Cricklewood

Oldtime steak house, my parents would have loved it...
We found the food to be very good for a meat & potatoes place.
The service was good, and the atmosphere is kind of funky...
All and all we would return, and bring family....

Margo M.

Visited once because a relative worked there. Needless to say, my relative is no longer employed there. Michael O’Brien is a poor example of a human being as well as a restaurant owner. I will never return.

Our special occasion restaurant could have rotated its head and spit green spew,this was Cricklewood's owner tonight!Never in my life has something so happy turned so hideous as the event delivered by one Michael O’Brien,owner of Cricklewood,SantaRosa,in a tyrant the likes of which would send most to be psychiatrically analyzed!We had 6:30 for husband's birthday(grandchildren&all),we first met our son waiting in the lounge area;I'm on crutches after a knee surgery Weds. before last, this is the first gathering here since my 89 year old mom's passing,we've been through a lot as a family and this was to be a special meal shared to celebrate my husband's birthday.We three sat at the table set aside for us,the rest of the family were running about 15 min. late, so I went outside to call them (no reception inside)the owner was speaking with a group of patrons outside and loudly said to me in front of the group, "I told you not to sit down until your group was here, so I wasn't wasting table time should you not have a full group"....I asked if he meant me? He boastfully says, Yes I said you, I told you not to sit until they were all here (I guess I was supposed to stand in the lounge on crutches, to prove I actually had the group count I had reserved for). In the first place, the man never said a word about not sitting at the table to wait for our family; even recounting this, it doesn’t sound believable.My heart sank and the tears started (I hate that when I cry, especially at the hands of a jerk) I tried to go back into the restaurant to ask my husband and son to leave (apparently we really weren't wanted there) and if you knew me, you would know this is so out of the ballpark for anything I have ever been involved with and this guy blocks the door for me getting it opened to fetch my family. Here I am on crutches, heartbroken and completely in shock that I am unable to understand the Twilight Zone I just got us dropped in and the man BLOCKS the door from me to come in and get them! I finally get through these owners blocking the door which made him mad as well; his very kind hostess asked if I’m alright and what is going on and he responds, “Get her out of here!” I am 57 years old with my 65 year old husband who was born here in Santa Rosa and whose family is part of the old guard, loved Crickelwood for all the special times in our lives and this guy came from left field like I was his personal punching bag? Bottom line, I don't know what it was that set his hair trigger, nor why I got the privilege of being his target, but as I look back trying to find the answer, we drank two sips of a cola, were respectful, love people and care about community and of all people for this yahoo to think this is alright to pick someone at random to belittle in front of all these people and treat so poorly? I am not going to cry over this anymore, but I am hoping this lovely owner will receive all the notoriety and great business he apparently is working so hard to ruin. We won’t return there and strongly question if the man has issues chemically or otherwise induced, so hate to add to his decline. We did however, have a glorious meal on the Windsor Green at the family owned/run Grille there; we were met with precious hearts, excellent food and the atmosphere? Can you beat under the oaks with your family and being treated like you were a personal guest in their home? Hmm, where will we go next time....In a world full of hatred I will not contribute to yet one more hateful person hurting another and I doubt I was anymore than a minor inconvenience; I pity his personnel.Mr. O’Brien, you may go through life bullying everyone, but you can consider the buck stopping here.

Comments (3)

its just me - 05/19/08
Michael O'brien is always like that. This isn't the first time i've heard of him doing things like this to his customers. I don't know how he stays in business. He is terrible.

Former Customer - 05/19/08
AMEN to that! Long story, but I am one of many who no longer patronizes Cricklewood, unless we know Michael O'Brien is out of the country. You described him perfectly. And you're right, he can be just as terrible to his staff - in front of customers no less. Glad to hear you got better service elsewhere.

Aviator - 05/23/08
I have know Michael for years. He is exactly as you describe. I will no longer go into the restaurant unless I know he and his wife are on vacation. At one time or another he has treated most everyone as he did you, yes, even his friends. Friends who are becoming more and more scarce. The staff, for the exception of the female bartender are wonderful friendly people. He has driven most of his good employees away. I can not understand how the restaurant continues to remain in business. Yes he does have issues, mental issues. Which become more apparent when he becomes his own best bar customer on a daily basis.