March 12th, 2009 by Staff – Comments (22)
Post Submitted by Caren
My Husband & I were celebrating our 39th Wedding Anniversary. My Son & Daughter-in-law were celebrating their 11th Wedding Anniversary. Our anniversary is on the same day so they told us about how they had eaten at Doe’s before and it was really good. We thought it was kinda pricey, but that was okay since it was our anniversary. Nothing on the menu was under $32.
I ordered the T-Bone and wanted it well done. My husband ordered the rib eye well done.
My son and his wife ordered their’s medium rare. All of us ordered salad (only two choices of salad) & v. The choices were either new red potatoes boiled or fried or French Fries. The waiter showed up with two steaks and two extra plates and puts them in front of us. He dropped the steak knife, point down, into my husband’s lap and it fell down by my ankle. The t-bone was not well done and the ribeye was burned. The waitress came over and I told her that I was surprised that we had our steaks, since we never got our salad. My son and his wife still did not have anything to eat. She apologized and was very nice about it. She went and got the salads and told us they always bring the well done steaks first so that everyone can eat together.
My Husband had still planned on tipping the waitress because she had been apologetic about everything. We went to pay and the guy who had seated us, asked how everything was. So I explained how this was our first time and I was disappointed. He was going to call the waitress up there and reprimand her, and I said she had already apologized and there was no need for that. He said “WELL, WHAT DO YOU WANT MY TRUCK?!” We paid our bill and NO TIP! Also, four other people got up and were walking out at the same time and told him, “Don’t worry about our table we are going down the street.” This was unbelievable and rude! The food was not that great! I have e-mailed them twice with no response. I WILL NEVER EAT THERE AGAIN!!
Doe’s Eat Place
http://www.doestulsa.com
1350 E 15th St
Tulsa, OK 74120
(918) 585-3637
Post Submitted by Caren
Tags: Cherry street · Food Delivery · Rib-eye · Steak · Steakhouse
22 responses so far ↓
Clint Mar 12, 2009 at 10:56 am
I agree way to pricey for just ok steaks… Not worth the time wasted or money spent. If we want a good steak Mahogany steak house.
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Petunia Bloom Mar 12, 2009 at 4:58 pm
I have heard such good things about this place, and it was on my list of places to eventually try. Thanks for the warning! It is now off my list. Do you get sides with the $32 steaks?
Why would they bring the well-done steaks first?? That just doesn’t make any sense to me….
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Mike Mar 13, 2009 at 11:07 am
No tip? How is it the servers fault the guy who sat you was an ass? And who even orders a steak well done… You might as well go to Texas Roadhouse if that is the case. The difference in places like Doe’s and any Roadhouse is the quality of the meat, that is what you are paying for. I am a huge fan of Doe’s and any steakhouse that carries quality meat, and I’m willing to pay the extra few dollars.
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Sarah Mar 13, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Wow. Can you say “cheap”? If you wanted a steak well done you should just gone some place clearly more in your taste level like road house, or even chilis. Doe’s is an AMAZING place with some of the best steaks in the world. What an insult for you to come in and basically ask them to burn a couple of steaks for you. And if $32 is too much for you, you might just want to stick to the south Tulsa chain restaurants from now on.
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danny Mar 14, 2009 at 4:04 pm
I have never eaten at Doe’s, and I’m sorry you had a bad experience. However, I do agree with others who have commented on this that you were totally in the wrong for stiffing the waitress on the tip…she didn’t cook your food and she wasn’t the one who was rude to you (from what you said she was the ONLY one who tried to accommodate you and make your experience pleasant. I also agree with the others that you should not waste your money at places like this if you want your steak well done. I used to work in a restaurant and it would always baffle me when customers would complain that their well done steaks were “burned.” Try it medium and you will like it I promise!
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Miguel Wickert Mar 15, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Interesting… thanks for sharing about Doe’s. I won’t waste my time going there anytime soon but that doesn’t mean I won’t experience it for myself. Sorry you all have a rough experience. I know what that’s like.
Relax about eating the damn steak well done (if I’m spending that much money- guess what? I’ll order it how I want it, period). For the record, I used to eat steaks well done until I stepped out and tried it medium- I never went back.
I sick of the places out here in Tulsa that think they’re the best thing since slice bread- being from Chicago and having eaten all sorts of foods that a big city can offer, I laugh at these Tulsa spots that think folks owe them something. Drop the snotty noses please.
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Erin Mar 19, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I’m sorry, but I have a hard time believing that you are not embellishing at least a little bit. I have been to Doe’s many, many times and never once have I left feeling less than impressed. It is one of my favorite places to eat, not only because of the great steaks, but because of the extraordinarily accommodating and friendly staff. I can’t believe you would deny the waitress HER tip because of a negative experience with a different person! I hate to point out the obvious…but that “burned” steak you got? That’s how you ordered it. Also- every entree comes with salad and choice of potato, so it’s not like you really over extended and ordered those as extras.
If you split a steak with your husband they would have thrown in an extra salad and potatoes and no cost to you- plus you might have avoided the “sticker shock” you seemed to have with the price.
