I booked a table of 8 for my husbands 50th. The premium set menu at $115 per head (food only) set high expectations. The set menu outlined very clearly "or" between three meal choices for each course, giving the impressions guests would have a choice of an entrée, main & dessert. However this is not what was delivered. We were served two serves of each meal, all at once. As we were a table of 8 each plate serve was expected to be divided by 4 adults - it didn't work. My guests spent the meal over apologizing to each other "oh no, you can have it, " passing up on tasting some meals entirely. The speed the dishes were delivered to the table was too fast, no time to take breath or savor was what served. These servings were standard meal serves but each plate was expected to be shared by four adults. We would have been better fed to order A la carte and it would have been much cheaper! The restaurant explains the meals were 'designed' to be shared - they are most certainly not! Some guests missed out on servings as the plate simply could not be divided by 4. The sides were served where an incredibly small bowl of salad and an enormous and out of proportion bowl of fries! Those fries were annoying to see, I didn't pay so much for my guests to have to fill themselves on fries!
The compulsory 8% gratuity for set menu guests which equated to $101 was excessive. Another saving if we had we gone A La Carte. As we were not overly impressed with the meal it felt like a punishment to be forced to pay such a large "tip". If you want to charge a compulsory service fee then call it for what it is. This venue is in a great location and last night should have been fantastic - unfortunately it was not. It has left me with one of those annoying niggling feelings of disappointment that I know will continue to haunt me for years to come. Considering I had organized this for my husband's 50th, we are not going to forget the event anytime soon. read more