I was so glad to get a reservation at Canyon Kitchen-- as they book out months in advance, and now I completely understand why! The entire experience felt magical from the moment we arrived. Nestled in a serene valley framed by dramatic granite cliffs, the setting alone is enough to make the visit worth it. Even if you're not lucky enough to snag a reservation, I'd still recommend stopping by for a cocktail just to soak in the views and ambiance. It's truly one of the most stunning dining environments I've experienced. Dinner started off strong with their bread service--warm, pillowy Parker House rolls that were just the right amount of indulgent. We also ordered the deviled eggs, which had a wasabi twist that honestly blew me away. It was such a unique combination, but it totally worked--easily a 10/10. The tuna tartare came next, served with thinly shaved radish instead of chips, which added a crisp, refreshing texture that paired perfectly with the delicacy of the fish. For the main course, I had the fresh North Carolina trout. It was beautifully cooked and so fresh, though I found the mustard sauce a bit overpowering--it still didn't take away from how enjoyable the dish was overall. My partner ordered the Georgia steak, which was an absolute standout. It was cooked to perfection and served with creamy mashed potatoes and tender braised turnips--comfort food with an elevated twist. We ended the night with the strawberry pavlova, which was light, airy, and just sweet enough--perfect for a warm summer evening. We also opted for the wine pairing, and I can't recommend it enough. Each pour was thoughtfully chosen to complement the flavors of the meal, and the pairings truly elevated the entire dining experience. Canyon Kitchen changes its menu seasonally, which just gives me more of a reason to return. The food, the service, the views--everything about this meal was memorable in the best possible way. If you have the chance to go, don't hesitate. And if you don't, at least swing by for a cocktail and take in one of the most beautiful spots in Sapphire! read more

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Rude manager - Audrey. We arrived for a special dinner during my bachelorette trip with a reservation that had been booked well in advance, but we were turned away in a very rude and dismissive manner. It was an incredibly disappointing experience. read more

My family, friends, and I have been loyal guests of Canyon Kitchen for years, which made this experience especially disappointing. I reached out by email to make a reservation and received a response from Audrey stating that they could accommodate us at 5:15 p.m. At no point was it made clear that I needed to reply again in order for the reservation to actually be secured. The communication was unclear, and there was no indication that failing to send a confirmation would result in having no reservation. When we arrived, we were told we did not have a reservation and were turned away. While I understand that policies exist, the issue wasn't simply the reservation, it was how the situation was handled. Rather than acknowledging that the communication could have been clearer, Audrey immediately became dismissive and defensive. She told me I was "the only person this has ever happened to," offered no apology or accountability, and made me feel as though I was at fault for misunderstanding a process that was never clearly explained. Instead of trying to help or find a solution, she spoke to me in a condescending manner and made us feel like an inconvenience. Hospitality isn't about never making mistakes, it's about how you treat people when something goes wrong. A simple acknowledgment that the communication could have been clearer and a sincere apology would have completely changed the experience. It's heartbreaking to have such a negative interaction at a restaurant I've loved and supported for years. Canyon Kitchen is a special place in our community, and it's unfortunate that one employee's lack of professionalism overshadowed what should have been a wonderful evening. I hope management takes a close look at both the reservation process and the way guests are treated when issues arise. Clear communication, accountability, and kindness go a long way, and unfortunately, none of those were present during our visit. read more

I am beyond disappointed with my experience at Canyon Kitchen. I was married here in 2019 and spent a substantial amount of money celebrating one of the most important days of my life, so I expected a much higher level of hospitality. There were only three of us. We weren't asking for a table or a special accommodation we simply wanted to have one drink at the bar before heading to our next destination. We stayed for exactly 15 minutes and spent over $100 on just three drinks, plus gratuity. In other words, the restaurant made over $100 from three guests who occupied the bar for only a few minutes. The issue wasn't the money it was the experience. We were told the bar now requires a reservation, yet there is absolutely no indication of that on OpenTable or anywhere else that a guest would look before visiting. If you're going to implement a policy like this, be transparent about it. Don't leave guests to find out after they've arrived. What made the situation even worse was Audrey's handling of it. She was dismissive, unprofessional, and made us feel like an inconvenience instead of valued guests. Hospitality is about welcoming people and finding solutions, not making them feel unwelcome over a policy that wasn't communicated in the first place. I do want to recognize Tucker, who was courteous, professional, and genuinely kind. Policies can change. That's understandable. But poor communication combined with poor customer service is unacceptable. Turning away or making unwelcome a party of three who wanted one quick drink, only to have us spend over $100 in 15 minutes anyway, is the definition of putting policy ahead of hospitality. After having trusted Canyon Kitchen with my wedding, I never expected to leave feeling this disappointed. read more

