My wife's phone was stolen here...
- Joined: Jun 10th, 2010
- Posts: 7
Review of Union Bar and Grille
I really like the food at Union, and prior to tonight, it was one of our favorite restaurants in Beijing. Tonight, however, my wife's phone was stolen off of our table as we ate. I must admit, it must have been quite a skilled thief for neither of us to notice it happen, and we were only there a short time. What's really concerning, though, is that I can't recall anyone ever getting particularly near our table other than the waitstaff, who were numerous and constantly buzzing around (it was Thanksgiving, so a pretty busy night for them).
When we told them the phone was gone, the staff did their best to help us look for it in case she'd dropped it somewhere, but a couple of them seemed more interested in getting her to say she'd lost it outside before we'd entered the restaurant, which wasn't the case. Sure, she probably shouldn't have put it on the table, and we probably should have noticed it getting stolen, but we really didn't expect that sort of thing to be a problem at a place like Union.
Now, was it someone on the staff who stole it? I have no way of knowing, but certainly the thought has occurred to us, and it's sort of ruined the restaurant for us. Like I said, I really liked their food, but it's hard to see us going back now. In any event, to those eating there, be warned that it's apparently not as safe an atmosphere as it seems. Enjoy your meal, but definitely guard your valuables while you're there, or maybe just don't bring them at all.
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squid
Re: My wife's phone was stolen here...
Given the uncertainty of the situation, don't you believe its a bit unfair to blame the restaurant with a bad review in this case?
expat13
Re: My wife's phone was stolen here...
I have been there plenty of times and as recently as Tuesday night. I left my phone on the table that night when I went to the restroom and I guess luckily no problem or maybe my phone is not worth taking. Anyway, I guess no matter where we go, we should be more careful with our stuff. But I don't think the staff wants to risk being caught and losing their jobs. I have always found all staff members to be very friendly and and try their best to accommodate people.
MJK
Re: My wife's phone was stolen here...
You give a restaurant a 1 star review because your wife lost her phone, are you for real?!
DoubleD
Re: My wife's phone was stolen here...
1 star for that ?
way to go sir ....
next is 5 star for propaganda for not losing your phone ....
custerc
Re: My wife's phone was stolen here...
She didn't "lose her phone." Her phone was stolen. Off the table at this restaurant. While we ate.
The taste of the food is not the only aspect of a restaurant up for review. Union has delicious food, but I -- a longtime customer and fan -- no longer am going to feel safe going there. I thought this experience was something that other potential customers might want to be aware of.
If you don't agree, feel free to post your own 5-star review to balance it out, I don't care...
custerc
Re: My wife's phone was stolen here...
"Given the uncertainty of the situation, don't you believe its a bit unfair to blame the restaurant with a bad review in this case?"
Not really. Certainly, I can't be sure whether or not someone who works for the restaurant stole the phone, but there are two things I am certain of: (1) the phone was stolen and (2) this happened while we were at Union, and neither of us ever left our table.
Even if we assume it wasn't someone on the waitstaff (which to me seems unlikely but that's admittedly just conjecture), that still means there's someone in Union who is stealing customers' phones. That may not be Union's fault, but that doesn't make it any less true.
And if there's a skilled thief who is frequenting Union, yeah, I think that's something potential customers should be aware of. Certainly, the 1-star rating is a pretty accurate assessment of my own dining experience there last night. The restaurant still has a pretty good average, but I am free to share my own experience and rate it accordingly, no?
panderson
Re: My wife's phone was stolen here...
There is a sign on the bar that says to take care of all your own property. Any restaurant or bar in SanLiTun has these since it is a problem in this city. The staff and management in Union is top class but watching your phone is not their responsibility, it's yours, just as the sign says. case closed.
panderson
Re: My wife's phone was stolen here...
There is a sign on the bar that says to take care of all your own property. Any restaurant or bar in SanLiTun has these since it is a problem in this city. The staff and management in Union is top class but watching your phone is not their responsibility, it's yours, just as the sign says. case closed.
custerc
Re: My wife's phone was stolen here...
Yup, and that's why I'm not planning to sue them, or demand they buy her a new phone (although even if there was no sign, I wouldn't bother with that).
If you read my earlier replies, like I said, it might not be their fault. But regardless, it happened. It has never happened at any other restaurant we've visited, and it affected my dining experience and the way I will view the restaurant from now on.
Personally, I do believe it must have been someone on the wait staff who stole it anyway -- no one else got close to our table and it would have been easy for a waiter to subtly grab it as they were moving plates around or whatever. Of course, I can't prove that, and I could be wrong. But this isn't a court, it's website, and what I've written isn't the be-all-end-all accounting of what Union is or isn't, it's one person's opinion.
If you don't like it, go write your own.
matt10
Re: My wife's phone was stolen here...
Getting robbed is a perfectly reasonable justification for a negative review.
Irregardless whether the phone was taken by a staff member or another customer, the business is responsible for creating a safe environment. Maybe not "legally" responsible, but responsible in the sense that they will be quickly out of business if their customers feel the place is unsafe.
I've been to Union plenty of times. I've found their staff prompt and attentive. This may just be an isolated incident, so I'm not going to change my dining habits. However, if there are multiple reviews about people getting robbed at Union, I'll find another place for weekend brunch.
jawshoowa
Re: My wife's phone was stolen here...
Thanks for posting this. Anyone who criticizes the poster is seriously just fishing for a flame war.
If his wife's phone was on the table in front of her as they ate, then it sounds to me like she was taking pretty good care of her property. Should her phone be at home in a safe? Let's face it, this was a skilled thief.
It is very important to post this kind of thing, and it is sad that people want to criticize the poster for it. If there was any pattern to these incidents, other victims could have responded and the public could become aware of the issue. Thankfully, in this case, it appears to be an isolated incident at the Union, just another petty crime of the sort that takes place all over Sanlitun. But if a whole slew of posts had appeared recounting similar experiences, then this poster would have done a valuable service by getting the ball rolling.
Finally, he has every right to rate the restaurant a "1". He says the place is ruined for him. How is a restaurant you'll never go back to anything but a 1? Furthermore, he states quite clearly in the subject of the review why it got a 1, so people can easily conclude for themselves if they find his assessment valid or not.