Excellent food and, almost always, excellent service. The sushi is some of the best I've ever had. On one recent visit our server seemed new and a bit overwhelmed, but everyone else has always been wonderful. My biggest disappointment, however, has been the oysters. They consistently arrive with little to no oyster liquor--the natural briny liquid inside the shell that is an essential part of the experience. Whether it's being lost during shucking or spilled before they reach the table, it's a noticeable issue. At a restaurant charging premium prices for fresh oysters, I would expect more attention to this detail. The oyster liquor contributes significantly to the flavor and freshness, and its absence really takes away from an otherwise excellent dining experience. I hope the restaurant addresses this, because they have the potential to be truly exceptional. read more

I had the pleasure of dinning there this past week. We were graciously met by the hostess' who helped accommodate our sleeping child/stroller. Throughout the whole meal the waitress and the staff were attentive. I ordered the steak frites medium. The steak came out a perfect well-done. It was tough and way over done. I truly tried to eat about a little less than third of the steak for the sake of trying to see if there was a spot with a better temperature. The waitress didn't ask how the food was, and at the end of the meal when I was paying the bill I had told her about the steak and how I was disappointed, with clearly most of the steak on the plate. She said "okay". I was/am not looking for money back but more of a acknowledgement considering the it's a $40-50 meal. Beyond that the waitress was talking with the staff at the sushi bar as I was waiting for the check (prior to my complaint) for about 14 minutes. It was timed because my toddler was getting fidgety. It started out great and ended poorly. I would not recommend to a friend. There are better options for the service and what you pay. read more

Food: quality ingredients, great oysters , generous portions, the Snowball from Hell is super rich. Definitely good to share with someone! Service: friendly professional staff Ambiance: quintessential seaside dining. Casual yet upscale. Gives Meredith Blake sunny vibes. Restrooms could you an update. read more

The Clarke Cooke House - Ambience - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

WHAT an experience! The ambiance and atmosphere were everything. Service was great and our waiter (who was training) was super personable and knowledgeable. The food was great, but be ready to spend! Would definitely return next time I'm in Newport! read more

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Clarke Cooke House is in such a great spot right on the wharf. We walked in and were told to grab a seat at any of the bars, which made it feel super easy and chill. We originally stopped in for oysters and a drink, but ended up staying longer and tried the mussels instead. They had a happy hour with some great summer sushi options, and everything we tried was fresh and really tasty. The mussels in a wonderful broth hit the spot. More garlic broth would have been divine. Service was great and the bartender was really friendly and helpful. Just a fun, laid-back place to relax by the water. Definitely coming back next time we're in Newport read more

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Clarke Cooke (SkyBar/Porch) was at the top of every recommendation TikTok that my friend and I saw, so we decided to check it out! The location is stunning and the porch was so beautifully decorated -- we had amazing summer weather and it was right at sunset! The service was very prompt. Our waiter checked in on us often, gave us great recommendations and made us laugh. Really a great experience! The food was pretty solid as well. We had the cauliflower (which is $18 for one piece of cauliflower...?) and the heirloom tomato salad to start. The tomato salad was really yummy and a fantastic portion size, but in retrospect we probably would've skipped the extremely overpriced cauliflower (I'd say dish but again, it was one piece of cauliflower?). For our mains we had the halibut which was pretty yummy and reasonably priced, and then my friend had two apps (she is vegetarian and the menu is limited in that aspect) of the fig salad and the truffle pasta. She really loved the tagliatelle but it was only about 3-4 bites of pasta. She'd pay more to have a bigger portion was our conclusion on her end. We ended it with the snowball from hell which was delicious and a great size for two people! Overall, we knew we were going more for vibes but were pleased with the food we got to enjoy! read more

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Very impressed by the cooking here!!! Had low expectations it being an iconic spot in a touristy area but they went above and beyond. Amazing oysters, delicious rhode island style clam chowder, and an excellent scallop special for christmas. Scallops were finished with a yuzu brown butter sauce which felt unexpected and quite modern relative to the history of this restaurant. Love to see it constantly innovate and improve. read more