Service was not good and 20% was automatically added to the tip. Food was average and overpriced. Will not ever go back.

Great ambiance and good food! Not easy to get reservations... so book way in advance! Nice place to grab a cocktail while waiting for your reservation! read more

This restaurant came highly recommend by a lot of people so we were excited to try it. Firstly, the view and atmosphere is amazing. We were there in May and the weather was spectacular. The staff was very personal and attentive. We started with an average at best mocktail and bread service. Not impressed with the $6 roll and two smaller rolls (almost like popovers) or the butter that came along with it. We both started with salads. The wedge an the citrus. Both were very nice! For our main, I had the pork chop and my friend had the black grouper with "fried rice". She absolutely loved the fish however the rice that was served with it was dry and bland. My pork chop was very good. It was glazed with an apple butter and was in a peanut sauce which is a strange combination but it worked. So, overall it was a good experience, we just expected more based on the recommendations. read more

Yes , the view is sensational, and beyond description. Nested in the Canyon under Bald Mountain, acres of manicured rolling grass surroundings .... breathtaking. We had reservations, so we had a cocktail in the beautiful outside , covered patio. Lovely bar, but surprised with a 20% service charge on top of $14 Tito's. We were then seated in the large, dining room. Nice server, gives us the menu, quite limited. We ordered a wilted Spinach Salad, just OK . I had a Veal Osso Buco.... my Wife , Veggy Rissotto. I dig into the brown sauce on the rice of my dish, it's not hot. Also the Veals not tender.My Wife tastes hers, and says "It's not very warm...." I felt like Chef Ramsey , when he goes into the restaurant he's going to help, and they serve him cold Soup. I think it's a case of poor management; great environment , misguided cuisine execution. It really deserves better. Then the check comes, with another 20% service charge. Next time, we'll go for the view. read more

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Very nice restaurant. Our food, service and the ambiance were all great. We will definitely be returning.

Amazing views, food was great! If you haven't been you should check it out! The Adirondack chairs are a respite after dinner to enjoy an after dinner drink. read more

What an absolute joke of a restaurant. The staff was flat-out rude from the second we walked in. They wouldn't seat our party of 9 -- even though the place was half empty -- and refused to even let us grab a cocktail while enjoying the beautiful view outside. It's like they go out of their way to make people feel unwelcome. Gorgeous location, completely wasted on people with zero hospitality or common sense. Don't bother going unless you enjoy being treated like an inconvenience. read more

Ok, view is the best ever! Had decent food , edible but no flavor. The trout looks sad - they could make that plate pretty at least. Collard greens were too rich. And risotto looked pretty but tasted like nothing. The view though! We had a very nice server. Kitchen was almost too fast lol. Here is my beef about this place. Try and make a reservation. I call a month in advanced get on waitlist. We've had a house up here for five years and I haven't been able to get in to have a dinner at this place then when we come and I'm gonna post pictures it's empty all night long , they told me there are no reservations available. We are completely booked for the next three weeks one week, whatever, and it's empty, if they wanna make money fill the restaurant. read more

Canyon Kitchen At Lonesome Valley - Empty restraint for the first half of the night. Completely booked solid? I don't think so. - American Near Me - Sapphire, North Carolina

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Simply, wonderful evening, food was awesome, service was impeccable! Nice fire to chill by the ambience is amazing! We had to mow. He was awesome delicious, the apple butter comes with the bread, which was delicious! And ceasar Autumn ceasar was unique and very tasty.! read more

