Bible verses and talk of prayer cover the walls & website, but basic decency was absent.
My family looked forward to trying Elise’s Cuisine for weeks, for its advertised GF breakfast menu that seemed perfect for my daughter, who has celiac. She was so excited, having read the menu online in advance and even double checking it the night before - only to be met with shocking hostility from Elise, the owner.
She ordered the gf pancakes with gf chicken and, as always, specified “gluten-free” — something that’s second nature to anyone with a serious allergy. When the food arrived, the pancakes clearly weren’t gluten-free, and when she kindly asked about it Elise became immediately defensive and argued that she hadn’t asked for them that way.
Instead of handling the situation with understanding or grace, Elise grew increasingly agitated and said she’d have to charge for a new plate. My daughter, trying to be polite and understanding the struggles restaurants are facing, agreed to pay for a second meal.
But while ringing it up, Elise publicly scolded her at the register about “not reading the menu” and “ordering correctly.” It was humiliating and completely uncalled for.
My daughter, holding back tears, canceled the replacement order and sat silently while the rest of us ate. The "complimentary" GF pancakes Elise sent later were an empty gesture after such rudeness.
We support local businesses and understand that mistakes happen. But what matters most is how those mistakes are handled. To be fair I will say that the food was very good and the rest of her staff were kind. Unfortunately, Elise’s reaction turned a hopeful visit into a hurtful experience.