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Atmosphere on the third level is top notch. You get to look out to the pier. The staff was friendly and nice. read more

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Despite numerous reminders that men must wear collared shirts, anything goes here. Men in shorts and flip flops. T shirts. Why try to be fancy when you're obviously not. Food was so so. Seats in the bar area were loud! Hard to have a conversation. Waitress obviously inexperienced with no support staff. Would not return. So many other options in the same area. Key lime pie was the standout. read more

The Clarke Cooke House - Key lime pie - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

We tried to get a table at The Clarke Cooke House but were told we couldn't be seated because someone in our group wasn't wearing sleeves. This dress code was nowhere on the website, and while we were there we saw multiple people wearing athletic wear and T-shirts, which made the policy seem inconsistently enforced. As the only people of color waiting to be seated, the experience left us feeling uncomfortable and questioning whether we were being treated differently. I can't say for certain that was the reason, but it certainly felt that way to us. After reading other reviews about the food and service, we ultimately felt we didn't miss out. Regardless, the restaurant should clearly communicate its dress code online and enforce it consistently for all guests. read more

Incredible institution. The food and ambience were both spectacular and embody Newport. The swordfish entree was special read more

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My girlfriends and I were out on progressive dinner. We were having some bites at multiple places in Newport. We went to the Clarke Cooke House on a Saturday night with no reservation. They were booked but they said we could try the bar which was sadly filled. We were about to leave when another host showed us to seats at the raw bar section. The seats were amazing. We got to see the staff shuck the oysters live and they were so nice. I got a few oysters a delicious espresso martini. And untraditional the desserts looked delicious so we started with that first in our outing. I got the crème brûlée and everything was delicious. I want to come back and try more. Bucket list is to come in warmer weather and sit in the front when they open the windows. You can get great food and people watching. Our experience was not typical pairings you might do here but it was perfect for our evening. We had a great time and love how they have such a variety of seatings it becomes a new experience each time. read more

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A must-visit in Newport. The Clarke Cooke House absolutely delivers. The oysters were pristine and briny, served ice-cold with great accompaniments. The crab cake was perfection--crispy outside, packed with crab, zero filler. The pasta was rich, silky, and deeply comforting without being heavy. The burrata was a standout: ultra-creamy and nestled in a warm, savory broth that made every bite feel intentional. Even the herb soup was flawless--simple, cozy, and full of flavor. Add in polished service and a classic, lively atmosphere, and this place reminds you why it's such a Newport staple. Everything we ordered was excellent. Would happily come back and order it all again. read more

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We've been to Clarke Cooke House about a dozen or so times over the last few years. This is the absolute best restaurant in Newport, Rhode Island. The best. Incredible location, right on Bannister Wharf and right on the water. Highly recommend making a reservation in advance. They have the best, freshest, biggest and coldest oysters in their raw bar. A most delicious chowder. All of the main dishes are top-shelf. A wonderful fully stocked bar with a great wine selection. Fantastic service too, friendly, quick, and responsive. The only negative (which is not really a negative) is the bathroom, which is down a half-staircase and exceptionally small - on par with an airplane bathroom. A staple of Newport. Internationally known, and well worth it! read more

The Clarke Cooke House - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

I hate leaving any kind of negative review! But for this place I will. I was really excited about dining here. We saved it for our last meal before leaving. First, we were one of the first patrons when they opened up. Server could not explain the oysters other than other customers liked them. Water was only filled once. Our food took forever to come out. Like I said we were one of the first in. Coke was flat and never refilled much like our water. then there was this lady who worked there with abnormally, large black rimmed glasses clearly a manager of some sort, who also could not refill water. She literally stared at us the entire time we ate. Made us feel very uncomfortable. Like honestly, stood up on her stair perch with her hand on her hip and stared down at us from behind her abnormally, large black rimmed glasses. The lobster roll was quite good! Although for $36 it was on the small side. I feel like there were much better options in Newport. We tried probably 10 while we were here. The oysters were fantastic! And the burger was very good as well. I just feel like this restaurant was very overhyped for what you got. Probably would've had a way better experience. Had we not been dying of thirst, stared at, and had a better experience with menu knowledge. Also, we were clearly two different parties and they were unable to split our bill into what we ordered even though we told them at the beginning, we were two different parties. Watched very carefully how other tables were being treated and they were clearly having a better experience than we were. Not a good look when other Tables come in Way after you do and they are done with their meal before you even get your food . We were warned to eat local and not go to someplace down there. Next time, we'll listen. read more