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let's start with the view... awesome . Sitting in this open air restaurant gave us the full affection t of a perfect Autumn night. I ordered the Lamb tenderloin, i believe I got a bad cut of meat, happens. Our waitress Bella picked up on my disappointment and sent the manager over, he listened to my concerns and quickly replaced my dish with a beautiful trout. The trout was fresh and well sauced with a crispy skin. My wife's Butternut Squash soup was excellent, great flavors and hot. I also had the Deviled Eggs, always a favorite. read more

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I love coming to this place for drinks in the yard. They have nice Adirondack chairs to sit in and look at the views. The beers and drink selection is great. I did not enjoy my dinner, however. I appreciate good food, but am a 6'3" 230 lb man. I do not like chefs that give small portions and the portions here were too small. We had 3 people and ordered 2 appetizers, entrees for everyone, and 2 shareable sides and I left feeling hungry. The short rib entree was around $36 and the piece of meat I received was the size of the bottom of a wine glass. read more

Canyon Kitchen At Lonesome Valley - My $36 short rib was small and I left still hungry. Guess we need to order 2 $36 entrees to be full. - American Near Me - Sapphire, North Carolina

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This may be the most gorgeous setting I've ever dined in! If you're in the area, making a reservation here is a must. Overall, we enjoyed our dinner and I would absolutely recommend this is as a must do when in the Highlands/Cashiers area. Staff was very friendly and there are temperature checks for all guest. We had the deviled eggs, quail pops, Alabama catfish and Nc Flounder. The Quail pops seemed to have a bit too much salt/soy for our preference, but everything else was delicious. While the food was nice, the views and beautiful building are really the show stopper. We arrived an hour in advance to have a cocktail outside and would absolutely recommend arriving early to enjoy the grounds. The two things that take away from 5 stars would be: 1. Drink program: Staff had opportunity for more familiarity with wines. We had a few questions that were not able to be answered. However, they were very helpful in letting us taste wines that were by the glass to decide. The old fashioned was a bit stout for our taste as well and could have used a bit of refinement - but of course may be personal preference. 2. Note there is a 20% service charge that is split among all staff. Additional gratuity goes to your server. Understandable to have public access for such a gorgeous setting, but was a bit surprising for us. You cannot miss an opportunity to dine at Canyon Kitchen. It is unforgettable! read more

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My sister and her husband had their wedding here this past weekend and it was beyond amazing. The Canyon Kitchen catered the event and the food was top notch! The charcuterie board served during their cocktail hour was phenomenal, a variety of dips and spreads in addition to the usual meat, cheese, nuts, crackers, etc. (my favorite were the corn nuts!) They also had staff passing around an assortment of hors d'oeuvres. The deviled eggs were topped with a crispy ham and hot sauce were a 10/10, one of the best deviled eggs I have ever had, My boyfriend ate at least 4 of the mushroom arancinis. They also served smoked lamb crostinis and chicken satay skewers as well. I could have drank the peanut sauce that was served onto of the chicken satay skewers... Truly I shouldn't have gone so hard on at the cocktail hour knowing how much I was about to indulge in dinner, but how does one resist?! The dinner was set up as stations, which I enjoyed because I love getting to try a variety of flavors. There was an Asian station which had three different choices, an ahi tuna bowl, salmon poke bowl, and Mongolian beef bowl. I chose the salmon and topped it with seaweed salad, green onions, and wasabi in addition to mango, avocado and a cabbage mixture. Incredible to say the least. My sister would not stop raving about the beef bowl though. Next up I tried the Itallian station, which had braised short ribs served with creamy polenta and broccolini. The short ribs were so tender and flavorful. I also had to try a bit of the pesto gnocchi, which was very good and fresh tasting. The final station had fried chicken and sides. The cheddar biscuits were so good, I was craving them for breakfast the next morning. The dessert table and coffee bar area were a hit. An array of the bride and groom's favorite desserts, like chocolate chip cookies, mini banana puddings, and peach macaroons! All in all, it is safe to say this was the best food I have ever had at a wedding to date. The waitstaff went above and beyond as well! read more

This restaurant seated us (included a 2 year old) on the patio on a 38* degree night. Reservations were made 3 months prior for the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Blind faith that somewhere in the several conversations we had with them it would have been mentioned: They have NO central heat! **Service was slow and be aware the tip is added (20%) before you get the bill. The 2 stars are for the food and server who made a point to tell us she only gets 60% of the tip. read more

