I'd like to preface this very negative review by saying that I'm writing this with a heavy heart. I'd much rather write about pleasant experiences that stand out in my mind as things I'd rather do again, as opposed to experiences that were not so memorable. However, I also feel I'd be doing a great disservice to not only myself, but also you, my readers, by NOT reporting unhappy circumstances, as well as happy ones. So, let the negativity fly!

Tonight, I had a "date" with Some of the Women Who Inspire Me at the family-owned restaurant Casa Vega in Sherman Oaks. There was to be a group of five of us who would meet at approximately 6pm for drinks and appetizers. As sometimes happens with gatherings like this, only two of us had arrived by 6pm, and were informed that we could not be seated at a table until our entire party arrived. Not a problem, and Denise and I ordered our first round of margaritas. Approximately ten to fifteen minutes later, two others arrived, and the four of us were seated. More drinks, and a round of appetizers. Tracy had to leave around 7pm, at which time Pam arrived. You guessed it - more drinks. By this point, we were all having a fabulous time.

No sooner than 8pm - less than two hours after the first two of us had arrived - had our otherwise enjoyable evening turned sour. Tonya and Pam excused themselves to use the ladies' room, at which point a gentleman, who we later were informed was the manager, informed Denise and I that because of the many people waiting for a table, we were invited to leave whenever we were ready. Denise angrily asked for the check, both of us astonished that we'd effectively been kicked out of the restaurant. When the manager returned with the check, Denise informed him of her indignation, while unbeknownst to us, a waiter removed Tonya and Pam's unfinished drinks from the table. When Tonya and Pam returned, Denise and I informed them of our ill treatment, but when we tried to complain to the waiter, he simply shrugged and suggested we talk to the manager - the man who had just asked us to leave! It was at this point we noticed the missing drinks, and realized that we'd been charged full price for them. Tonya tried to complain to the manager, to no avail. He simply advised us to look and see how many people were waiting for a table, a suggestion that seemed to us to be not our problem, especially since our total bill was $120. Adding further insult, we noticed that the two young ladies apparently in their early 20s, who had been seated at a table for much longer than us, were not being invited to leave and open their table for other patrons.

Needless to say, my first dining experience at Casa Vega will also be my last.