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Tyler at the Bistro bar.. 10/10. So personable, makes a perfect espresso martini. Best bartender in Newport

The food and service were incredible. The seafood was so fresh and delicious! We came here for vacation and would go back to eat here in a heartbeat! read more

The Clarke Cooke House - The lobster and the seafood linguini was incredible! - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

The tuna tartar was just my style. Lots of spice. The new bartender from Ireland was great to be around.

Always a great experience from Clarke Cooke House... seated promptly and service was excellent. The food came out at appropriate intervals and the quality was perfection. We started with cocktails and apps, followed by delicious entrees and ending with a snowball in Hell and a nightcap. We were sat close to the fireplace, creating a nice, cozy atmosphere. There were definitely conversations happening around us, but it's not like anyone was too loud that we heard entire conversations. Everyone's dishes were cooked to perfection and the wine and cocktails were cold and scrumptious. Can't wait for our next time here read more

I was born and raised in Long Island, New York and my wife hails from Newport Rhode Island. I feel fortunate that we have had so many local dining options that we have enjoyed over the years. Clark Cooke House is another example of that. We were in town for my birthday and I wanted to make sure I had at least one meal at this establishment. We started out with a few cocktails. I had an Old Fashioned and my wife had a lemon drop martini. She said the martini was excellent. My old-fashioned was OK. One of the problems with the drink is that they use chopped ice in it. This causes the drink to water down easily. Additionally I believe they over muddled the cherry, and the drink basically was lacking sweetness. We both had a cup of clam chowder. Not my favorite style of New England clam chowder. Tasty but thin. I prefer a thicker creamier texture. For dinner, my wife had the whole steamed lobster. This seems like a lot of work to me. However, my wife a self proclaimed "sturdy New England girl" handled the lobstahhh quite easily. I went with the sirloin steak and mashed potatoes. Steak was delicious. A nice size portion cooked perfectly. The mashed potatoes were OK. A little bit bland but still tasty. We closed out the meal with the Snowball from hell . This was a really tasty brownie sundae. Unfortunately I did not know we were getting it and I was unable to snap a picture of it. I would definitely recommend it however. I would definitely recommend the Clarke Cook House. The atmosphere brings you back to the early colonial days. The decor is beautiful. The atmosphere is elegant and relaxing. The service is excellent. A must if you are in Newport. read more

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Meh. Burger was BURNT. Clam chowder is so strangely oily. Dessert was the best thing about it. Would not return. read more

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We had a reservation and assumed we would be next to the water but we were water adjacent, which is good enough I guess. The interior decoration was super cute and the service was good. We ordered quite a lot of food and it was good, not stand out ish in my opinion. the mussels were excellent with a tasty broth and the tuna salad was surprisingly great! the lobster salad roll was alright, i wish they served it hot instead of cold and with less celery. the native cod was fresh and buttery and had a distinct flavor. would recommend if you wanted to eat near the water/try a classic place in newport read more

The Clarke Cooke House - Tuna Salad Mussels - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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Prompt service, great view, good food. If you can get in, make a reservation and visit. It's in the heart of the marina with great walking all around. The oysters were delicious as was the chowder. Greens salad was a little bitter. Try the smoked salmon appetizer read more