What a beautiful setting. What a disaster for food and service. My wife and I took my 85 year old mother for a special occasion dinner. Very limited menu. Check menu before you go. We were in the restaurant for two hours. All food came out at different times, cold My mom never got her entree before and we had to leave because she got tired. The server was no where to be found all night. I think the bill was $300ish. We'd heard this was a destination restaurant and had high hopes. Fire everyone and start again. The beauty of the restaurant will force us the visit one more time. read more

Pricey exception creative food that is guaranteed to fulfill any foodie who cares to eat in a ideal picturesque and gorgeous vistas out side the window looking down the valley and up at the mountain side. The service is some what transitional however eager and attentive young students who are the cream of the crop from the local university who are interested in becoming seasoned veterans in the food and wine hospitality industry. The fire place outside and inside are under used in the open air dinning experience and probably would go a long way to adding to an even more dramatic memorable evening during the mid summer get away to the mountains.. Truly an unforgettable experience and a night that will be hard to forget for years to come!!! read more

Canyon Kitchen At Lonesome Valley - The dinning room fire place, - American Near Me - Sapphire, North Carolina

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The setting is stunning and the restaurant is classy casual rustic. The food was good and service attentive, but honestly I wouldn't go again unless we were planning to stay overnight as our friends did - it's just too far from us (25 mi) on winding, dark mountain roads - or as a great lunch spot during a daytime trip. read more

If I could give this place 10 stars I would. We arrived early to have a drink in the outside area and soak in the beautiful views. Then we went in for dinner and had a salad and soup to start. I got the chicken dish and my husband had the short rib dish. Both were insanely amazing! I wish I lived here to have this meal all the time! EDIT: I have to add... I am shocked by all the nasty reviews on here! Must be written by the snooty old rich people who have their 5th home up here haha LOVED THIS PLACE! read more

Canyon Kitchen At Lonesome Valley - American Near Me - Sapphire, North Carolina

One small thumbs up but mostly a BIG THUMBS DOWN for Canyon Kitchen. So what is the THUMBS UP, you say? The scenery and building. Nice architecture. The views are amazing here but that unfortunately is where the the good point ends. This was our first and last visit to this restaurant. Let's begin with a common phrase that will be spoken. That phrase is....."That's only for members". Can we get a table outside to enjoy the view......"That's only for members" Will the fireplaces be lit.........."That's only for members" And so on. It seemed like any question or request we had was met with the same response. I will say that we liked our server but she was lacking in some areas with regards to knowledge about the menu. There were a few "I don't knows" and information that was told but turned out to be not true. Now onto the food. Folks, the menu here is limited. Even being the foodie I am, I was stuck as most items listed and their preparation just didn't look inviting. So let me mention a few items that were ordered at the table and that I had tried. Charcuterie Platter - do not get this. Give me 5 minutes at the local grocery store and I'll show you what a charcuterie platter is supposed to look and taste like. This one was laughable and the chef should be ashamed that this left his kitchen. Quail pops - These were OK. Nothing to write home about. Hot house cucumber gazpacho - who is making this stuff? Was not good at all. Main courses were the trout and the Joyce Farms Fried Chicken Breast. I will say the Trout was OK. Not great, more mediocre. The chicken on the other was...well..extremely disappointing. (I should have taken a picture as it was closer to the size of a buffalo wing). Seems they used the cheapest part of the chicken, it was dry and sitting on an overly-sweetened pool of mashed sweet potatoes. Pretty awful. I would rather have a Chikfila sandwich ANY day over be forced to eat that garbage again. A couple of other things to note; The Manager - Dillon said some pretty uncouth and disrespectful things to my party. So much so that we did not stay for dessert or coffee. If Dillon worked for my company and said those things to a guest, he would have been fired. No questions asked. A couple of other items to note. They do charge a $12 sharing plate fee here. Now I understand in some cases seeing this if two people come in and hardly order anything and the restaurant somehow feels justified in adding to their revenue, but my party spent $400. So tell me how can that be justified? Also as others have noted, there is an automatic 20% gratuity added regardless of your party size. Where this has been deemed illegal in certain jurisdictions, this place seems ok in charging that. The said thing is an automatic gratuity does not encourage servers to provide a higher level of service. It actually has the opposite effect. Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? If you want to enjoy the views, go to the bar, grab a glass of wine or cocktail and walk outside to enjoy it. DO NOT come here for any meals or events. read more

