Markook Authentic Mediterranean Eats

I've hesitated to write this review because I know the owner's response will only upset me further. My husband and I have sung the praises of this restaurant to our friends for years. We love their food and have always looked forward to going back. Throughout this time, we've read the one-star reviews and the owner's responses and have been alarmed, but we also just gave the owner the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes customers suck. But after our most recent experience, it's clear that these reviews are pretty spot on. When we visited last, we weren't aware that the dining room was closed until we walked in the door. And actually, we were there at 4:35 p.m. on a Friday, which, according to their website, means the dining room was technically still open. Anyways, we were immediately asked if we were aware that the dining room was closed and if that was okay. We had been planning to eat in, but because of how much we've loved this food over the years, I said that was totally fine and that we'd take it to go. Truly, this didn't bother me that much. But after we ordered, there was such a weird vibe. I had a cup of water placed on the ledge a table away from where the owner had his computer. I was standing there motionless, patiently waiting for our food when the owner harshly asked me to move the cup because his computer was nearby. I obliged. But then I felt like I had nowhere to go. Was I allowed to sit at a table and wait for my food? It really didn't seem like it. Everything was cleaned up for the day and I felt so out of place, like I wasn't fully welcome in the restaurant. According to the website, their dining room is closed between 2 and 4 p.m. and then again from 4:45 p.m. until close. Closing the dining room twice is not typical for most establishments (I'm aware of others that close their dining rooms an hour or less before close, only closing it once/day) and I think this is just confusing for customers. If you want to eat in the dining room during the 4-4:45 p.m. window, it seems like they'd want you there right at 4 p.m. This place has the potential to be phenomenal (good food, clean dining area), but when the owners make you feel like one wrong move can land you in the dog house, it's off-putting and makes us not want to go back. I wish this place the best, but I fear that they're going to continue to upset customers and scare them away. I've been as kind as I can be here, but good food and a clean dining area don't make up for a tense, unwelcoming atmosphere.