The following is an e-mail message sent to the owners of Barnacle, to which no reply has been received:\r
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Davis Family:\r
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I have eaten three times at Barnacle Bill's Main Street in the past year and a half, most recently two days ago. The food is outstanding and the prices are reasonable in view of the quality. I would rate the food among the best in Sarasota.\r
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However, there is the bad news, very bad news. For two of the three times we have dined there, we have been blatantly overcharged without an apology or easy correction. I now believe it is a standing policy of Barnacle Bill's to illegally inflate prices and profits, which was seemingly confirmed by the testy manager at the Main Street Store, who said it was a company thing an offered a telephone number to complain to the central management.\r
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In Tuesday's case, which I remember best, we ordered two ""Blackened Mixed Grills,"" which are part of the Chef's Specialties (or House Specialties,something like that). All of those entrees can have a salad added for $1.79, as stated clearly on the menu. When the bill came, we had been charged $7.00 per salad, or $14. I complained, got a copy of the menu, showed the clear price on the menu. The waitress then returned after a long conference with the manager (a young woman whom we spoke with later) and said ""it is all taken care of."" Now, the bill showed $3.50 per salad, approximately double the menu price.\r
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Again, we complained and asked for the manager. The bill came back, again after a long conference, with the right amount shown. While I was away from the table, the manager stopped by to say it was a computer thing, a company policy, no one's fault, just one of those things, and that it wasn't clear to the computer that the salads went with the Chef's Specials (which they clearly did). And she said that the regular price of the salads was $3.50 (which is about right for kind of restaurant, location, etc.) When I asked, then, how did they ring up at $7.00, she said again it was some kind of computer thing, she was responsible for the computer, maybe someone should look into it, etc.\r
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I MIGHT have believed this was all innocent, except for the two-out-three times it has happened to us (and I am not sure about the first time - I wasn't checking carefully). And EXCEPT for the two long negotiations between the manager and the waitress before it was again charged wrong, and high. And EXCEPT that neither the manager not the waitress batted an eye about the problem, and they offered nothing to help correct the bad feelings. Instead, the manager blamed everyone else, was testy and was anything but gracious.\r
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My advice to other diners will be to go to Barnacle Bill's if you want some of the best food in Sarasota, but watch your bill and your wallet very carefully, and expect a protracted negotiation for your bill to reflect the posted menu prices.\r
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I will wait until Friday afternoon in case you want to reply before I post the contents of this message with other web reviews.\r
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