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"First, let me say that this review is regarding the service and experience I had with booking an event and has nothing to do with the Elks organization. My father, who was a long-time member of the Elks, passed away on May 31st. I’m not from the area, so when I planned the memorial service and the Elks Banquet facilities were suggested to me for a gathering place after, that’s what I planned. I called Dan, the Banquet Manager, at the beginning of June and told him I’d like to a lunch, nothing too fancy, have a cash bar, etc. He quoted me $15 per person for sandwiches, salads, chips and cookies for dessert. Told me he’d held a few of these events lately. We spoke about specifics for the menu and I asked if he needed a deposit. He told me no, never spoke of additional charges, nor did he provide a contract in writing or give me a total. Since I was juggling many things at the time and the venue had been recommended, I didn’t question it.
The service was held on June 27th and we arrived at the Elks for the lunch. Everything was set up as a buffet and ready to go on time. At the conclusion, I went to settle up with Dan and he put a sheet in front me that detailed the charges - $15 per person and we planned on 50 – so that was $750. But the bill was $1151.90! That was over 50% more than he had conveyed to me. I was in shock and got out my debit card to pay – then was told there a 3.5% surcharge on credit cards, regardless if it was debit or credit. Since this had not been communicated ahead of time, I didn’t have my checkbook with me. So I ended up paying $1261.33 for chips, pretzels, 3 types of cold sandwiches (chicken salad, turkey and roast beef), 3 salads (tossed, potato and canned fruit), iced tea and water, paper plates and plastic utensils. Translated per person – that’s $25! Then I realized later, no dessert had been provided either.
The next day I called Dan and asked him to go over the charges with me. There was a $125 charge for the room I had never been told about. $50 for a bartender (aka Dan). An 18% gratuity ($135) – this makes no sense since it was buffet and there was not a server or busser in the building for the entirety of our event. My guests bussed their own tables, throwing away their used paper plates, plasticware and cups. So who was that gratuity for? We saw Dan and one member of the kitchen staff. I asked Dan about the cookies/dessert and his response was that it wasn’t on his list. I said that we had discussed it and he suggested cookies. He repeated that it wasn’t on his list. I asked why he hadn’t told me ahead of time about the 3.5% surcharge – before I handed him my card. He said, that’s just what they do there.
My recommendation is to find another venue that realizes that accepting credit cards is part of running a business, provides a written contract with all expenses outlined and doesn’t patronize you with non-answers and fake sincerity when you question them. We could have easily gone to Marzoni’s or another restaurant in the area and had complete meals on actual dinnerware with drinks and dessert for $25 per person."
— Melanie W