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Made a reservation here during our stay at Newport. The food was delicious. I ordered the salmon special, which was excellent. I did find bones in my fish, but that comes with the territory. I always try to be extra precautious when eating fish. We also ordered the steak frites. The steak was cooked perfectly. The fries where underwhelming. My husband ordered the lobster roll. It was definitely more of a lobster salad as described. Tons of celery in it. My bay breeze tasted great. I ended up ordering another after we received our check. They do get busy so definitely make a reservation, and it's a tight space. It's on the more expensive side, so save this for a really nice dinner. read more

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Our family was in town visiting Newport and we decided to go to the Clarke Cooke House for lunch and a drink. The restaurant has a small interior so it's on the cozier side, but there is some outdoor seating which is perfect for the summer, and they even have a nice little "dog bar" area which is for our furry friends to drink water. We've been to this restaurant before so we were excited to bring our family-- really wanted them to try the espresso martinis. Unfortunately, we left disappointed this time. We got there today Friday morning at 11:20 which is 10 minutes before they opened. The restaurant was empty at the time we were there-- we were first in line. We had 7 people and a stroller. While we were told strollers weren't allowed inside -- we thought no big deal that was fair enough. We did offer multiple compromises including splitting into two or even three tables, sitting outside, mixed inside / outside, or even doing separate checks. Still, the staff gave us a hard time and never gave a clear reason as to why they couldn't accommodate us. The interaction was awkward and left a sour feeling. It's a shame because we've enjoyed being here before, but this time around, the poor customer service and lack of transparency really turned us away from the business so we supported another business instead. Hoping they can improve in this area as it's definitely not a good look on their business. read more

Came here last week with a friend to get some seafood and will probably never come here again. We ordered the lobster roll, fried calamari with marinara sauce and then we had a sushi roll with lobster and crab meat. I will say that the sushi roll was really good however, the fried calamari came out cold and the marinara sauce was watered down. The lobster roll. I wasn't really a big fan of my friend also thought it tasted as if the lobster was bad. The ambience though was really cute. It gave that ocean vibe and the service is good as well. I just don't like how tight it was in there. read more

The Clarke Cooke House - 8 Pieces Lobster Roll - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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Went here for lunch. Had an appetizer and cup of chowder, to start. I always do this at "quality" restaurants, so i can get a feel for the food. I'll never understand how most expensive restaurants, make their food absolutely flavorless. Also, the clam chowder tasted like something that's served to prisoners. We ended up having lunch elsewhere. I wouldn't consider this place at all. read more

I rarely write negative reviews, but our experience at Clarke Cooke House on Friday night was incredibly disappointing -- especially considering this was supposed to be the "nice dinner" during my bachelorette weekend. My group of 6 had a reservation, ordered multiple rounds of drinks, full entrees, and espresso martinis for dessert. Our bill was well over $400, so this was by no means a table lingering over a small check. On top of that, service throughout the evening was slower than expected, which naturally extended the length of our dinner. What really left a bad impression was being asked to leave immediately after our espresso martinis were served because another party needed the table. I've worked in the restaurant industry before, and I honestly could not believe how poorly this was handled. If there were timing expectations for the table, that should have been communicated upfront -- not after serving us our final round of drinks. The solution offered was that we could move to "a couch at the bottom of the stairs," which felt more dismissive than accommodating. Instead, we awkwardly rushed to finish our drinks and left. For a restaurant that prides itself on atmosphere and hospitality, the experience felt surprisingly impersonal and unprofessional. Unfortunately, what should have been a special celebratory dinner ended on a really sour note. read more

all the hostesses were very rude and disrespectful and did not want to explain how the restaurant seating works my wife and I went 130 on July 21 2026 they acted like there was limited seating and the restaurant was maybe 60% full then we were seated in a corner barely 2 person table by the bar what a absolute joke read more

Amazing food, service, and ambiance. Leave room for dessert. The Snowball from Hell is to die for! The hype is legit! read more

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Very historic place, used to be a candy store. Came for drinks only and sat on the very top floor. It does get busy. I can't speak for the food. read more

