Five of us met at Lucques Saturday night for late cocktails and maybe an appetizer-- the kind of thing LA restaurants and night spots thrive on. We were ignored for nearly 10 minutes after walking in. When the host finally greeted us, we were told we couldn't sit at a table because we weren't ordering dinner. Keep in mind it was 11:30pm and the dining room was nearly empty! After debating with the man, he condescended to allow us to sit at a table only if we walked to the bar to get our own drinks. I ordered the first of what I told the bartender would be two bottles of wine. He could not have been more underwhelmed with our request. After a few minutes of waiting, he told me they were sold out of that bottle. When I ordered another, he didn't respond, turned his back and began talkingto co-workers. After waiting another 5 minutes, we gave up and told him to forget it! He explained he was waiting for the bottle to be brought from the back but by that time it was too late. We left and walked next door to ?Ago?, a wonderful, lively place where we have dined countless times. There, we were greeted with warm smiles and handshakes. I don?t know what Suzanne Goin is thinking! Yes, Lucques is not intended to be as kinetic as its alter ego, AOC but I can?t remember encountering a staff so smug-- so disrespectful as to push a party of 5 out the door and into the arms of a competitor.
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