For the past two years, since moving to Bristol, SS Dion has been one of my favorite restaurants…read more I've dined here many times, which is why it is so disappointing to write this review. Unfortunately, our experience last night (8:45 p.m. reservation for four) was by far the worst experience I've had not only at SS Dion, but at any restaurant in Bristol.
We arrived approximately 10 minutes before our reservation and were told by the two hostesses that because we were early, we would need to wait. That was completely understandable, so we sat on the bench next to the hostess stand until our reservation time.
At 8:45 p.m., the main hostess, who was wearing a light blue dress, walked us to our table. As she gathered the menus, she looked directly at me and said, "You're the 8:45 reservation...right...we are taking you at the right time." The comment came across as unnecessarily passive-aggressive. I chose not to respond and simply followed her to our table.
After being seated, we waited about 10 minutes before our server, Julieann T., greeted us. We ordered two sangrias, one Sprite, and a water. She said she would put in the drink order and bring us some water. Another 10-15 minutes passed before the drinks arrived--but still no water.
At that point, we placed our entire food order: calamari, yellowtail tartare, a cheese board, two bowls of chowder, and a Caesar salad. When we told her we wanted to order everything at once, she made a face and replied, "Oh...okay...fine." As she walked away, she again said, "Your water is coming."
She then proceeded to take drink orders from the table next to us. We understood it was a busy evening and expected some delays, so we remained patient.
However, nearly 40 minutes into our reservation, we still had not received a single glass of water. My husband was very thirsty, so I politely signaled to our server and asked if she could please bring him some water. Her response shocked me. She said, in an accusatory and irritated tone, "Well, we are busy, and you decided to order all of your order at once."
I fail to see how ordering our meal should have any relationship to whether we receive water. It was an inappropriate and unnecessary response.
Thankfully, the second hostess--the one who had initially greeted us--came over with a pitcher of water, apologized for the delay, and served us. She was, without question, the only employee who treated us with genuine kindness and professionalism throughout the evening.
When our food finally arrived, our server practically dropped the plates onto the table. Dishes clanked against each other as she placed them down, forcing me to rearrange everything myself. The service felt rushed, careless, and unfriendly.
She checked on us only once, asking if everything was okay. We simply replied, "Yes," and left it at that. Throughout the evening, I couldn't help but notice how warm, attentive, and pleasant she was with the two tables beside us, while her interactions with our table consistently felt cold, irritated, and dismissive.
I tried to maintain a positive attitude for my family's sake because we were celebrating my mother's birthday--her very first visit to SS Dion--but the experience became increasingly uncomfortable.
When we were ready to leave, we requested to-go containers. Our server took the soup and sauces into the kitchen to package them, explaining that we couldn't do it ourselves because the dishes were porcelain, which made perfect sense. However, when she returned, she began literally tossing our packaged food into a green takeout bag. It was careless, unprofessional, and honestly unbelievable to watch.
At that point, I knew the evening was beyond salvaging.
Despite the service, I still left a $10 tip because I believe in recognizing the effort that goes into restaurant work. However, based solely on the service we received, it was far more generous than what was earned.
What makes this experience so disappointing is that it is completely inconsistent with the service we have always received at SS Dion. This restaurant has earned our loyalty over the past two years because of its food and hospitality. Last night failed on the hospitality side in every way.
I sincerely hope management reviews what occurred because no guest should be made to feel like an inconvenience simply for dining at your restaurant. We will certainly think twice before returning, which saddens me because SS Dion has always been one of our favorite places in Bristol.