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Natasha Mar 20, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Hey there, Tulsa Food Blog folks. I appreciate all you do, but y’all are off on this one on a few points.
First, when reviewing steak, order it medium or cooler. Someone above mentioned the cost being related to the quality of meat – that’s true, and it’s hard to appreciate the nuances of fine meat when it’s cooked to death.
Second, it’s never, ever okay to not leave a tip, even if the service was deplorable. Rarely is bad service a concerted effort, and tips are shared by more than just the hostess, the waiter, et al. So, when you refuse to leave a tip, you refuse to pay for the service of the several individuals who made your meal possible. In my mind, that’s stealing.
Keep it up, Tulsa Food Blog. I enjoy reading you guys.
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Kevin Reply:
July 17th, 2011 at 2:00 pm
Oh I really beg to differ…”it is never ok to not leave a tip even if the service is deplorable”??? Are you kidding? Granted…in this case it was wrong not to leave a tip, because the waitress was nice. But if a server gives you “deplorable” service, you absolutely should not leave a tip. A tip is provided for good service..end of story. Tips are earned.
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Aaron Reply:
November 13th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
The tip started out as an incentive given to a server at the beginning of the meal to ask for the best service possible. It was extra bonus. Nowadays however, severs ARE NOT paid minimum wage. Average server hourly pay is $2.13 so tips are the a server’s livelyhood. I agree that if the service is “deplorable” then the server should not be rewarded for that but completely stiffing them is even more deplorable than ANYTHING a server could do (or not do) during your dinner. Great service should be rewarded with a 20% tip minimum. The worst service in the world never deserves less than a 5% tip. And remember, giving a server a little extra has a HUGE effect on their day and life and the next time you come back to that resaurant you can be sure that servers will fight over who gets to take care of you. Conversely if you are a sad human that thinks tipping is unnessesscary then you can bet that servers know who you are and will have no urge to do anything extra for you the next time you eat with them.
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Scott Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 11:14 pm
Tipping in the US for meals and alcohol is suggested to be 15-20% of the BEFORE tax amount. For Tulsa this makes things easy. The tax rate is approximately 8.5%, so simply double the tax amount and you have a rough 17% tip. Add some extra is good service, take some away if bad. Also, if I’ve finished my meal but occupy the table for a lot longer, I will tip extra since I’m preventing them from seating someone else. In one case, I stayed roughly as long as a full serving would have been for the next customer so I doubled the whole tip plus even added in some additional. I think that is fair. I agree with your comment that a little extra (or less) tip can have a HUGE impact on a server’s day. All the more reason they ought to strive to give good service. I worked in restaurants when I was younger. I can tell the difference between a bad or slow performing server, and other problems which may come into the feeding process (slow kitchen, disorganized bar, server is slammed, etc). Even if I’ve had a bad meal or experience, but the server worked hard, I’ll tip them extra. It’s not their fault. I can even tell when a server is trying, but the service isn’t good because they just don’t have the mentality to be a great server. I figure they are working up to their capability so I tip them well too. However I’ve also had some real duds for servers. For example the situation where the place isn’t busy, but your drinks don’t get refilled, plates stay on the table long after they’re finished, food appears in the window but the server lets it sit a long time (while other servers don’t). If someone doesn’t care enough to do their job to quality, then I am not afraid to give them a very low tip. It’s been years since I’ve not tipped someone at all, but the ones who get a very low tip were ones who did multiple things wrong and had several opportunities within their control to fix things, but they didn’t. I work hard for my money too, and a poor dining experience caused by a server who is lazy or doesn’t put forth much effort doesn’t deserve much tip.
Tulsa Food Blog - Brian Mar 20, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Hey Natasha,
Thank you for the comment
I completely agree with both points in your comment. The aforementioned post was submitted by a reader. We love getting restaurant reviews whether good or bad experiences. Though we may not always react the same in that situation we love hearing about everyone’s experiences at Tulsa restaurants. All of the Tulsa Food Blog Staff are big tippers 
We love, love, love your blog too, thank you for being a reader. It means a lot.
If you are looking for more ways to Do Tulsa visit http://www.tashadoestullsa.com.
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J.C. Jun 1, 2009 at 1:33 am
Doe’s Eat Place began in Greenville, MS and has branched out to become a small upscale chain steak house. I haven’t eaten at the one in Tulsa, but the ones in Greenville, MS and Oxford, MS both serve excellent food and have excellent service. I’ll agree with everyone that it makes no sense to order a steak well done at an upscale steak restaurant. “Burned” and “well done” basically mean the same thing when it comes to steaks.
Natasha, you must have worked as a waitress at some point in time. I’ll agree in this situation that they shouldn’t have stiffed the waitress on her tip, but there are times (though they may be extreme and rare) that a tip should not be given. The term “tips” originally was an acronym, meaning “To Insure Proper Service”. If proper service isn’t given, then you shouldn’t pay for it. Bosses don’t give their employees bonuses or raises for not doing their job, so why should a restaurant customer tip a waiter or waitress who’s done a horrible job. Furthermore, if a waiter doesn’t receive a tip, then they should reflect on the services they gave and what they did incorrectly or could have done better. Too many people feel the need to reward mediocrity… it’s just sad.
