Zeph's

Went to Zeph's last night with my mom and sisters for a glass of wine and some appetizers before a night of Chrismas shopping.  It was my first time there since they've expanded into the area formerly used by the gift shop.  So much roomier!  They've added tables and a full bar...really a much better use of their space.  The chardonnay was lovely, but the appetizers we ordered were amazing!  The calamari had a southwestern kick to the sauce which was awesome, and the flatbread pizza with bleu cheese, carmelized onions and pine nuts was heavenly.  I will be back!  Awesome!

This place is hit or miss. It really depends on the staff working. The food is never bad, but the service can be...

Been going to Zeph's (aka Portobello Deli) since I quit my consulting gig in 2007 and settled down with a less hectic job in the area.

Food was great, was served quickly, and price was right, so I would bring my staff, friends and colleagues with me, particularly out of town consultants that we bring in to work on projects, as well as friends and family who came to visit the Salinas/Monterey area.

But I speak in past tense.  That is because, my friends/co-workers and I noticed that food has not been as good lately.  My usual order of roast chicken is no longer juicy.  I even tried dark meat instead of white and the meat was so dry it was difficult to pry it off the bone.  My other usual order, the chili verde is almost always too salty, and servers behind the counter are no longer friendly to allow a taste so I can check if that day's batch is too salty for me.

The lasagna and pot pies are my son's (and occasionally, my husband's) usual order.  But my son for about a year now refuses to eat at Zeph's since he tells me that there is nothing there that is any good for him to eat anymore.

But I continued to go.  After all it is a locally owned establishment and we chose the area to be our permanent home, so I feel some obligation to support them.

Not anymore, not after yesterday.

I walked in with a colleague who ordered her usual and was promptly served.  Then when my turn came, I ordered my usual --- Then I watched and heard as the server behind the counter asked the other people in line their orders.  Then I watched as she served them ahead of me.  My friend watch from afar and was wondering what was holding me up.  I told her that they decided to serve the others behind me in line first.  As my friend walked away telling me which table we were sitting, the server told me off - "you ordered a quarter chicken which gives me more work so you get to wait."

I eventually (after she did another order), got my order sans the usual sides/salad or bread that cones with it.  Unfortunately, I was not in a complaining mood (my Dad had just passed away), and just paid, moved on and told another lady behind the counter that they probably will not see me back at Zeph's again.

Later (as I sat struggling with the dry chicken), I heard other diners remark that the servers get to decide who they want to serve first.  I also heard that I was the only non-blond in line and blondes have to be served first.

Oh well, who cares why.  There are other small establishments in town who welcome people like me and the people I bring with me.  So I will no longer be going back to Zeph's.