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This was by the far the worst experience I have ever had in my life at a restaurant. We showed up, and waited 45 minutes for anyone to greet us or bring us water or anything. We weren't even given the full menu to start. It took almost an hour to even look at a menu. Followed by that, we finally put in our food, and my boyfriend's meal was all served to him within 10 mins - which he finished. Then they cleared ALL of our plates, and I was left sitting there for over an hour without my dinner. A whole hour after he had finished his meal and I still hadn't been served. Finally the food was brought to me and I asked about one of the two dishes I ordered that was missing and the waiter was extremely rude and claimed he forgot to put it in. I immediately ate my food as I was starving. In the middle of this, college kids flooded in and had their butts in my food. Awful. Following this, we immediately asked for our check as we had to get the hell out of this awful hell hole as soon as possible. The check came and he charged us for the dish he had "forgot to order". Not only did he charge us for food we did not receive, but nobody came to apologize to us, we were not comped any food, and that was the single most awful experience I have ever had. I highly recommend staying as far away from this place. They are disrespectful, rude, forgetful, and obviously only care about stealing your money. As someone who used to be a server, I would've been immediately fired for giving the kind of service we received today. read more

This place will always have a special place in my heart! My husband and I had our first date here ten years ago, and we make it a point to go at least once per year. We most recently enjoyed their well known Snowball for dessert, and it was absolutely scrumptious! For dinner, I got the BEST tuna sushi; it melted in my mouth if sushi can even do that. My husband treated himself to a delicious steak that was cooked perfectly. Our waiter went out of his way to make sure we were enjoying our food and drinks. Although you have to dress up to go here, it is worth it. It makes date nights extra special. Even though the building itself is old and lacks air conditioning, there is a certain charm in the furniture and decor that is reminiscent of simpler times. It's like taking a step back in time. I absolutely adore this place!!! read more

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On a beautiful Monday late afternoon/early evening, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Clarke Cooke House. We were seated in the main dining room, right next to the fireplace. From the moment we arrived and took our seats, our server was attentive and precise with every aspect of the service. The food was excellent; we began with a special dish of heirloom tomatoes, pistachios, and goat cheese, which was delightful. Following that, we had sushi, and it was just as delicious! As locals who come all the time, and love this restaurant, we always appreciate great service and exceptional food. The highlight of Clarke Cooke House and our evening is a man behind the scene, Mr. Peter Barry, a lovely gentleman who goes above and beyond to ensure his guests feel welcomed and well accommodated. Despite the busy atmosphere, he managed to find the perfect spot for us, and we are truly grateful for that. Thank you, Peter! Sincerely, Kate Lowis and Srdan Dokovic read more

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Yum yum yum! The food was absolutely amazing and have nothing but good things to say. Such a fun place to go during a long day out in Newport and you want a good meal and good service. The restaurant wasn't too loud so it was easy to talk to each other. The tables are a little close but not terrible. Make sure you make reservations on a weekend, it does get busy! I would recommend to everyone!! I got the baked half chicken and wow was it amazing. It's a lot of food. My husband got sushi rolls and said they tasted super fresh. The desert was so good and so fresh. read more

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The food, service and ambiance are at the highest level here. The Cooke House is Newport. It's right down on the wharf in the center of Newport. It's a historic building with great old charm and sophistication. Having been here many times in the last 30 years I can say the food is exquisite. Chef Ted's passion for food is clear. His mastery of flavors and techniques are impressive. I have had many wonderful meals here. The staff are true professionals. The Cooke house runs flawlessly under GM Stefan and Manger Reggie. He is true class. Bartender "Ferbie" is highly skilled. His drinks and humor are the star of the show. This is a Newport staple. It's all ways an amazing time at the Cooke House. read more

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The food was mediocre at best, and the burger was especially bad as it was extremely burned. Ambience was nice with a view to the sea. Service was clumsy; the waitress took the order wrong and spilled the drinks (around the glass, not entirely) every single time she brought them. Price overall felt excessive for what was there to offer. read more