I ate here last night for the first time. It's been on my list for a while and finally made it. I have to say aside from the most picture perfect setting everything else lacked luster. In my 40 plus years of dining out I've never had anyone come to a table and tell me to be mindful of them having to turn a table. Let me also say there was no reason for this comment whatsoever, this was told to us before our entrees came out. For this reason alone I will never come back nor will I recommend it to anyone. Additionally,I found the menu boring and the food just ok. read more

Absolutely phenomenal dinner here. And the view can't be beat. Cannot wait to go back! read more

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Ambiance exceptional with Bald Face mountain as the backdrop. The view is stunning A 20% gratuity is added to cocktail tab so pay attention. No wait staff to take cocktail orders? Dining room is beautiful, barn doors were open on a beautiful evening. We were very excited to enjoy our food. Our server told us the entire food order needs placed to aid the chef with prep. Being my partner is a chef we know that to be an untruth. They simply want to turn tables in approximately 90 minutes. We placed our order of Carolina Crudo, Baby Arugula salad, NC Mountain Trout, and Braised Lamb Ragout. Our app and salad were brought simultaneously. The Carolina Crudo was very good. My trout was the biggest disappointment, it honestly tasted like Starkist Tuna from a can, absolutely unbelievable. The My partner's Lamb Ragout had absolutely no flavor. Sauce was thin and weak, didn't even cling to the pasta. Lamb had no flavor, maybe some fennel or rosemary ? I am usually very fair when writing a review but the hype is so high for this restaurant that when we tasted our entrees I was so disappointed. The server was good but we felt rushed and again 20% gratuity was added. Sorry Canyon Kitchen but you didn't hit the mark. read more

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Fabulous everything!! View spectacular, food sensational, wait staff spot on!! Definitely going back!!

This place is beautiful! The views are incredible and the food is delicious. Make reservations ahead of time because it books up. It's a favorite date spot for us. read more

We made reservations here for lunch & it was such a beautiful experience. The view was extraordinary, food was delicious, and service was excellent. Everyone was so polite. We walked around a bit before and after our meal to take in the views. Such a cozy place, would definitely love to return in the future for dinner. read more

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My husband and I look forward to coming here whenever we are in town! I highly recommend arriving at least 30 minutes before your reservation so you can grab a cocktail and enjoy the gorgeous mountain views from the garden. They switch out their specialty cocktails frequently and they never miss! If you ever see a cucumber gimlet on the menu please get it and thank me later! I got the Take your Thyme which was the perfect mix of lemon and thyme without being too overwhelming for a cocktail. Once we were seated we started with the deviled eggs and the ham carpaccio. Sadly I did not get a picture of there deviled eggs but they were the star of the show for sure! They came with crispy ham, sweet pickle relish, and fresno and garden blueberry hot sauce. We ended up ordering a second round of the deviled eggs they were so good. For my entree I got the Filet Mignon, it was cooked perfectly and the compound butter on top really made the dish! I tried the halibut and the lamb as well and both were delicious. Another highlight of the night was the wine. Robie came over to our table and helped us pick out the perfect bottle of wine based on our preferences and what we were having for dinner. The staff at Canyon Kitchen is always amazing! read more

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We visited in August, just on a whim-no rez. We went in right at 5:30pm when they opened &, of course, they were booked, BUT the hostess suggested we go to the outside bar where we could order drinks & tapas. It was a beautiful night. We ordered our drinks & food & luxuriated in the view on comfy Adirondack chairs. When they brought our tapas we moved to one of the outside tables. Honestly, I can't remember everything we ordered except the deviled eggs, but it was all wonderful! We both agreed we'd like to do the same thing again because it was so relaxing. No pressure to move on & order the next dish. I just made a rez for Oct. when friends are in town. I don't mind ordering from the bar & we like tapas because we are older and don't like big meals anymore, so this was so perfectly laid-back. Thank you! read more

