Recently, at the West Street Grill, the owner asked me if I was enjoying my dinner (that I just started). I replied that my salmon was a litte salty. He immediately went into a harangue about "his chefs season everything appropriately." He intimated it was my fault for not telling the waitress to use less salt. I was appalled at his answer, his insensivity to a customers' desires and his arrogance. I will never return! Also, more importantly, the meal was less than satisfactory in all aspects. Even the waitstaff was cold in demeanor and this added to a most depressing evening.

Where in CT is this restaurant?

It's in Litchfield CT. It's a small, very well known restaurant in Litchfield that sometimes gets mixed reviews. The owner is from Ireland (I believe) and I can picture him saying this to the OP. I think perhaps he might not have meant it to come across as it did. My mom and her sisters-who came over from Italy in their early to late teens, could have that same sort of way about them--if you questioned their cooking, they defended it in such a manner. Certainly not somthing you expect at a fine restaurant, but having met that owner on several occasions, i can see him saying it, but not meaning it quite as the OP took it. Not sure if I'm making any sense?

The owners' demeanor was not just defensive--he was angry when I suggested that chef's cooking was not up to par. No one in the restaurant business should speak to a customer in that way or assume that kind of behavor to his paying customers.

I'm amazed when they get overly defensive about such things. Once one of our large group stopped eating his filet at a nice restaurant, but didn't say anything. When the waiter asked why he wasn't eating it, the shy diner who didn't want to make a scene didn't say anything but one of the others repeated that it was very tough and overcooked for his "rare" as ordered.
The waiter stormed off with it in a huff. After quite a while when he didn't return with a new one, we asked where his dinner was. The chef came out and actually said, "since you obviously don't know a great steak when you have one and don't recognize what rare means, we can't possible cook you anything you'd be happy with." There was no other meal.


Geez. If they don't want to know what you think, why on earth do they ask!

You should post your experience on the www.chowhound.com web site under CT restaurants. Many foodies & Fodorites search that site for recommendations - thanks!