04/05/08

We might organize a boycott!!!

by TheProdigalProdigy

My fiancee and I have been to Flames Coffee Shop on Winchester, and the location in Milpitas. We've enjoyed good food, and reasonably acceptable service - until tonight.

We walked in and immediately noticed the manager/supervisor give us a sour look. I wasn't sure if she was just grumpy, or if she found some reason to look upon an Asian woman with a white handicapped man disfavorably. As we stood by the front counter waiting to be seated, many other (at least 6) customers were greeted and dealt with promptly and always with a smile. We continued to wait for even an acknowlegement, let alone some service.

After about 5 minutes of being completely ignored, another employee came to the register near us. As he looked our way, the woman with the sour look leaned in to him and told him "Do not seat them at all."

I was very offended and hurt by this, but said and did nothing inresponse - we just continued to wait politely and patiently. As time passed, it became painfully clear that we were being discriminated against for some unknown reason. We are both professional, quiet, extremely polite and respectable people in our late twenties and would NEVER present ourselves in a way that would give any business lawful reason not to serve us.

Finally, after 15 minutes of being overtly ignored while many other customers were served, my fiancee had had enough and we left.

I, as a handicapped man, experience various types of discrimination from time to time, but never in my 30 years have had it at the hands of a customer-service oriented business, and never so blatantly obvious as it was tonight at the Flames Coffee Shop on Winchester.

If we do not pursue this matter through an official boycott, or any other appropriate and deservedly immediate means, I deeply hope that anyone who reads this will not give Flames any business, and spread the word about thier dreadfully inappropriate treatment of two highly respectable but disatisfied customers.

• Pros: Wonderful breakfast items, and especially yummy desserts
• Cons: Blatant discrimination against Asains, handicapped people, or interracial couples

12/09/04

Great Food

by pinkgirl645

Great place to EAT. Best service! Nice people. Family owned so you get family great service. Sick of all the trendy little plates that give you no food. You get what you order here and its great. And its great for large groups....

07/24/04

The Last Comfort Food Joint

by isaac32767

If you want a solid meal at a reasonable price, Flames is a good place to eat. The portions are satisfying, the dishes are carefully prepared, the service is great. But note that the recipes are, well, uninspired. If you order something with mixed veggies, you'll get the inevitable mixture of broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, etc; conspicuously fresh, and steamed just the right amount of time. But that's it -- there's nothing memorable about it.

* * *

I need to go to a place like Flames once in a while, for an old-fashioned feed. Now that all the non-ethnic M&P places have disappared, and chains like Baker's Square have given up on decent food, there aren't a lot of choices. I do wish the food came with just a little bit of imagination.