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Ben Jun 1, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Although I agree with those who question not leaving the waitress a tip under these circumstances, I have to disagree with Natasha and those who say you must always leave a tip, no matter what.
Hard to say who’s right here, though. On the one hand the service and food sound deplorable. And, I have to admit that although I go by there on a regular basis, I’ve never stopped because I can’t bring myself to patronize a place named “Doe’s Eat Place”. Good grief! The name itself is insulting.
What’s next “Joe’s Car-fix Place”? “Bob’s Attorney Place”? “Jim-Bob’s Fix Your Teef Place”?
I HATE that frickin’ name. Irritating as all hell.
On the other hand, any fool who orders beef well done deserves whatever misery they get.
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Sharon Jun 2, 2009 at 1:45 pm
I ate at Doe’s a couple of years ago. Service and food were lousy. The salad was so brown that we had to send it back!!! The service was very lacking and the steaks were way overpriced. A very expensive place for less than mediocre food.
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Troy Nov 10, 2009 at 3:53 pm
If you are going to order your steak well done do not complain about the steak!
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Mark Nov 10, 2009 at 4:19 pm
I myself love Doe’s. If I’m ordering steak out there is only Doe’s, Fleming’s, Mahogony’s (too expensive for me) and the Palace in Tulsa for me. I’m sure Fusco’s does a nice job too but I’ve never had it.
For me it comes down to whether I want a nice wine with my meat. Fleming’s list is by far the best in town, by a country mile. Palace is good but limited. Doe’s has an awesome Porterhouse, which is the only thing I order when I go there, but their wine list is basic at best. But at least it’s affordable. Overall I like the place. It’s unique and homely. Eating at the bar is wonderful.
FYI: I cook or order all of of my steak rare or med/rare.
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Terri Dec 14, 2009 at 8:21 pm
My husband took me here for Valentines day. He said his steak was really good, my lobster tail was good also, They werent extremely busy, we got a table rather quickly, but our server was not the best. My husband loves tamales and ordered some, but the server did not put them on our order, we didnt pay for them, so no big deal, we had been told we would have some biscuit or bread with the meal, and again that wasnt the case. I had always wanted to try Oysters Casino, and they were not very good, I wouldnt order them again, they were very dry. But since I had never had oysters casino, I have nothing to compare them to. Overall I really enjoyed my time I got with my husband, but will probably not go again.
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Mary Jan 25, 2010 at 11:13 pm
Doe’s… haven’t eaten there since it first opened. Not a big steak eater so it doesn’t appeal to me. Had the lobster bisque. It was great as i recall. but the salad was just iceberg would rather have a greener salad. also if i am going to spend a lot of money on a steak then i want a real napkin. not a roll of paper towels on the table. you should almost always tip something. the waitress can not control the way the food is prepped and cooked.
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Dana Jun 8, 2010 at 11:45 am
We ate at Doe’s last night. I agree – the name is odd and does not reflect the quality of experience we received. The salad was nothing special. The 1941 green beans (made with bacon grease and onions) were very flavorful and firm. The Avocado with Prawns was oversauced, which was a pity because the prawns were perfectly cooked. The casino Oysters were good. The Delta tamales were quite good. As for entrees, my husband had the Tenderloin Salad. Ordinariily, tenderloin that has been refrigerated toughens up and a knife is needed. The tenderloin in his salad, however, was so moist and tender it flaked apart. The falvorful was wonderful as well, but I really appreciate the impact of aging on beef. I had the rack of lamb and it was perfect! The asparagus was perfectly blanched as well. I think it is the best we have had in terms of steak and lamb in Tulsa, Denver, or Dallas. Our waitstaff was attentive. The even opened the patio just for us so we could be seated with our puppy. After dinner, the owner asked if we had enjoyed ourselves and invited us back. It was a fabulous experience and I hope everyone who reads or has read this blog will try this restaurant for themselves.
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Charlene Aug 23, 2011 at 11:52 am
My son took me to Does for a belated Mothers Day dinner. We went early evening on a sunday and it wasn’t busy at all. He had been there before and loved it. They were out of the size steak he wanted so he went up a size and I had the rack of lamb. You are definitly paying for the entree here…I had no complaints. The lamb wast tender and flavorful, and I loved the asparagus! The sides were fine…salad sort of plain jane. I do agrree with the others. Never order good meat well done ..it cooks out all the juciness and flavor. I always order med rare and taught my boys to do the same. Pricey? Very, but good quality meat can be worth it.
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Brian Schwartz Nov 15, 2011 at 11:28 am
This review is 2 and a half years old and Tulsa Food Blog has really improved since then. So has Doe’s. I’ve had two great steaks there during the past month. Here’s my review:
http://tulsafood.com/talk/eat-at-does
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