San Francisco restaurant owner John Konstin said that a recent visit from Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders left him thoroughly unimpressed.
SF restaurant owner says Bernie Sanders was ‘cranky,’ rude to staff https://t.co/bO0Oheb5DT pic.twitter.com/bYj2bLm8Z7
— SFGate (@SFGate) August 26, 2019
Konstin, who owns the iconic 111-year-old John’s Grill, said that Sanders and some of his staffers came in for a meal while they were in town for the Democratic National Committee’s summer meeting. (RELATED: Bernie Sanders Takes The Field In Softball Game At Iowa’s ‘Field Of Dreams’)
Says Konstin: “It was all very nice, except for cranky Bernie.” The Vermont senator (who ordered lobster bisque, an heirloom tomato salad and a Diet Coke) arrived for dinner with about 15 of his team — but “he didn’t want to shake hands, he didn’t want a picture,’’ Konstin reports. And there was no campaign face, either, apparently: “He wasn’t nice to any of the staff,’’ says the veteran restaurateur. The “rude and cranky” 2020 candidate did have an impact, Konstin says. “He lost my vote.”
According to Konstin, the 2020 presidential hopeful was “rude to staff” and “cranky,” refusing to take photos or shake hands while he was there. “He was just rude, not friendly. I think he was just hungry and didn’t want to be a politician. He lost my vote,” Konstin added.
Sanders did leave a tip, according to John’s Grill media contact Lee Houskeeper, who also noted that Sanders’ wife apologized when they left the establishment. “Bernie had to be in a terrible mood. Anyone in the public eye needs to understand when it’s time to order room service,” he added.
John’s Grill opened in 1908, it appeared in the classic Humphrey Bogart film “The Maltese Falcon” and is a frequent stop for visiting politicians.