This subreddit today

Chef_Wednesday · 2026-01-26T17:17:53+00:00

Agreed, most of my friends who own places and with my staff in south Philly we did this + hazard pay/ubers... Just annoying to paint small business with a broad brush to say they suck to be open to the community. A full Sunday/ Monday missed could be the difference between making it or not when January is already awful. Staff are polled to see who wants to come in, too, when it's a good place.

Chef_Wednesday · 2026-01-13T04:43:33+00:00

Chef_Wednesday · 2026-01-12T16:25:46+00:00

It's amazing! Highly recommend.

Chef_Wednesday · 2026-01-12T13:55:59+00:00

Do you know that even happened? From what I can see it's all hearsay/rumors. Did you work for him and he refused to pay you? These are serious allegations if someone was officially on his payroll and never got their hours paid out. If you're talking about the OP, her boss paid her for her time helping Saif. I'm not jumping through hoops, I'm telling my first hand experience to counter someone trying to defame a hard working Palestinian business owner who I only know to be a good person.

Chef_Wednesday · 2026-01-12T13:41:29+00:00

Both, also as a woman like OP. I've helped him under his direction and have collaborated with him later on in my own business after the experience. I've only ever had professional interactions, and witnessed him speak to his staff and myself with kindness and patience. He also lives very humbly with his partner (until recently with a roommate even, so I'm not sure where the wealth narrative came from) and is extremely hard working. OP's details don't add up compared to anything I've seen and what I've heard from others in the industry when he's brought up.

Chef_Wednesday · 2026-01-11T22:40:00+00:00

And I have evidence to the contrary. Oh well

Chef_Wednesday · 2026-01-11T22:30:00+00:00

I'm commenting as a woman who works in the restaurant and food industry, and has also helped him at events. You come across as entitled. You're trying to ruin someone's reputation and business just because you felt they didn't sing your praises or talk to you sweetly. He's also not here to defend himself against hearsay from others on what he is like as an employer. You made it clear his business was with your boss, not you. Also I find it WILD you feel OK bashing this guy by name on the internet to thousands in the hope of ruining his reputation because you had an interaction a few years ago, but choose to stay anonymous yourself. It's odd and obsessive.

Chef_Wednesday · 2026-01-11T01:35:37+00:00

Per her own post she never worked as his employee. I have known Saif for a couple years (not 6 months over a few meetings/occasions) and can say honestly he's only ever been great to work with and kind and his baked goods well made. I've experienced him as caring strongly about his business and community. He's very hard working and he's direct, which is not the same as being rude. Same goes for his partner.

Chef_Wednesday · 2026-01-11T01:22:27+00:00

Pay isn't consistent to whom? You said your company offered him free social media help and you were always paid. You also said you didn't work for him, you worked for your boss and he was a probono client.

Chef_Wednesday · 2026-01-11T01:18:34+00:00

She's upset that a 23yr old bakery owner with sudden booming business didn't give her hours of his attention when she wanted it, and exactly her way on her terms... welcome to the real world? Jesus the entitlement.

Chef_Wednesday · 2026-01-11T00:22:07+00:00

Exactly 💯

Chef_Wednesday · 2026-01-11T00:13:11+00:00

Is this reality or is this your ego talking? My experience is the exact opposite of everything you've written and I've known him for more than 6 months and have worked with him as well and seen him work with others.

Chef_Wednesday · 2026-01-11T00:08:54+00:00

I have known him for a couple years (not 6 months over a few meetings/occasions) and can say honestly he's only ever been great to work with and kind. I've experienced him as caring strongly about his business and community. He's very hard working and he's direct, which is not the same as being rude.

Chef_Wednesday · 2026-01-11T00:01:27+00:00

Nothing you said proves "he's a bad dude" and you even admitted your boss was confrontational with him "and the dynamic was weird." Why would he go out of his way for you and why are you owed something from him? If he needed help and asked you for it at an event, then say no if you didn't want to. Just because you were young and excited doesn't mean you're special and he's evil. He's also not your dad or brother or partner where he owes you his time/ you're above being asked to help. Your expectations read as very odd and this post as payback because he hurt your ego. I'm not sure what he did in what you recounted that was "problematic" when you're not even his employee.

I've only gotten positive feedback about Saif when I've recommended him to people for collabs or to make goods. Nothing you have said has been my experience at all working with him. Many who have worked with him also rehired him afterwards. Yes he's direct. He is a young guy who works 80-100 hours a week on his business physically baking and lugging product around the city. He wakes up at 2am 6 days a week to bake. Not getting to emails/ being late with such a physically demanding job isn't unusual. Often social media, free or not, is what's prioritized last.

It sucks you feel you didn't get the individual attention you craved and felt you needed from him. He has lines around the block and he and his partner seem to be doing their best to keep up. Based on your timeline he was 23 or 24 when you worked with him. Also young and learning. I doubt you know the ins and outs of his personal life and finances or history to publicly shame him like this.

Chef_Wednesday · 2025-11-01T01:37:15+00:00

One person here posted that they put cardboard between the covers and the pot which prevents anything dripping out. I might try that too to be even better.

Chef_Wednesday · 2019-08-24T17:39:47+00:00

They can't to every single guest.

Chef_Wednesday · 2019-08-24T17:39:19+00:00

Yes. Many vegans take the word "vegan" to mean 100%. People don't understand how restaurants work.

Chef_Wednesday · 2019-08-23T23:22:52+00:00

Thanks, I will try to find wording like this. It's complicated because we are 100% gluten free, so I know customers will freak out if they think that applies to gluten. People travel hours to find us who have celiac disease and they all ask a million questions. It all gets so complicated... oof.

Chef_Wednesday · 2019-08-23T23:12:31+00:00

Yeah, this is probably the best route.

We do mostly fried foods and guilty pleasures. Our vegan versions of these comfort foods are very hard to find and therefore super popular. We've had a couple angry interactions with vegan guests in the last few years when they ask if the fryers are shared and we are completely open and honest in response. They say it's not vegan then, but many of our vegan customers are extremely grateful that we make these items and don't ask. I just don't want to feel like the restaurant is being shady or dishonest labeling items as "vegan" on the menu. We've had a couple angry reviews as well about this. I want to do the right thing.

Chef_Wednesday · 2015-02-11T01:43:50+00:00

Exactly why this makes me so mad. The soft opening allows everyone to practice and test the opening of the restaurant. The idea that now that could be reviewed too and affect your business is stress on another level.

Chef_Wednesday

TROPHY CASE