It appears Canyon Kitchen has now become a tapas restaurant. The portions were about 1/3 the size compared to our previous visits. Nobody at our table enjoyed their meals. We were embarrassed as hosts to introduce our friends to such a horrible experience. Even the simple biscuits and cornbread tasted horrible. We will never come back. read more

This place is a must-see. Not only is the location and view amazing, but the cocktails and dinner menu is unmatched. Definitely arrive early to have a cocktail on their back patio. The view of the rockface is amazing and a great photo opp. I recently returned for a visit and found they have changed their menu. Previously it was a pre-fix menu, but now it is a standard menu. Let's just say my NY Strip Steak with sweet potato puree was gone in a matter of minutes. Do not miss this beautiful place in the mountains! read more

I'd have to give CK a five star review based on it being unique in terms of setting and the farm to table approach means your menu changes with the seasons. The drinks are also quite good. Yes, you may feel like a second citizen because it is in Lonesome Valley, a private real estate development with membership privileges, but, not a big deal. Some day this restaurant may go private and you won't get the chance to visit a real gem of the area. read more

The setting is lovely. Situated on beautiful, lush piece of property nestled at the foot of the majestic mountains. Indoor and outdoor dining with parking conveniently located practically at the front door. The wait staff is cordial and professional. The menu choices are excellent; something for everyone ranging from fish, pork chop, chicken or beef. I selected the rainbow trout served amid lima and pink beans. A nice portion, very well seasoned. I highly recommend this restaurant to celebrate a special event within a beautiful pastoral setting. read more

Canyon Kitchen is an exceptional restaurant. We've been patrons since it opened and have always been thrilled with the menu, it's execution and the well-trained serving staff. It has a bit of a limited menu but nothing to be concerned about. With it's new chef he's created four categories of wonderful foods, all locally sourced. And you choose four dishes from among the categories. There truly is a combination for every gourmet. The basic fixed price is $68/per person, but with drinks and the built in gratuity it is hardly inexpensive. But worth ever penny. Not to mention the fabulous view of the mountain from the open dining room. My only criticism, which I passed along to the manager, is that patrons should be advised that young children are not welcome. That seems to be an American thing and totally inappropriate for a fine dining restaurant. read more

Disastrous meal one half hour no one came over to say hello. They did apologize and bought us a drink. Staff was polite but service was still so so . Ribeye was so salty i could not eat it and sent it back. My advice stay away. read more

If you like lots of attitude then you will love this place. Food is o.k. but is eclipsed by the arrogance that one should be so lucky to dine here. Not impressed. read more

The one star is for the view we love sitting outside with a cocktail before dinner. Otherwise this was a very disappointing evening. Don't bother. Bartenders didn't know how to make old-fashions. Examples of subpar service is waiting 10 minutes for a soup spoon that was served without a spoon. Then waiting 40 minutes for our two entrees which never came. We went to ask to cancel order and pay for what we got. We heard lots of excuses yet we couldn't get anyone to come to our table while we were wanting our meal. I wanted to leave a tip so I asked the manager what line is for tip (the credit card with meals removed was confusing) . He showed me and when I got home I saw they added a 20% tip automatically. Never mentioned this so the server got 100% tip! We did not remember added gratuity and did not see that before. read more

Our reservation was at 7:30. We arrived at 7 PM in order to sit outside and enjoy the view with cocktails. The view was great and the cocktails were fine only very expensive. 50 bucks for four people one drink. Our table was nice and ready on time. Our meal was not good and that is being kind. Two in our party ordered filet mignon priced at $49 each. Who can imagine a tough fillet but believe me these small 6 ounce fillets were full of gristle and extremely chewy . They could not be finished. One ordered trout and it was fair but had very little flavor. I ordered the pork schnitzel and it was enough for three people but had been cooked hours before and was very dry. All in all our meal was far less than satisfactory and we were very disappointed having Dinedthere a year earlier and thought it was outstanding. Don't know if the chef had changed or we just got in there on a bad night. They comped the two fillets at 49 bucks each so that was some relief but to pay 250 bucks for that kind of meal was a real disappointment. If I do return I hope I will have a better experience. read more