Tilly Jane's Sports Bar & Grill 1803 12th Street, Hood River, OR 97031

"First review ever and why? Don’t go here for the friendly service. If you like lotto that’s all it has to offer. Poor food and portions for price. Bartender had no idea how to treat people, he seemed annoyed anytime a customer walked in the door."

"Chicken fried steak and bloody Mary were delicious. Great staff and food. Vegan Options. Just egg bagel, with impossible sausage. Great experience."

"Tilly Janes did not disappoint on Mother's Day! Made my reservation in Google assistant for a party of six the day before for a mid-morning Mother's Day Breakfast. We arrived there 5 min before and was promptly and courteously greeted and shown to our table. Coffee was offered and it was hot and strong! Breakfast was delicious and all in our party were very satisfied and stuffed! Highly recommend the veggie omelette or the French toast with fresh fruit! Service was prompt and the atmosphere was pleasant and low key. A few families with kids and everyone seemed to be enjoying their meals. Highly recommend Tilly Janes for your next Hood River breakfast outing!"

"“Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction, but most of the time it is quite simply boring.” The owner of the restaurant, Laurel, reacted to what she thought was a scam in a most understandable way. I am happy that she has received international support and good press from the story, and that her business is in fact doing so well. She has overcome so many hardships the industry faced in recent years. There is, however, a boring truth behind the headlines, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share it with you here. When I first started adding reviews to google, it felt like I was chatting with my friends. I just wanted to help fellow customers know what to expect. As my review history shows, I make no claim to “influencer”, and have shared my personal impressions honestly. I have never reached out directly to a business owner before, concerning a review, and as you will read it was quite an adventure. In late July 2022, Google sent me a notification about my photo of Tilly Jane’s. I was astonished that my humble review had influenced thousands of people, possibly negatively, about a local restaurant. Then and there I decided I wanted to make things right. I wanted to reach out and correct what might have simply been a bad night for a new restaurant. As I was typing, I realized I might be able to help even more. My studies on business optimization for my recently completed MBA had my mind primed, and I was eager to share what I could - to see her restaurant succeed. A standard practice for such business consultations, complete with document write-ups and custom strategies, over several days, is a fee. It was my unfortunate typo that led to Laurel’s shock, and the internet backlash. I wholeheartedly agree that scammers must be held accountable to some measure, and that the pressures that small business owners face are seldom understood by self proclaimed “critics.” What was not posted, however, is the remainder of my message, which might have clarified how the typo “review” for $500 was later described as a “consultation”. But this double-wording probably only added to the confusion. For upsetting Laurel, making her feel targeted, I sincerely apologize. I caused this mishap with my eagerness to give the food another try, as well as offer my services as a legitimate consultant. The part of the message Laurel chose to share was both hastily and poorly worded, and it reflects on my professionalism in such an embarrassing manner, I still feel somewhat overwhelmed. Her defensiveness is justified. In the months following my initial review, her restaurant has managed to make a lasting, positive mark in our community. I failed to research or acknowledge her progress when I made the jump from google-notification to a quick message over facebook. I merely mentioned the details I thought were relevant, and included my personal phone number (because we all know how easily things become misunderstood over text). I regret obviously a number of things about this incident. But I am impressed by Laurel’s strength and acumen in turning around a scene she truly believed came straight from a movie plot. The original review was petty, but she didn’t go out of her way to vilify me - a testament to her good humor. The following review better reflects my experience. May my future words empower others to be their best selves, graciously and generously. “This place has great service. I am very impressed with Julian! What a nice and attentive person. The chicken sandwich has potential, but it was dry as a bone and there was very little sauce on the sandwich. The mini corn dogs that my daughter had were not tasty…according to her. The potato salad was smothered in mayonnaise with a hint of dill seasoning. The flavor is good, but it’s not something I would order again. The onion rings are INCREDIBLE. The French fries are like shoe-string fries…soooooo good. At the end of the day, it's a sports bar. Simple character and open space for lots of people to enjoy the games.”"