I now thoroughly understand the mixed reviews on this restaurant. Last night, I experienced it as a single lady looking for a nice experience and some good food. What I got instead was a full plate of humiliation served up with a smile and final comment by the waiter whispered close to my ear that I had "saved a dollar" on the wine. Wow. I later summed it up as poor leadership from Chef Dominique and snotty attitudes since I'd failed to meet what I will call "ordering expectations". Some background: I had been to a few "Happy Hours" here some time ago and had enjoyed 1/2 priced wines, a free plate of appetizers and had ordered a memorable cheese platter. When I walked in at 5 pm on a Friday, I surveyed the nearly empty room and asked if they still had a Happy Hour. The waiter at the door looked obviously puzzled. I decided to define Happy Hour as I had experienced it there before - wines half-priced and before I mentioned the free appetizer plate, the waiter said quickly - "You could order a half-glass of wine." Whoever heard of having a half-glass of wine? Was I being encouraged to enter and discouraged? I didn't know which but I was intrigued - if it was meanness, it was really mean. But I couldn't imagine Chef Dominique allowing waiters to be mean to his guests. I ventured in and ordered the cheese platter and that 1/2 glass of $9 wine. Why not? I could always order more. The cheese platter consisted of four varied cheeses, two (frozen) dollops of herb butter and 4 small slices of bread. I began enjoying myself and complemented the waiter on the cheeses. I noticed a piercing glance from the sous chef from behind the bar and the Chef Dominique passing by my table several times without a glance my way but was that a smirk on his face as he purposely turned his head away? I ordered more wine and asked for more bread. I was brought odds and ends of hard, inedible very crusty (stale?) bread. Rather than breaking a tooth on it and with increasing annoyance, I told the waiter - this is an error that shouldn't be overlooked - I showed him the bread. "Oh, would you like more bread?" Was my request interfering with their busy dinner service? By now it was about 5:40 pm and there were two tables of diners. By now I had gotten the message - why didn't I just get out but I wasn't finished. Should I take the remaining cheese to go? Finally, the waiter brought me a few additional pieces of bread. I finished up and left knowing 1) Happy Hour no longer existed and that I hadn't been welcomed there without ordering dinner, 2) that I was viewed as a cheapskate and easy target of ridicule as a woman on her own and, 3) that Chef Dominique not only knew how I was being treated but obviously approved of it and had even joined in. After all hadn't I deserved it? No, I won't be going back. No, I won't be recommending this restaurant and, yes, I will unsubscribe to Chef Dominique's emails. I will, however, wonder why Chef Dominique would work so hard to have a following and a successful restaurant and yet afford to treat a guest like this? It is the guest who should have expectations of the restaurant and not the other way around. For shame... read more