Community Update

I made reservations at my favorite tea room, A Corner Of England - Festive Occasions in St. Pete, FL for my daughter's 11th birthday celebration on October 5, 2013. We've been going there for YEARS when Danielle ran it, and now it is under new management (a lady named Andrea). Anyway, everything was going just fine until I noticed a small chip of porcelain or ceramic stuck to the bottom of my quiche. I did not eat it, so no harm done - but I did think it was wise to let the management know about it. As I am not the type to make a scene, especially not in a place that is one of my favorites, I discreetly asked to speak to the manager, and when they sent the older gentleman over to talk to me (I don't know his name), I QUIETLY pointed out the shard. He picked it off the food and asked me if there was more on the plate. I told him I didn't think so, but I thought he should know - and then I asked for my check. Instead of thanking me for looking out for them or apologizing for the inedible (and potentially DANGEROUS) piece in my food, he told me I was CAUSING TROUBLE and that I needed to LEAVE and NEVER COME BACK! I was aghast! Is this how you treat a loyal customer when they try to HELP you??? And moreover, how could I possibly be causing trouble when I made a point to be as quiet and respectful as possible so as not to draw attention to the other customers in the shop??? I sat there for a moment trying to process what had happened, and I guess I wasn't moving fast enough for him, because he came over and told me to get out and never return. At this point, I got angry - I said, loudly, "Do you mean to tell me that because I showed you that YOU served ME inedible food with a chip of porcelain in it, you are thanking me by kicking ME out and telling me to never return...after I made a point to inform you of a legitimate safety concern and to make sure I didn't even cause a scene?" He said "Well, you're causing a scene now, so go." I gathered my kids and left, and when I was in the parking lot putting my children in the car, I saw some patrons going to the door so I told them what had just happened to me. Seconds later, the same man came running out of the door and over to my car, yelling at me for talking to his customers. I shrugged and told him it was a free country and what did he expect, since I wasn't lying to anyone and he's the one who acted inappropriately. I then reiterated that I had been a loyal customer and enthusiastic supporter/promoter of that business for YEARS and I did not deserve this treatment, and his response was that I didn't have to worry about them anymore because I was no longer a regular there, and I was no longer welcome there anymore. In addition to the inappropriate treatment I received here, I also feel that this was not fair to my kids. Need I mention again that this was my 11-year-old's BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION?! (And yes, they knew about it - the table was decorated with Birthday balloons and everything). My younger daughter cried the whole way to the car and my older daughter was afraid - she cowered in the backseat of my car with her cell phone when the man ran over to us in the parking lot because she was afraid he'd attack me. No child should be made to feel this way at a restaurant - ESPECIALLY when it is undeserved, and ESPECIALLY on their birthday!!!! The FIRST person I contacted to resolve this matter was the previous owner, Danielle - who told me right away that she informed Andrea and that Andrea would handle it. It has now been almost a month, and NOBODY has gotten back to me to make amends. I know they are well aware of it, because the friends I have told have posted comments on their facebook page about it, and they would promptly delete them within minutes of the postings. Now they have completely DELETED their Facebook profile! They are choosing to ignore it. They are going to MORE trouble to hide/ignore the problem than it would take to make amends!!! So I am choosing to spread the word. This is NOT OK. Thanks for listening!