I recently visited the Restoration Hardware restaurant in Corte Madera with a friend over Memorial Day weekend, and unfortunately, my experience left me feeling uncomfortable and unwelcome.

When we arrived, we were greeted by a very friendly gentleman downstairs and directed to the restaurant on the third floor. Upon reaching the host stand, we let the host know that we were a party of two. We were immediately told there was a one-and-a-half-hour wait. My friend asked whether reservations were required, and the host explained that it was simply due to the holiday weekend.

While we understood that holiday weekends can be busy, what was confusing was that the restaurant did not appear particularly crowded. There were numerous empty tables visible, and there were no other parties waiting ahead of us. We accepted the wait time and decided to order a drink and sit in an outdoor area the host said we could use while waiting.

However, as we were heading outside, the host suddenly informed us that a table that had just been seated had immediately gotten up and left, and that we could take their table. We went from being quoted a 90-minute wait to being seated almost instantly. The abrupt change made the original wait time difficult to understand.

As we sat and enjoyed our cocktails and appetizers, we continued to observe guests arriving. Throughout our visit, we watched multiple parties approach the host stand and be seated immediately. We did not observe anyone else being quoted the lengthy wait time we had been given. Additionally, there were still no visible groups waiting to be seated.

I am of Jamaican descent, and my friend is Central American. While I cannot say with certainty why we were initially told there would be such a long wait, the experience left me feeling singled out and questioning whether our appearance played a role in how we were treated. It was an uncomfortable feeling that unfortunately overshadowed what could have otherwise been an enjoyable visit.

The food and drinks were fine, and some staff members were very pleasant. However, first impressions matter, and this experience left me with concerns about how guests are welcomed and accommodated. Because of how uncomfortable the situation made me feel, I do not plan to return.

I hope management reviews guest seating practices to ensure all visitors receive consistent and equitable treatment.

The plan is stunning and service was really top notch. I had the shrimp cocktail and oysters-both on the pricier side but worth the treat. If shopping in the area, worth the drop in for a drink.