Where do I start. From beginning to end our evening was terrible. Our server although he was a genuinely nice person is out of his element. He began by telling us about his favorite Pinot Noir. How great it was, Russian River, good fruit, etc. When I saw a different wine that I know is great I said Can we get a bottle of the Cherry Pie Pinot?" He seemed baffled and offended that I didn't take his suggestion. "Are you sure?, This one is really good and I only have one bottle left." he says. Fine, bring us the one you like. First rule of dining...never argue with a guest. He comes back with his wine and it is fine. No worries, everybody has different taste.
I tell him it is our first time and can he tell us about the menu. "Well, appetizers are on the left side of the menu." Really? That is how you sell your restaurant?? Not ... "The calamari is very popular, shrimp is great" etc. Shouldn't the server be a tour guide to a new guest?
We order a different bottle of wine after we finish the first. He brings out a fresh glass to taste the second bottle (proper service). We like this bottle much better, different people like different wine. He again is perplexed..."Really, you like this one better?" Again, stop being confrontational with the guest. Here is where it gets good...he then asks "Do you want to use your old glasses that you used from the first bottle?" Um, no I would like fresh glasses so my second wine does not taste like a bunch of different wines. He says..."Are you sure? Those are the last three burgundy glasses we have." Again stop arguing with the guest. If I am having a second bottle of the same wine, then yes same glasses are acceptable. Different wine = fresh glasses (proper service) As long as it isn't a sippy cup, I would like a fresh glass. Thank you.
As he is taking our dinner order one of the people at our table spills his wine and our server stops to clean it up. Perfect. But before he comes back to us to finish taking our order he stops to take a drink order on a table of 25 that had just arrived. Who does that? He finally comes back and we order a 16oz New York, Lamb Chops, and Salmon. Dinner arrives and we receive a Ribeye, Lamb Chops and Salmon. Not a big deal, he is buried with the 25 top. Ribeye is cooked properly. Salmon is good. The lamb is two large chops. They should have been trimmed before service way too much silver skin and fat. Either way, one of lamb chops arrives medium Rare, one of the chops is Rare. I was finally able to flag down our server and show him that one is way under-cooked and one is spot on. "Can you bring this one lamb chop up to medium rare?" This should have been a 1-2 minute process. And he should have left the one chop that was cooked correctly so that I could continue eating with the rest of my party. A gentleman, I believe to be a manager or owner arrives 6-7 minutes later with my lamb chops. He sets them down and leaves. As you would expect 7 minutes = well done. Lucky for me they over cooked both chops so what was I minor issue of one under-cooked chop now was a ruined meal. When the server came to clear the plates about 10 minutes he asked how the lamb was and when I told him it was horrible he asked if I would like another order. Nope not now. "Ok", he says and off he went. Oblivious to the situation. Why would I wait another 10 minutes for a fresh order when everyone is finished with their meal. So they can now watch me eat dinner?
Did the manager come back to check on lamb chops? Nope. In fact he never checked on our table at any point in the evening. Nor any of the surrounding tables. Horrible, horrible service from the top down.
As I mentioned the server meant well. Nice guy just poorly trained. But definitely passionate about his favorite Pinot Noir.
If you are going to charge prices that are similar to Steak 44, City Hall or Maestro's then your food and service better be equally as good. This restaurant falls short on every level.
Judging from the other reviews I am not alone in my assessment. read more