We walked in toward the end of the evening, not realizing the restaurant was getting ready to…read moreclose. There were still a couple of people at the bar and a few tables with guests finishing their meals, so nothing immediately indicated that we were arriving near closing time.
The hostess was very friendly and seated our party of four right away, but she never mentioned that the restaurant would be closing soon. Had we known, we would have gladly chosen somewhere else to eat rather than risk feeling rushed or unwelcome.
The ambiance was nice, and we each ordered a cocktail. Unfortunately, our experience with the service was disappointing from the start. Our server seemed visibly annoyed with us and had an attitude that made us feel as though we were an inconvenience. I understand that being seated with a table near the end of a shift can be frustrating. I've worked in the service industry myself, and I know what it's like to be sat late in the evening. However, that comes with the job, and I would have much rather been told upfront that the restaurant was closing soon so we could have made other arrangements.
We were visiting from Nashville to celebrate our wedding anniversary and were looking forward to a nice dinner to kick off our trip. Unfortunately, the food was a mixed experience.
I ordered the turtle soup and prime rib, requesting the prime rib medium rare. It arrived medium, if not slightly more well done. While the flavor was good, it was not cooked to the doneness I had requested. The turtle soup was also excessively salty, and everyone at our table agreed. My wife ordered the beef en croute, which was cold in the center, although the pastry on top was cooked nicely. Our friends ordered the lamb and halibut, and both dishes were prepared well and enjoyed.
For a restaurant where we spent over $400 on dinner, I expected a much higher level of food quality and service. Mistakes can happen, and I understand that no restaurant is perfect. However, the combination of the unwelcoming service and the issues with several dishes made for a disappointing evening.
What made the experience especially frustrating was that this was supposed to be a special dinner to celebrate our anniversary and start our trip on a high note. Instead, we left feeling disappointed and as though our business was an inconvenience. If the restaurant was closing soon, a simple heads-up when we arrived would have gone a long way. We would have understood and happily taken our business elsewhere.
The following evening, we dined at Sinatra's and had a fantastic experience, which made the contrast even more noticeable.
Overall, the ambiance was pleasant, and some of the food was good, but the service and inconsistency in the dishes fell well short of what I would expect from a restaurant at this price point. When spending over $400 on a dinner for a special occasion, you expect to feel welcomed, enjoy a well-prepared meal, and leave with a positive impression. Unfortunately, that was not our experience, and this restaurant was a disappointing way to begin our anniversary trip.