This place was so interesting to me. I asked around all day where I should go to dinner, and I asked the locals so I knew they would know. I am not a fan of the touristy spots sometimes they're hyped up and not good you know? Anyways, despite the average reviews for this place I trusted and I went. When I asked the hostess if there were any seats at the bar she said, "Well there are three bars so." I didn't know if that was an answer or? So I took it upon myself to go in and see. There were in fact three bars on three different floors and only one had an available seat. The place was hoppin' on a Wednesday evening. All signs of a great restaurant in my experience. I sat at the bar and the bartender was, he was just a little, wild, disheveled, overwhelmed perhaps. I am honestly not sure what was going on with him. But I sat and he didn't seemed thrilled when I ordered a water. I asked for a food menu and ordered the edamame, tuna and salmon roll and a kale salad. The edamame was covered beyond belief in sea salt, which was my mistake I should have asked for no salt, but it was like a snowstorm of flakes on there. The salad was absolutely delicious, flavors were insane, perfectly dressed just awesome. The sushi came out and he realized it was the wrong order before bringing it to me so he sent it back and I waited for the right order, which didn't take long at all. The sushi was bomb. Fresh, flavorful, just really freaking good. I watched the bartender serve other guests to my right and he was just clumsy I don't know how else to put it, not that nice either, but kind of friendly, I don't know, we didn't jive. Which was a bummer because I was alone and it would have been nice to have some banter with the bartender but that didn't happen. All good. Then I ordered the brussels sprouts caesar salad to go because I wanted to have a somewhat healthy option when I got back to my room later that night in case I got hungry. People who I had met earlier that day raved about so I thought I had to. Didn't have to, did not have to at all. I'll literally eat anything, rarely do I say I don't like something but this I did not like. The anchovies on top with the warm cheesy brussels just did not work for me. I had a few bites and I couldn't continue. The place comes off as fancy, but it didn't give me high end vibes at all. The food was good for the most part, just a weird experience I don't know how else to describe it. read more

This food was horrible. The waiter was awkward and there was really no service at all. There was also a creepy man on the stairs that kept staring while we ate. The ambience is ok. It was by the water that's the only good thing about this place. Would give negative stars if I could. Food Ratings: Caesar Salad - 4/10. Their dressing was sour and the lettuce felt like we were being served scraps. Insanely mustard heavy. Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice - 2/10. Almost no tuna and the rice wasn't crispy?? Like it's in the name guys come on. Clam Chowder - 1/10. Genuinely the worst, most watered down chowder I think I've ever had. People call it "classic Rhode Island" but I think it's classic garbage. Hamburger - 4/10. Yes, we ordered a burger. Thankfully they didn't mess it up that bad. But don't get the caramelized onions. Please. They're just onions soaked in bbq sauce. Also the meat was unevenly cooked with some parts rare and some medium well. Penne with chicken - 5/10. I didn't love it but at least it didn't suck. Olive Garden quality. Espresso Martini - 3/10. GUYS HOW IS THIS THE BEST IN THE WORLD. What kind of world do we live in. Had better in San Francisco and I just turned 21. Complimentary Bread w/ butter - 6/10. Somehow this was the best part of the meal even though butter was unsalted. $140 DOWN THE DRAIN. Left early because the food was so bad. read more

The food was fabulous, but unfortunately the poor service completely ruined the experience. I strongly encourage others to choose another restaurant as Newport has numerous other options for fabulous food. I should've read the reviews on this restaurant, it was recommended by a friend and so I didn't even look them up. We were seated upstairs, with three tables on either side of us. The staff were actively serving the tables around us, yet no one even acknowledged us for quite some time. We eventually had to ask who our server was and if we could place an order. What followed was a frustrating two-hour wait for our food. The two tables beside us--both seated after we were--were served their meals, finished dessert, and left, while we still hadn't received ours. The waiter continued serving the tables right next to us (in very tight quarters) without so much as a word or update. When I finally mentioned that we'd been waiting two hours, the only response I received was, "I don't know why it's taking so long." I was surprised the manager was never sent over, and in hindsight I wish I had asked for one myself. It's a shame, because the kitchen clearly knows what they're doing, but the lack of basic attentiveness and accountability from the staff turned what could have been a great evening into a very disappointing one. read more