post-what a grudge holder you are anon
It might be 4 years late buts still rellevent today a real click there and if your not in your really out and they make sure you know it but its better now that grumpy irish backpacker who mak eth coffee isnt their
Lotus Eaters. Overrated. Inside too small. OK but unremarkable food. Patchy service. Expensive for what you get. Dont know what all the fuss is about.
wrong in so many ways.
Some of you sycophants are so deluded that you cant see that this cafe is overrated but us paying customers who arent there mates certanly can
Gee, so many whingers and yet the place is always full.
I've been many times, and the food and service has always been terrific.
Friendly and chaotic perhaps, but that's part of its charm.
I have been to Lotus Eaters on the recommendation of a local & it was for the most part a fine experience food wise, except for both mine & my partners lettuce having slug sized bits of dirt still on the lettuce, which is, regardless of any cafe/restaurant, anywhere, inexcusable. That is the simplist of duties any halfwit in a McDonalds could manage. Otherwise, lovely food.
what's going on - a fantastic team of staff, consistently great coffee, lots of dogs, lots of customers, lots of tight squeezes, fun, and lovely food. Some dirt in homegrown lettuce - big shit - never had bad or slow service - everyone is always giving it their all - Go Lotus - Rita why bring this up again??????????? That is a blog from 4 years ago -
You're correct Anon 14/9 10.03 - this IS a post from 4 years ago - but have you seen me writing anything about it since? No! I most definitely haven't bought it up after 4 years! It is Anon commenters (presumably new to this blog, given that they are still airing their views) voicing their opinions about Lotus Eaters. I hope to eat there soon, but haven't given a thought to the place for years. Please leave me out of this 'discussion'.
Big shit about dirty lettuce! Might not be important to you anon but I dont want grit in my food. I've had slow/poor/attitide and inconsistant coffee there recently so even if this post is four years old, the problems are still there.
Apologies Rita - now realise it was an anonymous out of date commenter.
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