The Northside Inn

Review -- The Northside Inn East Rochester, NY

We recently lost our cousin, Joe, and after the memorial service the family scheduled a bereavement luncheon at the Northside Inn in East Rochester, NY.

Below is an apology to the guests from Joe's wife and also a review of the Northside Inn:

I feel strongly at this juncture that I must apologize for the fiasco regarding the luncheon. In our discussion with the owner three days prior, he informed us that we needed to guarantee him 30 people and we agreed that we would do just that, even though we had no idea how many would be attending.

My daughter called back two days ahead of time to let him know that it would be more like 50.

As it turned out two things happened to destroy what was to be a beautiful and enjoyable tribute to Joe; a luncheon where people could be together, bring up memories of days gone by and discuss old times.

The first thing that happened was the funeral home never notified Northside of a guesstimate amount that would be attending. Given that error, the owner of the Northside had no idea there would be more than (what we presumed to be) 50. The second error was the owner's decision to set up a room for 30 only. He also scheduled another party of 50 or more within a half-hour time element of mine, with only 3 waitresses to handle both parties.

I could not believe the havoc and turmoil that was unfolding as I watched in horror all my friends and relatives pouring into a small, uninviting room of 30 seats only.

There were place settings with no chairs, so people crowded not knowing where to go, let alone sit!

The owner insisted we informed him of 30 people only and everything that we had talked about and confirmed with him prior to the luncheon he denied ever took place. By the way, he was not in attendance on this particular day, so any communication was null and void when it came to the staff.

I informed him (the owner) that he did not have enough staff to accommodate both parties and he should never have committed to such a venue. My daughter asked if the overflow could have sat in the tent area (which is a large area and would have accommodated at least half of the people in our group) and he stated he did not have the staff to set it up, nor the time to do it. So, that rises the question, if the funeral home had done their job and provided a correct estimate of how many would be attending, what did he plan on doing with the overflow once provided with the correct amount .

(He stated in our conversation the day after that "if" he was given the correct amount from the funeral home, he could have set up the tent!) So, which is it?????

My heart is broken in that I could not give Joe a better memorial. Everyone has been more than kind in stating "it was okay"........but, it wasn't okay, and I will feel somewhat responsible for such a disaster.

We spoke with the owner the next day "trying our best" to state our disappointment. He would hear nothing of it, accepted no blame whatsoever for the mayhem that transpired on the day of my husband's funeral. I have always felt the buck stops at the desk of the owner, the supervisor, the person in charge; therefore, an apology would have at least been welcomed.

But the owner never apologized, stating we were totally responsible, essentially told us to have a good day and hung up.

It should be noted that the women's restroom toilets did not flush and we were charged $26.50 for pop when at the outset (verbal agreement) that coffee/tea/pop were part of the package.

I just want everyone to know how sorry I am that you were a participant of such a fiasco that should have been a tribute, an honor by all of those who witnessed and were a part of my husband's life.

Dorothy

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I am Joe and Dorothy's cousin and I am posting Dorothy's comments as she wrote them.

I want to further add that my husband and I were some of the last guests on the buffet line and most of the hot entrée trays were emptied or almost empty and there was no attempt to refill any serving trays. Not complaining for us, but this is another indicator of the poor service when charging by the plate.